Geochemical features of natural gas in the Qaidam Basin, NW China

• Natural gas is mainly pyrolysis gas derived from type I and type II kerogen and mixed gas in the southwestern Qaidam Basin.
• Natural gas is mainly pyrolysis gas derived from type II and III kerogen and mixed gas in the northwestern Qaidam Basin.
• Natural gas is mainly coal-derived gas in the northern Qaidam Basin.

Based on the results of natural gas components, carbon isotopes, and light hydrocarbon components analyses, this paper studied geochemical features of natural gas in the Qaidam Basin. These analyses include the intersection relationships of (1) natural gas methane carbon isotopes (δ13C1) and ethane carbon isotopes (δ13C2); (2) natural gas ethane carbon isotopes (δ13C2) and hydrocarbon exclusive of methane contents (C2+); (3) natural gas methane carbon isotopes (δ13C1), ethane carbon isotopes (δ13C2) and propane carbon isotopes (δ13C3); (4) natural gas light hydrocarbon components and carbon isotopes; and (5) natural gas light hydrocarbon carbon isotopes. Natural gas consists mainly of (1) pyrolysis gas derived from type I and type II kerogen and mixed gas in the southwestern Qaidam Basin; (2) pyrolysis gas derived from type II and III kerogen and mixed gas in the northwestern Qaidam Basin; (3) coal- derived gas in the northern Qaidam Basin; and (4) biogenic gas in the eastern Qaidam Basin.