Highlighting relationships between sand thicknesses,reservoir-seal pairs and paleobathymetry from a sequence stratigraphic perspective:An example from Tortonian Serravallian deposits,onshore Niger Delta Basin

The utilization of sequence stratigraphic concepts in identifying sands and their spatial continuity in distinct gross depositional settings is key,especially in frontier settings where data paucity is a common challenge.In the Baka field,onshore Niger Delta,detailed reservoir correlation guided by sequence stratigraphic framework analysis showed the distribution of sand and shale units constituting reservoirseal pairs(RSP)correlatable across the field.Within the 3rd-order packages,it is observed that the lowstand systems tract(LST)and highstand systems tract(HST)contain more RSPs and thicker 4th-and 5th-order sands than the transgressive systems tract(TST).In terms of bathymetry,it is noted that irrespective of systems tracts,the RSP Index(RI)decreases from the proximal shallow/inner shelf settings to the more distal outer shelf areas.Amongst all three systems tracts,intervals interpreted as lowstand prograding complexes contain the best developed sands and highest RSP.Sand development within the LSTs has been controlled by a pronounced growth fault regime accompanied by high subsidence and sedimentation rates.This is linked to the basinward migration of the sands during prolonged sea-level fall,creating significant accommodation space for sand deposition.On the other hand,the TSTs known to mark periods of progressive sea-level rise and landward migration of sandy facies,show thinner sands enclosed in much thicker,laterally extensive,and better-preserved deeper marine shales.Interpreted seismic sections indicate intense growth faulting and channelization that influenced the syn-and postdepositional development of the sand packages across the field.The initial timing of deformation of subregional faults in this area coincides with periods of abrupt falls in sea level.This approach could be useful for predicting sand-prone areas in frontier fields as well as possible reservoir-seal parameters required for some aspects of petroleum system analysis and quick-look volume estimation.

Structural characteristics and tectonic division of the Zambezi Delta basin in the offshore East Africa:evidences from gravity and seismic data

The Zambezi Delta basin is a passive marginal basin located on the East African coast that has good oil and gas exploration potential.Due to the special geological evolutionary background of the Beira High in the Zambezi Delta basin,it has a low gravity anomaly,and the existing seismic survey lines do not cover the whole basin;therefore,it is difficult to interpret the structural characteristics of the whole basin based solely on gravity or seismic data.Based on satellite altimetry gravity anomaly data,this study infers the distribution characteristics of faults in the Zambezi Delta basin by using the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative(NVDR-THDR)technique.Then,constrained by seismic data,the gravity anomaly at the Moho interface is extracted by using the fast forward method of the double-interface model of the gravity anomaly,and this anomaly is then removed from the Bouguer gravity anomaly to obtain the sedimentary layer gravity anomaly.The thickness of the sedimentary strata is obtained by inversing the sedimentary basement depth of the whole basin.Then,uplifts and depressions are divided based on a sedimentary layer thickness of 3 km.This research demonstrates that the Zambezi Delta basin mainly features nearly SN-trending and NE-trending faults and that these faults exhibit east-west partitioning.The nearly SN-trending strike-slip faults controlled the sedimentary development of the basin,and the NE-trending tensile faults may have acted as migration channels for oil,gas and magma.The“overcompensation”effect of the Moho interface gravity anomaly on the gravity anomaly of the sedimentary layer is caused by the depression of the Moho interface beneath the Beira High,which results in a low gravity anomaly value for the Beira High.The pattern of uplifts and depressions trends NE and has the structural characteristics of east-west blocks.

Composite Sand Bodies Architecture of Deep-Water Turbidite Channels in the Niger Delta Basin

Deep-water turbidite channels have attracted much attention as a focused issue in petroleum exploration and development. Extensive studies have been performed on the architecture of turbidite channels, and most researches have focused on their geometric shapes, sedimentary processes and controlling factors. However, little attention has been paid to the distribution patterns, distribution laws and quantitative studies of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels. Taken one slope area of the Niger Delta Basin as an example, this study conducted a semi-quantitative to quantitative analysis on architecture of composite sand bodies of turbidite channels based on cores, well logging and seismic surveys. It is shown that turbidite channel systems can be classified as confined and unconfined channel systems. For confined channel systems, the vertical evolution process involves four stages. The sinuosity of a channel system is controlled by slope, with a negative power function relationship between them. When slope gradient reaches four degrees, the channel system is nearly straight. Based on the migration direction and migration amount of single channels within channel complexes, channel composite patterns can be divided into four classes（the lateral composite, en-echelon composite, swing composite and vertical composite） and several subclasses. Various channel composite patterns show specific distribution laws spatially. For meandering channel complexes at the middle-late evolution stage of confined channel systems, the lateral migration amongst single channels shows the features of integrity and succession. The sinuosity of single channels in the late period is greater than that in the early period, and cut-offs may occur locally when the sinuosity is larger than five degrees. This study provides a better understanding for the geological theory of deep-water sedimentary, and also improves exploitation benefits of this type of reservoirs.

Paleotopographic controls on facies development in various types of braid-delta depositional systems in lacustrine basins in China

Braid-delta depositional systems are widely developed in most continental basins in China. Research indicates that, for different types of braid delta, the facies sequence and association, which are critical to the prediction of the distribution of reservoirs, differ greatly. This study illustrates the differences in braid-delta depositional systems in terms of sedimentary characteristics, associated systems and reser- voir distributions using three typical paleodeltas in western China： the Zhenbei delta of the upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, the Yuanba delta of the upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin and the Jimsar delta of the upper Permian Wutonggou Formation in the Junggar Basin. A stratigraphic framework was established using seismic data, logs and cores by choosing stable mud sections as regional correlation markers and, topographies of these deltas were reconstructed based on the decompaction and paleobathymetric corrections. Based on both the paleotopography of these deltas and the differences of their sedimentary facies, these braided deltas can be classified into two systems： steep-gradient braid-delta-turbidite system and low-gradient braid-delta-lacustrine system. Moreover, the low-gradient braid-delta-lacustrine system can be further divided into interfingered and sharp contact sub-types according to the contact relation between the delta sands and lacustrine muds. This study shows that the paleotopography of basin margins strongly controls the accommodation as braid deltas prograde into lacustrine basins and, influences the location of the shoreline in response to changes in the lake level. Furthermore, paleotopography plays a significant role in facies and reservoir distribution which is important for petroleum exploration and development.

Origin and depositional environments of source rocks and crude oils from Niger Delta Basin: Carbon isotopic evidence

Thirty-nine crude oils and twenty-one rock samples from Niger Delta Basin,Nigeria have been characterized based on their isotope compositions by elemental analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.The bulk carbon isotopic values of the whole rock extracts,saturate and aromatic fractions range from–28.7‰to–26.8‰,–29.2‰to–27.2‰and–28.5‰to–26.7‰,respectively while the bulk carbon isotopic values of the whole oils,saturate and aromatic fractions range from–25.4‰to–27.8‰,–25.9‰to–28.4‰and–23.5‰to–26.9‰,respectively.The average carbon isotopic compositions of individual alkanes(nC12-nC33)in the rock samples range from–34.9‰to–28.2‰whereas the average isotopic values of individual n-alkanes in the oils range from–31.1‰to–23.8‰.Theδ13C isotope ratios of pristane and phytane in the rock samples range from–29.2‰to–28.2‰and–30.2‰to–27.4‰respectively while the pristane and phytane isotopic values range from–32.1‰to–21.9‰and–30.5‰to–26.9‰,respectively.The isotopic values recorded for the samples indicated that the crude oils were formed from the mixed input of terrigenous and marine organic matter and deposited under oxic to sub-oxic condition in lacustrine-fluvial/deltaic environments.The stable carbon isotopic compositions were found to be effective in assessing the origin and depositional environments of crude oils in the Niger Delta Basin.

The Characteristics and Distribution Pattern of Seafloor Sinuous Pockmark Train in the Niger Delta Basin,West Africa

Objective The term ＂pockmark＂ was introduced by King and MacLean （1970） to describe small ＂circular＂ on echosounder records in Nova Scotia. described as circular, near Pockmarks are usually circular or elongated depressions, generally 10--400 m in diameter and 30-50 m in deep. Pockmarks are normally regarded to be manifestations of fluids escape through the seabed. Pockmarks are valuable features on the seafloor and are useful in constraining the hydrodynamics of sedimentary basins. Since then pockmarks have been recognized in many areas around the world. They occur predominantly in fine-grained siliciclastic depositional settings, although a few case studies have been reported in carbonate settings. In this paper we illustrate a suite of fluid escape features, discovered during the course of petroleum exploration on the West Africa continental margin （Fig. 1）. They are particularly of interest to the oil and gas industry because they could be potential indicators of deeply buried hydrocarbon reservoirs, and fluid flow phenomena in the deep water oilfield are important for the safe and efficient exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons in the area.

Stratal Slice Recognition of Thin Shallow-Water Delta Sandbodies in the Songliao Basin

Objective China＇s petroleum exploration has entered a new stage of finding deeply buried thin sandbodies lbr the abundant oil resources they contain. Here thin sandbodies refer to those less than 10 m in thickness, or even less than 1-2 m. It is difficult to depict thin-layer sandbodies of different genetic types using conventional core, well logging and seismic data due to their limited vertical resolution in petroliferous basins. However, seismic sedimentology provides a new research method especially tbr thin sandbody interpretation, i.e., validating interpreted sedimentary sandbodies from 3D seismic data based on horizontal resolution, stratal slice and seismic geomorphology interpretation. At present, a series of studies on seismic sedimentology in North America marine basins and elsewhere have been completed successfully and are relevant to the exploration and development of oil and gas fields.

Hydrocarbon Prospectivity and Risk Assessment of “Bob” Field Central Swamp Depobelt, Onshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

This paper evaluates the hydrocarbon prospectivity and play risks of “Bob” field in Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. The aim is to enhance exploration success through improved approach/technique by incorporating risk analysis that previous studies have not fully considered. This approach combines a set of analyses including stratigraphic/structural, amplitude, petrophysical parameter, volumetric and play risk using a suite of well logs and 3D seismic data. Maximum amplitude anomaly map extracted on the surfaces of delineated 3 reservoirs revealed 6 prospects, namely: Dippers, Cranes, Turacos, Nicators, Jacanas and Pelicans with hydrocarbon accumulation. Petrophysical analysis showed ranges of values for porosity, permeability and water saturation of 0.21 to 0.23, 158.96 to 882.39 mD, and 0.07 to 0.11, respectively. The various prospects yielded the following stock tank volumes 12.73, 6.84, 3.84, 11.32, 7.42 and 4.76 Million barrels (Mbls) each respectively in a column of 66 ft reservoir sand in the study area. Play risk analysis results gave: Pelicans and Nicators (low), Turacos and Dippers (moderate), while Jacanas and Cranes show high risk with minimal promise for good oil accumulation. The prospects possess good reservoir petrophysical properties with low to moderate risk, thus, viable for commercial hydrocarbon production, which increases confidence in management decisions for production.

Identification Marks of Cretaceous Shallow-Water Delta in the Songliao Basin,China

Shallow-water deltas are now a research focus of international sedimentology. Researchers have recently discovered that water depth is an important controlling factor for the development of shallow deltas, and that significant differences exist between shallow-water deltas and the traditional Gilbert deltas. The identification marks of shallow-water deltas are critical for better understanding sedimentary characteristics of these deltas. In continental basins, especially China＇s Mesozoic and Cenozoic continental basins, shallow-water deltas are widely developed. Thus, this work took the Songliao Basin as an example to analysis this kind of deltas.

A Probable Connection between a Bitumen Sample from the Western Niger Delta and Isan Well Sample from the Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) Shale

An earlier study of GC-MS analysis on bitumen samples from the Agbabu area in Western Niger Delta showed the significant presence of gammacerane and no Oleanane and is suggested to be generated from the Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian) source rock, however, twelve core samples were obtained from the geological survey of Nigeria for both optical geochemical and biomarker analysis, two of the samples from Isan-9 well indicated the presence of Botryococcus braunii a freshwater alga which is characteristic of a lacustrine lake type environment. The extracts from the same core showed m/z = 191 chromatogram with the significant presence of gammacerane which is diagnostic for stratified water columns and characterizes a typical lake environment. However, the m/z = 191 chromatogram also shows the presence of Oleanane which is diagnostic for vascular plant materials, this doesn’t corroborate with that of the Ise-2 well. The Isan-9 well source rock is suggested to have occurred due to the evolving structural geology of the continental shelf after the onset of the rifting, whereby the dominant lake-type environment in the Early Cretaceous was accompanied by a sediment fill of continental runoffs containing vascular plant materials. This implies that an ancient lacustrine lake system was gradually modified as a result of sedimentary infill. And that the bitumen is sourced from the lower Cretaceous Neocomian source rocks.

陕甘宁盆地陇东地区长3油组坳陷湖盆岩性油藏成藏模式

陇东地区三叠系延长组位于陕甘宁盆地陕北斜坡的南部 ,其中长 3油组发育了一套坳陷型湖泊三角洲前缘碎屑岩沉积 .该区构造发育简单 ,缺乏断层 ,油藏类型属岩性油藏 .通过对长 3油组岩性油藏的储油砂体成因和成藏要素进行分析 ,认为该区长 3油组油藏特征主要反映在储油层成因和圈闭两种因素上 ;储油砂体下伏深水泥岩、巨厚的坝上河砂体、“无根”的断头砂和单斜背景上的小背斜等是油藏 4种主要组合要素 .油气藏的形成有 4种模式 :古地形巨厚砂岩差异压实小幅背斜成藏模式 ;单斜构造背景上的上倾尖灭油藏成藏模式 ;烃源岩内砂岩透镜体圈闭成藏模式 ;鼻状构造高部位与砂体匹配构成构造—岩性圈闭成藏模式 .

鄂尔多斯坳陷湖盆缓坡型三角洲前缘沉积微相分带及成因分析——以定边-安边地区延长组长6油组为例

运用沉积相分析理论对鄂尔多斯盆地定边-安边地区晚三叠世延长组坳陷湖盆缓坡型三角洲前缘沉积微相组合进行系统研究,共识别出其组合形式有:水下分流河道叠加组合、河口坝叠加组合、水下分流河道与河口坝叠加组合以及河口坝与远砂坝、席状砂的叠加组合等4大类9种类型。并深入研究三角洲前缘沉积微相组合的时空分布规律,以三角洲前缘坡折带为界,将三角洲前缘分为"台型前缘"、"坡型前缘"和"盆型前缘"三部分,各部分有独特的沉积微相组合形式。高分辨率层序地层学的基准面旋回原理和沉积物体积分配原理表明:短期基准面的规律性变化影响着储层砂体的成因类型、叠加组合形式和空间分布规律,据此建立坳陷湖盆三角洲前缘不同沉积微相组合的成因分布模式。

坳陷湖盆三角洲前缘沉积微相构成及其分带性——以鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统延长组为例

以鄂尔多斯盆地上三叠统延长组为例,研究了坳陷湖盆三角洲前缘沉积微相构成和微相组合,共识别出截削式和完整式水下分流河道、河口坝、远砂坝、席状砂、分流间湾等5种沉积微相和水下分流河道叠加组合、河口坝叠加组合、水下分流河道与河口坝叠加组合、河口坝与远砂坝、席状砂的叠加组合等4类微相组合,在此基础上,重点论述了三角洲前缘沉积微相组合的时空分布规律,并以三角洲前缘坡折带为界,将三角洲前缘分为“台型前缘”、“坡型前缘”和“盆型前缘”3部分,各部分有独特的沉积微相组合形式。

松辽盆地保乾三角洲前缘带演变及其勘探意义

岩性油藏是松辽盆地最主要油藏类型之一 ,而三角洲前缘带是形成岩性油藏的有利相带。通过保乾三角洲沉积体系在不同地质时期沉积微相和沉积模式的深入研究 ,动态再现了保乾三角洲前缘带的演化过程。前缘带砂体经历了退积、进积和大规模迁移三个过程 ,物源方向总体由西南向西北方向逐步迁移 ,三角洲朵体形态由“深湖型”朵叶式逐步转变为“浅湖型”树枝式。保乾三角洲前缘带不同沉积时期的迁移规律对岩性油藏的勘探具有重要指导意义。

陕甘宁盆地姬塬地区三叠系延长组三角洲前缘的微相组合及特征

以陕甘宁盆地姬塬地区晚三叠系延长统为例,将该区的三角洲前缘划分为“台型前缘”和“坡型前缘”两部分,其识别标志是以水下分流河道、复合河口坝(坝上河)和河口坝三种主要沉积微相为主导的多种微相的不同组合。文中对三角洲前缘中的沉积微相组合进行了精细划分和描述,例如,将水下分流河道划分为截削式和叠加式2种,将河口坝划分为完整式和复合式两大类,其中复合式河口坝(坝上河)还可划分为下残坝上河、完整坝上河和上残坝上河三种亚类型。这种对三角洲前缘的详细解释以及对其沉积微相的精细描述有助于优质储层的鉴别和分布预测,对油藏开发中的细分流动单元也有所帮助。

鄂尔多斯盆地西峰油田主要储层砂体的成因与演化

以鄂尔多斯盆地西峰油田上三叠统延长组为例,利用层序地层学理论对辫状河三角洲前缘沉积体系中以水下分流河道和河口坝两种储油砂体为主的多种成因组合进行了研究,将其划分为水下分流河道组合区、水下分流河道与河口坝混合区和河口坝组合区。详细刻画了辫状河三角洲前缘中主要储油砂体的成因类型,将水下分流河道成因砂体划分为叠加式水下分流河道砂体和完整式水下分流河道砂体两类;将水下分流河道与河口坝复合成因砂体划分为坝上河和河上坝砂体两类;将河口坝成因砂体划分为叠加式河口坝和孤立式河口坝砂体。讨论了各类成因砂体的形成机制。

中国东部陆相湖盆层序类型与岩性圈闭发育特征

依据陆相湖盆沉积时古构造和古地貌特征,可将湖盆发育的层序类型分为冲积型、湖泊断坡型、挠坡型和缓坡型等。在不同层序类型中,岩性圈闭发育的部位、砂体类型和规模均有较大差异。在湖盆不同演化阶段,发育的层序类型也有所不同。在断陷湖盆,沟道与断坡所控制的低位砂体最有利于岩性圈闭的发育。在坳陷湖盆,河道、湖岸线和缓坡对有利于岩性圈闭发育的三角洲前缘砂体具有明显的控制作用。

辫状河三角洲前缘沉积模式及砂体预测──以吐哈盆地温米油田中侏罗统为例

沉积成熟度低、富含牵引流成因的流水构造是辫状河三角洲的沉积特征。以吐哈盆地温米油田中侏罗统三间房组为例，对辫状河三角洲前缘砂体特征分析认为：湖盆可容空间较小时，辫状河三角洲相对发育，水下分支河道横向迁移频繁，易形成席状分布的砂体（水下分支河道复合作）；可容空间增大时，辫状河三角洲相对不发育，这时水下分支河道延伸不远，河道砂体较孤立，河口砂坝相对比较发育。利用地震测井约束反演不仅提高了原始资料的垂向分辨率，而且可预测砂体的横向分布，使地下地质情况的认识从井孔扩展到井间，从一维扩展到二维和三维空间。

松辽盆地大老爷府油田泉四段三角洲前缘的沉积微相组合及特征

松辽盆地南部大老爷府地区早白垩世泉头组泉四段,三角洲前缘沉积体系中以水下分流河道和河口坝两种储油微相为主导的多种微相组合,提出将其划分为"水下分流河道区"、"水下分流河道与河口坝混合区"和"河口坝区"三段微相组合区。将水下分流河道进一步划分为废弃型、完整型和多期叠加型3种;识别出坝上河混合微相组合;将河口坝组合再划分为完整型河口坝和叠加型河口坝。讨论了在坳陷湖盆条件下三角洲前缘厚层储集砂体各微相组合的形成机制以及分布模式。

松辽大型浅水湖盆三角洲沉积特征及前缘相储层结构模型

松辽湖盆具有大、浅、缓、湖面波动迅速、波浪作用带宽和能量较弱的特点,形成了北部富有特色的大型河流三角洲沉积物。这一三角洲在垂向层序、骨架砂体类型、规模等诸多方面与海相三角洲相比都有很大差别,而更多的表现为浅水三角洲的特征。前缘相砂体具有明显的条带方向性,前缘相骨架砂体为水下河道沉积,缺乏典型的厚层反韵律的河口坝砂体。垂向上层序不连续,典型的三层结构特征不明显。在前缘相内可进一步划分出包括水下河道和席状砂组合的内前缘相沉积和以席状砂为主的外前缘相沉积。不同层段和亚相位置出现相应的砂体类型,每一类型砂体与泥岩在空间有规律的组合,形成了特定的储层空间分布结构,为储层结构模型的建立提供了基础。以砂体密度,夹层密度和有效砂岩系数等定量参数结合砂体组合形式,相带位置等成因特征,前缘相储层5类结构模型:即孤立水道型,叠加水道型,不稳定互层型,稳定互层型,孤立薄层型。