Relationship of hydrocarbon and source-rock in Nos.3–5 tectonic belts of the Lenghu area, northern Qaidam Basin

Based on analyses of the components of crude oil hydrocarbons and carbon isotopes, the content of normal alkane decreased from 49.00% to 20.10% when moving from the No.3 to No.5 tectonic belt of the Lenghu area of the Qaidam Basin, while cycloalkanes increased from 30.00% to 52.20% and aromatic and branch chain alkanes increased gradually as well. The maturity of sterane in crude oil is higher than that of its source-rock, which shows that the hydrocarbons were generated from a deep source-rock of high maturity around the tectonic belts of the Lenghu area. The analysis of the characteristics of carbon isotopes also shows that these isotopes of hydrocarbon compounds in the No.4 and No.5 tectonic belt are apparently heavier than those in the No.3 belt. The results of our research show that the hydrocarbons in the No.3 tectonic belt are mainly from a relatively rich sapropelic substance, while the hydrocarbons in the No.4 and No.5 tectonic belt originated mainly from organic matter of a relatively rich humic type substance.