Geochemistry and origins of hydrogen-containing natural gases in deep Songliao Basin,China:Insights from continental scientific drilling

The different reservoirs in deep Songliao Basin have non-homogeneous lithologies and include multiple layers with a high content of hydrogen gas.The gas composition and stable isotope characteristics vary significantly,but the origin analysis of different gas types has previously been weak.Based on the geochemical parameters of gas samples from different depths and the analysis of geological settings,this research covers the diverse origins of natural gas in different strata.The gas components are mainly methane with a small amount of C_(2+),and non-hydrocarbon gases,including nitrogen(N_(2)),hydrogen(H_(2)),carbon dioxide(CO_(2)),and helium(He).At greater depth,the carbon isotope of methane becomes heavier,and the hydrogen isotope points to a lacustrine sedimentary environment.With increasing depth,the origins of N_(2)and CO_(2)change gradually from a mixture of organic and inorganic to inorganic.The origins of hydrogen gas are complex and include organic sources,water radiolysis,water-rock(Fe^(2+)-containing minerals)reactions,and mantle-derived.The shales of Denglouku and Shahezi Formations,as source rocks,provide the premise for generation and occurrence of organic gas.Furthermore,the deep faults and fluid activities in Basement Formation control the generation and migration of mantle-derived gas.The discovery of a high content of H_(2)in study area not only reveals the organic and inorganic association of natural-gas generation,but also provides a scientific basis for the exploration of deep hydrogen-rich gas.

Discovery of nano organo-clay complex pore-fractures in shale and its scientific significance:A case study of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation shale,Songliao Basin,NE China

A new pore type,nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fracture was first discovered based on argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscopy,energy dispersive spectroscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction by focused ion-scanning electron in combination with analysis of TOC,R_(o)values,X-ray diffraction etc.in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation shale in the Songliao Basin,NE China.Such pore characteristics and evolution study show that:(1)Organo-clay complex pore-fractures are developed in the shale matrix and in the form of spongy and reticular aggregates.Different from circular or oval organic pores discovered in other shales,a single organo-clay complex pore is square,rectangular,rhombic or slaty,with the pore diameter generally less than 200 nm.(2)With thermal maturity increasing,the elements(C,Si,Al,O,Mg,Fe,etc.)in organo-clay complex change accordingly,showing that organic matter shrinkage due to hydrocarbon generation and clay mineral transformation both affect organo-clay complex pore-fracture formation.(3)At high thermal maturity,the Qingshankou Formation shale is dominated by nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures with the percentage reaching more than 70%of total pore space.The spatial connectivity of organo-clay complex pore-fractures is significantly better than that of organic pores.It is suggested that organo-complex pore-fractures are the main pore space of laminar shale at high thermal maturity and are the main oil and gas accumulation space in the core area of continental shale oil.The discovery of nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures changes the conventional view that inorganic pores are the main reservoir space and has scientific significance for the study of shale oil formation and accumulation laws.

Paleoenvironmental Evolution and Organic Matter Enrichment Genesis of the Late Turonian Black Shale in the Southern Songliao Basin,NE China

The Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation black shales,deposited in the late Turonian(LTB shales),are the main source rocks of the Songliao Basin.The origins of organic matter enrichment of the shales is a contentious subject fuelling many ongoing debates.This study investigates the genesis of the organic matter-rich shale by using molecular geochemistry.The LTB shales can be divided into three sections.The SectionⅠshales were deposited in saline,stratified and anoxic water conditions,which are related to seawater incursion events.At least three episodic and periodic seawater incursion events were recognized during SectionⅠshale deposition.The SectionⅡshales deposited in brackish to fresh and deep lake-level conditions with high primary productivity,which are related to lake-level transgression.The SectionⅢshales were deposited under fresh and slightly oxidized water conditions,which are related to lake-level regression.Two organic matter enrichment models for the LTB shales are identified,that is,the seawater incursion model and the maximum lake-level transgression sedimentation model,which act on different shale sections,both playing significant roles in the enrichment of organic matter.

Discovery and Significance of the Triassic–Late Paleozoic Double-layered Basement in the Songliao Basin:Based on the Complete Coring Data from ICDP Borehole SK2

The Songliao Basin(SLB)covers an area of approximately 260,000 km2in northeastern Asia and preserves a continuous and complete Cretaceous terrestrial record(Wang et al.,2021).The region is the most important petroliferous sedimentary basin in China because of its continual annual oil and gas equivalent production of tens of millions of tons(ca.220–440 million barrels per year)since 1959.The SLB was previously thought to have developed on Hercynian basement and accumulated continuous sedimentary deposits during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous(Wan et al.,2013;Wang et al.,2016).

Genetic mechanism and petroleum geological significance of calcite veins in organic-rich shales of lacustrine basin:A case study of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in Songliao Basin,China

Based on the observation and analysis of cores and thin sections,and combined with cathodoluminescence,laser Raman,fluid inclusions,and in-situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating,the genetic mechanism and petroleum geological significance of calcite veins in shales of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin were investigated.Macroscopically,the calcite veins are bedding parallel,and show lenticular,S-shaped,cone-in-cone and pinnate structures.Microscopically,they can be divided into syntaxial blocky or columnar calcite veins and antitaxial fibrous calcite veins.The aqueous fluid inclusions in blocky calcite veins have a homogenization temperature of 132.5–145.1℃,the in-situ U-Pb dating age of blocky calcite veins is(69.9±5.2)Ma,suggesting that the middle maturity period of source rocks and the conventional oil formation period in the Qingshankou Formation are the sedimentary period of Mingshui Formation in Late Cretaceous.The aqueous fluid inclusions in fibrous calcite veins with the homogenization temperature of 141.2–157.4℃,yields the U-Pb age of(44.7±6.9)Ma,indicating that the middle-high maturity period of source rocks and the Gulong shale oil formation period in the Qingshankou Formation are the sedimentary period of Paleocene Yi'an Formaiton.The syntaxial blocky or columnar calcite veins were formed sensitively to the diagenetic evolution and hydrocarbon generation,mainly in three stages(fracture opening,vein-forming fluid filling,and vein growth).Tectonic extrusion activities and fluid overpressure are induction factors for the formation of fractures,and vein-forming fluid flows mainly as diffusion in a short distance.These veins generally follow a competitive growth mode.The antitaxial fibrous calcite veins were formed under the driving of the force of crystallization in a non-competitive growth environment.It is considered that the calcite veins in organic-rich shale of the Qingshankou Formation in the study area has important implications for local tectonic activities,fluid overpressure,hydrocarbon generation and expulsion,and diagenesis-hydrocarbon accumulation dating of the Songliao Basin.

Geological characteristics of unconventional tight oil reservoir (10^(9) t): A case study of Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, northern Songliao Basin, NE China

The Daqing exploration area in the northern Songliao Basin has great potential for unconventional oil and gas resources,among which the total resources of tight oil alone exceed 109 t and is regarded as an important resource base of Daqing oilfield.After years of exploration in the Qijia area,Songliao Basin,NE China,tight oil has been found in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation.To work out tight oil’s geological characteristics,taking tight oil in Gaotaizi oil layers of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin as an example,this paper systematically analyzed the geological characteristics of unconventional tight oil in Gao3 and Gao4 layers of the Qijia area,based on the data of the geological survey,well drilling journey,well logging,and test.It is that three sets of hydrocarbon source rocks(K2qn1,K2qn2+3,and K2n1)develop in the examined area,and exhibit excellent type I and II kerogens,high organic matter abundance,and moderate maturity.The reservoir is generally composed of thin-bedded mudstone,siltstone,and sandstone,and presents poor porosity(average 8.5 vol.%)and air permeability(average 4 mD).The main reservoir space primarily includes intergranular pores,secondary soluble pores,and intergranular soluble pores.Three types of orifice throats were identified,namely fine throat,extra-fine throat,and micro-fine throat.The siltstone is generally oil-bearing,the reservoirs with slime and calcium become worse oil-bearing,and the mudstone has no obvious oil-bearing characteristics.The brittleness indices of the sandstone in the tight oil reservoir range from 40%to 60%,and those of the mudstone range from 40%to 45%,indicating a better brittleness of the tight oil reservoir.Based on the study of typical core hole data,this paper gives a comprehensive evaluation of the properties of the tight oil and establishes a tight oil single well composite bar chart as well as the initial evaluation system with the core of properties in the tight oil reservoir.This study has theoretical guiding significance and practical application value for tight oil exploration and evaluation in the Qijia area.

Organic matter enrichment model of fine-grained rocks in volcanic rift lacustrine basin:A case study of lower submember of second member of Lower Cretaceous Shahezi Formation in Lishu rift depression of Songliao Basin,NE China

Based on sedimentary characteristics of the fine-grained rocks of the lower submember of second member of the Lower Cretaceous Shahezi Formation(K_(1)sh_(2)^(L))in the Lishu rift depression,combined with methods of organic petrology,analysis of major and trace elements as well as biological marker compound,the enrichment conditions and enrichment model of organic matter in the fine-grained sedimentary rocks in volcanic rift lacustrine basin are investigated.The change of sedimentary paleoenvironment controls the vertical distribution of different lithofacies types in the K_(1)sh_(2)^(L)and divides it into the upper and lower parts.The lower part contains massive siliceous mudstone with bioclast-bearing siliceous mudstone,whereas the upper part is mostly composed of laminated siliceous shale and laminated fine-grained mixed shale.The kerogen types of organic matter in the lower and upper parts are typesⅡ_(2)–Ⅲand typesⅠ–Ⅱ_(1),respectively.The organic carbon content in the upper part is higher than that in the lower part generally.The enrichment of organic matter in volcanic rift lacustrine basin is subjected to three favorable conditions.First,continuous enhancement of rifting is the direct factor increasing the paleo-water depth,and the rise of base level leads to the expansion of deep-water mudstone/shale deposition range.Second,relatively strong underwater volcanic eruption and rifting are simultaneous,and such event can provide a lot of nutrients for the lake basin,which is conducive to the bloom of algae,resulting in higher productivity of typesⅠ–Ⅱ_(1)kerogen.Third,the relatively dry paleoclimate leads to a decrease in input of fresh water and terrestrial materials,including TypeⅢkerogen from terrestrial higher plants,resulting in a water body with higher salinity and anoxic stratification,which is more favorable for preservation of organic matter.The organic matter enrichment model of fine-grained sedimentary rocks of volcanic rift lacustrine basin is established,which is of reference significance to the understanding of the organic matter enrichment mechanism of fine-grained sedimentary rocks of Shahezi Formation in Songliao Basin and even in the northeast China.

Enrichment model and major controlling factors of below-source tight oil in Lower Cretaceous Fuyu reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin,NE China

Based on the geochemical,seismic,logging and drilling data,the Fuyu reservoirs of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation in northern Songliao Basin are systematically studied in terms of the geological characteristics,the tight oil enrichment model and its major controlling factors.First,the Quantou Formation is overlaid by high-quality source rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation,with the development of nose structure around sag and the broad and continuous distribution of sand bodies.The reservoirs are tight on the whole.Second,the configuration of multiple elements,such as high-quality source rocks,reservoir rocks,fault,overpressure and structure,controls the tight oil enrichment in the Fuyu reservoirs.The source-reservoir combination controls the tight oil distribution pattern.The pressure difference between source and reservoir drives the charging of tight oil.The fault-sandbody transport system determines the migration and accumulation of oil and gas.The positive structure is the favorable place for tight oil enrichment,and the fault-horst zone is the key part of syncline area for tight oil exploration.Third,based on the source-reservoir relationship,transport mode,accumulation dynamics and other elements,three tight oil enrichment models are recognized in the Fuyu reservoirs:(1)vertical or lateral migration of hydrocarbon from source rocks to adjacent reservoir rocks,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon generated is migrated vertically or laterally to and accumulates in the adjacent reservoir rocks;(2)transport of hydrocarbon through faults between separated source and reservoirs,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon migrates downward through faults to the sandbodies that are separated from the source rocks;and(3)migration of hydrocarbon through faults and sandbodies between separated source and reservoirs,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon migrates downwards through faults to the reservoir rocks that are separated from the source rocks,and then migrates laterally through sandbodies.Fourth,the differences in oil source conditions,charging drive,fault distribution,sandbody and reservoir physical properties cause the differential enrichment of tight oil in the Fuyu reservoirs.Comprehensive analysis suggests that the Fuyu reservoir in the Qijia-Gulong Sag has good conditions for tight oil enrichment and has been less explored,and it is an important new zone for tight oil exploration in the future.

Distribution and genesis of the anomalously high porosity zones in the middle-shallow horizons of the northern Songliao Basin

High-quality reservoirs occur in the middle-shallow horizons of the northern Songliao Basin. The distribution and genesis of their anomalously high porosity zones were studied using measured porosities, examination of ordinary thin sections and blue epoxy resin-impregnated thin sections and by SEM. The results show that there are three anomalously high porosity zones at the depth of 450-900 m, 1,300-1,900 m, 2,050-2,350 m respectively, named zone i, zone ii and zone iii from top to bottom. Horizontally, zone i and zone ii are distributed all over the basin except in the Southeastern Uplift, while zone iii is only distributed in the Central Depression. Zone i was formed by meteoric water leaching as well as organic acid dissolution. Zones ii and iii were dominantly formed by organic acid dissolution. Additionally, clay mineral transformation generating H＋ and hydrocarbon emplacement retarding the cementation of sandstones are also important for the formation of zones ii and iii.

The Cretaceous Songliao Basin:Volcanogenic Succession,Sedimentary Sequence and Tectonic Evolution,NE China

The Songliao basin （SB） is a superposed basin with two different kinds of basin fills. The lower one is characterized by a fault-bounded volcanogenic succession comprising of intercalated volcanic, pyrodastic and epiclastic rocks. The volcanic rocks, dating from 110 Ma to 130 Ma, are of geochemically active continental margin type. Fast northward migration of the SB block occurred during the major episodes of the volcanism inferred from their paleomagnetic information. The upper one of the basin fill is dominated by non-marine sag-style sedimentary sequence of silicidastics and minor carbonates. The basin center shifted westwards from the early to late Cretaceous revealed by the GGT seismic velocity structure suggesting dynamic change in the basin evolution. Thus, a superposed basin model is proposed. Evolution of the SB involves three periods including （1） Alptian and pre- Aptian： a retroarc basin and range system of Andes type related to Mongolia-Okhotsk collisional belt （MOCB）; （2） Albian to Companian： a sag-like strike-slip basin under transtension related to oblique subduction of the Pacific plate along the eastern margin of the Eurasian plate; （3） since Maastrichtian： a tectonic inverse basin under compression related to normal subduction of the Pacific plate under the Eurasian plate, characterized by overthrust, westward migration of the depocenter and eastward uplifting of the basin margin.

Discovery and Significance of High CH_4 Primary Fluid Inclusions in Reservoir Volcanic Rocks of the Songliao Basin,NE China

Comparing compositions of the fluid inclusions in volcanic rocks to the contents and isotopes of the gases in corresponding volcanic reservoirs using microthermometry, Raman microspectroscopy and mass spectrum analysis, we found that： （1） up to 82 mole% methane exists in the primary inclusions hosted in the reservoir volcanic rocks; （2） high CH4 inclusions recognized in the volcanic rocks correspond to CH4-bcaring CO2 reservoirs that are rich in helium and with a high ^3He/^4He ratio and which show reversed order of 813C in alkane; （3） in gas reservoirs of such abiotic methane （〉80%） and a mix of CH4 and CO2, the enclosed content of CH4 in the volcanic inclusions is usually below 42 mole%, and the reversed order of δ^13C in alkane is sometimes irregular in the corresponding gas pools; （4） a glassy inclusion with a homogeneous temperature over 900℃ also contains a small portion of CH4 although predominantly CO2. This affinity between gas pool and content of inclusion in the same volcanic reservoirs demonstrates that magma-originated gases, both CH4 and CO2, have contributed significantly to the corresponding gas pools and that the assumed hydrocarbon budget of the bulk earth might be much larger than conventionally supposed.

Reservoir Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale and Marine Shale:Examples from the Songliao Basin,Bohai Bay Basin and Qiannan Depression

Lacustrine shale from the Qingshankou Formatin of Songliao basin and the Shahejie Formation of Bohai Bay basin, and marine shale from the lower Cambrian Jinmenchong Formation of Qiannan depression were analysed by using rock pyrolysis, TOC （total organic carbon）, XRD （X-ray diffraction）, SEM （scanning electron microscope）, FE-SEM （field emission scanning electron microscope）, high pressure mercury intrusion, and low pressure N2 and CO2 gas adsorption experiments, in aim to reveal their reservoir features. The results show that： （1） the width of micro-pores of all the studied samples mainly ranges from 0.45 to 0.7 nm indicated by CO2 isotherms, and the width of meso-pores is less than 10 nm, with type IV adsorption isotherms and type H2 hysteresis loop, indicative of ＂ink-bottle＂-shaped pores. Good correlations exist among pore volume, surface area and averaged pore diameter, and a good positive correlation exists between micro-pore volume and TOC content; however, there is no obvious correlation between meso-pore volume and TOC content; （2） interparticle pores, pores among the edge of mineral grains and organic matter pores were all identified in marine and lacustrine shale, among which the interparticle pores may be influence by dissolution effect. Not all bitumen develops organic matter pore, and only high to over mature bitumen present pores. Now the description methods of micrometer scale pores developed in shale are very lack. Micro- fractures developed in Jiyang depression and dissolution interparticle pores developed in Songliao Basin should be the accumulation sites for shale oil in lacustrine shale, and can be as sweet spots.

Origin and Distribution of Groundwater Chemical Fields of the Oilfield in the Songliao Basin,NE China

There are many factors affecting the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the forming process of groundwater chemical fields, such as freshening due to meteoric water leaching downwards, freshening due to mudstone compaction and water release, concentration due to infiltration and freshening due to dehydration of clay minerals. As a result, the groundwater chemical fields are characterized by lengthwise stages and planar selectivity. The former arouses vertical chemical zonality of groundwater. Five units could be identified downwards in the Songliao basin： （1） freshening zone due to downward-leaching meteoric water, （2） concentration zone due to evaporation near the ground surface, （3） freshening zone due to mudstone compaction and water release, and concentration zone due to compaction and infiltration, （4） freshening zone due to dehydration of clay minerals, and （5） filtration-concentration zone; whereas the latter determines the planar division of groundwater chemical fields： （1） the freshening area due to meteoric water, asymmetrically on the margin of the basin, （2） the freshening area due to mudstone compaction and water release in the central part of the basin, （3） the leaky area, which is a transitional zone, and （4） leakage-evaporation area, which is a concentration zone. In the direction of centrifugal flows caused by mudstone compaction in the depression area, the mineralization degree, concentrations of Na^＋ and Cl^-, and salinity coefficient （SC） increase, while concentrations of （CO3^2- ＋HCO3^-） and SO4^2-, metamorphism coefficient （MC） and desulfuration coefficient （DSC） decrease. However, all these parameters increase in the direction of gravity-induced centripetal flows.

Sedimentary Characteristics of the Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin

The rupture of the lithosphere in Late Jurassic brought about the eruption of basaltic magma in the Songliao Basin. The evolution of the basin in Cretaceous progressed through six stages: pre-rift doming, extensional fracturing, fault subsidence, fault downwarping, downwarping and shringkage, resulting in the deposition of terrstrial facies nearly 10,000 m thick. There are different depositional sequences in these stages: the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Shahezi and Yincheng Formations is the development stage of the down-faulted basin, forming a volcanic rock-alluvial fan-fan delta-lacustrine (intercalated with episodic turbidites)-swamp facies sequences; the period of the Early Cretaceous Dengluku Formation is the transformation stage of fault subsidence into fault downwarping of the basin, forming a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-lacustrine facies; the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation-Late Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation is the downwarping stage of the basin, forming an alluvial plain-delta-lacustrine facies sequence; the period of the Late Cretaceous Sifangtai Formation-Mingshui Formation is the shringkage stage of the basin, forming again a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-alluvial fan and small relict lacustrine facies. These vertical depositional sequences fully display the sedimentary characteristics of a failed continental rift basin. Many facts indicate that the two large-scale lake invasions, synchronous with the global rise of sea level, which took place in the downwarping stage of the basin development, led to the connection between the lake and sea.

Recognition of Milankovitch Cycles in the Natural Gamma—Ray Logging of Upper Cretaceous Terrestrial Strata in the Songliao Basin

Spectrogram analysis of seven natural gamma-ray logging of Member 1 of the Qingshankou Formation （K2qn^1） and Member 1 and 2 of the Nenjiang Formation （K2n^1-2） of Late Cretaceous age in the Songliao Basin reveals sedimentary cyclicities controlled by Milankovitch climate periodicities. The recognition of Milankovitch cycles allows estimation of an average accumulation rate of ～7.55- 8.62 cm/ka for the K2qn^1 sections, and ～6.69-10.16 cm/ka for the K2n^1-2 sections. Two marine transgression events occurred during the deposition of K2qn^1 and K2n^1-2 and their ages are at ～0.74- 1.10 Ma and ～2.38-4.84 Ma, respectively. Identification of Milankoviteh cycles from fine-grained deep lake sedimentary rocks in the Songliao Basin may provide great potential for high-resolution stratigraphic subdivisions and correlations.

The Statistical Prediction of the Vitrinite Reflectance and Study of the Ancient Geothermal Field in Songliao Basin,China

The resource of the gas from coal and coal measures deep in Songliao Basin has been drawing more and more attention to . It is necessary to find out the evolution regularity of the geothermal field of the basin in addition to a series of geological studies in order to predict its resources because the ancient geothermal field of the basin is one of the main factors controlling the generation , evolution and disappearance of oil and gas . In the recent twenty years , it is generally believed that vitrinite reflectance is the best quantitative marker for the ancient geothermal field . In the present paper , a systematic study of the vitrinite reflectance value of Songliao Basin and its influence factors is made by multiple statistical analysis so as to reconstruct the evolutional process of the Moho and the corresponding geothermal field . Then , an overall prediction is made of the vitrinite reflectance and the distribution of J3-K1 fault basin group at the bottom of Songliao Basin , which provides the evidence for the further prediction of the gas potentiality from coal and coal measures deep in the basin .

High-precision geochronology of the Early Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation and its stratigraphic implications for Songliao Basin,China

The Songliao Basin in Northeast Asia is the largest and longest-lived rift basin and preserves a nearcontinuous continental succession of the most of the Cretaceous period,providing great material to investigate the adaption of the terrestrial systems to the Cretaceous greenhouse climate and tectonic events.However,the paucity of precise and accurate radioisotopic ages from the Early Cretaceous strata of the Songliao Basin has greatly held back the temporal and causal correlation of the continental records to the global Early Cretaceous records.Three tuff layers intercalated in the Yingcheng Formation have been intercepted by the SK-2 borehole,which offer excellent materials for radioisotopic dating and calibration of the chronostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous sequence of Songliao Basin.Moreover,the Yingcheng Formation recorded the largest and the last of the two major volcanic events in Songliao Basin,which also represents a turning point in the basin evolution history of Songliao from syn-rift stage to post-rift stage.Here we report high-precision U–Pb zircon geochronology by the CA-ID-TIMS technique on three tuff samples from the Yingcheng Formation of the SK-2 borehole in the Songliao Basin to construct a greatly improved,absolute age framework for the Yingcheng Formation and provide crucial age constraints for the Songliao Lower Cretaceous Strata.The new CA-ID-TIMS geochronology constrained the Yingcheng Formation at 102.571+0.320/-2.346 Ma to ca.113 Ma,correlating to the Albian Stage.Combined with the previous published Songliao geochronology,the Quantou Formation is constrained to between 96.442+0.475/-0.086 Ma and 91.923+0.475/-0.086 Ma;the Denglouku Formation is constrained to between 102.571+0.320/-2.346 Ma and 96.442+0.475/-0.086 Ma;the age of the Shahezi Formation is estimated at ca.113 Ma to ca.118 Ma,which could extend to ca.125 Ma in some locations in Songliao Basin.The major unconformity between the Yingcheng Formation and the Denglouku Formation,which represents the transition of the basin from syn-rift to post-rift is thus confined to between 102.571+0.320/-2.346 Ma and 96.442+0.475/-0.086 Ma.This is roughly contemporaneous with the change in the direction of the paleo-Pacific plate motion from west-southwest to north or northwest in mid-Cretaceous,suggesting their possible connections.

Cretaceous Sandbody Characters at Shallow-Water Lake Delta Front and the Sedimentary Dynamic Process Analysis in Songliao Basin,China

Based on the abundant information from drilling, cores, and logging, the influence of topography, size of rivers and lakes, climate changes and the lake level＇s fluctuation on the sandbodies at shallow-water delta front are systematically summarized and the sedimentary dynamic processes are analyzed. The interwell communication among the sandbodies and their planar distribution revealed from the hydrodynamic features of the development wells are integrated during the analysis. The fundamental requirements for the development of the shallow-water delta included flat topography and uniform subsiding rate. The delta plain was connected smoothly with the wide delta front and predelta, without the three-fold structure of topset, foreset, and bottomset as defined in the Gilbert Delta Model. Because of the weak fluvial effect and the lake energy is strong, the small and scattered shallow-water delta is destroyed by the scouring-backwashing, coastal current, and lake wave, resulting in the coastal sheet deposition. As the fluvial effect became stronger and the lake energy became weaker, the shape of the shallow-water deltas transferred from sheets to lumps and then branches.

Early Cretaceous Palynological Assemblages of the Shuangliao Fault Depression, Songliao Basin and their Geological Implications

The pollen and spores found in the Early Cretaceous strata of two cores from the Shuangliao Fault Depression were studied systematically, and two palynological assemblages have been recognized. Assemblage I from the Yingcheng Formation is named Paleoconiferus-Pinuspollenites; the assemblage is characterized by an extremely high content of Paleoconifer pollen. Assemblage II from Member 1 of the Denglouku Formation is named Cicatricosisporites-Cyathidites-Pinuspollenites; the assemblage is characterized by the abundant presence of Laevigati spores, but less Paleoconifer pollen. According to the palynological data and zircon U-Pb dating, the geological age of the Yingcheng Formation is thought to be Aptian-Albian, and that of the Denglouku Formation is thought to be Early Albian. On the basis of the composition of each assemblage, we can infer that during the depositional period of the Yingcheng Formation, the paleovegetation was mainly conifer forest, the paleoclimate was consistent with the temperate climate of today, and the paleoenvironment was humid feature. During the depositional period of Member 1 of the Denglouku Formation, the paleovegetation was mainly conifer forest and shrubs, the paleoclimate was consistent with the subtropical climate of today, and the paleoenvironment was humid. The results significantly improve our understanding of the stratigraphy in the Shuangliao Fault Depression, provide biostratigraphic evidence for the division and correlation of Early Cretaceous strata in the Shuangliao Fault Depression, and provide new data for analyzing paleovegetation and paleoclimate in the Songliao Basin.

Ostracod Biostratigraphy of the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin

An ostracod biostratigraphic study was performed on 425 samples from the composite geological section constructed by using cores taken from five selected wells drilled in the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao basin. A total of 19 ostracod zones are established in the formation, of which 3 are newly established and 3 are revised. The 19 ostracod zones are described in detail. This study provides a basis for the detailed stratigraphic division and correlation of the Qingshankou Formation and the Gaotaizi oil reservoir in the oilfield in the Songliao basin.