Evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their controls on the development of source rocks in continental margin basins:A case study from the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Hydrocarbon resources in the Qiongdongnan Basin have become an important exploration target in China.However,the development of high-quality source rocks in this basin,especially in its deep-water areas,are still not fully understood.In this study,evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their influences on the development of source rocks in diverse tectonic regions of the Qiongdongnan Basin were investigated.The results show that during the Oligocene and to Miocene periods,the sedimentary environment of this basin progressively varied from a semi-closed gulf to an open marine environment,which resulted in significant differences in palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column for various tectonic regions of the basin.In shallow-water areas,the palaeoproductivity and reducibility successively decrease,and the hydrodynamic intensity gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In deep-water areas,the water column of the Yacheng and Lingshui strata has a higher palaeoproductivity and a weaker hydrodynamic intensity than that of the Sanya-Meishan strata,while the reducibility gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In general,the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column are the most favorable to the development of the Yacheng organic-rich source rocks.Meanwhile,the Miocene marine source rocks in the deep-water areas of the Qiongdongnan Basin may also have a certain hydrocarbon potential.The differences in the development models of source rocks in various tectonic regions of continental margin basins should be fully evaluated in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons.

Reinterpretation of the northern South China Sea pre-Cenozoic basement and geodynamic implications of the South China continent: constraints from combined geological and geophysical records

The pre-Cenozoic northern South China Sea(SCS)Basin basement was supposed to exist as a complex of heterogeneous segments,divided by dozens of N-S faulting.Unfortunately,only the Hainan Island and the northeastern SCS region were modestly dated while the extensive basement remains roughly postulated by limited geophysical data.This study presents a systematic analysis including U-Pb geochronology,elemental geochemistry and petrographic identification on granite and meta-clastic borehole samples from several key areas.Constrained from gravity-magnetic joint inversion,this interpretation will be of great significance revealing the tectono-magmatic evolution along the southeastern margin of the Eurasian Plate.Beneath the thick Cenozoic sediments,the northern SCS is composed of a uniform Mesozoic basement while the Precambrian rocks are only constricted along the Red River Fault Zone.Further eastern part of the northern SCS below the Cenozoic succession was widely intruded by granites with Jurassic-to-early Cretaceous ages.Further western part,on the other hand,is represented by meta-sedimentary rocks with relatively sporadic granite complexes.To be noted,the western areas derived higher-degree and wider metamorphic zones,which is in contrast with the lowerdegree and narrower metamorphic belt developed in the eastern region.Drastic collisions between the Indochina Block and South China continent took place since at least late Triassic,resulting in large-scale suturing and deformation zones.At the westernmost part of the northern SCS,the intracontinental amalgamation with closure of the Meso-Tethys has caused fairly stronger and broader metamorphism.One metamorphic biotite granite is located on the suturing belt and yields a Precambrian U-Pb age.It likely represents the relict from the ancient Gondwana supercontinent or its fringes.Arc-continental collision between the Paleo-Pacific and the southeast China Block,on the other hand,results in a relatively narrow NE–SW trending metamorphic belt during the late Mesozoic.Within the overall geological setting,the Cenozoic SCS oceanic basin was subsequently generated from a series of rifting and faulting processes along the collisional-accretionary continental margin.

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.

Facies Architecture of the Fluvial-Aeolian Buchan Formation (Upper Devonian) and Its Implications on Field Exploration: A Case Study from Ardmore Field, Central North Sea, UK

The Upper Devonian Buchan Formation in the Central North Sea is a typical terrestrial deposit and predominantly comprises fine to medium-grained sandstones with occasional conglomerates and mudstones. The Buchan Formation has been previously described as being made up mostly of braided fluvial sandstones;however, this study confirms the presence and significance of aeolian sandstones within this fluvial-dominated sequence. Facies architecture is investigated through analogue outcrop study, well log curves and numerical facies modelling, and the results show contrasting differences between fluvial and aeolian facies. The fluvial facies is composed of multiple superimposed and sand-dominated fining-upward cycles in the vertical direction, and laterally an individual cycle has a large width/thickness ratio but is smaller than the field scale. However, the high channel deposition proportion (CDP, average value = 72%) in fluvial-dominated intervals means that it is likely all the sand bodies are interconnected. Aeolian facies comprise superimposed dune and interdune depositions and can be laterally correlated over considerable distances (over 1 km). Although the aeolian sandstones are volumetrically minor (approx. 30%) within the whole Buchan Formation, they have very high porosity and permeability (14.1% - 28%, 27 - 5290 mD) and therefore are excellent potential reservoirs. The fluvial sandstones are significantly cemented by quartz overgrowth and dolomite and by comparison with the aeolian sandstones are poor reservoirs. Aeolian sandstones can be differentiated from fluvial sandstones using several features: pin-stripe lamentation, good sorting, high visible porosity, friable nature and lack of muddy or conglomeratic contents;these characteristics allow aeolian sandstones can be tentatively recognized by low gamma ray values, high sonic transit time and low density in uncored wells. The thin, laterally correlatable and permeable aeolian sandstones within the Buchan Formation are effective reservoirs and could form important exploration targets when the Devonian is targeted elsewhere in the North Sea.

Hydrocarbon Potential of Pre-cenozoic Strata in the North Yellow Sea Basin

The North Yellow Sea Basin ( NYSB ), which was developed on the basement of North China (Huabei) continental block, is a typical continental Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the sea area. Its Mesozoic basin is a residual basin, below which there is probably a larger Paleozoic sedimentary basin. The North Yellow Sea Basin comprises four sags and three uplifts. Of them, the eastern sag is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary sag in NYSB and has the biggest sediment thickness; the current Korean drilling wells are concentrated in the eastern sag. This sag is comparatively rich in oil and gas resources and thus has a relatively good petroleum prospect in the sea. The central sag has also accommodated thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments. The latest research results show that there are three series of hydrocarbon source rocks in the North Yellow Sea Basin, namely, black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The principal hydrocarbon source rocks in NYSB are the Mesozoic black shale. According to the drilling data of Korea, the black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous have all come up to the standards of good and mature source rocks. The NYSB owns an intact system of oil generation, reservoir and capping rocks that can help hydrocarbon to form in the basin and thus it has the great potential of oil and gas. The vertical distribution of the hydrocarbon resources is mainly considered to be in the Cretaceous and then in the Jurassic.

SEDIMENTARY CHARACTERISTICS OF SILTY CLAY FACIES IN THE SOUTH YELLOW SEA SHELF

Grain size analysis, X ray diffraction analysis and biostratigraphy analysis of the structure, composition and formation conditions of the neritic silty clay facies sediments extensively distributed in the central part of the South Yellow Sea showed that the sediments were composed of more than 70% clay, less than 30% silt, had very little or no sand, and were characterized by homogenous texture, soapy feeling, high plasticity, light green gray color and elliptical distribution being about 3 m thick in the center, being thinner towards the margin and finally thinning out. These shelf cyclonic eddy environment sediments formed a sedimentary facies different from that of the sediments in the neighbouring area and revealed the particular sediment dynamic pattern in the environment.

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.

Vertical Sound Velocity Transition in the Coral Reef Core and its Significance of Indicating Facies

On the basis of the sound velocity measurements of the coral reef core from Nanyong No. 1 Well of Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands, the paper studies the relations between the vertical sound velocity transition features in the coral reef core and the corresponding stratigraphic depositional facies change as well as stratigraphic gap of erosion, analyses the cause of the sound velocity transition, expounds the concrete process of the sea level change resulting in the stratigraphic gap of erosion and facies change in the coral reef and explains the relations between the vertical sound velocity transition in the coral reef core and the corresponding stratigraphic paleoclimate and the sea level change. This study is of important practical value and theoretical significance to the island and reef engineering construction and the acoustic logging for oil exploration in the reef limestone area as well as the paleoceanographic study of the marginal sea in the western Pacific Ocean.

Lower Jurassic Sequence Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Facies on the North Slope of Mount Qomolangma

The Lower Jurassic is subdivided in ascending order into the Wulong, Kangdui and Yongjia Formations on the north slope of Mount Qomolangma, with a total thickness of 1362 m. They are thought to have been deposited respectively in the environments of the carbonate ramp fault-bounded basins and carbonate platform, with six sedimentary facies and six sub-facies. During the Early Jurassic, the Qomolangma area experienced strong faulting and subsidence, and was of a matured rift basin. The Lower Jurassic consists of eleven 3rd-order sequences, which can be grouped into three 2nd-order sequences and form a large transgressive-regressive cycle. The 3rd-order sequences and the corresponding sea-level changes recognized in the area can be correlated quite well with those set up in the western Tethys, and may have been caused by the eustatic fluctuations, while the 2nd-order sequences seem to be more closely related to the basement subsidence and the variation in sedimentary influx, indicating the evolution of the eastern Neotethys and the movement of the plates on its two sides.

杭州湾北岸现代潮滩沉积物粒度特征及其对古海平面的指示意义

对杭州湾北岸3处现代潮滩沉积物进行高精度粒度分析,查找研究区潮滩不同微相的粒度特征和差异,提取基于粒度分析的潮滩微相识别敏感指标,并将其应用到该区域的全新世钻孔潮滩沉积物中,识别钻孔潮滩沉积微相,据此建立研究区全新世早期的海平面曲线。研究表明:杭州湾北岸现代高潮滩盐沼沉积物粘土含量明显高于高潮滩下部和中潮滩,而砂含量与之相反;高潮滩盐沼平均粒径等粒度参数明显小于中、高潮滩的粒度参数;盐沼沉积物粒度频率曲线峰态宽缓,明显区别于高潮滩下部和中潮滩。上述现代潮滩微相粒度敏感指标可成功应用到钻孔潮滩沉积微相划分中,并建立了该区域全新世早期海平面曲线。曲线显示,9700~8700 cal a BP期间海平面上升约11.6 m,海平面上升速率可达1.2 cm/a。现代潮滩不同位置沉积物粒度参数的规律性差异可作为潮滩微相识别的有效指标,为古潮滩沉积微相识别和古海平面重建提供参考依据。

海陆过渡相煤系页岩孔隙分形特征及影响因素——以沁水盆地北部太原组为例

【目的】为分析沁水盆地北部太原组海陆过渡相煤系页岩孔隙分形特征及影响因素。【方法】通过对阳泉区块太原组样品进行总有机碳(TOC)含量、成熟度测试及X射线衍射、低温氮气吸附实验,基于(Frenkel Halsey Hill,FHH)理论模型计算样品孔隙分形维数,分析矿物含量、有机地化特征及孔隙结构参数对孔隙分形维数的影响。【结果】太原组煤系页岩TOC含量介于0.57%~6.40%,平均为3.18%;有机质镜质体反射率(R_(o))介于1.96%~3.24%,平均为2.49%;煤系页岩微观孔隙具有双重分形特点,其中表面分形维数(D_(1))介于2.507 9~2.663 9,结构分形维数(D_(2))介于2.527 1~2.809 4;有机质含量及成熟度与D_(1)、D_(2)均呈正相关关系,孔隙结构参数与D_(1)、D_(2)具有良好的正相关性,但与D_(2)相关系数高于D_(1),指示微孔对孔隙结构参数的影响更强;分选、磨圆度高的陆源碎屑石英多具规则孔隙形态,造成石英含量与D_(1)、D_(2)呈负相关关系;碳酸盐岩矿物及长石主要提供宏孔,其含量与页岩D_(1)及D_(2)均呈负相关关系;黏土矿物在长期压实作用下孔径减小,微孔数量增加,孔隙形态复杂,其含量与分形维数D_(1)及D_(2)呈正相关关系。【结论】海陆过渡相煤系页岩微观孔隙具有双重分形特点,有机质含量、成熟度、孔隙结构参数和黏土矿物含量增大可导致其微观孔隙分形维数变大,陆源碎屑石英、长石和碳酸盐矿物含量增多可导致其微观孔隙分形维数变小。

海陆过渡相页岩储层液岩作用机理及钻井液体系构建

我国海陆过渡相页岩地质储量大、资源丰度高,开发前景广阔。但钻井过程中井壁极易发生掉块、坍塌,导致井壁失稳影响钻井安全。本文通过钻井岩心观察、电镜和CT扫描、X射线衍射分析等相关实验,得到储层岩样矿物组分及微观结构等特征,结果表明:页岩气储层全岩主要含石英和黏土矿物,地层黏土矿物含量高达45.7%,且黏土矿物中不含蒙脱石,高岭石含量为35%,伊/蒙混层含量为26%;岩样表面纳微米孔隙和微裂缝发育,裂缝宽度在微米级并连通多条窄裂缝;通过岩液作用后晶层间距、表面张力、线性膨胀率和裂缝扩展变化分析,海陆过渡相页岩仅发生表面水化,揭示了海陆过渡相页岩气储层岩液作用机理。优选了水基钻井液抑制剂、封堵剂与润滑剂,构建了一套海陆过渡相页岩气储层的高性能水基钻井液体系,并对其展开了室内评价。钻井液常规性能、抑制性、封堵性、润滑性评价实验结果表明,该钻井液体系抗温100℃,高温高压失水6 mL,泥页岩膨胀率为1.03%,钻井液润滑系数整体小于0.15,体系30 min的API滤失量较基浆降低40%,可对地层微裂缝实现有效封堵,且生物毒性EC50值为37260 mg/L,属于无毒级别,能够满足海陆过渡相页岩气钻井作业施工对钻井液性能的要求并进行了现场应用,封堵防塌效果良好,可有效解决海陆过渡相泥页岩井壁失稳的技术难题。

东海西湖凹陷C油田花港组H3沉积微相研究

研究区C油田位于东海西湖凹陷中央背斜带南部,主力产层为渐新统花港组H3碎屑岩储层。H3储层砂体横向迁移摆动频繁,垂向多期次叠加,沉积微相及展布规律认识不清。针对海上井资料少、地质特征复杂的特点,综合应用研究区岩心、测井、地震数据及实验室分析数据等相关资料,明确目的层相标志、微相类型,分析了东海西湖凹陷C油田H3沉积微相平面展布及纵向演化特征。研究结果表明本区发育浅水辫状河三角洲前缘亚相,发育水下分流河道、支流间湾微相,水下分流河道进一步细分为主水道、次级水道及水道边缘,其中主水道是本区有利相带,呈条带状分布为主,复合砂体内部连通性较差,开发中后期往往易形成剩余油富集区;水下分流河道末端多发育孤立型储层,砂体规模较小,与沟源断层搭接可形成向上倾方向尖灭的构造-岩性复合油气藏。该研究明确有利沉积相带与油气分布的关系,对本地区及其它地区调整井的部署具有重要的指导意义。

渤海海域渤中19-2大型岩性油田发现与成藏新认识

随着渤海海域勘探程度的增加,寻找浅层规模岩性油气田难度日益加剧。2021年,在渤中凹陷西南部洼中隆,发现了渤中19-2大型河流相岩性油气田。利用地震、薄片、地化等资料,对渤中19-2油田关键成藏条件进行分析。结果表明:①明下段大型曲流河频繁迁移,不同期次河道交切叠置,控制了规模性岩性圈闭的形成;②深浅汇油背景垂向叠置,为浅层油气富集提供有利构造背景;③渤中19-2构造明下段北西向河道砂体与关键断裂具有良好的“断-脊”配置关系,形成烃柱高度大的“一级充注”;④渤中19-4构造紧邻油源断裂形成“双脊继承-强活动断层-局部砂体”成藏模式,渤中19-2构造远离油源断裂形成“双脊接力-强活动断层-连片砂体”成藏模式。渤中19-2油田的发现,证实了渤海海域洼中隆起区浅层岩性油气藏勘探潜力,有助于类似地区大面积岩性勘探取得新突破。

东海盆地西湖凹陷平湖斜坡始新统平湖组成岩相类型及对储层的控制

为了在深埋藏、强非均质性背景下寻找相对优质储层,本文以东海盆地西湖凹陷平湖组为例,基于直观微区观测、间接压汞表征及孔渗分析相结合的方法,在储层沉积学分析的基础上,先划分成岩相类型,进而明确不同成岩相的差异储集能力特征,评价成岩相储集能力。结果表明:平湖组沉积于河流和潮汐双向水动力条件的三角洲-潮坪体系,砂体多发育于水下分流河道、河口坝、潮道、砂坪和混合坪中,以细粒和极细粒为主,主要为长石岩屑砂岩和岩屑长石砂岩;基于成岩作用类型的强度差异将成岩相划分为3类,包括长石溶蚀相、富塑性压实相和钙质胶结相;同一成岩相类型孔渗特征和孔隙结构特征均一,而不同成岩相之间物性差异显著;以孔隙度、渗透率、最大连通孔喉半径为标准对3类成岩相进行量化参数分级评价,长石溶蚀相孔隙度>15%,渗透率>10.0×10^(-3)μm^(2),最大连通孔喉半径>5.0μm,物性条件优于富塑性压实相和钙质胶结相,优选出长石溶蚀相为最有利的储层砂体类型。

潟湖岩芯沉积对海平面变化和物源的响应——以中沙环礁潟湖为例

基于中沙环礁潟湖的50.5m钻孔岩芯,采用薄片观察、测年、主微量元素和碳氧同位素分析等方法,探讨了钻孔岩芯的层序地层、沉积微相和地球化学特征。结果显示该处沉积过程对晚第四纪海平面变化和物源有明显响应。结合测年结果,将岩芯的生物礁灰岩划分为10个更新世层序,且可与MIS5—MIS23阶段间冰期海水高位时期相对应。元素Sr和U的含量变化随深度加大而呈现阶梯式下降,这是由于冰期海水低位时期碳酸盐岩台地反复暴露使得老地层接受更长时间淡水成岩作用从而导致元素累积流失更多,且数值下降处可以指示层序界面。该钻孔钻遇的珊瑚礁多发育在高位体系域的进积阶段,推测是由于晚第四纪时期海平面变化速度快,且呈现迅速上升而缓慢下降的特征引起的。物源贡献因子分析结果显示,陆源物质来源、文石和高镁方解石来源、低镁方解石来源和鸟类粪便来源等4类物源影响礁灰岩的主量元素组成。本研究还揭示出现今潟湖钻遇的珊瑚礁地层有对晚第四纪10万a短偏心率周期的海平面变化响应较好,体现潟湖和台地边缘珊瑚礁的差异生长是造成现今环礁潟湖水深较大的原因之一,对解释现代环礁由来有一定的启示意义。

Basement of the South China Sea Area:Tracing the Tethyan Realm

The basement of the South China Sea（SCS）and adjacent areas can be divided into six divisions（regions）-Paleozoic Erathem graben-faulted basement division in Beibu Gulf,Paleozoic Erathem strike-slip pull-apart in Yinggehai waters,Paleozoic Erathem faulted-depression in eastern Hainan,Paleozoic Erathem rifted in northern Xisha（Paracel）,Paleozoic Erathem strike-slip extending in southern Xisha,and Paleozoic-Mesozoic Erathem extending in Nansha Islands（Spratly）waters.The Pre-Cenozoic basement in the SCS and Yunkai continental area are coeval within the Tethyan tectonic domain in the Pre-Cenozoic Period.They are formed on the background of the Paleo-Tethyan tectonic domain,and are important components of the Eastern Tethyan multi-island-ocean system.Three branches of the Eastern Paleo-Tethys tectonic domain,North Yunkai,North Hainan,and South Hainan sea basins,have evolved into the North Yunkai,North Hainan,and South Hainan suture zones, respectively.This shows a distinctive feature of localization for the Pre-Cenozoic basement.The Qiongnan（i.e.South Hainan）Suture Zone on the northern margin of the South China Sea can be considered the vestige of the principal ocean basin of Paleo-Tethys,and connected with the suture zone of the Longmucuo-Shuanghu belt-Bitu belt-Changning-Menglian-Bentong-Raub belt,the south extension of Bitu-Changning-Menglian-Ching Mai belt-Chanthaburi-Raub-Bentong belt on the west of South China Sea,and with the Lianhua-Taidong suture zone（a fault along the east side of Longitudinal Valley in Taiwan）-Hida LP/HT（low pressure-high temperature）metamorphic belt-Hida -marginal HP/LT metamorphic belt in southwestern Honshu of Japan,on the east of the South China Sea.The Qiongbei（North Hainan）suture zone may eastwards extended along the Wangwu-Wenjiao fault zone,and connects with the Lufeng-Dapu-Zhenghe-Shangyu（Lianhuashan）deep fault zone through the Pearl River Mouth Basin.The Meso-Tethys developed on the south of the South China Sea.The Nansha Trough may be considered the vestige of the northern shelf of the Meso-Tethys. The oceanic crust of the Meso-Tethys has southwards subducted along the subduction-collision-thrust southern margin of the Nansha Trough with a subduction-pole opposite to those of the Yarlung Zangbo-Mytkyina-Bago zone on the west of the South China Sea,and the Meso-Tethyan（e.g.Northern Chichibu Ocean of the Meso-Tethys）suture zone＂Butsozo tectonic line＂in the outer belt of the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous terrene group in southwest Japan,on the east of the South China Sea.

Dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio characteristics of undisturbed marine soils in the Bohai Sea,China

This paper presents results from a series of stress-controlled undrained cyclic triaxial tests on the undisturbed marine silty clay,silt,and fine sand soils obtained from the Bohai Sea,China.Emphasis is placed on the major factors for predominating the dynamic shear modulus(G)and damping ratio(λ)in the shear strain amplitude(γ_(a))from 10^(-5) to 10^(-2),involving depth,sedimentary facies types,and water content of marine soils.The empirical equations of the small-strain shear modulus(G_(max))and damping ratio(λ_(min))using a single-variable of depth H are established for the three marine soils.A remarkable finding is that the curves of shear modulus reduction(G/G_(max))and the damping ratio(λ)with increasing γ_(a) of the three marine soils can be simply determined through a set of explicit expressions with the two variables of depth H and water content W.This finding is validated by independent experimental data from the literature.At the similar depths,the G value of the marine soils of terrestrial facies is the largest,followed b_(y) the neritic facies,and the G value of the marine soils of abyssal facies is the smallest.The sedimentary facies types of the marine soils have slight effect on theλvalue.Another significant finding is that the shear modulus reduction curves plotted against the γ_(a) of the three marine soils at the similar depths are significantly below those of the corresponding terrigenous soils,while the damping curves plotted against γ_(a) are just the opposite.The results presented in this paper serve as a worthful reference for the evaluation of seabed seismic site effects in the Bohai Sea due to lack of experimental data.

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.

Stratigraphic Sequence and Sedimentary Systems in the Middle-Southern Continental Slope of the East China Sea from Seismic Reflection Data: Exploration Prospects of Gas Hydrate

Many evidences for gas hydrate bearing sediments had been found in the continental slope of the East China Sea,such as bottom simulating reflections(BSRs),undersea gas springs,pyrite associated with methane leakage,mud diapirs/mud volcanos,bottom-water methane anomalies and so on.In this study,six key stratigraphic interfaces including T_0(seafloor),T_1(LGM,23 kyr B.P.),T_2(2.58 Myr),T_3(5.33 Myr),T_4(11.02 Myr)and T_5(16.12 Myr)were identified,and then five third-order sequences of SQIII1 to SQIII5 were divided.However,T5 in southern continental slope is not found,which shows that the middle-northern Okinawa Trough had begun to rift in the early Miocene,earlier than the southern segment.Four system tracts including lowstand systems tract(LST),transgressive systems tract(TST),highstand systems tract(HST)and falling stage systems tract(FSST)are further divided.The marine erosion interface of 11.02 Myr and regressive unconformity interface of 23 kyr B.P.indicate two large-scale sea level drop events in the research area.Seven typical seismic facies identified in the continental slope are continental shelf-edge deltas,littoral fluvial-delta plains,incised channels or submarine canyons,slope fans,submarine fans or coastal sandbars,littoral-neritic finegrained sediments,mud volcanos and some other geological bodies respectively.The minimum water depth for hydrate occurrence in the Okinawa Trough is 630 m,and the thickness of gas hydrate stability zone in continental slope is between 0 and 590 m.The calculated bottom boundary of hydrate stability zone is slightly deeper than BSRs on the seismic sections.The re-depositional turbidite sand bodies,such as canyon channels,slope fans and submarine fans developed in Quaternary strata,are the predominant hydrate reservoirs.According to developing process,the dynamic accumulation of hydrate systems can be divided into three evolutionary stages including canyon erosion and hydrate stability zone migration stage,sediments destabilizing and methane leakage stage,and channel filling and hydrate re-occurrence stage.