Sedimentary Processes and Depositional Characteristics of Coarse-grained Subaqueous Fans along Steep Slopes in a Lacustrine Rift Basin:A Case Study from the Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China

Coarse-grained subaqueous fans are vital oil and gas exploration targets in the Bohai Bay basin,China.The insufficient understanding of their sedimentary processes,depositional patterns,and controlling factors restricts efficient exploration and development.Coarse-grained subaqueous fans in the Yong′an area,Dongying Depression,are investigated in this study.These fans include nearshore subaqueous fans,and sublacustrine fans,and their sedimentary processes,depositional patterns and distribution characteristics are mainly controlled by tectonic activity and paleogeomorphology.Nearshore subaqueous fans developed near the boundary fault during the early–middle deposition stage due to strong tectonic activity and large topographic subsidence.Early sublacustrine fans developed at the front of the nearshore subaqueous fans in the area where the topography changed from gentle to steep along the source direction.While the topography was gentle,sublacustrine fans did not develop.During the late weak tectonic activity stage,late sublacustrine fans developed with multiple stages superimposed.Frequent fault activity and related earthquakes steepened the basin margin,and the boundary fault slopes were 25.9°–34°.During the early–middle deposition stage,hyperpycnal flows triggered by outburst floods developed.During the late deposition stage,with weak tectonic activity,seasonal floods triggered hyperpycnal flows,and hybrid event beds developed distally.

Anatomy of Eastern Niger Rift Basin with Specific References of Its Petroleum Systems

An attempt is made in this paper to present the dynamics of the Eastern Niger Rift Basin (ENRB) with references to the key features and processes of petroleum systems based on published information. The Eastern Niger Basin is a superimposed rift basin with sedimentary structures emplaced during two rifts episodes. The Cretaceous episode is characterized by large, tilted normally faulted blocks trending NW-SE, that were reactivated in the Paleogene, while the Paleogene episode is characterized by normal faulted blocks that trend NNW-SSE. The rifting resulted in different basin structures with the north section dominated by asymmetric half-grabens while the south section is dominated by full-grabens. Three source rocks each belonging to three different play fairways exist: 1) The Paleogene Sokor-1 Member source belongs to second cycle syn-rift play associated with fluvial/deltaic facies;2) Cretaceous Yogou and Donga sources from first cycle post-rift play associated with alluvial/fluvial/deltaic and marine clastic and carbonate facies;and 3) Cretaceous Yogou source from first cycle transitional play associated with mudstone and shale of transitional facies. The ENRB comprises two source-reservoir-seal assemblages: a lower assemblage of Upper Cretaceous and an Upper assemblage of the Paleogene. Except for the Yogou source which possesses a self-contained petroleum system, the rest of the source rocks release their oils into the Paleogene Sokor-1 Member reservoir sealed regionally by the Oligocene Sokor-2 Member. The Paleogene assemblage is charged from the Upper Cretaceous Yogou Formation through fractures emplaced during the rifting episodes.