Daily Variation of Natural Emission of Methane to the Atmosphere and Source Identification in the Luntai Fault Region of the Yakela Condensed Oil/Gas Field in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Abstract: The static flux chamber method was applied to study natural emissions of methane to the atmosphere in the Luntai fault region of Yakela Condensed Oil/Gas Field in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Municipality, northwestern China. Using an online method, which couples together a gas chromatography/high‐temperature conversion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/MS), 13 C/ 12 C ratios of methane in flux chambers were measured and showed that methane gases are liable to migrate from deep oil/gas reservoirs to the surface through fault regions and that a part of the migrated methane, which remains unoxidized can be emitted into the atmosphere. Methane emission rates were found to be highest in the mornings, lowest in the afternoons and then increase gradually in the evenings. Methane emission rates varied dramatically in different locations in the fault region. The highest methane emission rate was 10.96 mg/m 2. d, the lowest 4.38 mg/m 2 , and the average 7.55 mg/m 2. d. The 13 C/ 12 C ratios of the methane in the flux chambers became heavier as the enclosed methane concentrations increased gradually, which reveals that methane released from the fault region might come from thermogenic methane of the deep condensed oil/gas reservoir.