Controls on microbial response above typical oil and gas reservoirs in the Junggar Basin and implications for exploration
4 affiliations
- 1Peking University Ordos Research Institute of Energy
- 2Inner Mongolia Industrial Technology Engineering Center of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage
- 3School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University
- 4AE&E Institute
Abstract
Introduction: Microbial hydrocarbon exploration, which is based on the theory of light hydrocarbon microseepage, has played an increasingly important role in oil and gas exploration. However, the microbial response characteristics above different types of hydrocarbon reservoirs and their geological controlling factors remain poorly understood, severely constraining the predictive effectiveness of microbial prospecting.
Methods: In this study, butane-oxidizing bacteria were selected as indicator microorganisms to systematically investigate their distribution characteristics above structural, lithologic, and stratigraphic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Junggar Basin and to elucidate the dominant geological controls. A total of 1,607 soil samples were collected at depths of 20–25 cm from two study areas. Microbial values (MV) were determined using a gradient dilution–selective cultivation–colony counting method. Combined with correlation analysis and seismic profile overlay, the relationships between MV anomalies and geological conditions of hydrocarbon reservoirs were established.
Results and discussion: The results indicate that the microbial anomaly distributions are consistent with the predominantly near-vertical migration theory of light hydrocarbons. Structural reservoirs exhibit large-scale, high-intensity MV anomalies, which closely coincide with anticline cores. Lithologic reservoirs are characterized by irregular, band-shaped MV anomalies, whereas stratigraphic reservoirs show clustered anomalies near pinch-out zones. The mean MV is strongly positively correlated with hydrocarbon enrichment ( R ² = 0.8035) but only weakly correlated with reservoir pressure ( R ² = 0.0308) and crude oil density ( R ² = 0.0515). Light hydrocarbons in the reservoir could still migrate to the surface even when covered by thick mudstone caprocks. Hydrocarbon enrichment in subsurface reservoirs plays a critical role in shaping the surface distribution of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria. The microbial response models established for different types of hydrocarbon reservoirs provide robust theoretical support and technical references for hydrocarbon prediction in geologically complex areas.
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BibTeX
@article{ding2026controls,
title = {{Controls on microbial response above typical oil and gas reservoirs in the Junggar Basin and implications for exploration}},
author = {Li Ding and Linfeng Wu and Shuai Luo and Yubing Wu and Hui Wu and Hai Mei},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1979085},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1979085/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Controls on microbial response above typical oil and gas reservoirs in the Junggar Basin and implications for exploration
AU - Li Ding
AU - Linfeng Wu
AU - Shuai Luo
AU - Yubing Wu
AU - Hui Wu
AU - Hai Mei
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1979085
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1979085/full
AB - Introduction: Microbial hydrocarbon exploration, which is based on the theory of light hydrocarbon microseepage, has played an increasingly important role in oil and gas exploration. However, the microbial response characteristics above different types of hydrocarbon reservoirs and their geological controlling factors remain poorly understood, severely constraining the predictive effectiveness of microbial prospecting. Methods: In this study, butane-oxidizing bacteria were selected as indicator microorganisms to systematically investigate their distribution characteristics above structural, lithologic, and stratigraphic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Junggar Basin and to elucidate the dominant geological controls. A total of 1,607 soil samples were collected at depths of 20–25 cm from two study areas. Microbial values (MV) were determined using a gradient dilution–selective cultivation–colony counting method. Combined with correlation analysis and seismic profile overlay, the relationships between MV anomalies and geological conditions of hydrocarbon reservoirs were established. Results and discussion: The results indicate that the microbial anomaly distributions are consistent with the predominantly near-vertical migration theory of light hydrocarbons. Structural reservoirs exhibit large-scale, high-intensity MV anomalies, which closely coincide with anticline cores. Lithologic reservoirs are characterized by irregular, band-shaped MV anomalies, whereas stratigraphic reservoirs show clustered anomalies near pinch-out zones. The mean MV is strongly positively correlated with hydrocarbon enrichment ( R ² = 0.8035) but only weakly correlated with reservoir pressure ( R ² = 0.0308) and crude oil density ( R ² = 0.0515). Light hydrocarbons in the reservoir could still migrate to the surface even when covered by thick mudstone caprocks. Hydrocarbon enrichment in subsurface reservoirs plays a critical role in shaping the surface distribution of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria. The microbial response models established for different types of hydrocarbon reservoirs provide robust theoretical support and technical references for hydrocarbon prediction in geologically complex areas.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -