Distribution characteristics of seamount cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and the determination of the size of areas for exploration and exploitation

In 2001, the International Seabed Authority （ISBA） initiated the consideration relating to the Regulations for Prospecting and Exploration for Hydrothermal Polymetallic Sulphides and Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts in the Area at its 7th session. Since then, the consideration of the Regulations has been mainly focused on the size of areas to be allocated for exploration and exploitation of the crusts. This paper, based on the investigation data and the analysis of the distribution characteristics of the crusts, suggests a model for determining the size of areas for exploration and exploitation of the crusts, taking into account various factors such as production scale, crust thickness and grade, mineable area proportion, recovery efficiency, exploration venture, and so on. Through the modeling, the paper suggests that the exploration area （the area covered by each application for approval of a plan of work for exploration of cobalt-rich crusts） shall be 4 856 km2 and the exploitation area （the mine site area） shall be 1 214 km2, for 20 years of 1 million wet tonnes annual production.

Oil／Gas Accumulation Characteristics and Exploration Methods of the Deltaic Lithologic Reservoirs in Northern Shaanxi Area

There are large deltaic systems in the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the northern Shaanxi area of the Ordos Basin, and developed two sets of good source-reservoir-caprock assemblages and many sets of oil-bearing beds. Exploration experience demonstrates that the formation and distribution of the reservoir were controlled by the generative depression of the Yanchang Formation, and deltaic reservoir sand body is the material basis for large-scale oilfields. In addition, secondary laumontite in a low permeable area was dissolved and then a high permeable area was formed. The updip lithologic variety of reservoir sand bodies is favorable to the formation of subtle lithologic traps, and the deltaic reservoirs are characterized by large multi-beds of oil-generation and abundant hydrocarbon resources. In this paper, the petroleum geologic settings of the studied area are analyzed, and the accumulation characteristics and exploration methods of lithologic reservoirs are summarized. It is of theoretical significance for the study of the exploration theories of lithologic reservoirs, and also expedites the exploration steps of deltaic reservoirs in the northern Shaanxi area.

Breakthrough of shallow shale gas exploration in Taiyang anticline area and its significance for resource development in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China

Based on exploration and development results and evaluation of marine shale gas in South China in the past ten years, in view of the features of "high maturity, strong tectonic reformation and high shear stress" of the shale in Zhaotong exploration zone in the Yunnan and Guizhou Plateau, as well as the key issues of long time diffusion and leakage of shallow shale gas, and the preservation conditions, the factors controlling shallow shale gas sweet spot and key zone selection evaluation technology of shale gas are investigated. From 2017 to 2018, the first significant exploration breakthrough was made in the Taiyang anticline at a buried depth of 700 to 2 000 m, discovering large-scale proved geological reserves of shallow shale gas. By examining the accumulation conditions and sweet spot control factors of the shallow shale gas in this area, it is found that the accumulation and productivity potential of shale gas in the mountainous area with complex structure outside basin are controlled by five factors:(1) The gas-rich area has weak tectonic reformation and good preservation conditions on the whole, taking on typical anticline trap occurrence mode.(2) The gas-rich area is in over-pressure state and high in shale gas content.(3) The gas-rich area has high quality shale and thus superior source rock condition.(4) The gas-rich area has high quality reservoirs dominated by class I.(5) The shale gas reservoir in the gas-rich area has high content of brittle minerals and small difference between maximum and minimum horizontal stresses which are conducive to hydraulic fracturing. The innovative practice and core technologies formed during the exploration and production capacity construction of shallow shale gas in the Zhaotong demonstration zone have great reference significance for shallow shale gas exploration and development in other areas.

Geological conditions of natural gas accumulation and new exploration areas in the Mesoproterozoic to Lower Paleozoic of Ordos Basin, NW China

Based on field outcrop investigation,interpretation and analysis of drilling and seismic data,and consulting on a large number of previous research results,the characteristics of ancient marine hydrocarbon source rocks,favorable reservoir facies belts,hydrocarbon migration direction and reservoir-forming law in the Ordos Basin have been studied from the viewpoints of North China Craton breakup and Qilian-Qinling oceanic basin opening and closing.Four main results are obtained:(1)Controlled by deep-water shelf-rift,there are three suites of source rocks in the Ordos Basin and its periphery:Mesoproterozoic,Lower Cambrian and Middle-Upper Ordovician.(2)Controlled by littoral environment,paleo-uplift and platform margin,four types of reservoirs are developed in the area:Mesoproterozoic-Lower Cambrian littoral shallow sea quartz sandstone,Middle-Upper Cambrian–Ordovician weathering crust and dolomitized reservoir,and Ordovician L-shape platform margin reef and beach bodies.(3)Reservoir-forming assemblages vary greatly in the study area,with"upper generation and lower storage"as the main pattern in the platform,followed by"self-generation and self-storage".There are both"upper generation and lower storage"and"self-generation and self-storage"in the platform margin zone.In addition,in the case of communication between deep-large faults and the Changchengian system paleo-rift trough,there may also exist a"lower generation and upper reservoir"combination between the platform and the margin.(4)There are four new exploration fields including Qingyang paleo-uplift pre-Carboniferous weathering crust,L-shape platform margin zone in southwestern margin of the basin,Ordovician subsalt assemblage in central and eastern parts of the basin,and Mesoproterozoic–Cambrian.Among them,pre-Carboniferous weathering crust and L-shape platform margin facies zone are more realistic replacement areas,and Ordovician subsalt assemblage and the Proterozoic-Cambrian have certain potential and are worth exploring.

A Case History of Secondary 3D Seismic Exploration in the Liaohe Basin: An Example from the Rongshengpu–Qianjin Area

The working area is located in the industrially developed region of Rongshengpu-Qianjin, where a surface water system is developed, surface-layer lithology is complicated, and various kinds of hydrocarbon traps are buried at depth. The seismic data acquired previously couldn＇t be interpreted due to the complex surface and geological conditions. Taking secondary 3D seismic from the Rongshengpu-Qianjin area as an example, this paper describes a set of techniques designed to overcome these difficulties and improve the quality of seismic data. The applied techniques included flexible acquisition geometry, low-noise receiver conditions, quantitative quality control, and so on.

Petroleum geological conditions and exploration potential of Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks in Gucheng Area, Tarim Basin, China

Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks are an important exploration area in craton area of the Tarim Basin,with the proven oil and gas reserves of more than 2.2×10^8 t,but no large-scale discovery has been made in the Gucheng area so far.The key issues restricting exploration are that the source rock,reservoir scale and law of oil and gas enrichment are unclear.By systematically examining the petroleum geological conditions of Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks,the following findings are reached:(1)Source rocks of slope-basin facies developed in Cambrian-Lower Ordovician in the Gucheng area.(2)The dolomitized beach in the lower part of Ordovician Yingshan Formation has large-scale reservoirs,good reservoir-cap assemblage and developed gas source faults,and is an important field for increasing reserves and production in the near future;hydrocarbon enrichment is controlled by reservoir and gas source faults,and the central dolomitized beach zone is the main exploration area.(3)The Cambrian platform margin reef beach,large in scale,good in physical properties and close to source rocks,has the possibility to form monolithic gas field;the caprock and preservation conditions are the key factors for hydrocarbon enrichment;the northern part of the phasesⅠandⅡplatform margin reefs has better sealing conditions,and is the main direction of next exploration.(4)Limestone fault solution reservoirs in the upper part of Ordovician Yingshan Formation,controlled by faults and small in scale,but good in reservoir-cap combination,worth exploring.(5)The granular limestone beach of Ordovician Yijianfang Formation is well developed and gas-bearing,but short in exposure dissolution time,and the reservoirs are strongly heterogeneous,and are a potential exploration field.

SEDIMENTARY PATTERN OF PROTOTYPE BASIN IN THE DEPOSITION PERIOD OF LAIYANG FORMATION AND THE ADVANTAGEOUS AREAS FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION OF JIAOLAI BASIN

Laiyang formation of Jiaolai Basin is the target stratum for oil and gas exploration. By measuring several field sections, the authors find that Laiyang formation reveals the whole processes from development to death of the lake basin and its sedimentary facies differ in different structural locations. Analyses about sedimentary facies and paleocurrent orientations in association with researches about the positive tectonic units such as Dayetou horseback and Chaigou horst indicate that Laiyang sag is a relatively independent sedimentary unit that shows great water depth typical of deep lake or semideep lake and was controlled by Wulongcun fault during the deposition period of Laiyang formation. Its sediments mainly originated from Jiaobei uplift area and Dayetou horseback. Gaomi-Zhucheng sag was a fast-filled basin controlled by Wurong fault and Yishu fault zone, being high in the northeast and low in the northwest and characterized by the development of pluvial facies and fluvial facies in most areas, and with the development of lake facies being limited to local low-lying regions. Selection of advantageous hydrocarbon reservoir areas for exploration purpose mainly relies on the sedimentation pattern of prototype basin and conservation conditions. The central-west area of Laiyang sag covered by overlying Laiyang formation is the most advantageous exploration area.

Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Construction for Biochemistry Course in Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Biochemistry is a fundamental core course in disciplines such as agriculture,forestry,medicine,animal husbandry,veterinary medicine,and food science.By prioritizing"educating people"in the teaching process of this professional course,we can unearth diverse ideological and political elements related to agricultural production practices within the curriculum knowledge system and the forefront of discipline development.Exploring various teaching methods and utilizing diverse teaching tools are effective strategies to achieve ideological and political education that silently influences students in the field of biochemistry.The goal is to nurture students strong ideals and beliefs,fostering a deep connection to the sentiments of"agriculture,rural areas and farmers in a great nation."This approach aims to instill a sense of responsibility towards strengthening agriculture,shaping students into individuals from South China Agricultural University who possess lofty aspirations and the courage to shoulder responsibility in the new era.

Hydrocarbon Accumulation Condition and Exploration Direction in the Deepwater Area of Qiongdongnan Basin,Northern South China Sea

The deepwater area of southern Qiongdongnan Basin is a hydrocarbon exploration frontier and mainly located on the continental slope in the northwestern South China Sea.Its tectonic and depositional evolution is similar to the typical marginal deepwater areas abroad where oils have been discovered.Favorable hydrocarbon conditions in this area are as follows:(1) three sets of source rocks (including lacustrine mudstone of Eocene,coastal plain coal-bearing strata and semi-closed shallow sea mudstone of Oligocene,and marine mudstone

Logging interpretation method for reservoirs with complex pore structure in Mesozoic-Cenozoic faulted basin around Daqing exploration area

In Mesozoic-Cenozoic faulted basin in the periphery of Daqing exploration area, the clastic reservoirs mainly consist of siltstone and gravel-bearing sandstone. The electrical conductivity of the reservoirs is complicated due to the complex pore structures, which cannot be accurately interpreted with commonly used model. In order to solve the problem, a three-water model has been applied in this study based on in-depth analysis of the conductive mechanism of rocks in the explored area, and favorable application results are achieved.

Division of“layer exploration unit”and high-efficiency exploration in mature exploration area

To realize high-efficiency and sustainable exploration of the Jiyang depression at the stage of high exploration degree, a hydrocarbon accumulation-geological evaluation method is developed on the basis of current geologic knowledge and extent of fine exploration. The concept of "layer exploration unit" is proposed in the study, and it is defined as an exploration geological unit that has a relatively complete and unified tectonic system, sedimentary system and hydrocarbon migration & accumulation system in a tectonic layer or tectonic sublayer within a fault basin. Then, an approach to dividing and evaluating the "layer exploration unit" is developed. With this approach, the Jiyang depression is divided into 305 layer exploration units, thus helping realize precise and stereoscopic geological understanding and exploration deployment. Fine splitting of remaining resources and benefit evaluation of exploration targets are conducted by "layer exploration units". As a result, 66 efficient "layer exploration units" in four major areas(i.e. Paleogene upper Es4-Dongying Formation, Neogene Minghuazhen Formation-Guantao Formation, Paleozoic buried-hill, and Paleogene Kongdian Formation-lower Es4) are determined as the targets for obtaining more reserves and breakthroughs in the short and medium term.

Genetic model and exploration target area of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area, Xiamen, China

The geothermal resources in Fujian Province are mainly hydrothermal resources of medium-low temperature.To better understand the whole process and conditions of heat control in the middle and deep crust,this study focuses on the analysis of heat accumulation model in Hongtang Area of Xiamen,and the main conditions of the model such as faults and sags are explored and interpreted in detail by using gravity and wide-field electromagnetic methods.4 main faults(F33,F2,F12 and HT-F1)and 10 secondary faults(HT-F2,HT-F3,HT-F4,HT-F5,HT-F6,HT-F7,HT-F8,HT-F9,HT-F10 and HT-F11)were inferred,and the distribution range of sags was delineated.The convective geothermal system is composed of four components:Heat source,geothermal reservoir,heat-conductive fault and heat retaining cover,which form a quaternary heat accumulation model.According to the model,the intersection of the main faults F12,HTF1 and F33 can be delineated as the primary target area of geothermal exploration,while the intersection of the secondary faults(F12 and HT-F6;F12 and HT-F2;HT-F9,HT-F10 and F12;F12 and HT-F11;F33 and HT-F3;HT-F8 and HT-F3;HT-F2,HT-F10 and HT-F1)can be delineated as the secondary target area.Borehole DR01,which is located in the primary target area,shows that the water temperature increases from fast to slow in the depth range of 0–500 m,and stays at 36℃below 500 m.The reliability of the heat accumulation model and the target area was tested via geothermal boreholes,which is of great significance to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area of Xiamen.

Ore-controlling Regularities of Thrust-fold structures and features of Tectono-geochemical Anomalies at the Xiaozhuqing Exploration Area in the Huize Zn-Pb District

1 Introduction The huize Zn-Pb ore district in Yunnan province is locatedinthecentralsouthernofthe Sichuan—Yunnan—GuizhouPb-ZnPoly-metallic Mineralization Area in the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Block,and is strictly controlled by fault structures.It has developed to one of the famous production bases of lead&zinc and germanium in China.

A New Field for Oil Exploration in Carboniferous－Permian： in Tianshan－Junggar Area

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Ore-forming and Exploration Models of the Baguamiao Gold Deposit,Shaanxi Province

The Baguamiao superlarge gold deposit in Shaanxi Province is one of the typical cases in China that are hosted by sedimentary rocks. Explorers and researchers have discussed the gold mineralization enrichment conditions by studying sulphur, oxygen, carbon, silicon stable isotopes and mineralizing fluid features of the Baguamiao gold deposit and proposed a hydrothermal sedimentation-magmatic reconstructing gold mineralization model featuring multi-sources of ore-forming materials and multistage mineralizations. In addition, prospecting for “Baguamiao-type” gold deposits was started in the Fengtai Basin and a great number of important prospecting targets such as Tonglinggou, Simaoling, Guoansi and Dachaigou were discovered.

Analysis of the world oil and gas exploration situation in 2021

The global exploration investment, new oil and gas discoveries, exploration business adjustment strategies of oil companies in 2021, and future favorable exploration domains are systematically analyzed using commercial databases such as IHS and public information of oil companies. It has been found that the world oil and gas exploration situation in 2021 has continued the downturn since the outbreak of COVID-19. The investment and drilling workload decreased slightly, but the success rate of exploration wells, especially deepwater exploration wells, increased significantly, and the newly discovered reserves increased slightly compared with last year. Deep waters of the passive continental margin basins are still the leading sites for discovering conventional large and medium-sized oil and gas fields. The conventional oil and gas exploration in deep formations of onshore petroliferous basins has been keeping a good state, with tight/shale oil and gas discoveries made in Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other countries. While strengthening the exploration and development of local resources, national, international, and independent oil companies have been focusing on major overseas frontiers using their advantages, including risk exploration in deep waters and natural gas. Future favorable exploration directions in the three major frontiers, the global deep waters, deep onshore formations, and unconventional resources, have been clarified. Four suggestions are put forward for the global exploration business of Chinese oil companies: first, a farm in global deepwater frontier basins in advance through bidding at a low cost and adopt the “dual exploration model” after making large-scale discoveries;second, enter new blocks of emerging hot basins in the world through farm-in and other ways, to find large oil and gas fields quickly;third, cooperate with national oil companies of the resource host countries in the form of joint research and actively participate exploration of deep onshore formations of petroliferous basins;fourth, track tight/shale oil and gas cooperation opportunities in a few countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, and take advantage of mature domestic theories and technologies to farm in at an appropriate time.

Application Results of 3-D Seismic Exploration Technology in Coal Mines

This paper briefly introduces the development and present situation of China's coal seismic exploration. It focuses on analyzing the important functions of 3-D seismic exploration technology in the designing and production of coal mines, and also the results of its application.

Exploration and development of continental tight oil in China

Based on the investigation of tight oil exploration and development in North America, the successful cases of tight oil exploration and development in North America are summarized. The geological differences between continental tight oil in China and marine tight oil in North America is analyzed to explore the technical strategies for the industrial development of continental tight oil in China. The experiences of large-scale exploration and profitable development of tight oil in North America can be taken as references from the following 6 perspectives, namely exploring new profitable strata in mature exploration areas, strengthening the economic evaluation of sweet spots and focusing on the investment for high-profitability sweet spots, optimizing the producing of tight oil reserves by means of repetitive fracturing and 3 D fracturing, optimizing drilling and completion technologies to reduce the cost, adopting commodity hedging to ensure the sustainable profit, and strengthening other resources exploration to improve the profit of whole project. In light of the high abundance of tight oil in China, we can draw on successful experience from North America, four suggestions are proposed in sight of the geological setting of China's lacustrine tight oil:(1) Evaluating the potential of tight oil resources and optimizing the strategic area for tight oil exploration;(2) selecting "sweet spot zone" and "sweet spot interval" accurately for precise and high efficient development;(3) adopting advanced tight oil fracturing technology to realize economic development;(4) innovating management system to promote the large-scale profitable development of tight oil.

Hydrocarbon accumulation and exploration prospect of mound-shoal complexes on the platform margin of the fourth member of Sinian Dengying Formation in the east of Mianzhu-Changning intracratonic rift, Sichuan Basin, SW China

Drilling,seismic and logging data were used to evaluate the hydrocarbon accumulation conditions of the mound-shoal complexes in the platform margin of the fourth member of Sinian Dengying Formation in the east side of the Mianzhu-Changning intracratonic rift in the Sichuan Basin.The four understandings are:(1)The platform margin belt of the Deng 4 Member can be divided into three sections,northern,middle and southern;the middle section is at the core of the Gaoshiti-Moxi paleouplift and the structural high now,while the southern and northern sections are at the slope of the paleouplift and the structural lows now;the three sections have similar development characteristics and reservoir features of platform margin mound-shoal complex.(2)In the margin of the east side of the rift,there are several faults nearly perpendicular to the platform margin belt,the faults divide the platform margin belt into rugged paleo-landform,and the high part developed platform margin mound-shoal complexes and the reservoirs are good in physical properties,while the low part developed inter-beach depression and no mound-shoal complexes,where the reservoirs are poor in physical properties.(3)The six groups of faults nearly perpendicular to the platform margin belt divide the platform margin belt into seven large mound-shoal complexes which have similar hydrocarbon accumulation conditions and accumulation evolution process and are rich in petroleum.(4)The inter shoal depressions between the mound-shoal complexes are characterized by tighter lithology,which can block the updip direction of the mounds and shoals at the lower part of the slope of the paleouplift and are favorable for the later preservation of mound-shoal gas reservoirs.This has been proved by Well Jiaotan 1 and Heshen 2 drilled successfully.The mound-shoal complexes on the platform margin of the structural slope area have a good exploration prospect.