Position-Specific Isotopes in Propane of Natural Gas: Tracing of Hydrocarbon Generation, Evolution, and Secondary Alteration
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摘要: 天然气中丙烷位置特异性同位素研究是当前油气地球化学的前沿热点.系统介绍了天然气中丙烷位置特异性同位素组成的测试技术进展，探讨了其分布特征的控制机理，并阐述了该技术对烷烃形成路径、排滞过程及次生改造作用的示踪原理与应用.此外，基于烃源岩热脱附烃的丙烷位置特异性同位素组成分析，实现了天然气藏与多套邻近烃源岩之间的精细气源对比.该技术为研究天然气的形成、演化与改造提供了新型示踪工具.最后展望指出，未来需结合烷烃单体与甲烷团簇同位素组成，以深化该方法在复杂地质条件下的应用.Abstract: The study of position-specific isotopes in natural gas propane is becoming a new hotspot in petroleum geochemistry. In this paper it summarizes advancements in analytical techniques for determining position-specific isotope compositions of propane in natural gas and examines the controlling mechanisms of position-specific isotope distributions in natural gases, which provides a novel means to trace hydrocarbon generation pathways, expulsion-retention processes and secondary alteration. By applying position-specific isotope signatures of propane desorbed from source rock, gas source correlation can be achieved, especially in basins with multiple adjacent source rock intervals. In summary, position-specific isotopes of propane provide a powerful tool for elucidating the formation, evolution, and alteration processes of natural gases. Further studies should integrate compound-specific isotope of alkane gases and clumped isotope of methane to extend its application to more complex geological systems.
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图 1 美国页岩气丙烷位置特异性碳氢同位素组成与热力学平衡模型比较
Woodford页岩气样品数据来自于Liu et al.（2019），Eagle Ford页岩气数据来自于Zhao et al.（2020），热力学平衡模型中250~ 500 K和300~600 K数据分别来自于Webb and Miller（2014）和Piasecki et al.（2016b）
Fig. 1. Comparison of position-specific carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of propane from US shale gases with thermodynamic equilibrium models
图 2 我国典型含油气盆地天然气丙烷位置特异性碳同位素组成分布特征与热力学平衡模型比较
三塘湖盆地油型气数据来自于Liu et al.（2024），鄂尔多斯盆地奥陶系盐下天然气数据来自于Liu et al.（2026），鄂尔多斯盆地长7页岩油伴生气数据来自于Guo et al.（2025），四川盆地志留系页岩气数据来自于Song et al.（2025），鄂尔多斯盆地、吐哈盆地、塔里木盆地、四川盆地与渤海湾盆地煤型气数据来自于Liu et al.（2023b）和Wang et al.（2024），热力学平衡模型中250~500 K和300~600 K数据分别来自于Webb and Miller（2014）和Piasecki et al.（2016b）
Fig. 2. Comparison of position-specific carbon isotope compositions of propane from natural gas in Chinese sedimentary basins with thermodynamic equilibrium models
图 3 有机质裂解形成丙烷反应路径与位置特异性碳同位素分馏
Fig. 3. Reaction pathways and position-specific carbon isotope fractionation during propane generation via organic matter cracking
图 4 煤型气丙烷位置特异性同位素组成特征
天然气样品数据来自于Liu et al.（2023b）与Wang et al.（2024），煤岩热模拟实验结果来自于Li and Horita（2022）
Fig. 4. Position-specific isotopic compositions of propane in coal-type gases
图 5 油型气丙烷位置特异性同位素组成特征
美国Arkoma盆地Woodford页岩气、美国得克萨斯州南部Eagle Ford页岩气、鄂尔多斯盆地延长组页岩油伴生气与三塘湖盆地低熟油型气和四川盆地志留系页岩气数据分别来自于Liu et al.(2019, 2024)、Zhao et al.（2020）、Guo et al.（2025）和Song et al.（2025），Woodford页岩热解实验数据来自于Li and Horita（2022），n-C25裂解实验数据来自于Gilbert et al.（2019）
Fig. 5. Position-specific isotopic compositions of propane in oil-type gases
图 6 不同体系条件下丙烷位置特异性同位素组成演化特征（a）与线性拟合（b）(Song et al., 2025)
Fig. 6. Evolution of position-specific isotopic compositions in propane under varying system conditions (a) and linear fitting (b) (Song et al., 2025)
图 7 烃源岩热脱附烃提取收集装置(改自Liu et al. (2025))
Fig. 7. Scheme of thermal desorption apparatus (modified from Liu et al.(2025))
图 8 吐哈盆地煤系烃源岩热脱附气丙烷位置特异性同位素组成特征
热脱附气样品数据来源于Liu et al.（2025）
Fig. 8. δ13Ccentral vs. δ13Cterminal of propane in natural gases and thermally desorbed gases from the Jurassic source rocks of the Turpan-Hami basin
图 9 吐哈盆地天然气与煤系烃源岩热脱附气丙烷末端碳同位素组成与丙烷单体碳同位素组成三维关系
天然气与热脱附气样品数据来源于Liu et al.（2025）
Fig. 9. Three-dimensional scatter plot showing the position-specific isotopic composition of propane in natural gases and thermally desorbed gases from the Jurassic source rocks of the Turpan-Hami basin
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