Geochemical characteristics of Tertiary coal-bearing source rocks in Xihu depression, East China Sea basin

This study aims at investigating hydrocarbon generation potential and biological organic source for the Tertiary coal-bearing source rocks of Pinghu Formation (middle-upper Eocene) in Xihu depression, East China Sea shelf basin. Another goal is to differentiate coal and mudstone with respect to their geochemical properties. The coal-bearing sequence has a variable organofacies and is mainly gas-prone. The coals and carbonaceous mudstones, in comparison with mudstones, have a higher liquid hydrocarbon generation potential, as reflected by evidently higher HI values (averaging 286 mg HC/g C) and H/C atomic ratios (round 0.9). The molecular composition in the coal-bearing sequence is commonly characterized by unusually abundant diterpenoid alkanes, dominant C29 sterane over C27 and C28 homologues and high amount of terrigenous-related aromatic biomarkers such as retene, cadalene and 1, 7-dimethylphenanthrene, indicating a predominantly terrigenous organic source. The source rocks show high Pr/Ph ratios ranging mostly from 3.5 to 8.5 and low MDBTs/MDBFs ratios (<1.0), indicating deposition in an oxic swamp-lacustrine environment. The coals and carbonaceous mudstones could be differentiated from the grey mudstones by facies-dependent biomarker parameters such as relative sterane concentration and gammacerane index and carbon isotope composition. Isotope and biomarker analysis indicate the genetic correlation between the Pinghu source rocks and the oils found in Xihu depression. Moreover, most oils seem to be derived from the coal as well as carbonaceous mudstone.

► Coals investigated are of greater liquid hydrocarbon potential relative to mudstones.
► Coaly interval is characterized by unusually abundant diterpanes and terrestrial-related aromatic biomarkers.
► Coal can be differentiated from mudstone by sterane distribution and gammacerane index.
► Most oils in study region are derived from coal based on isotope and biomarker analysis.