Ultra-deep carbonate basement reservoirs formed by polyphase fracture-related karstification in the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin, China

The Palaeozoic carbonate basement of the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin (OBBB) presents considerable potential for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the multistage tectonism and complex superimposed palaeo-karstification in the area are unclear, which leads to a lack of understanding on the formation mechanism and distribution of the deep carbonate basement reservoirs. In this study, the occurrence of a fracture-vug network and its fillings in carbonate reservoirs were investigated based on borehole cores, thin sections, and image logs from the southwestern slope of the OBBB's Bozhong Sag. Then the diagenetic fluid properties of the carbonate matrix and fillings were analysed via the data of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes, and major, rare elements from coring intervals. The results revealed that fracture-related karst reservoirs have lithologic selectivity inclined toward dolomite strata. The intersecting relationships, widths, and strikes of the fractures and the regional tectonic background indicate three structural fracture families: NW-, NNE-, and NNW- trending, related to the Indosinian, middle Yanshanian, and late Yanshanian orogeny, respectively. The Indosinian NW- and end-Mesozoic NNE-trending fractures produced by compressional tectonic stress mainly contributed to the formation of the basement reservoirs. The geochemistry of the calcite veins filling these fractures suggests two main types of diagenetic fluids. The fluid of autogenic recharge related to the earlier fills is karstification diffuse flow dominated by internal runoff from rainfall in the highland setting of the Indosinian thrusting orogenic belt. The other fluid of allogenic recharge related to the later fills is the main lateral freshwater flow dominated by external runoff from the catchment in the setting of the horst-lowland within the rifting basin, induced by the Yanshanian destruction of the North China Craton. Finally, the relationship between the three fracture families and two kinds of related fluids is revealed. This allows us to propose a model to understand the polyphase-superimposed fracture-related karst reservoir complexes within the deep carbonate basement of tilting fault blocks that neighbour the Bozhong hydrocarbon kitchen and predict the formation of potential plays with high accuracy.

Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization

The middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng is comprised of a big set of green sandstone/mudstone with most of uranium orebodies occurring in close proximity to its footwall.By synthesizing field observations,region analysis,data collected from previous coal and uranium borehole,a regional north-south geological profile across the entire orefield is conducted.Experiments on sandstone/mudstone including rock mineral identification,clastic micromorphology and element geochemistry were carried out.Information from the geological profile indicates that green sandstone/mudstone is widely present in a stable horizon with clear boundaries to the country rock.Microscopic observations and geochemical data on sandstone/mudstone exhibit similar mineral composition with almost identical slightly flat,minor Eu enriched,Ce depleted chondrite-normalized REE patterns.Furthermore,the green clay membrane of the clasts has a complex composition containing chlorite/smectite,green smectite,chlorite,and green kaolinite,with elements including Fe,Mg,Si,and Al.These above results indicate that the green sandstone/mudstone underwent resemble sedimentary diagenetic processes as the country rock without transformation by large-scale regional fluid,while the existence of Fe2+-rich membrane is the main factor to the green sandstone/mudstone.Further concentration of the pre-enrichment uranium during diagenetic process led to the final formation for uranium deposits.The above studies are conducive to enrich the metallogenic mechanism of sandstone type uranium deposits and could provide certain reference for uranium exploration and deployment.