Identification and evaluation of fault-fracture reservoirs in buried hills of the Lower Paleozoic, Chengdao area, China

The Bohai Bay Basin is a Meso-Cenozoic rifted basin where the Paleozoic buried hills with great hydrocarbon potentials are well developed. The reservoir space types are complex and diverse due to tectonic activities, making fracture distribution highly heterogeneous. Reservoir identification and mapping is challenging due to their large burial depth and poor resolution of seismic data. An integration of well-logging, seismic data interpretation and core observation is applied to identify three structural unit types in the study area, that is, fault breccia zone, fault cataclastic zone, and fault massive rock zone. A comprehensive well-logging identification template and a comprehensive discriminant function M for the reservoir are established based on the well-logging response characteristics. A M value greater than 0.12 indicates a fault breccia zone, that between 0.04 and 0.12 marks a fault cataclastic zone, and that in the range from 0.02 to 0.04 represents a fault massive rock zone. A seismic prediction method with multi-parameter fusion is proposed in the study. The large-scale fractures are mapped by coherence-clutter parameters, while small fractures are predicted via waveform indication inversion. The spatial distribution of “fault-fracture reservoirs” is precisely mapped by frequency fusion technology. It is found that the fault breccia zones usually occur close to the fault planes, while the fault cataclastic zones are slightly away from the fault planes. The hydrocarbon abundance of the breccia zones is greater than that of the fault cataclastic and fault massive rock zones.

Experimental Study on Phase Characteristics of CO2 Injection in BZ13-2 Strong Volatile Oil Reservoir in Bohai Sea Buried Hills

BZ13-2 oil field is a deep submerged strongly volatile reservoir in Bohai Sea. This oil reservoir has the characteristics of high gas oil ratio and small difference in formation pressure and saturation point pressure. It usually adopts gas injection development to avoid crude oil degassing and fast decreasing production capacity. However, the phase characteristics and miscibility mechanism of this high-temperature and high-pressure fluid after gas injection are not clear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the feasibility of CO2 injection to improve oil recovery in near critical volatile oil reservoirs through CO2 injection experiments. In the early stage of the depletion experiment, the content of heavy components in the remaining oil increased significantly, so the depletion method is not conducive to the development of such reservoirs. With the increase of CO2 injection, the volumetric expansion coefficient of formation crude oil increases significantly, while the saturation pressure and formation crude oil viscosity remain basically unchanged. The minimum miscible pressure experiment shows that CO2 injection under formation pressure conditions can achieve multiphase miscibility. Based on experimental research results, the BZ13-2 oilfield is suitable for early gas injection development and can significantly improve recovery.

Reservoir Characteristics and Genetic Mechanisms of the Mesozoic Granite Buried Hills in the Deep-water of the Qiongdongnan Basin,Northern South China Sea

Due to its structure,rock and mineral composition,fluid and other factors,the granite Buried Hill Reservoir is highly heterogeneous with a complex longitudinal structure and a reservoir space made up of a combination of dissolution pores and fractures.This paper is based on current understanding of tectonic evolution in the northern part of the South China Sea,in conjunction with the seismic phase characteristics.It is determined that the meshed fault system was formed by three stages of movement-tectonic compression orogeny during the Indochinese epoch,strike-slip compression-tension during the Yanshanian Period,early fracture extension activation during the Himalayan-which controlled the distribution of the Buried Hill Reservoir.Drilling revealed two types of buried hills,faulted anticline and fault horst,their longitudinal structure and the reservoir space type being significantly different.The mineral composition,reservoir space and diagenetic characteristics of the reservoir rocks and minerals were analyzed by lithogeochemistry,micro section and logging etc.,it thus being determined that the Mesozoic rocks of the Songnan Low Uplift in the Qiongdongnan Basin are mainly composed of syenogranite,granodiorite,monzogranite,which is the material basis for the development of the Buried Hill Reservoir.The content of felsic and other brittle minerals is more than 70%,making it easy for it to be transformed into fractures.At the same time,the weathering resistance of granodiorite and monzogranite is weaker than that of syenogranite,which is easily weathered and destroyed,forming a thick sand gravel weathering zone.With increasing depth of burial,weathering and dissolution gradually weaken,the deep acidic fluid improving the reservoir property of internal fractures and expanding the vertical distribution range of the reservoirs.The research results lay a foundation for the exploration of Buried Hill in the deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin.

Division and identification of vertical reservoir units in Archaeozoic metamorphic buried hill of Bozhong Sag,Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on the data associated with cores,sidewall cores,casting thin sections,reservoir physical properties,conventional logging and imaging logging,the classification schemes of vertical reservoir units are proposed for the two types of Archaeozoic buried hills(exposed and covered ones)in the Bozhong Sag,Bohai Bay Basin.The geological characteristics and storage spaces of these reservoir units are described,and their identification markers in conventional and imaging log curves are established.The Archaeozoic metamorphic buried hills can be vertically classified into two primary reservoir units:weathering crust and inner buried hill.The weathering crust contains four secondary units,i.e.,the clay zone,weathered glutenite zone,leached zone,disaggregation zone;and the interiors contain two secondary units,i.e.,interior fracture zone and tight zone.In particular,the inner fracture zone was further divided into cataclasite belts and dense-fracture belts.It is proposed that the favorable reservoirs of exposed Archaeozoic metamorphic buried hills are mainly developed in four parts including weathered glutenite zone,leached zone,disintegration zone superposed with the cataclasite belt and the cataclasite belt of inner fracture zone,and are controlled by both weathering and tectonic actions.Favorable reservoirs in covered Archaeozoic metamorphic buried hills are mainly developed in the weathering crust superposed with the cataclasite belts and the cataclasite belts of inner fracture zone,and are mainly controlled by tectonic actions.

Structural Characteristics and Evolution Process of the Metamorphic Buried Hill: A Case of BZ Oilfield in Bohai Bay, China

Bozhong oilfield which is abbreviated as BZ oilfield is the first oilfield with deep metamorphic buried hill that is discovered reserves of billion-ton in Bohai Bay. Affected by multi-stage tectonic movements, the distribution of fractures is very complex in this area, therefore it is significant to study the evolution of structures for understanding the distribution of fractures. In view of the complexity on the tectonic evolution of the buried hill region in the study area, the influence of tectonic movements on the formation of fractured reservoir is analyzed, and the research results lay the foundation for the efficient development in this type of the oilfield. The results show that main faults, which is formed during early Indosinian and Yanshanian period, are mainly developed in the BZ oilfield area, and the fracture strike has mainly east-west and north-east-east trend. Based on the analysis of the relationship among tectonic evolution, regional stress field and fracture development, it is considered that Indosinian extrusion is the main reason for the formation of main direction faults in the study area. Yanshanian strike-slip transformation and Himalayan reactivation further controlled the development of the fractured reservoirs in the later stage, and formed the present fracture network system. Well block 5 is located in passive plate system during Indosinian period, it is affected by Himalayan stretching and long-term activation of large faults in the later stage, so that the effective fractures are relatively developed. The result plays an important role in guiding the overall plan deployment of the BZ oilfield.

Decipher hydrocarbon generation and accumulation based on fluid inclusion and chronology:A case study from the Upper Paleozoic buried-hills in Huanghua Depression,Bohai Bay Basin

Deciphering hydrocarbon generation and accumulation stage is of significance to understand oil and gas evolution and seek exploration targets.Taking the Upper Paleozoic buried-hills in the Huanghua Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,as a case study,hydrocarbon generation environment and detailed accumulation process are revealed by fluid inclusions observations,Laser Raman spectroscopy,Fourier Infrared spectroscopy,and K-Ar isotope measurements.The results show that both oil and gas inclusion were captured in the quartz overgrowth,dissolved feldspar and calcite microfractures,showing blue to dark brown fluoresce.The grains containing oil inclusions index(GOI)of oil,oil&gas and gas being 25%,65%,and 10%and the inclusions with abundant methyl groups and short chains,both indicate high thermal maturity.One series of fluids inclusion is generally observed,evidenced by the concentrated homogenization temperature of 135-145℃ and salinity of 3%-15 w.t.%NaCl equiv,indicating one primary charging stage.The gas and gas&liquid inclusions mainly contain CH_(4),with also peaks indicating CO_(2) and N_(2.)The Carboniferous and Permian biomarkers show reducing environment with brackish water,with organic matter sources both from marine and continental.The relative content ofααα20RC_(27),ααα20RC_(28),andααα20RC_(29) exhibit source contributions both from algae and higher plants,and mainly of II2 to III kerogen.Both coal derived gas and oil associated hydrocarbons are identified from most of the buried-hills.Combining the fluid homogenization temperature and salinity,as well as the thermal evolution history,the hydrocarbon generated from the Upper Paleozoic was concentrated at the end of the Eocene(40 Ma±),while the beginning of charging is 60 Ma±.The Wumaying Buried-hill is of only coal derived gas and has potential for inner coal measure natural gas exploration.The results provide a detailed understanding of hydrocarbon accumulations in the study area,which can also be reference for improving petroleum exploration efficiency in similar basins.

Reservoir Characteristics and Controlling Factors of the Metamorphic Buried Hill of Bozhong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin

The burial depth of the metamorphic buried hill of the Bozhong sag is more than 4500 m,however,the controlling factors of the reservoirs are not clear.Based on cores and sidewall cores obtained from 15 wells,this paper describes the reservoir characteristics and discussed their controlling factors.The metamorphic basement of the Bozhong sag consists of metamorphic granite,migmatitic granite and gneiss.These felsic rocks are more likely to develop fractures,thereby improving the reservoir properties.The Indosinian,Yanshanian and Himalayan tectonic events greatly reformed the Bozhong 19-6 metamorphic buried hill,forming a large scale fracture system.Weathering and deep thermal fluid contributed to the development of dissolved pores of the reservoirs.In general,controlled by lithology,tectonics,weathering and deep thermal fluid,the reservoir pattern of the metamorphic buried hill of the Bozhong 19-6 structure was established.

Thermal and exhumation history of the Songnan Low Uplift,Qiongdongnan Basin:constraints from the apatite fission-track and zircon(U-Th)/He thermochronology

Significant advancements have been made in the study of Mesozoic granite buried hills in the Songnan Low Uplift(SNLU)of the Qiongdongnan Basin.These findings indicate that the bedrock buried hills in this basin hold great potential for exploration.Borehole samples taken from the granite buried hills in the SNLU were analyzed using apatite fission track(AFT)and zircon(U-Th)/He data to unravel the thermal history of the basement rock.This information is crucial for understanding the processes of exhumation and alteration that occurred after its formation.Thermal modeling of a sample from the western bulge of the SNLU revealed a prolonged cooling event from the late Mesozoic to the Oligocene period(~80-23.8 Ma),followed by a heating stage from the Miocene epoch until the present(~23.8 Ma to present).In contrast,the sample from the eastern bulge experienced a more complex thermal history.It underwent two cooling stages during the late Mesozoic to late Eocene period(~80-36.4 Ma)and the late Oligocene period(~30-23.8 Ma),interspersed with two heating phases during the late Eocene to early Oligocene period(~36.4-30 Ma)and the Miocene epoch to recent times(~23.8-0 Ma),respectively.The differences in exhumation histories between the western and eastern bulges during the late Eocene to Oligocene period in the SNLU can likely be attributed to differences in fault activity.Unlike typical passive continental margin basins,the SNLU has experienced accelerated subsidence after the rifting phase,which began around 5.2 Ma ago.The possible mechanism for this abnormal post-rifting subsidence may be the decay or movement of the deep thermal source and the rapid cooling of the asthenosphere.Long-term and multi-episodic cooling and exhumation processes play a key role in the alteration of bedrock and contribute to the formation of reservoirs.On the other hand,rapid post-rifting subsidence(sedimentation)promotes the formation of cap rocks.

Conditions for the enrichment of karst hydrothermal resources in Bohai Bay Basin

Drilling for karst hydrothermal resources in eastern China has posed challenges,including disparities between the temperature and yield of geothermal water.It is evident that relying solely on geothermal anomalies or indications of karst reservoirs is inadequate for the exploration of karst hydrothermal resources.This study seeks to elucidate the cause of geothermal sweet spots by analyzing the interplay between geothermal anomalies and karst reservoirs and the underlying geological conditions for karst hydrothermal enrichment.Key findings include:(1)the Bohai Bay Basin has been geologically favorable for the development of karst hydrothermal resources since the Mesozoic era;(2)the karst hydrothermal enrichment varies significantly between the basin’s margin and its interior.On the basin margin,the enrichment is largely driven by groundwater activity and faults,particularly where faults facilitate the upwelling of geothermal water.In contrast,within the basin’s interior,karst hydrothermal resources are predominantly influenced by buried hills and are especially enriched in areas facilitating the discharge of deep geothermal waters.

Ultra-deep carbonate basement reservoirs formed by polyphase fracture-related karstification in the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin, China

The Palaeozoic carbonate basement of the Offshore Bohai Bay Basin (OBBB) presents considerable potential for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the multistage tectonism and complex superimposed palaeo-karstification in the area are unclear, which leads to a lack of understanding on the formation mechanism and distribution of the deep carbonate basement reservoirs. In this study, the occurrence of a fracture-vug network and its fillings in carbonate reservoirs were investigated based on borehole cores, thin sections, and image logs from the southwestern slope of the OBBB's Bozhong Sag. Then the diagenetic fluid properties of the carbonate matrix and fillings were analysed via the data of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes, and major, rare elements from coring intervals. The results revealed that fracture-related karst reservoirs have lithologic selectivity inclined toward dolomite strata. The intersecting relationships, widths, and strikes of the fractures and the regional tectonic background indicate three structural fracture families: NW-, NNE-, and NNW- trending, related to the Indosinian, middle Yanshanian, and late Yanshanian orogeny, respectively. The Indosinian NW- and end-Mesozoic NNE-trending fractures produced by compressional tectonic stress mainly contributed to the formation of the basement reservoirs. The geochemistry of the calcite veins filling these fractures suggests two main types of diagenetic fluids. The fluid of autogenic recharge related to the earlier fills is karstification diffuse flow dominated by internal runoff from rainfall in the highland setting of the Indosinian thrusting orogenic belt. The other fluid of allogenic recharge related to the later fills is the main lateral freshwater flow dominated by external runoff from the catchment in the setting of the horst-lowland within the rifting basin, induced by the Yanshanian destruction of the North China Craton. Finally, the relationship between the three fracture families and two kinds of related fluids is revealed. This allows us to propose a model to understand the polyphase-superimposed fracture-related karst reservoir complexes within the deep carbonate basement of tilting fault blocks that neighbour the Bozhong hydrocarbon kitchen and predict the formation of potential plays with high accuracy.

Genetic mechanism of the granite buried-hill reservoir of the Penglai 9-1 oilfield in Bohai Sea

The Penglai 9-1 oilfield is the largest granite buried-hill oilfield in China presently,genesis and evolution of the granite buried-hill reservoir is complex.Based on geochemical,geophysical,experimental simulation and other methods,and combined with field geological observation,genetic mechanism of the granite buried-hill reservoir of the Penglai 9-1 oilfield and its hydrocarbon accumulation mode were well investigated.Results showed that the granite was formed by magmatic intrusion along deep faults under intraplate breakup of North China Plate,it was the product of magmatic activities of Yanshan tectonic episode of Circum-Pacific Tectonic Region,and the intrusion time was 160e170 Ma of the Jurassic.Formation of the granite buried-hill reservoir was mainly controlled by the epigenic karstification and tectonic reconstruction,the Yanshanian weathering and denudation controlled macroscopic development characteristics of the granite buried-hill reservoir,and faults and joints formed by Cenozoic tectonic movement promoted modification of the granite buried-hill reservoir.Laterally,thickness of the granite buried-hill reservoir had a positive correlation with fracture density.Vertically,the granite rocks could be divided into five zones:soil zone,sandy zone,broken zone,fracture zone and base rock zone.The upper-middle part(sandy zone,broken zone,fracture zone)of the granite buried hill was the highquality favorable reservoir zone and the main oil-bearing interval.

Effect of Faulting on Ordovician Carbonate Buried-Hill Reservoir Beds in Hetianhe Gas Field, Tarim Basin

Ordovician carbonate buried-hill reservoir beds in the Hetianhe （和田河） gas field, located in the Mazhatage （玛扎塔塔） structural belt on the southern margin of the Bachu （巴楚） faulted uplift, southwestern Tarim basin, were studied. Based on field survey, core and slice observation, the general characteristics of carbonate buried-hill reservoir beds and specifically Ordovician carbonate buried-hill reservoir beds in the Hetianhe gas field were discussed. The karst zone of the reservoir beds in Hetianhe gas field was divided into superficial karst zone, vertical infiltration karst zone, lower subsurface flow karst zone, and deep sluggish flow zone from top to bottom. The effects of faulting on Ordovician carbonate buried-hill reservoir beds in the Hetianhe gas field were obvious. The faulting intensified the karstification and increased the depth of denudation. Faulting and subsequent fracture growth modified the reservoir beds and improved the physical property and quality of the reservoir beds. Moreover, faulting enhanced the development of the dissolution holes and fractures and increased the thickness of the effective reservoir beds. Meanwhile, faulting made the high porosity-permeability carbonate belts, which created conditions for the hydrocarbon accumulation, develop near the fault zone.