Structural attributes,evolution and petroleum geological significances of the Tongnan negative structure in the central Sichuan Basin,SW China

The Tongnan secondary negative structure in central Sichuan Basin has controls and influences on the structural framework and petroleum geological conditions in the Gaoshiti-Moxi area.To clarify the controls and influences,the deformation characteristics,structural attributes and evolution process of the Tongnan negative structure were investigated through a series of qualitative and quantitative methods such as balanced profile restoration,area-depth-strain(ADS)analysis,and structural geometric forward numerical simulation,after comprehensive structural interpretation of high-precision 3D seismic data.The results are obtained in three aspects.First,above and below the P/AnP(Permian/pre-Permian)unconformity,the Tongnan negative structure demonstrates vertical differential structural deformation.It experiences two stages of structural stacking and reworking:extensional depression(from the Sinian Dengying Formation to the Permian),and compressional syncline deformation(after the Jurassic).The multi-phase trishear deformation of the preexisting deep normal faults dominated the extensional depression.The primary depression episodes occurred in the periods from the end of Late Proterozoic to the deposition of the 1st–2nd members of the Dengying Formation,and from the deposition of Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation–Middle–Upper Cambrian until the Ordovician.Second,the multi-stage evolution process of the Tongnan negative structure controlled the oil and gas migration and adjustment and present-day differential gas and water distribution between the Tongnan negative structure and the Gaoshiti and Moxi-Longnüsi structural highs.Third,the Ordovician,which is limitedly distributed in the Tongnan negative structure and is truncated by the P/AnP unconformity on the top,has basic geological conditions for the formation of weathering karst carbonate reservoirs.It is a new petroleum target deserving attention.

Rock physics model for velocity–pressure relations and its application to shale pore pressure estimation

Acoustic wave velocity has been commonly utilized to predict subsurface geopressure using empirical relations.Acoustic wave velocity is, however, affected by many factors. To estimate pore pressure accurately, we here propose to use elastic rock physics models to understand and analyze quantitatively the various contributions from these different factors affecting wave velocity. We report a closed-form relationship between the frame flexibility factor(γ) in a rock physics model and differential pressure, which presents the major control of pressure on elastic properties such as bulk modulus and compressional wave velocity. For a gas-bearing shale with abundant micro-cracks and fractures, its bulk modulus is much lower at abnormally high pore pressure(high γ values) where thin cracks and flat pores are open than that at normal hydrostatic pressure(low γ values) where pores are more rounded on average. The developed relations between bulk modulus and differential pressure have been successfully applied to the Upper Ordovician Wufeng and Lower Silurian Longmaxi formations in the Dingshan area of the Sichuan Basin to map the three-dimensional spatial distribution of pore pressure in the shale, integrating core, log and seismic data. The estimated results agree well with field measurements. Pressure coefficient is positively correlated to gas content. The relations and methods reported here could be useful for hydrocarbon exploration, production, and drilling safety in both unconventional and conventional fields.

Logging-based assessment of low-resistivity oil zones:A case study from Sudan

The reservoirs in the N oilfield in Sudan feature a complex sedimentary environment,which has led to a widespread development of low-resistivity oil zones,accounting for as high as 37%of the total oil zones.In this case,a large number of oil zones will be misinterpreted using conventional methods.Based on the analysis of the core data and logging curves of the study area,this study concludes that the lowresistivity oil zones are formed mainly due to the high irreducible water saturation caused by the high content of illite and smectite and complex pore structure,the additional electrical conductivity induced by clay minerals,and the difference in formation water salinity between the oil zones and water zones.Furthermore,four methods are proposed to qualitatively identify these oil zones and water zones,namely the relationship analysis of five reservoir properties,cross-plotting of sensitive parameters,analysis of pressure testing data,and multi-well correlation.Furthermore,the study quantitatively calculates the initial oil saturation using the capillary pressure data,thus avoiding the conventional empirical saturation formulas depending on electrical resistivity and solving the difficulty in calculating oil saturation of low-resistivity oil zones.Finally,precise logging processing and interpretation of 95 wells in the study area are conducted using the above-mentioned comprehensive assessment system for low-resistivity oil zones.As a result,59 oil zones are newly discovered in 43 wells.Moreover,it is recommended that 17 oil zones in 12 wells should be tested,of which 11 oil zones have been tested as recommended,all proven to be high production oil zones after perforation.The coincidence rate of logging interpretation increases from 75%to 94.3%,and the original oil in place(OOIP)increases by 57.42 million barrels.All these indicate that the assessment system proposed is suitable for low-resistivity zones.

Sequence-lithofacies paleogeographic characteristics and petroleum geological significance of Lower Permian Qixia Stage in Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas,SW China

Through the analysis of logging,field outcrops,cores and geochemical data,and based on the study of the relationships between sea level changes,sequence filling,paleo-geomorphy and lithofacies,the sequence lithofacies paleo-geography and evolution process of the Lower Permian Liangshan-Qixia Formation(Qixia Stage for short)in Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas are restored.The Qixia Stage can be divided into three third-order sequences,in which SQ0,SQ1 and SQ2 are developed in the depression area,and SQ1 and SQ2 are only developed in other areas.The paleo-geomorphy reflected by the thickness of each sequence indicates that before the deposition of the Qixia Stage in the Early Permian,the areas surrounding the Sichuan Basin are characterized by“four uplifts and four depressions”,namely,four paleo-uplifts/paleo-lands of Kangdian,Hannan,Shennongjia and Xuefeng Mountain,and four depressions of Chengdu-Mianyang,Kangdian front,Jiangkou and Yichang;while the interior of the basin is characterized by“secondary uplifts,secondary depressions and alternating convex-concave”.SQ2 is the main shoal forming period of the Qixia Formation,and the high-energy mound shoal facies mainly developed in the highs of sedimentary paleo-geomorphy and the relative slope break zones.The distribution of dolomitic reservoirs(dolomite,limy dolomite and dolomitic limestone)has a good correlation with the sedimentary geomorphic highs and slope break zones.The favorable mound-shoal and dolomitic reservoirs are distributed around depressions at platform-margin and along highs and around sags in the basin.It is pointed out that the platform-margin area in western Sichuan Basin is still the key area for exploration at present;while areas around Chengdu-Mianyang depression and Guangwang secondary depression inside the platform and areas around sags in central Sichuan-southern Sichuan are favorable exploration areas for dolomitic reservoirs of the Qixia Formation in the next step.

Sequence sedimentary evolution and reservoir distribution in the third and fourth members of Sinian Dengying Formation,Gaomo area,Sichuan Basin,SW China

Based on comprehensive analysis of cores,thin sections,logging and seismic data,the sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of the third and fourth members of Sinian Dengying Formation(Deng 3 and Deng 4 members for short)in the Gaomo area of Sichuan Basin were investigated,and the favorable zones for reservoir development in the Deng 3 Member and Deng 4 Member were predicted.(1)Two Type I and one Type II sequence boundaries are identified in the Deng 3 and Deng 4 members.Based on the identified sequence boundaries,the Deng 3 and Deng 4 members can be divided into two third order sequences SQ3 and SQ4,which are well-developed,isochronal and traceable in this area;the SQ3 thins from west to the east,and the SQ4 thins from northwest to southeast.(2)The sedimentary environment from the depositional period of SQ3 to SQ4 has experienced the evolution from mixed platform to rimmed platform,and the platform rimmed system on the west side is characterized by the development of platform margin microbial mound and grain shoal assemblages.The intraplatform area is a restricted platform facies composed of a variety of dolomites,and there are local micro-geomorphic highlands of different scales and scattered intraplatform mounds and shoals.(3)The Deng 4 Member reservoirs,with obvious facies-controlled characteristic,are mainly distributed in the upper part of high-frequency upward shallow cycle and the high-stand systems tract of the third-order sequence vertically,and are more developed in the platform margin belt than in the intraplatform belt,and more developed in the Gaoshiti platform margin belt than in the west Suining platform margin belt on the plane.(4)Three types of favorable reservoir zones of Deng 4 Member have been finely delineated with 3D seismic data;among them,the mound and shoal facies zones developed in the ancient highlands of the intraplatform are the first choice for the next exploration and development of the Deng 4 Member.

Provenance Analyses of Lower Cretaceous Strata in the Liupanshan Basin: From Paleocurrents Indicators, Conglomerate Clast Compositions, and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology

The Liupanshan Basin constitutes a major portion of the northern North-South tectonic belt. The Lower Cretaceous strata in the Liupanshan Basin recorded the tectono-sedimentary evolution processes of this area and are pivotal for understanding the original sedimentary appearance of the Liupanshan Basin. In this work, we present a study of provenance and tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Liupanshan Basin during the Early Cretaceous. Integrated-paleocurrent directions, gravel clast compositions, and detrital zircon U-Pb isotopic analysis of the Lower Cretaceous Sanqiao and Heshangpu formations were applied to determine the provenance. The gravel clast compositions of Sanqiao Formation conglomerates(mainly including magmatic rocks, metamorphic rocks and limestones) display various features in different places, revealing different rock components of source areas. The paleocurrent directions of the Sanqiao and Heshangpu formations suggest that the sediments were transported from the basin margin to the center. Detrital zircons of two samples from the Huoshizhai Section(northwestern Liupanshan Basin) yield a dominant unimodal distribution from 420 to 500 Ma, suggesting a single-sourced provenance. Based on the above analyses, comparing to the magmatic records in the Qilian-Qinling orogenic belt, the detritus of the Sanqiao and Heshangpu formations were mainly from the proximal metamorphic and magmatic rocks of the Qilian-Qinling orogenic belt and the limestones of the archaic uplift. Combined with sedimentary characteristics, we concluded that the Liupanshan Basin experienced multi-stage evolution history:(1) the early rifting extension stage(Sanqiao Period),(2) the middle spanning and depression stage(Heshangpu–Early Naijiahe Period), and(3) the late extinction stage(Late Naijiahe Period). The evolution of Liupanshan Basin is closely related to that of Ordos Basin and it is further associated with tectonic transition of the northern North-South tectonic belt.