Hydrogen, oxygen, helium and strontium isotopic constraints on the formation of oilfield waters in the western Qaidam Basin, China

Surveys and exploration for oil and gas have revealed many oil-field brines in the Tertiary strata of the western Qaidam Basin, China. The source and formation of these brines are unclear. Brine samples collected from petroleum wells in the oilfield area were analyzed for their general chemical composition and for hydrogen, oxygen, strontium and helium isotopes in order to trace their origin, formation, and resource distribution. Results show that the concentrations of resources such as K, B, Sr, Br and Li are unusually enriched in oil-field brines and have excellent potential for development and utilization in future. The geology, H, O, Sr and He isotopic composition, the chemical composition, and the geophysical measurements all show that the tertiary oil-field brines predominantly originated from the deep mixture of formation water and magmatic residual fluids in the western Qaidam Basin. The tectonic geology, intense and frequent magmatic-hydrothermal activity as well as high 3He/4He ratio indicate that the magmatic fluids possibly originate from the upper mantle-derived magmatic fluids. Thus, according to our interpretation of the formation and evolution of the oilfield brine, this source is adequate for the volume and composition to be explored and utilized latterly.

Research highlights► Some useful isotopic data of oilfield water in Qaidam Basin was reported. Mechanism of formation for unusual enrichment of brine resources was discussed. Deep mixture of magmatic fluids may be predominant source for oilfield brine resource. Layer of high conductivity in the middle crust may be related to brines.