Formation mechanism of fault accommodation zones under combined stress in graben basin:Implications from geomechanical modeling

A fault accommodation zone is a type of structure that is defined as regulating displacement and strain between faults structure.Increasing numbers of fault accommodation zones are being identified in graben basins,indicating the potential exploration target and petroleum accumulation areas.This study aims to analyze the formation mechanism and development of fault accommodation zones under combined stress by a numerical simulation method considering geomechanical modeling.Using three-dimensional(3-D)seismic interpretation and fractal dimension method,exampled with the Dongxin fault zone,the fault activity and fault combination pattern were conducted to quantitatively characterize the activity difference in fault accommodation zones.Combined with mechanical experiment test,a geomehcanical model was established for fault accommodation zones in a graben basin.Integrating the paleostress numerical simulations and structural physical simulation experiment,the developmental characteristics and genetic mechanism of fault accommodation zones were summarized.Influenced by multi movements and combined stresses,three significant tectonic evolution stages of the Dongxing Fault Zone(DXFZ)were distinguished:During the E_(s)^(3)sedimentary period,the large difference in the stress,strain,and rupture distribution in various faults were significant,and this stage was the key generation period for the prototype of the DXFZ,including the FAZ between large-scale faults.During the E_(s)^(2)sedimentary period,the EW-trending symmetric with opposite dipping normal faults and the NE-SW trending faults with large scale were furtherly developed.The junction area of two secondary normal faults were prone to be ruptured,performing significant period for inheriting and developing characteristics of fault accommodation zones.During the Es1 sedimentary period,the high-order faults in the DXFZ exhibited the obvious fault depressions and strike-slip activity,and the fault accommodation zones were furtherly inherited and developed.This stage was the molded and formative period of the FAZ,the low-order faults,and the depression in the DXFZ.

Genetic models of structural traps related to normal faults in the Putaohua Oilfield,Songliao Basin

The Putaohua Oilfield is a fault-prolific area and the faults have close relation with structural traps. The genetic models of the structural traps in the Putaohua Oilfield can be divided into two types： individual fault model and multi-fault interaction model. This is based on the description of displacement distribution of typical individual normal faults, the geometry of the footwall and hanging wall, and the analysis of the interaction between faults and the corresponding change in geometry when the faults grow. The individual fault model is that the displacement reaches a maximum at or near the center of fault and decreases toward the fault tips, so a half-graben is formed on the hanging wall of the fault and a half- anticline is formed on the footwall because of the isostatic process. The multi-fault interaction model is that during the growth of faults, they overlap and interact with each other, and accommodation zones are formed in the overlapping segments. The accommodation zones are favorable targets for hydrocarbon exploration, and the trap characteristics are dependent The multi-fault interaction model can be subdivided on the extent of overlap and occurrence of faults. into three types： synthetic accommodation zone, convergent accommodation zone and divergent accommodation zone. Hydrocarbon migration and accumulation models of each type have been developed. The hydrocarbon migration and accumulation models of the traps with different genetic models have their own characteristics in the different stages of fault growth.

Gold Minerogenetic Prognosis Using Satellite Data:Case Study of Paishanlou Gold Mine, Liaoning Province, China

The major scientific goal of using satellite data for mineral prospecting in the study area was two-fold： （a） mapping geology, faults and fractures that localize ore deposits; （b） recognizing hydrothermally altered rocks by interpreting their spectral signatures. The lithology, properties, and geological relations of the rocks were key to understanding such varied phenomena as convection, melting and transport mechanisms, rock deformation and alteration, the sources of magnetic anomalies, and the hydrothermal circulation and formation of gold deposits. Satellite data were enhanced using the following techniques： band combinations, ratios, directional sharpening filtering, Laplacian transform, spatial convolution, and density slicing. By mapping a larger area, the Paishanlou Gold Mine was discovered to be located within an accommodation zone, with three significant populations of faults having bearings of 95, 145, and 180 degrees. Faults bearing 145 degrees make up the faults of the main shear zone. The faults bearing 180 degrees have large sinistral offsets, typically 1.5 km, and form a synthetic-antithetic set with the faults bearing 145 degrees, which have dextral displacements of tens of meters. In the Landsat ETM＋ image composed of bands 7-4-2 RGB, gneiss rocks were clearly seen as red purple, and granitic and plagioclase bodies in pale brown/pink. The strongest alteration signature in the image was found along the detachment fault antiform located closest to the mine and the plutons responsible for the Paishanlou gold mineralization. Satellite image interpretation coupled with field surveys led to the identification of iron mineral composites, hydrothermally altered areas, fractures, and an accommodation zone. These anomalies finally resulted in the discovery of three new gold-mineralized sites.

Two Types of Strike-Slip and Transtensional Intrabasinal Structures Controlling Sandbodies in Yitong Graben

Recently,the researches on structure controls on sandbodies have provided a new method for predicting petroleum reservoirs.The Yitong（伊通） graben is situated in the northern section of the Tan-Lu（郯-庐） fault system in eastern China.It was characterized by dual properties of strike-slip and extension in Cenozoic.Two types of intrabasinal structures were identified as oblique fault and trans-verse uplift in the graben.The oblique faults arranged en echelon in plain and locally presented nega-tive rosette structures on seismic profile,so they were closely derived from strike-slip movement of the northwestern boundary faults.Moreover,these oblique faults were divided to five zones.The three transverse uplifts,located corresponding to flattened southeast boundary faults,were mainly originated by displacement-gradient folding due to segmental extensional activities of southeast boundary faults.The large-scale sandbodies of subaqueous fan facies and fan delta facies had developed at the two types of intrabasinal structure zone.Based on analyzing the seismic facies,logging facies and seismic attrib-ute extractions,and on discovering many incised valleys at the oblique fault zones,the two types of in-trabasinal structures were revealed to have conducted drainage entering basin and further dispersing,and to have consequently controlled the development and distribution of sandbodies.