Basin-filling processes and hydrocarbon source rock prediction of low-exploration degree areas in rift lacustrine basins:a case from the Wenchang Formation in low-exploration degree areas,northern Zhu I Depression,Pearl River Mouth Basin,E China

Hydrocarbon source rocks, as a main geologic factor of petroliferous systems in a sedimentary basin, play a key role in the accumulation of oil and gas and the formation of hydrocarbon accumulations. This study, which focuses on difficulties in prediction of hydrocarbon source rocks in basins or sags with low exploration degree and insufficient hydrocarbon source rock indicators, taking the Wenchang Formation of northern Zhu I Depression, Pearl River Mouth Basin as an example, proposed a hypothesis of “finding lakes and hydrocarbon source rocks”. Detailed steps include, first, determination of the lacustrine basin boundary according to analysis of seismic foreset facies, determination of the depositional area based on the compilation of strata residual thickness maps, determination of the lacustrine basin shape according to deciphering slope break belt system, determination of the fluctuation of paleo-water depth according to biogeochemical indicators of mature exploration areas, determination of the lacustrine basin scale based on analyses of tectonics intensity and accommodation space, which prove the existence of the lacustrine basin and identify the range of semi deep-deep lake;second, further analyses of tectonopalaeogeomorphology, paleo-provenance,palaeoclimate and paleo-water depth to reconstruct the geologic background of the original basin and semideep-deep lacustrine facies, to determine the distribution of semi-deep/deep lacustrine sediments in combination with studies of logging facies, core facies, seismic facies and sedimentary facies, and to rank the sags’ potential of developing hydrocarbon source rocks from controlling factors of source-to-sink system development;third, on the basis of regional sedimentary facies analysis, through identification and assessment of seismic facies types of semi-deep/deep lacustrine basins in mature areas, establishing “hydrocarbon source rock facies” in mature areas to instruct the identification and depicting of hydrocarbon source rocks in semideep/deep lacustrine basins with low exploration degree;fourth, through systematical summary of hydrocarbon-rich geological factors and lower limit index of hydrocarbon formation of the sags already revealed by drilling wells(e.g., sag area, tectonic subsidence amount, accommodation space, provenance characteristic, mudstone thickness, water body environment, sedimentary facies types of hydrocarbon source rocks), in correlation with corresponding indexes of sags with low exploration degree, then the evaluation and sorting of high-quality source rocks in areas with sparsely distributed or no drilling wells can be conducted with multi-factors and multiple dimensions. It is concluded that LF22 sag, HZ10 sag and HZ8 sag are II-order hydrocarbon rich sags;whereas HZS, HZ11 and HZ24 are the III-order hydrocarbon-generating sags.

珠江口盆地陆丰凹陷恩平组内部构造—沉积转换面识别及意义

晚始新世珠江口盆地由裂陷阶段逐渐过渡到裂后阶段,同期沉积的恩平组记录了构造—沉积转换的构造变革和沉积演化过程,备受关注。以陆丰凹陷为例,基于层序地层学、沉积学理论与技术,结合地震相特征、岩电特征、沉积旋回特征,识别出恩平组内部存在一个全区可追踪对比的构造沉积转换面——T72界面,探讨了该界面的地质意义。结果表明:①研究区在恩平组裂陷幕开始发生构造—沉积转换,以T72为分界面,断裂活动由南向北规律性迁移,沉降中心、断陷的萎缩与消亡具有自南向北逐步变新、逐步演化的特征;②沉积环境由半封闭逐渐转变为开放状态,沉积物源供给方式由盆内多物源近距离供给向盆外大水系远距离供给转变;③惠州11洼为下恩平期的沉降中心,发育滨浅湖—半深湖相烃源岩,是潜在的富烃洼陷。