The gradual subduction-collision evolution model of Proto-South China Sea and its control on oil and gas

This study involved outcrop,drilling,seismic,gravity,and magnetic data to systematically document the geological records of the subduction process of Proto-South China Sea(PSCS)and establish its evolution model.The results indicate that a series of arc-shaped ophiolite belts and calcalkaline magmatic rocks are developed in northern Borneo,both of which have the characteristics of gradually changing younger from west to east,and are direct signs of subduction and collision of PSCS.At the same time,the subduction of PSCS led to the formation of three accretion zones from the south to the north in Borneo,the Kuching belt,Sibu belt,and Miri belt.The sedimentary formation of northern Borneo is characterized by a three-layer structure,with the oceanic basement at the bottom,overlying the deep-sea flysch deposits of the Rajang–Crocker group,and the molasse sedimentary sequence that is dominated by river-delta and shallow marine facies at the top,recording the whole subduction–collision–orogeny process of PSCS.Further,seismic reflection and tomography also confirmed the subduction and collision of PSCS.Based on the geological records of the subduction and collision of PSCS,combined with the comprehensive analysis of segmented expansion and key tectonic events in the South China Sea,we establish the“gradual”subduction-collision evolution model of PSCS.During the late Eocene to middle Miocene,the Zengmu,Nansha,and Liyue–Palawan blocks were separated by West Baram Line and Balabac Fault,which collided with the Borneo block and Kagayan Ridge successively from the west to the east,forming several foreland basin systems,and PSCS subducted and closed from the west to the east.The subduction and extinction of PSCS controlled the oil and gas distribution pattern of southern South China Sea(SSCS)mainly in three aspects.First,the“gradual”closure process of PSCS led to the continuous development of many large deltas in SSCS.Second,the deltas formed during the subduction–collision of PSCS controlled the development of source rocks in the basins of SSCS.Macroscopically,the distribution and scale of deltas controlled the distribution and scale of source rocks,forming two types of source rocks,namely,coal measures and terrestrial marine facies.Microscopically,the difference of terrestrial higher plants carried by the delta controlled the proportion of macerals of source rocks.Third,the difference of source rocks mainly controlled the distribution pattern of oil and gas in SSCS.Meanwhile,the difference in the scale of source rocks mainly controlled the difference in the amount of oil and gas discoveries,resulting in a huge amount of oil and gas discoveries in the basin of SSCS.Meanwhile,the difference of macerals of source rocks mainly controlled the difference of oil and gas generation,forming the oil and gas distribution pattern of“nearshore oil and far-shore gas”.

Formation and distribution characteristics of Proterozoic–Lower Paleozoic marine giant oil and gas fields worldwide

There are rich oil and gas resources in marine carbonate strata worldwide.Although most of the oil and gas reserves discovered so far are mainly distributed in Mesozoic,Cenozoic,and upper Paleozoic strata,oil and gas exploration in the Proterozoic–Lower Paleozoic（PLP）strata—the oldest marine strata—has been very limited.To more clearly understand the oil and gas formation conditions and distributions in the PLP marine carbonate strata,we analyzed and characterized the petroleum geological conditions,oil and gas reservoir types,and their distributions in thirteen giant oil and gas fields worldwide.This study reveals the main factors controlling their formation and distribution.Our analyses show that the source rocks for these giant oil and gas fields are mainly shale with a great abundance of type I–II organic matter and a high thermal evolution extent.The reservoirs are mainly gas reservoirs,and the reservoir rocks are dominated by dolomite.The reservoir types are mainly karst and reef–shoal bodies with well-developed dissolved pores and cavities,intercrystalline pores,and fractures.These reservoirs arehighly heterogeneous.The burial depth of the reservoirs is highly variable and somewhat negatively correlated to the porosity.The cap rocks are mainly thick evaporites and shales,with the thickness of the cap rocks positively correlated to the oil and gas reserves.The development of high-quality evaporite cap rock is highly favorable for oil and gas preservation.We identified four hydrocarbon generation models,and that the major source rocks have undergone a long period of burial and thermal evolution and are characterized by early and long periods of hydrocarbon generation.These giant oil and gas fields have diverse types of reservoirs and are mainly distributed in paleo-uplifts,slope zones,and platform margin reef-shoal bodies.The main factors that control their formation and distribution were identified,enabling the prediction of new favorable areas for oil and gas exploration.

Sequence boundaries and regularities in the oil-gas distribution of the low swelling slope belt in the continental rift basin

Where are the zones more enriched in sand deposits in the down slope and deep depression of the low swelling slope belt? Are there any screening conditions for oil and gas there? These are the chief geological problems to be solved during exploration of a region. Taking the Paleogene system developed along the east slope belt of Chengdao as an example the concepts of sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary sequenc are applied. A new research method likened to a way ''to get a melon by following the vine'' is proposed to determine the direction for exploring within un-drilled or less-drilled areas. This is the process: ''the characteristics of the sequence boundary ? the forming mechanism of the stratigraphic sequence ? the conditions of oil and gas accumulation ? the distribution zones of oil and gas''. The relationship between the dynamic mechanism of stratigraphic sequence and the forming conditions for oil and gas accumulation establishes that the tectonic disturbance of the slope belt has significant responses as denudation and deposition. Above the stratigraphic sequence boundary there are large scale sand bodies of the low stand system tract (LST) that have developed in the low swelling slope belt and its deep depression. Below the sequence boundary there are the remaining sand bodies of the high stand system tract (HST). On the slope there is a convergence of mudstone layers of the extended system tract (EST) with the mudstone of the underlying strata, which constitutes the screening conditions for the reservoir of the down slope and deep depression. The distribution regularities in preferred sand bodies on the surface of the sequence boundary, and in the system tract, indicate the ordering of oil-gas deposits. From the higher stand down to the depth of the slope there are, in order, areas where exploration was unfavorable, major areas of stratigraphic overlap of oil-gas reservoirs, unconformity screened oil-gas reservoirs, and, finally, sandstone lens oil-gas reservoirs. The low swelling slope belt of Chengdao was tectonically active, which is typical for a continental rift basin. The methodology and results of the present paper are significant for the theory and practice of predicting subtle reservoir and selecting strategic areas for exploration.

Restoration of Eroded Thickness of the Neogene Strata in the Western Qaidam Basin and Its Significance for Oil and Gas Occurrence

During the Pleistocene, the western Qaidam Basin has largely experienced strong structural reconstruction and strong erosion. First, the eroded thickness of Neogene strata was restored approximately by the stratigraphic profile comparison method and plane trend surface restoring method; then, accurate calculation of erosion was recovered using vitrinite reflectance, and the erosion that was restored by the trend surface restoring method was corrected; finally, a distribution map of cumulative erosion was produced. This study marks an important achievement in that one of the most important parameters of basin tectonic evolution, sedimentary evolution, and oil and gas accumulation history has been obtained, and that a basic geological problem has been solved in the Qaidam Basin. The areas with high erosion and low erosion are shown in the map and a close relation between the distribution of oil and gas fields and erosion was recognized. Large and medium oil and gas fields are mainly distributed in areas with medium and low erosion. It is difficult to form large-scale oil and gas accumulation in areas in which erosion is more than 2000 m. The mechanism of the relation between oil and gas distribution and erosion is explained. This study will be of use in predicting the distribution of oil and gas.

Paleozoic Composite Petroleum System of North Africa:Hydrocarbon Distribution and Main Controlling Factors

North Africa, which is one of the main oil and gas producing regions in the world, is best known for its subsalt Paleozoic-Triassic reservoirs and Paleozoic source rocks. Hydrocarbon abundance varies greatly from one structural domain to another areally and from one stratigraphic interval to another vertically. Analyses of the essential elements and geological processes of the Paleozoic petroleum system indicate that the distribution of the Lower Silurian shale source rocks, the development of a thick Mesozoic overburden, the presence of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic evaporite seal are the most important factors goveming the distribution of the Paleozoic-sourced hydrocarbons in North Africa. The Mesozoic sequence plays a critical role for hydrocarbons to accumulate by enabling the maturation of the Paleozoic source rocks during the Mesozoic-Paleogene times and preserving the accumulated hydrocarbons. Basins and surrounding uplifts, particularly the latter, with a thick Mesozoic sequence and a regional evaporite seal generally have abundant hydrocarbons. Basins where only a thin Mesozoic overburden was developed tend to have a very poor to moderate hydrocarbon prospectivity.

Differential structure of Ordovician karst zone and hydrocarbon enrichment in paleogeomorphic units in Tahe area,Tarim Basin,NW China

Based on a large number of drilling,logging,seismic and production data,the differential structures of karst zone and hydrocarbon distribution in different paleogeomorphic units of the Tahe area,Tarim Basin,are discussed by analyzing the karst drainages and flowing channels.The karst paleogeomorphy of Ordovician in Tahe area is composed of watershed,karst valley and karst basin.The watershed has epikarst zone of 57.8 m thick on average and vadose karst zone of 115.2 m thick on average with dense faults,fractures and medium-small fracture-caves,and 76.5%of wells in this area have cumulative production of more than 5×10^(4) t per well.The karst valleys have epikarst zone,vadose karst zone and runoff karst zone,with an average thickness of 14.6,26.4 and 132.6 m respectively.In the runoff karst zone,the caves of subsurface river are mostly filled by fine sediment,with a filling rate up to 86.8%,and 84.9%of wells in this area have cumulative production of less than 2×10^(4) t per well.The karst basin has no karst zone,but only fault-karst reservoirs in local fault zones,which are up to 600 m thick and closely developed within 1 km around faults.Different karst landforms have different water flowing pattern,forming different karst zone structures and resulting in differential distribution of oil and gas.The watershed has been on the direction of oil and gas migration,so medium-small sized connected fracture-caves in this area have high filling degree of oil and gas,and most wells in this area have high production.Most caves in subsurface river are filled due to strong sedimentation and transportation of the river,so the subsurface river sediment has low hydrocarbon abundance and more low production oil wells.The faults linking source rock are not only the water channels but also the oil-gas migration pathways,where the karst fractures and caves provide huge reservoir space for oil and gas accumulation.

Differences and controlling factors of composite hydrocarbon accumulations in the Tazhong uplift, Tarim Basin, NW China

Based on three-dimensional seismic interpretation, structural and sedimentary feature analysis, and examination of fluid properties and production dynamics, the regularity and main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong uplift, Tarim Basin are investigated. The results show that the oil and gas in the Tazhong uplift has the characteristics of complex accumulation mainly controlled by faults, and more than 80% of the oil and gas reserves are enriched along fault zones. There are large thrust and strike-slip faults in the Tazhong uplift, and the coupling relationship between the formation and evolution of the faults and accumulation determine the difference in complex oil and gas accumulations. The active scale and stage of faults determine the fullness of the traps and the balance of the phase, that is, the blocking of the transport system, the insufficient filling of oil and gas, and the unsteady state of fluid accumulation are dependent on the faults. The multi-period tectonic sedimentary evolution controls the differences of trap conditions in the fault zones, and the multi-phase hydrocarbon migration and accumulation causes the differences of fluid distribution in the fault zones. The theory of differential oil and gas accumulation controlled by fault is the key to the overall evaluation, three-dimensional development and discovery of new reserves in the Tazhong uplift.