Carbon Storage Dynamics in Lower Shimentan Formation of the Qiantang Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Stratigraphy, Reservoir ‒ Cap Analysis, and Source ‒ Sink Compatibility

Excessive carbon emissions have resulted in the greenhouse effect, causing considerable global climate change. Marine carbon storage has emerged as a crucial approach to addressing climate change. The Qiantang Sag(QTS) in the East China Sea Shelf Basin, characterized by its extensive area, thick sedimentary strata, and optimal depth, presents distinct geological advantages for carbon dioxide(CO_(2)) storage. Focusing on the lower section of the Shimentan Formation in the Upper Cretaceous of the QTS, this study integrates seismic interpretation and drilling data with core and thin-section analysis. We reveal the vertical variation characteristics of the strata by providing a detailed stratigraphic description. We use petrophysical data to reveal the development characteristics of high-quality carbon-storage layers and favorable reservoircaprock combinations, thereby evaluating the geological conditions for CO_(2) storage in various stratigraphic sections. We identify Layer B of the lower Shimentan Formation as the most advantageous stratum for marine CO_(2) storage. Furthermore, we analyze the carbon emission trends in the adjacent Yangtze River Delta region. Considering the characteristics of the source and sink areas, we suggest a strong correlation between the carbon emission sources of the Yangtze River Delta and the CO_(2) storage area of the QTS, making the latter a priority area for conducting experiments on marine CO_(2) storage.

Sedimentary systems of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the central anticline zone of the Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The Xihu Depression is the largest hydrocarbon-bearing depression of the East China Sea Shelf Basin(also referred to as the ECSSB).However,the depositional systems and reservoir distribution of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the Xihu Depression are still controversial.Under the guidance of sedimentology and stratigraphy,this study documented a marine-terrestrial transitional environment in the restricted bay setting of the Oligocene Huagang Formation through core description,well logging,and seismic data analysis.This study also revealed that the Oligocene Huagang Formation is dominated by tidal delta,estuary,and gravity flow deposits in the central anticline zone of the Xihu Depression.The new understanding of the sedimentary systems and the discovery of the transgressive gap in the eastern Diaoyu Islands uplift explain the origin of fine-grained sediments and the EW-trending sand bodies in the central depression and the sand bodies parallel to shoreline in the west slope belt,which cannot be explained by previous study results,such as southern transgression or fluvial deltas and even lacustrine deposition.Moreover,the tidal channels,tidal sand flats,and gravity flow sand bodies formed by the transgressive tides are high-quality reservoirs.The study will provide a basis for well placement and serve as guidance for the selection of favorable hydrocarbon exploration areas in the Xihu Depression.

Origin of hydrocarbon fluids and discussion of abnormal carbon isotopic compositions in the Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The hydrocarbon gases in the L1 gas field of the Lishui-Jiaojiang Sag have been commonly interpreted to be an accumulation of pure sapropelic-type thermogenic gas.In this study,chemical components,stable isotopic compositions,and light hydrocarbons were utilized to shed light on the origins of the hydrocarbon fluids in the L1gas pool.The hydrocarbon fluids in the L1 gas pool are proposed to be a mixture of three unique components:mid-maturity oil from the middle Paleocene coastal marine Lingfeng source rock,oil-associated(late oil window)gas generated from the lower Paleocene lacustrine Yueguifeng source rock,and primary microbial gas from the paralic deposits of the upper Paleocene Mingyuefeng source rock.Here,for the first time,the hydrocarbon gases in the L1 gas pool are diagnosed as mixed oil-associated sapropelic-type gas and microbial gas via four pieces of principal evidence:(1)The abnormal carbon isotopic distributions of all methane homologues from C_(1)(CH_(4)or methane)to C_(5)(C_(5)H_(12)or pentane)shown in the Chung plot;(2)the diagnostic~(13)C-depleted C_(1)compared with the thermogenic sapropelic-type gas model,whileδ^(13)C_(2)(C_(2)H_(6)or ethane)andδ^(13)C_(3)(C_(3)H_(8)or propane)both fit perfectly;(3)the excellent agreement of the calculated carbon isotopic compositions of the pure thermogenic gas with the results of the thermal simulated gas from the type-II1 kerogen-rich Yueguifeng source rock;and(4)the oil-associated gas inferred from various binary genetic diagrams with an abnormally elevated gas oil ratio.Overall,the natural gases of the L1 gas pool were quantified in this study to comprise approximately 13%microbial gas,nearly 48%oil-associated sapropelic-type gas,and 39%of nonhydrocarbon gas.The microbial gas is interpreted to have been codeposited and entrained in the humic-kerogen-rich Mingyuefeng Formation under favorable lowtemperature conditions during the late Paleocene-middle Eocene.The microbial gas subsequently leaked into the structurally and stratigraphically complex L1 trap with oil-associated sapropelic-type gas from the Yueguifeng source rock during the late Eocene-Oligocene uplifting event.A small amount of humic-kerogen-generated oil in the L1 gas pool is most likely to be derived from the underlying Lingfeng source rock.The detailed geological and geochemical considerations of source rocks are discussed to explain the accumulation history of hydrocarbon fluids in the L1 gas pool.This paper,therefore,represents an effort to increase the awareness of the pitfalls of various genetic diagrams,and an integrated geochemical and geological approach is required for hydrocarbonsource correlation.

New interpretation on the provenance changes of the upper Pinghu–lower Huagang Formation within Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

Both Pinghu and Huagang formations are important hydrocarbon reservoirs of the Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Shelf Basin.Clarifying the source suppliers and restoring source-to-sink transport routes are of great significance to the future petroleum and gas undertakings.Previous researchers were largely confined by either limitation of geological records,highly dependence on a singular method or low-precision dating techniques.Our study integrated heavy mineral assemblages,geochemical analyses and detrital zircon U-Pb dating to reconstruct multiple source-to-sink pathways,and to provide a better understanding on the provenance evolution for the upper Pinghu–lower Huagang depositions of the Xihu Depression.At least three major provenances have been confirmed and systematically investigated for their separate compositional features.The Hupijiao Uplift(or even farther northern area)was dominated by a major Paleoproterozoic population peaked at ca.1830 Ma along with minor Mesozoic clusters.The Haijiao Uplift to the west and the Yushan Low Uplift to the southwest,on the other hand,generate opposite U-Pb age spectra with apparently larger peaks of Indosinian and Yanshanian-aged zircons.To be noted,both Indosinian and Paleoproterozoic peaks are almost identical in proportion for the Haijiao Uplift.The overall sedimentary pattern of late Eocene-early Oligocene was featured by both spatial and temporal distinction.The Hupijiao Uplift was likely to cast limited impact during the late Eocene,whereas the broad southern Xihu Depression was transported by a large abundance of materials from the nearby Haijiao and Yushan Low Uplifts.The northern source substantially extended its influence to the farther south during the early Oligocene by delivering plentiful sediments of higher-degree metamorphic parent rocks.Combined with the proximal western and southwestern suppliers,the overall Xihu Depression was under control from both distant and local provenances.

Application of seismic sedimentology in characterization of fluvial-deltaic reservoirs in Xihu sag, East China Sea shelf basin

The fluvial-deltaic reservoirs of the Oligocene Huagang Formation in the Xihu sag of the East China Sea shelf basin reflect rapid lateral change in sedimentary facies and poor morphology of conventional slice attributes,which bring difficulties to the reservoir prediction for subsequent exploration and development of lithologic reservoirs.The traditional seismic sedimentology technology is optimized by applying the characteristic technologies such as frequency-boosting interpretation,inversion-conventional–90°phase shift joint construction of seismic lithologic bodies,nonlinear slices,paleogeomorphology restoration,and multi-attribute fusion,to obtain typical slice attributes,which are conducive to geological form description and sedimentary interpretation.The Huagang Formation developed three types of sedimentary bodies:braided river,meandering river and shallow water delta,and the vertical sedimentary evolution was controlled by the mid-term base-level cycle and paleogeomorphology.In the early–middle stage of the mid-term base-level ascending cycle,braided channel deposits were dominant,and vertical superimposed sand bodies were developed.In the late stage of the ascending half-cycle and the early stage of the descending half-cycle,meandering river deposits were dominant,and isolated sand bodies were developed.In the middle–late stage of the descending half-cycle,shallow-water delta deposits were dominant,and migratory medium–thick sand bodies were developed.Restricted paleogeomorphology controlled the sand body distribution,while non-restricted paleogeomorphology had little effect on the sand body distribution.Based on reservoir characterization,the fault sealing type and reservoir updip pinch-out type structural lithological traps are proposed as the main directions for future exploration and development in the Xihu sag.

Tectonics and Petroleum Potential of the East China Sea Shelf Rift Basin

There are two Cenozoic sedimentary basins in the East China Sea. They are the East China Sea shelf basin and the Okinawa Trough basin. The former can be divided into a western and an eastern rift region. The development of the shelf basin underwent continental-margin fault depression, post-rift and then tectonic inversion stages. Available exploration results show that the distribution of source rocks is controlled by the basin architecture and its tectonic evolution. In the Xihu depression, mudstones and coals are the main source rocks. The eastern rift region has good geological conditions for the formation of large oil and gas fields.

Diagenesis and Diagenetic Evolution of Deltaic and Neritic Gas-Bearing Sandstones in the Lower Mingyuefeng Formation of Paleogene, Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin: Implications for Depositional Environments and Sequence Stratigraphy Controls

Gas-bearing deposits in the Lower Mingyuefeng Formation of Paleogene, Lishui Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin consist of shoreface sandstones of the highstand systems tract（HST） and transgressive systems tract（TST）, and deltaic sandstones of the lowstand systems tract（LST） and falling stage systems tract（FSST）.Detailed petrographic observations suggest that the diagenetic features and related evolution of these deposits cannot be simply characterized and demonstrated in the depth domain.However, the occurrence of diagenetic minerals systematically depends on the studied interval within the HST, TST, LST, and FSST; therefore, diagenesis in this region can be better constrained when studied in the context of the depositional environments and sequence stratigraphic framework.The eogenetic processes in such settings include：（1） microcrystalline siderite precipitated as concretions in almost all environments and systems tracts, which inhibited further mechanical compaction;（2） grain dissolution and kaolinitization occurred in shoreface HST sandstones and deltaic LST and FSST sandstones;（3） glaucony was locally observed, which did not clearly reflect the controls of facies or sequence stratigraphy; and（4） cementation by pyrite aggregates occurred in the shoreface HST sandstones and deltaic LST sandstones.The mesogenetic diagenesis includes：（1） partial conversion of kaolinite into dickite in deltaic LST sandstones, and minor chlorite cementation in deltaic FSST sandstones;（2） transformation of kaolinite into illite and quartz cementation in deltaic LST and FSST sandstones;（3） frequent precipitation of ankerite and ferroan calcite in shoreface TST sandstones and early HST sandstones, forming baffles and barriers for fluid flow, with common calcite in shoreface HST sandstones as a late diagenetic cement; and（4） formation of dawsonite in the deltaic LST and FSST sandstones, which is interpreted to be a product of the invasion of a CO2-rich fluid, and acts as a good indicator of CO2-bearing reservoirs.This study has thus constructed a reliable conceptual model to describe the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations.The results may provide an entirely new conceptual framework and methodology for successful gas exploration in the continental margins of offshore China, thus allowing us to predict and unravel the distribution and quality evolution of clastic reservoirs at a more detailed and reliable scale.

Tertiary Sea Level Changes and Sequence Stratigraphic Framework in East China Sea Shelf Basin

The East China Sea shelf basin is a key area for setting up the sea level changes of Cenozoic in the West Pacific. Based upon the characteristics of seismic reflection, the analysis of sequence stratigraphy and depositional system, the high resolution chronostratigraphic framework has been set up by using the data of micropaleontologic biozone fossils. The relative sea level change curve has been set up by combining analysis of paleoecology, genetic facies, specific sedimentary structures and on lap recognized from the seismic profiles with study of geochemical characteristics. There are 4 2nd order basin cycles showing the long term sea level changes, and 22 3rd order cycles showing short term ones with relative changing ranges of 0-150 m. Transgression and regression showing long term sea level changes bear asymmetric feature, which indicates that the speed of transgression is faster than that of regression. There are a lot of differences when compared with Haq ’s curve. The sequence stratigraphic framework has also been set up and 3 tectonic sequences, 7 supersequences and 19 sequences have been subdivided for Tertiary in the East China Sea shelf basin. On the basis of detailed analysis of genetic facies and log facies, 9 sedimentary systems, 20 depositional assemblages and many genetic facies have also been recognized and investigated. Based on the studies mentioned above, the favorable source and reservoir facies of gas and petroleum are indicated.

Facies Architecture Model of the Shimentan Formation Pyroclastic Rocks in the Block-T Units, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Basin, and its Exploration Significance

A gas field consisting of volcanic reservoir rocks was discovered in the block-T units of the Xihu Sag,East China Sea Basin.The lithology of the volcanic rocks is dominated by tuff and reworked tuff.The lithofacies are dominated by base surge deposits of explosive facies.As the architecture model of volcanic facies is still uncertain,it has restricted the exploration and development of mineral resources in this area.Using core and cuttings data,the lithology,lithofacies,geochemistry as well as grain size characteristics of volcanic rocks were analyzed.Based on these analyses,the volcanic rocks in the well section are divided into three eruptive stages.The transport direction of each volcanic eruption is analyzed using crystal fragment size analysis.The facies architecture of the block-T units was established based on the reconstruction results of paleo-geomorphology.The results show that the drilling reveals proximal facies(PF)and distal facies(DF)of the volcanic edifices.However,the crater-near crater facies(CNCF)are not revealed.Compared with the reservoirs of the Songliao Basin,it is shown that the volcanic rocks in the Xihu Sag have good exploration potential;a favorable target area is the CNCF near the contemporaneous fault.

Peat formation and accumulation mechanism in northern marginal basin of South China Sea

In the present study,the coal-rock organic facies of Oligocene Yacheng Formation of the marginal basin in the South China Sea were classified and divided.In addition,through the correlations of the large-scale coal-bearing basins between the epicontinental sea and the South China Sea,it was concluded that the coal forming activities in the South China Sea presented particularity and complexity.Furthermore,the coal forming mechanisms also presented distinctiveness.The marginal basins in the South China Sea consist of several large and complex rift or depression basins,which are distributed at different tectonic positions in the South China Sea.Therefore,the marginal basins in the South China Sea are not simple traditional units with onshore continental slopes extending toward the deep sea.The marginal basins are known to consist of multi-level structures and distinctive types of basins which differ from the continental regions to the sea.During the Oligocene,the existing luxuriant plants and beneficial conditions assisted in the development of peat.Therefore,the Oligocene was the significant period for the formation and aggregation of the peat.However,the peat did not form in unified sedimentary dynamic fields,but instead displayed multi-level geographical units,multiple provenance areas,instability,and nonevent characteristics.As a result,the marginal basins in the South China Sea are characterized by non-uniform peat aggregation stages.In another words,the majority of the peat had entered the marine system in a dispersive manner and acted as part of the marine deposits,rather than during one or several suitable coal-forming stages.These peat deposits then became the main material source for hydrocarbon generation in all of the marginal basins of the South China Sea.The study will be of much significance for the hydrocarbon exploration in the marginal basins of the South China Sea.

Factors controlling the development of tight sandstone reservoirs in the Huagang Formation of the central inverted structural belt in Xihu sag, East China Sea Basin

By means of thin section analysis, zircon U-Pb dating, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe, laser micro carbon and oxygen isotope analysis, the lithologic features, diagenetic environment evolution and controlling factors of the tight sandstone reservoirs in the Huagang Formation of Xihu sag, East China Sea Basin were comprehensively studied. The results show that: the sandstones of the Huagang Formation in the central inverted structural belt are poor in physical properties, dominated by feldspathic lithic quartz sandstone, high in quartz content, low in matrix, kaolinite and cement contents, and coarse in clastic grains;the acidic diagenetic environment formed by organic acids and meteoric water is vital for the formation of secondary pores in the reservoirs;and the development and distribution of the higher quality reservoirs in the tight sandstones of the Huagang Formation are controlled by sediment source, sedimentary facies belt, abnormal overpressure and diagenetic environment evolution. Sediment provenance and dominant sedimentary facies led to favorable initial physical properties of the sandstones in the Huagang Formation, which is the prerequisite for development of reservoirs with better quality later. Abnormal high pressure protected the primary pores, thus improving physical properties of the reservoirs in the Huagang Formation. Longitudinally, due to the difference in diagenetic environment evolution, the high-quality reservoirs in the Huagang Formation are concentrated in the sections formed in acidic diagenetic environment. Laterally, the high-quality reservoirs are concentrated in the lower section of the Huagang Formation with abnormal high pressure in the middle-northern part;but concentrated in the upper section of Huagang Formation shallower in burial depth in the middle-southern part.

The Mesozoic Basin-Mountain Coupling Process of the Southern East China Sea Shelf Basin and its Adjacent Land Area

Basin-mountain coupling is a key issue for basin formation and evolution. The analysis of basin-mountain coupling process, as well as quantitative or semiquantitative restoration of prototype basin and the evolution of continental margin, can be used to interpret the geological process of basin-range conversion and reconstruct early prototype basins, which is a difficult and leadin~ scientific oroblem of basin research.

Discovery of Late Cretaceous-Paleocene faulted basins developed on the Yandang Low Uplift, East China Sea Shelf Basin

1.Objective The East China Sea Shelf Basin (ECSSB) is a typical Meso-Cenozoic superimposed basin which consists several tectonic units including the Changjiang Sag, Oujiang Sag, Hupijiao Uplift, Haijiao Uplift, Yandang Low Uplift (YDLU), Minjiang Sag, Taipei Low Uplift, Xihu Sag, Jilong Sag and so on.

THE PEPC EVOLUTION OF THE EAST CHINA SEA BASIN AND ITSHYDROCARBON ACCUMULATION

Evidence from such diverse fields as geology,seismology and geophysic exploration indicate that the "backarc spnding"and"terrane matching" models can not be reasonably used to explain the evolutionary feature of the East China Sea (ECS) Basin. A new model,the persistent extending-pulsative compressing (PEPC) model,is proposed by the authors. An active persistently extension oceanward took place at the margin of the continental lithosphere,because of its inhomogeneous composition,texture and thermal state, and was conttolled by deep-seated (mantle) geological processes.The extension is the main cause for the formation and evolution of the ECS Basin.The northwestward movement of the Philippine Sea lithosphete provides the basin with a compre8sion.The compression is short in time but powerful in force strength, i. e. in a pulsative form, relatively to the above-mentioned extension. The PEPC model plays a new role in comprehencing the laws of hydtocarbon accumulation and prospecting for oil /Ras fields in the ECS Basin.There are several source- reservoir-caprock associations related closely to the multiperiodic persistent extending-pulsative compressing.The Paleocene and Eocene are the main mature source rocks and the Oligocene to Miocene are the potential source rocks in the Shelf Basin.Commonly the persistent extension is favourable to the formation of the hydrocarbon areas, but the pulsative compression causes them to be destroyed.

The sedimentary record of the Sanshui Basin:Implication to the Late Cretaceous tectonic evolution in the northern margin of South China Sea

Whether the South China continental margin had shifted from active subduction to passive extension in the Late Cretaceous remains controversial.Located in the northernmost of the South China Sea continental margin,Sanshui Basin developed continuous stratigraphy from Lower Cretaceous to Eocene and provides precious outcrops to study the regional tectonic evolution during the Cretaceous.Therefore,we conducted field observations,petrology,clay mineralogy,geochemistry,and detrital zircon chronology analyses of sedimentary rocks from the Upper Cretaceous Sanshui Formation in Sanshui Basin.Results suggest that the Sanshui Basin is characterized as an intermoutane basin with multiple provenances,strong hydrodynamic environment,and proximal accumulation in the Late Cretaceous.An angular unconformity at the boundary between the Lower and Upper Cretaceous was observed in the basin.The sedimentary facies of the northern basin changed from lacustrine sedimentary environment in the Early Cretaceous to alluvial facies in the Late Cretaceous.The zircon U-Pb ages of granitic gravelly sandstone from Sanshui Formation prominently range from 100 Ma to 300 Ma,which is close to the deposition age of Sanshui Formation.The major and trace elements of the Late Cretaceous sedimentary samples show characteristics of active continental margin,and are different from the Paleogene rifting sequences.Hence,we propose that the northern South China Sea margin underwent an intense tectonic uplift at the turn of the Early and Late Cretaceous(around 100 Ma).Afterward,the northern South China Sea margin entered a wide extension stage in the Late Cretaceous(~100 to~80 Ma).This extensional phase is related to the back-arc extension in the active continental margin environment,which is different from the later passive rifting in the Cenozoic.The transition from active subduction to passive extension in the northern South China Sea may occur between the late Late Cretaceous and the Paleogene.

Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of volcanic rocks from the northern East China Sea shelf margin and the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks both from the northern East China Sea （NECS） shelf margin and the northern Okinawa Trough are subalkaline less aluminous,and lower in High Field Strength Elements （HFSE）.These rocks are higher in Large Ion Lithophile Elements （LILE）,thorium and uranium contents,positive lead anomalies,negative Nb-Ta anomalies,and enrichment in Light Rare Earth Elements （LREE）.Basalts from the NECS shelf margin are akin to Indian Ocean Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt （MORB）,and rhyolites from the northern Okinawa Trough have the highest 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios.The NECS shelf margin basalts have lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios,ε N d and σ 18 O than the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks.According to 40 K– 40 Ar isotopic ages of basalts from the NECS shelf margin,rifting of the Okinawa Trough may have been active since at least 3.65–3.86 Ma.The origin of the NECS shelf margin basalt can be explained by the interaction of melt derived from Indian Ocean MORB-like mantle with enriched subcontinental lithosphere.The basalts from both sides of the Okinawa Trough may have a similar origin during the initial rifting of the Okinawa Trough,and the formation of basaltic magmas closely relates to the thinning of continental crust.The source of the formation of the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks was different from that of the middle Okinawa Trough,which could have been generated by the interaction of basaltic melt with an enriched crustal component.From the Ryukyu island arc to East China,the Cenozoic basalts have apparently increasing trends of MgO contents and ratios of LREE to Heavy Rare Earth Elements （HREE）,suggesting that the trace element variabilities of basalts may have been influenced by the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate,and that the effects of subduction of the Philippine Sea plate on the chemical composition of basaltic melts have had a decreasing effect from the Ryukyu island arc to East China.

A comparison of summer precipitation structures over the South China Sea and the East China Sea based on tropical rainfall measurement mission

The three-dimensional structures of summer precipitation over the South China Sea （SCS） and the East China Sea （ECS） are investigated based on tropical rainfall measurement mission （TRMM）. The primary results are as follows. First, both the convective and stratiform precipitation rates in the SCS are much higher than those of the ECS. The contribution of the convective cloud precipitation to the surface precipitation is primarily over the SCS and the ECS with a proportion of about 70%, but the contribution of convective cloud precipitation is slightly larger in the SCS than the ECS. The contribution of stratus precipitation is slightly larger in the ECS than that in the SCS. Second, the content of cloud particles and precipitation particles in the ECS in June was greater than that in the SCS, while in July and August, the content of cloud and precipitation particles in the ECS was less than that in the SCS. Third, the latent heat profile of the ECS is quite different from that of the SCS. In June, the peak values of evaporation and condensation latent heating rates in the ECS are greater than those in the SCS. In July and August, however, the peak values of evaporation and condensation latent heating rates in the ECS are about 0.05°/h less than those in the SCS.

Depositional Responding to Tectonic Evolution of East China Sea Shelf Basin

? The East China Sea Shelf basin is a large marginal rift basin occurred in backarc area of west Pacific. Three main regional unconformities and eleven sequence boundary isochronous surfaces (hiatuses) were developed within the basin filling, which are separared the fill succession into three tectonic sequences and fourteen sequences. The depositional response of every tectonic sequence indicates the different phases in the evolution of basin and a specific filling process or filling pattern.

A Comparative Study of the Coal-forming Characteristics of Marginal Sea Basins and Epicontinental Sea Basins

The coal-forming characteristics,as well as the similarities and differences between epicontinental sea basins and continental marginal sea basins developed during different time periods,were analyzed in this study by adopting comparative analysis thoughts and methods.The results obtained in this study revealed that epicontinental basins and marginal sea basins are both characterized by the main development of thin coal seams or extremely thin coal seams.In addition,changes in sea levels were determined to be the main controlling factors for coal formation,and there were similarities in the continent-sea interactions and coal-forming sedimentary systems of the different basins.However,there were also significant differences observed in the sea level change events,basin basement structural characteristics,coal seam stability levels,accumulation and aggregation characteristics,and the migration patterns of coal-forming materials.For example,the marginal sea basins in the South China Sea were found to be characterized by strong tectonic activities,diversity and complexity.The basin structures showed complex patterns of depressions,uplifts and concave or sag uplifts,which tended to lead to greater complexity in the paleogeographic patterns of the coal formations.This had subsequently resulted in complex coal-forming processes and paleogeographic characteristics,in which the coal-forming zones displayed bead-like distributions,and the enrichment areas and centers were scattered.The practical significance of studying the similarities and differences of the coal-forming characteristics between epicontinental basins and marginal sea basins is that the results can potentially be used to guide the predictions of coal-measure coal seam distributions in South China Sea,as well as provide valuable guidance for future explorations of natural gas reservoirs related to coal measures in the South China Sea area.

Characteristics and origin of continental marginal fault depressions under the background of preexisting subduction continental margin,northern South China Sea,China

Based on the new seismic and drilling data and the recent related research results,this paper systematically analyzes the diversity and complexity of evolution process of crustal lithosphere structure and basin structure in the Pearl River Mouth Basin on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Three types of detachment faults of different structural levels exist:crust-mantle detachment,inter-crust detachment and upper crust detachment.It is considered that different types of extensional detachment control different subbasin structures.Many fault depressions controlled by upper crust detachment faults have been found in the Zhu I Depression located in the proximal zone.These detachment faults are usually reformed by magma emplacement or controlled by preexisting faults.Baiyun-Liwan Sag located in the hyperextension area shows different characteristics of internal structure.The Baiyun main sag with relative weak magmatism transformation is a wide-deep fault depression,which is controlled by crust-mantle detachment system.Extensive magmatism occurred in the eastern and southwest fault steps of the Baiyun Sag after Middle Eocene,and the crust ductile extensional deformation resulted in wide-shallow fault depression controlled by the upper crust detachment fault.Based on the classical lithosphere extensional breaking and basin tectonic evolution in the Atlantic margin,it is believed that the magmatic activities and pre-existing structures in the Mesozoic subduction continental margin background are important controlling factors for the diversified continental margin faulted structures in the northern South China Sea.