ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 pp.

635–656 635

Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields

of China

Deyu Gong*, Shipeng Huang, Wei Wu, Cong Yu, Chenchen Fang and Dan Liu
Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100083,
China
*Author for corresponding. E-mail: deyugong@petrochina.com.cn

(Received 11 November 2013; accepted 16 February 2014)

Abstract
By the end of 2011, altogether 48 giant gas fields with each proven reserves over
300×108 m3 had been discovered in China. After studying on the main molecular
compositions (methane, heavy hydrocarbon gases, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and
hydrogen sulfide) of 1170 gas samples in these gas fields, it is found that: a).
Alkane gases dominate the molecular compositions of the natural gases; the
extremely low content of them have a tight relationship with the extremely high
content of non-hydrocarbon gases; methane accounts for 60.1% of the alkane
gases. b). Carbon dioxide has the average content of 4.09%; carbon dioxide with
an extremely high content (>50%) is mainly distributed in Dongfang1-1,
Changling and Songnan gas fields; highly concentrated CO2 in the former one
was crustal-derived while that in the latter two was mantle-derived. c). Nitrogen
has an average content of 3.56% which is quite low; highly concentrated nitrogen
(>20%) is mainly distributed in Hetianhe, Tazhong, Ledong22-1 and Dongfang1-
1 gas fields which are organic-originated. d). Hydrogen sulfide has been detected
in 12 giant gas fields, with the content of 4.91% in average; the Triassic is the
most centralized zone for hydrogen sulfide while the Sichuan Basin has the
largest number of sour gas fields and sour gas bearing zones; 7 sour gas fields of
high H2S content (2% ~ 70%) are found which are resulted from the
thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR).

Keywords: Giant gas fields, Molecular compositions, Methane, Heavy

hydrocarbon gases, Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen, Hydrogen sulfide

1. INTRODUCTION
By the end of 2011, altogether 48 giant gas fields with each proven reserves over
300×108 m3 had been discovered in China (Fig. 1), whose total proven reverses and
yearly output reached 67945.9×108 m3 and 733.16×108 m3 respectively, account for
81.5% and 71.5% of the total proven reverses and yearly output in China. These 48
giant gas fields are distributed in 9 sedimentary basins in China (i.e. Tarim, Junggar,
Qaidam, Ordos, Songliao, Sichuan, Eastern China Sea, Yingqiong and Pearl River
Mouth Basins) with the gas production zones ranging from the oldest Sinian to the
636 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

youngest Quaternary. Gases of multiple genetic types were observed in these fields
including the organic and inorganic gases. The former one could be subdivided into
biogenic, coal-derived and oil-derived gases while the latter one includes both
hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases (Chen et al., 2000; Dai et al., 2003; 2009;
Huang et al., 2003; 2005; Mi et al., 2008; Zhu et al., 2009; Hu et al., 2010). Therefore,
these giant gas fields are quite reprehensive for Chinese natural gas industry. Based on
a comprehensive study of the main molecular compositions (methane, heavy
hydrocarbon gases, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide) of 1170 gas
samples in these 48 giant gas fields, their distribution characteristics and main
controlling factors are discussed, which are of practical significance to study the
origins and distributions of natural gas, to improve the economic benefit of petroleum
exploration as well as to reduce the exploration risks.

Figure 1. The distribution of 48 giant gas fields in China by the end of 2011.
1. Kela2; 2. Dina2; 3. Yingmai7; 4. Dabei; 5. Dabei1; 6. Tahe; 7. Tazhong; 8.
Hetianhe; 9. Kekeya; 10. Tainan; 11. Sebei1; 12. Sebei2; 13. Sulige; 14. Wushenqi;
15. Daniudi; 16. Shenmu; 17. Yuling; 18. Mizhi; 19. Zizhou; 20. Jingbian; 21.
Xingchang; 22. Qiongxi; 23. Luodai; 24. Bajiaochang; 25. Guang’an; 26. Yuanba;
27. Puguang; 28. Tieshanpo; 29. Dukouhe; 30. Luojiazhai; 31. Datianchi; 32.
Wolonghe; 33. Hechuan; 34. Moxi; 35. Anyue; 36. Weiyuan; 37. Xushen; 38.
Longshen; 39. Changling; 40. Songnan; 41. Chunxiao; 42. Panyu30-1; 43. Liwan3-1;
44. Ya13-1; 45. Ledong22-1; 46. Dongfang1-1; 47. Kelameili; 48. Mahe
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 637

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among the 1170 gas samples in this study, 348 samples were collected and analyzed
in the laboratory and others were from the previous published results (Qin et al., 2005;
2007; Zhang et al., 2007; Zhu et al., 2007a; 2007b; Guo et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2008;
Wei et al., 2008; Ma et al., 2008; Hu et al., 2008; Jia et al., 2008; Feng et al., 2008;
Shen et al., 2009; Tao et al., 2009; Hu et al., 2010; Guo and Guo, 2012; Zhu et al.,
2012; Wu et al., 2012; Zeng et al., 2013). Natural gases were carefully collected at
well heads and stored in the 1L cylinders with the maximum pressure-bearing of 20
Mpa. The molecular composition of gas samples was determined using an Agilent
6890N gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a flame ionization detector and a
thermal conductivity detector at the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and
Development, PetroChina-Langfang branch (RIPED-Langfang). Individual
hydrocarbon gas components from methane to pentanes (C1-C5) were separated using
a capillary column (PLOT Al2O3 50 m×0.53 mm). The GC oven temperature was
initially set at 30˚C for 10 min, and then ramped to the maximum temperature of
180˚C at a rate of 10˚C /min where it was held for 20-30 min.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1. Molecular compositions of alkane gases
As shown in Table 1, the content of alkane gases in Chinese giant gas fields varies
from 0.4% to 100%, with an average value of 91.0%. 848 gas samples have the content
of alkane gases over 90%, accounting for 72.5% of the total samples; 194 gas samples
have the content of alkane gases between 80% and 90%, accounting for 16.6% of the
total samples; 128 gas samples have the content of alkane gas lower than 80%,
accounting for 10.9% of the total samples. The natural gases of low alkane gases
content (<80%) are mainly distributed in Songliao Basin (Changling and Songnan gas
fields), Traim Basin (Hetianhe, Tazhong and Tahe gas fields), Yingqiong Basin
(Ledong and Dongfang1-1 gas fields) and Sichuan Basin (Puguang, Yuanba,
Dukouhe, Tieshanpo, Wolonghe and Luojiazhai gas fields) (Table 1, Fig. 2). The low
content of alkane gas is related with the extremely high content of non-hydrocarbon
gases (Table 1, Fig. 3) whose origins would be discussed in Chapter 3.2-3.4.

Figure 2. The histogram of molecular compositions for alkane gases in Chinese giant
gas fields.
638 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

Figure 3. The relative molecular ccontent of alkane gases, carbon dioxide and
nitrogen in Chinese giant gas fields.

For the alkane gases, the average content of methane is 86.62% while that of ethane,
propane and butane is 3.14%, 1.05 and 0.59%, respectively. Two characters of the
alkane gas compositions in Chinese giant gas fields are shown in Figure 4: the average
content of each component decreases with the increasing of its carbon number, i.e. C1
(86.62%)>C2 (3.14%)>C3 (1.05%)>C4 (0.59%); the maximum content of each
component also decreases with the increasing of its carbon number, i.e. C1 (99.97%)>C2
(13.15%) >C3 (7.84%)>C4 (4.71%). It is shown from the distribution of dry coefficients
(C1/C1-4) that the gases in Chinese giant fields are mainly composed of dry gas (C1/C1-
4>0.95), accounting for 60.1% of the total gas samples; gases with the dry coefficient of
0.90 ~ 0.95 and below 0.9 account for 29.7% and 10.2%, respectively. Thus, methane is
the main component of alkane gases in Chinese giant gas fields.

Figure 4. The characteristics of molecular compositions for methane, ethane, propane

and butane in Chinese giant gas fields.
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 639

Figure 5. The distribution characteristics of dry coefficient (C1/C1-4) in Chinese giant

gas fields.

3.2. Molecular compositions of carbon dioxide

3.2.1. Content of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is the most common component in non-hydrocarbon. Usually, only
when the content of carbon dioxide reached 70% did it has an industrial value (Du,
1991).
In this study, carbon dioxide is detected in 1013 samples whose content varies from
0.01% to 99.45%, with an average value of 4.45% (Table 1). As shown in Figure 6a,
941 samples have a content of carbon dioxide lower than 10%, accounting for 92.9%
of the total samples. The gas samples with the CO2 content more than 10% are mainly
distributed in Hetianhe and Tazhong gas fields in Tarim Basin, Ya13-1, Ledong22-1
and Dongfang1-1 gas fields in Yingqiong Basin, Changling and Songnan gas fields in
Songliao Basin, Puguang and Yuanba gas fields in Sichuan Basin (Fig. 1). Among
them, the average CO2 content in Dongfang1-1, Changling and Songnan gas fields is
more than 30%, with that in Well Changshen7 in Changling gas field reaching 99.53%
(Mi et al., 2008) which is the highest in this study. Therefore, the origins of the
extremely high CO2 content in these three gas fields are discussed.

3.2.2. The origin of extremely high content of carbon dioxide

The origins of carbon dioxide could be divided into two types: organic and inorganic
origins. The former one is co-generated with the hydrocarbon-gases during the thermal
decomposition process of organic matters while the latter one could be subdivided into
crust-derived and mantle derived carbon dioxide. Carbon isotopic and molecular
compositions are commonly used to identify their genetic types. After studying more
than 1000 gas samples in 16 basins in China in combination with the data abroad, Dai
et al. (1996) proposed that the carbon dioxide of an organic origin had the molecular
composition and δ13CCO2 values lower than 15% and -10‰, respectively, while the
inorganic ones had a CO2 content more than 60% or the δ13CCO2 values heavier than -
8‰. Based on this criterion, an identification diagram was proposed as well (Fig. 7).
The inorganic carbon dioxide derived from the carbonates usually has a δ13CCO2 value
of 0±3‰ which reaches that of the carbonate itself while the mantle or volcanic-
640 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

Figure 6. The histogram of molecular composition for non-hydrocarbon gases in

Chinese giant gas fields.

derived carbon dioxide usually has a δ13CCO2 value of -6±2‰ (Dai et al., 1992, 1996,
2000). In addition, the isotopic composition of the accompanied helium is also an
effective tool to identify the genetic types of carbon dioxide. R/Ra ratios of the crust-
derived helium usually vary from 0.01 to 0.1 while those of the mantle-derived helium
are usually higher than 1 (Wang, 1989) (R/Ra ratio is defined as the ration between
3
He/4He value in natural gases and that in the air).
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 641

The carbon dioxide in Changling and Songnan gas fields has a molecular content
more than 70% and the δ13CCO2 value between -5.38‰ and -8‰, with an average
value of -6.4‰, indicating an inorganic origin (Fig. 7). The associated helium has the
R/Ra ratios between 2.06 and 4.56, with an average value of 2.89, indicating mantle-
derived origin (Fig. 8). When the carbon dioxide is dissolved in the water, it would
drive the dawsonite to separate out of the rocks and precipitate outside. The carbon
isotopic values of the dawsonite in Changling and Songnan gas fields vary from -5.3‰
to 2.1‰ with an average value of -3.26‰, which is similar to those of the mantle-
derived dawsonite. The calculated δ13C values of carbon dioxide which is equilibrated
with the dawsonite is between -11.8‰ and -5.1‰ (Qu et al., 2010), which is in
coincidence with the former analysis. The inorganic carbon dioxide in Changling and
Songnan gas fields may migrate from the mantle into reservoirs through the deep
fractures or be brought into the traps by the magma during its upwelling process.

-40
Changling and Songnan gas fields
Dongfang1-1 gas field
-30
Organic CO 2

Coexisting area of organic and inorganic CO 2

)

-20
(PDB ,

Mixing area of organic and inorganic CO 2

CO2

-10
13

0
Inorganic carbon dioxide

+8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 10 0
C O 2 content (%)
Figure 7. Using the crossplot between CO2 content and δ13CCO2 values to identify the
genetic types of carbon dioxide in Changling, Songnan and Dongfang1-1 gas fields.
642 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

Figure 8. Using the crossplot between R/Ra ratios and δ13CCO2 values to identify the
genetic types of carbon dioxide in Changling, Songnan and Dongfang1-1 gas fields.

As shown in Figure 7, carbon dioxide in Dongfang1-1 gas fields could be

distinguished into two groups. One group has the carbon isotopic values and molecular
compositions of -12.3‰ ~ -20.7‰ and 0.12% ~ 1.03%, respectively. A positive
correlation between the content of methane and carbon dioxide could be observed
obviously in Figure 9a, with the correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.8642, reflecting a
common origin of these two components. The alkane gases in Dongfang1-1 gas fields
are mainly coal-derived gases generated from the high-mature coal-measures in the
Miocene accompanied by a small amount of biogenic gases in the shallow reservoirs,
which are both derived from the organic matters (Dai et al., 2003; Huang et al., 2003;
Zhu et al., 2009). Thus, it could be speculated that the carbon dioxide in this group
was also organic-originated. Gases in the other group have an extremely high CO2
content ranging from 57.03% to 88.91% (61.01% in average), with the δ13CCO2 values
of -2.0‰ ~ -4.8‰, indicating an inorganic crust-origin. As shown in Figure 9b, a
negative correlation between the content of methane and carbon dioxide could be
observed obviously, with the correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9898, reflecting that the
two components may have different origins. The R/Ra ratios of the helium
accompanied with the two groups of carbon dioxide vary from 0.03 to 0.18, with an
average value of 0.10, illustrating their crust-origin (Fig. 8). As shown in Figure 8, two
types of inorganic carbon dioxide (mantle-derived and crust-derived) and organic
carbon dioxide could be clearly distinguished based on their R/Ra ratios and δ13CCO2
values. It is proposed that the upwelling of mud diapir had widely occurred in
Dongfang1-1 gas field by Wang et al. (2004) and He et al. (2011a). As a result,
physical and chemical reaction between the mud diapir and the thick clastic strata
happened. Considering the heterogeneity of the upwelling intensities and the
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 643

Figure 9. The relationship between the concentration of methane and carbon dioxide
in Dongfang1-1 gas field.

distribution patterns of clay minerals, the organic carbon dioxide co-generated with
the hydrocarbon gases are mainly distributed in the area undergone a weak upwelling
of the mud diaper while those inorganic ones are mainly distributed in the area
undergone a strong upwelling of the mud diapir.

3.3. Molecular compositions of nitrogen

3.3.1. The nitrogen content
Nitrogen is a very important component in non-hydrocarbon gases. Usually, high
content of nitrogen would reduce the economic values of natural gas (Liu et al., 2012),
so as to risk the petroleum exploration, especially for offshore and deep petroleum
exploration. In this study, nitrogen is detected in 1073 gas samples whose content
varies from 0.01% to 82.65%, with an average value of 3.56% (Table 1).
As shown in Figure 6b, most of the gas samples have a low content of nitrogen. 967
samples have nitrogen content lower than 10%, accounting for 90.3% of the total
samples. 8.7% of the gas samples have the nitrogen content of 10% ~ 20%. Only 1%
of the gas samples have the nitrogen content higher than 20%, which are mainly
distributed in Hetianhe, Tazhong, Ledong22-1 and Dongfang1-1 gas fields (Fig. 1).
644 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

3.3.2. The origin of extremely high content of nitrogen

Usually, the nitrogen in natural gases has three possible origins: organic, inorganic and
meteoric origins (Dai et al., 1992). The organic nitrogen is either generated by the
decomposition of protein at low-mature stage or by thermal decomposition at
thermocatalytic stage. The inorganic one could be subdivided into mantle-derived and
crust-derived (Zhu et al., 1998; Chen et al., 2003). Since there is an overlap between
the isotopic compositions of nitrogen with different origins, it is difficult to identify
their genetic types using nitrogen isotopes independently (Zhang, 1988; He et al.,
2011b). A comprehensive application of several methods are introduced here to
identify the origins of the nitrogen with extremely high concentration in the four giant
gas fields mentioned above.
Based on the analysis of 24 samples from Dongfang1-1 and Ledong22-1 gas fields,
the R/Ra ratios of helium vary from 0.01 to 0.18 with the average value of 0.06,
obviously revealing a crustal origin. As shown in Figure 10, when the nitrogen content
is more than 20%, it has a positive relationship with the content of carbon dioxide,
indicating that the two non-hydrocarbon gases may have the same origin. Since the
carbon dioxide has the δ13C values of -8.99‰ ~ -20.7‰ with an average value of -
14.6‰ (Fig. 11), reflecting an organic origin, the nitrogen may also be organic-
originated. Furthermore, these highly concentrated nitrogen (>20%) has the δ15N
values of -15‰ ~ -3‰, with an average value of -6‰, quite close to those of the
nitrogen derived from the decomposition of organic matters which usually varies from
-10‰ to -1‰ (Zhu et al., 1998; Chen et al., 2003). In a thermal simulation experiment
controlled both by pressure and temperature, He et al. (2011b) found that large amount
of nitrogen could be generated from the Pliocene Yinggehai Formation and the
Miocene Meishan and Sanya Formations. Based on the analysis above, the high
content of nitrogen in Ledong22-1 and Dongfang1-1 gas fields should be organic-
originated.

Figure 10. The relationship between the CO2 content and the extremely high
concentration of nitrogen in Dongfang1-1 and Ledong22-1 gas fields.
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 645

Figure 11. The relationship between the extremely high concentration of nitrogen and
δ13CCO2 values in its co-generated carbon dioxide in Dongfang1-1 and Ledong22-1
gas fields.

The nitrogen from Tazhong and Hetianhe gas fields in Tarim Basin also has a
relatively higher content. The 3He/4He ratios of helium in the craton area in Tarim
Basin are in a magnitude of 10-7 ~ 10-8 and the R/Ra ratios are lower than 0.1, which
indicates a crustal origin (Dai et al., 2000; Cai et al., 2002; Zhang et al., 2005). As
shown in Figure 12, a positive relationship between dry coefficient and nitrogen
content could be observed, which is possibly controlled by maturities. Therefore, it is
most likely that the nitrogen in the two gas fields is thermogenic. Usually, with the
increase of the maturity, the δ15N values would turn to be heavier (Zhu et al., 2000;
Jurisch and Krooss, 2008). As mentioned above, the thermogenic nitrogen generated
at mature stage usually has the δ15N values of -10‰ ~ -1‰ (Zhu et al., 1998; Chen et
al., 2003). The natural gases in Hetianhe and Tazhong gas field are oil-cracked or
kerogen-cracked gases at high-overmature stages generated from the Cambrian and
the Ordovician source rocks (Cai et al., 2002; Zhao et al., 2002; Zhang et al., 2011).
As a result, the δ15N values of the nitrogen in this area should be heavier than those
generated at mature stage. This hypothesis was confirmed by Chen et al. (2001) who
has studied 14 samples from these two gas fields and found their δ15N values ranging
from 1‰ to 4.04‰ with an average value of 2.65‰. Meanwhile, the δ15N values of
the oils in Tazhong gas field vary from 0.64‰ to 1.32‰ (Chen and Mei, 2004), which
is in coincidence with those of the natural gases in this area. In addition, Zhao (2002)
proposed that some free nitrogen could be generated through the cracking of the high-
mature marine gases in the craton area of Tarim Basin, because these gases were rich
in resin and asphalt. From the analysis above, it could be concluded that the nitrogen
in Hetianhe and Tazhong gas fields are organic-originated.
646 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

Figure 12. The relationship between the concentration of nitrogen and dry
coefficients in Hetianhe and Tahe gas fields.

3.4. Hydrogen sulfide

3.4.1. The content of hydrogen sulfide
As an important no-hydrocarbon gas, hydrogen sulfide is a sword with two edges. On
the one side, it is a toxic gas. Even 0.01% ~ 0.015% of hydrogen sulfide in the natural
gases would make people asphyxiate to death. In addition, highly-concentrated
hydrogen sulfide would destroy the drilling machines and contaminate the mud during
the drilling process. On the other hand, it is an important source of sulphur which is a
common industrial material. Usually, the hydrogen sulfide meets the industrial value
when its content reaches 2% (Hou et al., 2005).
Based on its concentration in natural gases, Dai (1985) categorized the hydrogen
sulfide into 5 types which are pure sour gas field (>70%), highly-concentrated sour gas
field (2% ~ 70%), low-concentrated sour gas field (0.5% ~ 2%), tracingly-
concentrated sour gas field (<0.5%) and H2S-free gas field. According to this criterion,
there are 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields (Puguang, Yuanba, Dukouhe,
Tieshanpo, Wolonghe, Luojiazhai and Tahe gas fields), 3 low H2S bearing gas fields
(Moxi, Weiyuan and Tazhong gas fields) and 2 tracingly-concentrated sour gas fields
(Jingbian and Hetianhe gas fields) among the 48 Chinese giant gas fields and no pure
sour gas fields are found. Hydrogen sulfide is detected in 181 samples whose content
varies from 0.01% to 58.34% (Well Puguang3), with an average value of 4.91%
(Table 1). 56.9% of the samples have the H2S content of 0 ~ 5% while only 0.11% of
the samples have the H2S content more than 40% (Fig. 6c). Among the 48 giant gas
fields, the sour gas reservoirs are mainly distributed in the Triassic, Permian,
Carboniferous, Ordovician and Sinian (Table 1). As shown in Table 1, the sour gas
reservoirs are highly-centralized in the Triassic reservoirs and the Sichuan Basin has
the largest number of sour gas fields (8), the highest concentration in a single well
(58.34%) and the broadest distribution of producing zones for sour gas.
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 647

3.4.2. The origin of extremely high content of hydrogen sulfide

For sour gas reservoirs, the generation mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide usually
include thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR), bacteria sulfate reduction (BSR),
thermal decomposition of sulfocompound in the kerogen or petroleum and the mantle-
derived hydrogen sulfide (Dai et al., 1992; Zhu et al., 2007a; Hao et al., 2008). It was
proposed by Dai et al. (2000) that the average values of 3He/4He and R/Ra in Sichuan
basin were 1.89×108 and 0.01, respectively based on 57 gas samples and those in
Tarim Basin were 6.07×108 and 0.04, respectively based on 32 gas samples, indicating
that the helium in the two basins was crust-derived. Since the alkane gases and their
co-generated helium usually share the same genetic type, the inorganic origin of the
hydrogen sulfide could be excluded. The BSR reaction is considered to occur in a
shallow-buried environment at a low temperature (<80˚C) (Orr, 1974; 1977; Machel,
2001; Worden and Smalley, 1996). The present burial depths of the highly-
concentrated sour gas fields in this study are between 3000 to 7500 m. The maximum
burial depth of Puguang sour gas field once reached more than 8000m with the
temperature higher than 200˚C (Cai et al., 2004; Zhu et al., 2007a; Hao et al., 2008;
Ma et al., 2008; Li et al., 2012). As a result, sulfate reducing bacteria could not survive
in these sour gas reservoirs in such burial and temperature conditions. In addition, the
hydrogen sulfide generated from BSR usually have a concentration lower than 5%
(Worden and Smalley, 1996). Therefore, the highly-concentrated hydrogen sulfide in
these gas fields are not derived from BSR. Limited by the quantities of sulfur-
contained organic matters, the concentration of the thermogenic hydrogen sulfide
would not be higher than 5%. This ratio was considered to be 2% by Dai (1985), based
on the conversion of gas component during the thermal gasification of oil and
condensates. Therefore, it could be speculated that the high concentration of hydrogen
sulfide would be most likely derived from the TSR reaction.
In general, TSR reaction is a process that depletes hydrocarbon and generates
hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide (Sun, 1999). As shown in Figure 13, a negative
relationship between the concentration of alkane gases and H2S could be obviously
observed from the 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields, with the correlation
coefficient (R2) of 0.615, which indicates that the alkane gases participated in the
reaction constantly to generate hydrogen sulfide. During the TSR reaction, the
saturated hydrocarbons with high carbon numbers take part in the reaction first while
the methane is considered to be difficult to participate in the TSR reaction since it has
the weakest Gibbs’ activation (Cai et al., 2004; Sun and Jin, 2000). Based on the dry
coefficients (C1/C1-4) of the natural gases in the 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields,
the samples are divided into 2 groups: one has the dry coefficients lower than 0.98; the
other has those higher than 0.98 (Fig. 14). For the former group, no obvious
correlation is observed between the concentration of methane and hydrogen sulfide
which indicates that the heavy hydrocarbon gases are reduced first during the early
period of TSR reaction with no or only partial participation of methane (Fig. 14a). For
the latter group, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide increases obviously with the
decrease of methane content which indicates that the heavy hydrocarbon gases are
depleted during the late period of TSR reaction and methane becomes the main
participators (Fig. 14b). From the analysis above, it could be concluded that the high
648 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

concentration of hydrogen sulfide in Chinese gas fields is mainly caused by TSR

reaction.

Figure 13. The relationship between the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and alkane
gases in 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields in China.

Figure 14. The relationship between the concentration of hydrogen sulfide and dry
coefficients (C1/C1-4) in 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields in China.
(a. C1/C1-4<0.98; b. C1/C1-4>0.98)
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 649

4. CONCLUSIONS
By the end of 2011, altogether 48 giant gas fields with each proven reserves over
300×108 m3 had been discovered in China. After studying on the main molecular
compositions (methane, heavy hydrocarbon gases, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and
hydrogen sulfide) of 1170 gas samples in these giant gas fields, it is concluded that:
Alkane gases dominates the molecular compositions of the natural gases. The low
content of alkane gas is resulted from the extremely high content of non-hydrocarbon
gases. Methane dominates the alkane gases and dry gas accounts for 60.1% of the
natural gases in Chinese giant gas fields. The average and maximum content of each
component of alkane gases decreases with the increasing of its carbon number.
92.9% of the natural gases have a content of carbon dioxide lower than 10%. The
carbon dioxide with an extremely high concentration is mainly distributed in
Changling, Songnan and Dongfang 1-1 gas fields. Carbon dioxide in the former two
is mantle-derived while that in the later one was crust-derived.
90.3% of the gas sample has the nitrogen content lower than 10% with an average
value of 3.56%. The nitrogen with an extremely high concentration is mainly
distributed in Tazhong, Hetianhe, Ledong22-1 and Dongfang 1-1 gas fields which are
all crust-derived.

Table 1. The main molecular compositions of natural gases in Chinese giant gas
fields.

Continued
650 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

Continued
ENERGY EXPLORATION & EXPLOITATION · Volume 32 · Number 4 · 2014 651

Hydrogen sulfide was detected in 12 giant gas fields. Its concentration mainly
varies from 0.01% to 5%, with an average value of 4.91%. The sour gas reservoirs are
highly-contralized in the Triassic and the Sichuan Basin has the largest number of sour
gas fields (8), the highest concentration in a single well (58.34%) and the broadest
distribution of producing zones for sour gas. 7 highly-concentrated sour gas fields (2%
~ 70%) are found and these hydrogen sulfide are all generated by TSR reaction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to the guidance by academician Dai Jinxing and the financial support from the
Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (No. 41303037).
652 Characteristics of gas compositions in giant gas fields of China

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