Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin

Helium is a strategic and scarce resource. The enrichment mechanism of helium-rich gas reservoirs has become a research hotspot in the global energy field. This article takes the Qingyang gas field in the Ordos Basin as a case study. Through analyzing the components of natural gas and noble gas isot...

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Main Authors: Yue Chen, Shizhen Tao, Jianrong Gao, Yiqing Yang, Rui Kang, Yanyan Chen, Xiangbai Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-09-01
Series:Energy Exploration & Exploitation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987251348069
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author Yue Chen
Shizhen Tao
Jianrong Gao
Yiqing Yang
Rui Kang
Yanyan Chen
Xiangbai Liu
author_facet Yue Chen
Shizhen Tao
Jianrong Gao
Yiqing Yang
Rui Kang
Yanyan Chen
Xiangbai Liu
author_sort Yue Chen
collection DOAJ
description Helium is a strategic and scarce resource. The enrichment mechanism of helium-rich gas reservoirs has become a research hotspot in the global energy field. This article takes the Qingyang gas field in the Ordos Basin as a case study. Through analyzing the components of natural gas and noble gas isotope ratios by geochemical means, in combination with the study of the key controlling parameters of helium generation in helium source rocks, the origin of helium gas, the enrichment mechanism, and the geological controlling factors are systematically revealed. The research findings are as follows: (1) The helium content in the Qingyang gas field varies between 0.073% and 0.16%, the average content is 0.095%, and the helium isotope ratio 3 He/ 4 He is between 2.50 × 10 −8 and 3.85 × 10 −8 , showing that the helium is typical of crustal origin; (2) Although the helium generation rate of the Archean basement is lower than that of bauxite, due to its ancient geological age, wide distribution area, and massive thickness, the amount of 4 He accumulated during the long-term geological evolution is 1582 times, 3646 times, and 13,664 times that of mudstone, bauxite, and sandstone, respectively, making it a superior helium source rock; (3) The erosion of the Lower Paleozoic caused direct contact between the Upper Paleozoic strata and the basement, forming a short-distance migration channel. Although it restricts the extraction of helium by gas–water interaction, its near-source accumulation characteristics are important for helium enrichment.
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issn 0144-5987
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publishDate 2025-09-01
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series Energy Exploration & Exploitation
spelling doaj-art-40909a85833d4f96bf820cbd456768dd2025-08-20T03:15:26ZengSAGE PublishingEnergy Exploration & Exploitation0144-59872048-40542025-09-014310.1177/01445987251348069Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos BasinYue Chen0Shizhen Tao1Jianrong Gao2Yiqing Yang3Rui Kang4Yanyan Chen5Xiangbai Liu6 PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, China PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, China PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, China PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, China Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi’an, China PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, China PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, ChinaHelium is a strategic and scarce resource. The enrichment mechanism of helium-rich gas reservoirs has become a research hotspot in the global energy field. This article takes the Qingyang gas field in the Ordos Basin as a case study. Through analyzing the components of natural gas and noble gas isotope ratios by geochemical means, in combination with the study of the key controlling parameters of helium generation in helium source rocks, the origin of helium gas, the enrichment mechanism, and the geological controlling factors are systematically revealed. The research findings are as follows: (1) The helium content in the Qingyang gas field varies between 0.073% and 0.16%, the average content is 0.095%, and the helium isotope ratio 3 He/ 4 He is between 2.50 × 10 −8 and 3.85 × 10 −8 , showing that the helium is typical of crustal origin; (2) Although the helium generation rate of the Archean basement is lower than that of bauxite, due to its ancient geological age, wide distribution area, and massive thickness, the amount of 4 He accumulated during the long-term geological evolution is 1582 times, 3646 times, and 13,664 times that of mudstone, bauxite, and sandstone, respectively, making it a superior helium source rock; (3) The erosion of the Lower Paleozoic caused direct contact between the Upper Paleozoic strata and the basement, forming a short-distance migration channel. Although it restricts the extraction of helium by gas–water interaction, its near-source accumulation characteristics are important for helium enrichment.https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987251348069
spellingShingle Yue Chen
Shizhen Tao
Jianrong Gao
Yiqing Yang
Rui Kang
Yanyan Chen
Xiangbai Liu
Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
Energy Exploration & Exploitation
title Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
title_full Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
title_fullStr Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
title_full_unstemmed Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
title_short Genesis, source, and enrichment factors of helium in Qingyang gas field, Ordos Basin
title_sort genesis source and enrichment factors of helium in qingyang gas field ordos basin
url https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987251348069
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