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Based on the analysis of light hydrocarbon compositions of natural gas and regional comparison in combination with the chemical components and carbon isotopic compositions of methane, the indication of geochemical characteristics of light hydrocarbons on the migration features, dissolution and escape of natural gas from the Dongsheng gas field in the Ordos Basin is revealed, and the effect of migration on specific light hydrocarbon indexes is further discussed. The study indicates that, natural gas from the Lower Shihezi Formation (P1x) in the Dongsheng gas field displays higher iso-C5-7 contents than n-C5-7 contents, and the C6-7 light hydrocarbons are composed of paraffins with extremely low aromatic contents (<0.4%), whereas the C7 light hydrocarbons are dominated by methylcyclohexane, suggesting the characteristics of coal-derived gas with the influence by secondary alterations such as dissolution. The natural gas from the Dongsheng gas field has experienced free-phase migration from south to north and different degrees of dissolution after charging, and the gas in the Shiguhao area to the north of the Borjianghaizi fault has experienced apparent diffusion loss after accumulation. Long-distance migration in free phase results in the decrease of the relative contents of the methylcyclohexane in C7 light hydrocarbons and the toluene/n-heptane ratio, as well as the increase of the n-heptane/methylcyclohexane ratio and heptane values. The dissolution causes the increase of isoheptane values of the light hydrocarbons, whereas the diffusion loss of natural gas in the Shiguhao area results in the increase of n-C5-7 contents compared to the iso-C5-7 contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic types, source precursors and filling pattern of natural gas in the Upper Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation, Lower Permian Shanxi Formation and Lower Shihezi Formation gas reservoirs of Daniudi gas field were investigated using chemical composition as well as carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions. Geochemical analysis of natural gases in 25 representative wells shows that natural gas in the Daniudi gas field is composed predominantly of hydrocarbons with a dryness coefficient of 0.884–0.978. The carbon isotopic values of ethane and propane are higher than −28‰ and −25‰, respectively, and the hydrogen isotopic values of methane are lower than −180‰, indicating that natural gas in the Daniudi field is a typical coal-type gas, derived mainly from humic organic matter in the transitional facies of the Carboniferous–Permian age. Hydrogen isotopic values of CH 4 and H 2 display a good positive correlation, suggesting that both were controlled by thermal maturity. When the mixing of ethane generated from mudstone and coal with the same kerogen type and similar thermal maturity occurred, the carbon isotopic values of ethane barely reflect the thermal maturity. Although the fractionation of hydrogen isotopes of ethane is significantly higher than that of carbon, hydrogen isotopic values of ethane in natural gas reservoirs evidently are not related to thermal maturity. The Daniudi natural gas reservoirs represent both self-sourced and near-source accumulations. The natural gas accumulations in the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic periods are mainly of the self-sourced type, while accumulations in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous period comprise both self-sourced and near-source patterns, and the natural gas reservoirs formed after the Late Cretaceous period are mainly of the near-source type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]