Astronomical tuning and magnetostratigraphy of Neogene biogenic reefs in Xisha Islands, South China Sea

Biogenic reefs are one of two major depositional types in the South China Sea, and are constructed by coral, algae and bryozoa. The West Pacific is a major area of biogenic reef development and plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle. However, the lack of geochronological studies in previous works inhibits our understanding of their contributions. Herein, we conduct a cyclostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic study on Neogene biogenic reefs using the XK–1 core that was drilled at the Shidao Island,Xisha(Paracel) Islands. The main findings of this study are:(1) the establishment of reliable magentostratigraphy for Ledong, Huangliu, Meishan and Sanya Formations;(2) the magnetic susceptibility variation can be inferred as growth index and tuned to the 405–ka long eccentricity cycle;(3) the astronomical geochronology suggests that the bottom ages for Ledong, Yinggehai, Huangliu, Meishan,and Sanya Formations are 2.2 Ma, 5.7 Ma, 10.4 Ma, 16.6 Ma, and 24.3 Ma, respectively; and (4) Earth's eccentricity and obliquity played predominant roles in biogenic reef establishment on orbital to tectonic timescales. Thus, the reported geochronology offers an opportunity to test the contributions of various factors and hypothesize their roles in the global carbon cycle in future.

Hydrocarbon accumulation conditions and key technologies for exploration and development of Yuanba gas field

This paper discusses the exploration and development history and lessons of the large ultra-deep biogenic reef gas field in Yuanba area,where the previous“Kaijiang-Liangping shelf”model provides an insight for the discovery of the biological reef and bank on the platform margin.Systematic analysis of key geological conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation shows that the reef and bank reservoirs in Yuanba area are characterized by row and zonal distribution along“Kaijiang-Liangping shelf”,the bank in early and the reef in late,the reef in the front and the bank in the back,and dominated by lateral accretion and progradation.The major exploration target of high-quality reef-bank reservoirs are developed in Changxing Formation instead of in Feixianguan Formation,Three stages of fractures and dissolution,and dolomitization control the development of the high-quality reservoirs.Two sets of effective source rocks(Permian Dalong Formation and Wujiaping Formation)provide sufficient gas source for the large gas field.Three dimensional migration pathway system composed of micro-faults,micro-fractures and interlayer fissures facilitates the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.The accumulation model of Yuanba gas field is characterized by the near-source accumulation,three-micro migration pathway system,lithological-stratigraphic reservoirs and tectonics controlling enrichment.According to the complex geological conditions such as ultra-deep reservoirs and multiple pressure systems in Yuanba gas field,several key technologies are developed during hydrocarbon exploration and development,including fine prediction of ultra-deep reef-bank reservoirs and identification of gas and water,fine-scale reservoir description and characterization of complex thin and small reef gas reservoirs,optimal&fast drilling of ultra-deep horizontal well,geo-steering of ultra-deep horizontal well for complex reef and bank.All these technologies resulted in the efficient exploration and development of Yuanba gas field and accelerated the innovation of theoretical technology and methods for ultra-deep reservoirs.