A Comprehensive Method for Exploring In Situ Oil Sands

摘要

There are an estimated 41.41×10~8 tons of in situ oil sands resources in China, of which 19.16× 1()~8 tons are recoverable. SAGD and Solve are the methods primarily used for exploiting in situ oil sands deposits. Oil sands exploration can be divided into three stages: preliminary exploration, prospection, and detailed exploration. The objectives and methods employed in each stage are based on the geological conditions particular to the oil sands deposits. The authors propose an integrated method involving the use of geological, geochemical, and geophysical exploration techniques for exploring in situ oil sands deposits. The methods employed include geochemical exploration, transient electromagnetic analysis, oil-gas self-potential method, drilling, logging, forecasting and analysis, and geological comprehensive research. The geochemical and geophysical anomalies identified in the preliminary stage are tested by drilling, and the results are used to determine whether the oil sands should be examined in the prospection stage. During the prospection stage, the commercial value of the oil sands is estimated. Oil sands with commercial value are further examined during the detailed exploration stage, where the forming conditions and main characteristics of the oil sands are described in detail. In addition, the extent of the reserves is identified, and an estimate of the economic and technological requirements for developing the oil sands is made during this final phase. The authors successfully used the proposed method to examine the oil sands deposits in the western part of the Songliao basin. This integrated method is an important analytical tool for promoting the development of in situ oil sands in China and abroad.