The origin and charging directions of Neogene biodegraded oils: A geochemical study of large oil fields in the middle of the Shijiutuo Uplift, Bohai Sea, China

Based on comparisons of biomarker parameters, the QHD32-6 oil field was mainly charged in the north by oil generated from Shahejie formation source rocks in the Bozhong depression. However, oils from the north of QHD32-6 field display a remarkable difference to the oils in the south of this field, which may indicate that a charging pathway exists from the QHD33-1 field. Considering the variations in biomarker compositions in the west to -east and northwest to -southeast sections across the QHD33-1 and QHD32-6 oil fields, it can be deduced that Es3-sourced oil migrated westward to the QHD32-6 traps, and then charging by Es1 oil from the Bozhong Sag resulted in the QHD33-1 oil field being characterized by the mixture of Es3- and Es1-sourced oil. Moreover, migration of Es1-derived oil from the Qinnan Sag was not identified, implying that the QHD33-1 oil field is mainly charged from the northeast of the Bozhong Sag.