Characteristics of transfer zones under the influence of preexisting faults and regional stress transformation:Wenchang A subsag,Zhujiang River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

A transfer zone in rift basins preserves important information on regional tectonic evolution and plays significant roles in hydrocarbon accumulation.Based on the systematic analysis of 3D seismic data and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions,the geometry,kinematics,and reservoir control of a large synthetic overlapping transfer zone in the south of the Wenchang A subsag in the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Mouth basin were investigated.Results indicate that the development and evolution of the transfer zone was controlled by the interaction between pre-existing faults and regional stress transformation.The intense rifting of the main faults of the transfer zone controlled the development of source rocks and faultcontrolled slope break paleogeomorphology.The strike-slip overprint since the Oligocene is conducive to the formation of a large-scale fault-anticline trap,and the secondary faults in the transfer zone contribute to the hydrocarbon transportation.The conjugate intersection area of the NE-and NW-trending faults offers more opportunity for hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.

On the Orientation of Fractures with Transpressional and Transtensional Wrenches in Pre-Existing Faults

The orientation of fractures with transpressional and transtensional wrenches in pre-existing faults has not been quantitatively determined. Based on Coulomb failure criterion and Byerlee’s frictional sliding criterion, this paper has indicated quantitative geometric relationships between the pre-existing fault and the local induced principal stress axes caused by the rejuvenation of the pre-existing fault. For a hidden pre-existing fault with some cohesion, the angles between the local induced principal stress axes and the pre-existing fault quantitatively vary with the applied stress and the cohesion coefficient, the ratio of the thickness of the cover layer to the thickness of the whole wrench body, whether transpressional or transtensional wrenches occur. For a surface pre-existing fault with zero cohesion, the angles between the pre-existing fault and the local induced principal stress axes are related to the rock inner frictional angle regardless of both the applied stress and the cohesion coefficient where transpressional wrenches occur, and the local induced maximum principal stress axis is identical with the applied maximum principal stress axis where transtensional wrenches occur. Therefore, the geometric relationships between the pre-existing faults and their related fractures are defined, because the local induced principal stress axes determine the directions of the related fractures. The results can be applied to pre-existing weak fabrics. They can help to understand and analyze wrench structures in outcrops or subsurface areas. They are of significance in petroleum exploration.

Estimating Moho basement and faults using gravity inversion in Yushu-earthquake area,China

A gravity survey was conducted one month after the 2010 Yushu earthquake in the epicenter area. The cross-fauh survey line was 500 km long, from Langqian county to Qingshuihe county, in a transition zone between Bayan Har block and Qiangtang block, in an area of high elevation, large undulating terrain, and complex geological features. An interpretation of the data was carried out together with other kinds of data, such as seismic exploration and magnetic exploration. The result shows that gravity is sensitive to fault bounda- ry ; the geologic structure of the region is complex at middle and upper depths, and the density profile reveals an eastward-pushing fault movement.

Influences of pre-existing fracture on ground deformation induced by normal faulting in mixed ground conditions

Physical model tests have been conducted by various researchers to investigate fault rupture propagation and ground deformation induced by bedrock faulting. However, the effects of pre-existing fracture on ground deformation are not fully understood. In this work, six centrifuge tests are reported to investigate the influence of pre-existing fracture on ground deformation induced by normal faulting in sand, clay and nine-layered soil with interbedded sand and clay layers. Shear box tests were conducted to develop a filter paper technique, which was adopted in soil model preparation to simulate the effects of pre-existing fracture in centrifuge tests. Centrifuge test results show that ground deformation mechanism in clay, sand and nine-layered soil strata is classified as a stationary zone, a shearing zone and a rigid body zone. Inclination of the strain localization is governed by the dilatancy of soil material. Moreover, the pre-existing fracture provides a preferential path for ground deformation and results in a scarp at the ground surface in sand. On the contrary, fault ruptures are observed at the ground surface in clay and nine-layered soil strata.

On the Reactivation of the Pre-Existing Normal Fault

The reactivation of pre-existing faults is a common phenomenon in a basin. This paper discusses the relationship between the pre-existing faults and the newly formed Coulomb shear fractures regarding pore fluid pressures. Based on the Coulomb fracture criterion and Byerlee frictional sliding criterion, an equation relating pore pressure coefficient (λe), minimum dip angle (αe) of the reactive pre-existing fault and the intersection point depth (z) between the pre-existing fault and a newly formed Coulomb shear fault in an extensional basin, is established in this paper. This equation enhanced the understanding on the reactivation of pre-existing faults and can be used to calculate paleo-pore fluid pressures. The bigger the pore fluid pressure in a pre-existing fault is, the less the minimum dip angle for a reactive pre-existing fault will be. The minimum dip angle is less in shallow area than that in deep area. This will be of significance in petroleum exploration and development.

Hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics in basement reservoirs and exploration targets of deep basement reservoirs in onshore China

Based on the global basement reservoir database and the dissection of basement reservoirs in China,the characteristics of hydrocarbon accumulation in basement reservoirs are analyzed,and the favorable conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation in deep basement reservoirs are investigated to highlight the exploration targets.The discovered basement reservoirs worldwide are mainly buried in the Archean and Precambrian granitic and metamorphic formations with depths less than 4500 m,and the relatively large reservoirs have been found in rift,back-arc and foreland basins in tectonic active zones of the Meso-Cenozoic plates.The hydrocarbon accumulation in basement reservoirs exhibits the characteristics in three aspects.First,the porous-fractured reservoirs with low porosity and ultra-low permeability are dominant,where extensive hydrocarbon accumulation occurred during the weathering denudation and later tectonic reworking of the basin basement.High resistance to compaction allows the physical properties of these highly heterogeneous reservoirs to be independent of the buried depth.Second,the hydrocarbons were sourced from the formations outside the basement.The source-reservoir assemblages are divided into contacted source rock-basement and separated source rock-basement patterns.Third,the abnormal high pressure in the source rock and the normal–low pressure in the basement reservoirs cause a large pressure difference between the source rock and the reservoirs,which is conducive to the pumping effect of hydrocarbons in the deep basement.The deep basement prospects are mainly evaluated by the factors such as tectonic activity of basement,source-reservoir combination,development of large deep faults(especially strike-slip faults),and regional seals.The Precambrian crystalline basements at the margin of the intracontinental rifts in cratonic basins,as well as the Paleozoic folded basements and the Meso-Cenozoic fault-block basements adjacent to the hydrocarbon generation depressions,have favorable conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation,and thus they are considered as the main targets for future exploration of deep basement reservoirs.

Relationship between the Pre-existing Active Kunlun Fault and Co-seismic Surface Ruptures Produced by the 2001 Mw 7.8 Central Kunlun Earthquake, China

Field investigations allow to constrain the co-seismic surface rupture zone of ～400 km with a strike-slip up to 16.3 m associated with the 2001 Mw 7.8 Central Kunlun earthquake that occurred along the western segmentof the Kunlun fault, northern Tibet. The co-seismic rupture structures are almost duplicated on the pre-existing fault traces of the Kunlun fault. The deformational characteristics of the co-seismic surface ruptures reveal that the earthquake had a nearly pure strike-slip mechanism. The geologic and topographic evidence clearly shows that spatialdistributions of the co-seismic surface ruptures are restricted by the pre-existing geological structures of the Kunlun fault.

Origin and growth mechanisms of strike-slip faults in the central Tarim cratonic basin, NW China

Through fault structure analysis and chronology study, we discuss the origin and growth mechanisms of strike-slip faults in the Tarim Basin.(1) Multiple stages strike-slip faults with inherited growth were developed in the central Tarim cratonic basin. The faults initiation time is constrained at the end of Middle Ordovician of about 460 Ma according to U-Pb dating of the fault cements and seismic interpretation.(2) The formation of the strike-slip faults was controlled by the near N-S direction stress field caused by far-field compression of the closing of the Proto-Tethys Ocean.(3) The faults localization and characteristics were influenced by the pre-existing structures of the NE trending weakening zones in the basement and lithofacies change from south to north.(4) Following the fault initiation under the Andersonian mechanism, the strike-slip fault growth was dominantly fault linkage, associated with fault tip propagation and interaction of non-Andersonian mechanisms.(5) Sequential slip accommodated deformation in the conjugate strike-slip fault interaction zones, strong localization of the main displacement and deformation occurred in the overlap zones in the northern Tarim, while the fault tips, particularly of narrow-deep grabens, and strike-slip segments in thrust zones accumulated more deformation and strain in the Central uplift. In conclusion, non-Andersonian mechanisms, dominantly fault linkage and interaction, resulted in the small displacement but long intraplate strike-slip fault development in the central Tarim Basin. The regional and localized field stress, and pre-existing structures and lithofacies difference had strong impacts on the diversity of the strike-slip faults in the Tarim cratonic basin.

Oblique extension of pre-existing structures and its control on oil accumulation in eastern Bohai Sea

Based on 3D seismic data, the evolution mechanism and characteristics of faults were investigated to reveal the structural origin and its control on differential hydrocarbon accumulation through comprehensive analyses, including structure style analysis, fault activity analysis, analogue modelling and comparison among the wells. The complex fault system with differently trending faults resulted from strike-slip and rifting in Paleogene was partly activated, developed successively and stretched obliquely by the near-NS extensional stress field in Neogene. In the area little affected by pre-existing faults, new faults nearly perpendicular to the extension direction developed. The structural development in the study area was not caused by transpressional strike slip. Under the oblique extension effect of pre-existing faults, if the angle between the strike of pre-existing fault and the extensional direction is different, the strike-slip and extensional stresses are different in ratio. The larger the angle between the two is, the stronger the extensional component, the poorer the sealing ability of the fault, and the stronger the oil and gas migration capacity will be. Conversely, the smaller the angle between the two is, the stronger the strike-slip component, the better the sealing ability of the fault, and the poorer the oil and gas migration capacity will be. The accumulation condition analysis results considering the fault trend are in good agreement with the oil and gas shows in wells drilled in this area.

基岩油气成藏特征与中国陆上深层基岩油气勘探方向

基于全球基岩油气藏数据库和中国基岩油气藏解剖,深入分析基岩油气成藏特征,探讨深层基岩油气成藏的有利条件和勘探方向。研究表明:全球已发现的基岩油气田主要分布在埋深小于4500 m的中浅层,层位以太古宇和前寒武系为主,储集层岩性以花岗岩和变质岩为主;规模较大的基岩油气田主要分布在中新生代构造运动活跃的裂谷盆地、弧后盆地和前陆盆地。基岩油气成藏特征主要表现为:(1)以孔隙-裂缝型低孔特低渗储集层为主,非均质性强,强抗压实作用导致储集层物性不受埋深控制,规模成储期为盆地基底风化剥蚀期及后期构造改造期;(2)他源供烃,成藏组合可划分为烃源岩-基岩接触型和烃源岩-基岩分离型两大类;(3)烃源岩异常高压和基岩储集层常压-低压,导致烃源岩与储集层之间存在较大的压力差,有利于深层基岩抽吸成藏。基底构造活动性、成藏组合关系、深大断裂(尤其走滑断裂)发育程度及区域性盖层等是深层基岩选区评价的主要参数;古老克拉通盆地陆内裂谷边缘的前寒武系结晶基底、紧邻生烃凹陷的古生代褶皱基底和中新生代块断基底,均具有较好的成藏条件,是未来深层基岩油气勘探的主要方向。

鄂尔多斯盆地北部重磁场及其基底断裂特征研究

为了明确鄂尔多斯盆地北部基底断裂特征,在分析其重磁场特征基础上,采用小波多尺度分解和功率谱分析的方法获取了基底重磁异常场,并对其基底断裂构造进行了综合识别和解释。研究发现盆地北部布格重力异常场呈东高西低、航磁场呈近东西、正负相间排列的特征;盆内发育28条基底断裂,整体上以NE向和EW向基底断裂为主,NW和SN向基底断裂错断或斜交分布的构造格架;EW—NE向基底断裂形成于~1.95 Ga阴山地块与鄂尔多斯地块的陆陆碰撞事件,其中新召北—泊尔江海子南(F4+F10)基底断裂带在中元古代之前是一条不同构造单元的分界线;SN—NW向基底断裂是上述陆陆碰撞过程中形成的撕裂构造,中元古代在近EW向拉张应力场下选择性激活。盆地北部基底断裂体系形成是不同陆块相互作用的产物,并在后期选择性活化,为研究华北克拉通化和再造过程提供了构造变形的证据。

塔里木盆地东北缘吐格尔明背斜和阳北断裂带构造分析

吐格尔明背斜和阳北断裂位于塔里木盆地北缘,南天山山前库车褶皱冲断带的东段,两者均为基底卷入型构造。阳北断裂是一个反转构造,其变形历史可以追溯到侏罗纪—白垩纪的正断层;新生代构造反转,发生了多期冲断变形加速期,分别发生于白垩纪末—古近纪初、古近纪末—新近纪初、中新世早期、上新世和第四纪。吐格尔明背斜构造带是阳北断裂中新世早期及以后的冲断作用派生出来的一个次级基底卷入型构造变形带。它由吐格尔明背斜及其南、北两条呈背冲关系的逆冲断层组成。背斜核部元古宇变质岩出露地表;中、新生界直接不整合于变质岩之上,缺失全部古生界,说明研究区可能属于一个长期存在的古生代古隆起。

Platform Evolution in an Oligo-Miocene Back-arc Basin:An Example from the Central Iran Basin

The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation consists of a variety of carbonate and non-carbonate facies deposited on a platform ranging from supratidal to basin.A combination of tectonic and eustatic events led to some lateral and vertical facies variations in the study area.Six third-order depositional sequences and related surfaces were identified regarding vertical facies changes in the studied sections of this Oligo-Miocene succession.According to all results and data,this succession was initially deposited during the Chattian upon a distally steepened ramp of siliciclastic-carbonate composition,including the Bouma sequence.Then,from the late Chattian to the Aquitanian,the platform changed into a homoclinal carbonate ramp with a gentle profile.With respect to tectonic activity,this phase was a calm period during the deposition of the Qom Formation.Finally,a drowned carbonate platform and a rimmed shelf emerged during the Burdigalian,terminated by the continental deposits of the Upper Red Formation.Regarding all geological characteristics,three main tectono-eustatic evolutionary phases have been recognized in the Qom back-arcbasin.

东海陆架盆地中部隆起带北西向大断层识别及成因机制

东海陆架盆地不同地区均揭示有局部北西走向断层的存在,但由于对断层缺乏盆地整体研究,导致断层运动学和动力学认识存在争议。以中部隆起带为重点研究区,通过对区域重磁和地震资料的综合分析开展了盆地尺度北西向大断层识别和分布规律研究,探讨了区域北西向大断层构造演化过程及成因机制。结果表明:①中部隆起带发育有10条北西向大断层,该类断层具有分布范围广,断层规模“南大北小”和断面相对低角度的特点,并控制了区域内中生界及古新—中下始新统厚度的南北差异;②北西向大断层形成时间早于北东、北北东向断层,主要经历中生代燕山期正断层发育、中生代末期至早中始新世伸展-转换断层发育、中晚始新世到渐新世断层整体消亡和中—上新世至今断层局部活化四个演化阶段;③北西向大断层的形成与中国东部印支—燕山期先挤压逆冲、后伸展回滑作用有关,反映印支期华南与华北板块南北碰撞向东南方向深入影响至东海陆架盆地区域,形成大量北西走向低角度逆冲断层,燕山期在北西—南东向区域挤压及地壳增厚背景下,存在广泛的北北东—南南西向伸展逃逸,最终控制了北西向低角度正断层的形成。上述研究为区域内深层及基底潜山领域的油气勘探研究提供了支撑。

Sandbox modeling of fault formation and evolution in the Weixinan Sag, Beibuwan Basin, China

Fault formation and evolution in the presence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses has not been investigated extensively in rift basins. The fault systems of Weixinan Sag, Beibuwan Basin of China, which is fully covered with high-precision 3-D seismic data and is rich in oil-gas resources, have been successfully reproduced by sandbox modeling in this study with inclusion of multiple pre-existing weaknesses in the experimental model. The basic characteristics of fault formation and evolution revealed by sandbox modeling are as follows. 1） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults are formed much earlier than the distant-weakness faults （faults far away from and with little or no relationship to the weakness）. 2） Weakness-reactivation faults and weakness-related faults develop mainly along or parallel to a pre-existing weakness, while distant-weakness faults develop nearly perpendicular to the extension direction. A complicated fault system can be formed in a fixed direction of extension with the existence of multiple pre-existing weaknesses, and the complicated fault system in the Weixinan Sag formed gradually in a nearly N-S direction with multiple pre-existing weaknesses. 3） The increase in the length and number of faults is closely tied to the nature of pre-existing weaknesses. The sandbox model may provide a new clue to detailed fault system research for oil and gas exploration in rift basins.

The Fault Block's Framework in Boli Basin and its Control Over the Deposition

Boli basin, between Yishu fracture belt and Dunmi fracture belt, is the biggest Mesozoic coal basin in the east of Heilongjiang Province. Now it is a fault-fold remnant basin. The basin’s shape is generally consistent with the whole distribution of the cover folds, an arc protruding southwards. The basement of the basin can be divided into three fault blocks or structural units. The formation and evoluation of the basin in Mesozoic was determined by the basement fault blocks’ dis- placement features rusulted from by the movement of the edge faults and the main basement faults.

Fault reactivation in No.4 structural zone and its control on oil and gas accumulation in Nanpu sag,Bohai Bay Basin,China

Based on seismic and drilling data,the reactivation mechanism of the pre-existing basement F4 strike-slip faultin Nanpu sag and its controlling effect on hydrocarbon accumulation difference are systematically studied.By defining fault activation stages,back-stripping fault throw and physical modeling,it is found that the Nanpu No.4 structural zone formed by the Cenozoic reactivity of the F4 fault grew from south to north,with strike-slip deformation dominated in the south and extensional deformation dominated in the north.Faults in the No.4 structural zone and those in the adjacent No.2 and No.3 structural zones were different fault systems,which grew separately,contacted and connected,and finally interwove under the action of unified stress field.By constructing the identification chart of deformation mechanisms of reactivation of pre-existing faults,it is concluded that during the sedimentary period of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation,F4 fault was reactivated by strike-slip faulting,and during the sedimentary period of Paleogene Dongying Formation and Neogene Guantao-Minghuazhen formations,it was reactivated by oblique extension.The controlling effects of Cenozoic reactivation of F4 fault on hydrocarbon accumulation include:(1)As the oil-source fault,it controlled the vertical cross-layer migration of oil and gas.(2)It gave rise to strike-slip transfer zone to control the distribution of sand bodies.(3)It grew upward and interacted with faults in the neighboring area,controlling the formation of two types of traps,and was favorable for oil and gas accumulation.

Basement interface structural characteristics beneath Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area in Xinjiang, China

The seismic data obtained from high resolution seismic refraction profile in Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area in Xinjiang, China were further processed with ray hit analysis method and more complete basement interface structural characteristics beneath Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area were determined. The results show that there are two clear basement interfaces at the upper crust in Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area. The first one with buried depth ranging from 2.6 km to 3.3 km presents integral and continuous structure, and it appears an inclined plane interface and smoothly rises up toward Tianshan Mountain. The second basement interface with buried depth from 8.5 km to 11.8 km, is the antiquated crystalline basement of Tarim basin. Near the post number of 37 km, the buried depth of the crystalline basement changed abruptly by 2.5 km, which maybe result from an ultra crystalline basement fault. If taking this fault as a boundary, the crystalline basement could be divided into two parts, i.e. the southwestern segment with buried depth about 11.5 km, and the northeastern segment with buried depth approxi-mately from 8.5 km to 9.0 km. That is to say, in each segment, the buried depth changes not too much. The northeast segment rises up as a whole and upheaves slightly from southwest to northeast, which reflects the upper crustal deformation characteristics under the special tectonic background at the northwestern edge of Tarim basin.

Intraplate Strike-Slip Reactivation of the Sinnyeong Fault in the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin, Korea, Due to the Concentration of Later Compressional Stress

This study focuses on the geometry and kinematics of the Sinnyeong Fault which is the most conspicuous fault among the WNW-trending Gaeum Fault System in the Gyeongsang Basin,SE Korea. The fault is traced for over ca.70 kmand has a consistent WNW-trending strike with a nearly vertical dip. It has an asymmetric fault damage zone of several meters to several tens of meters in width and a several meter-thick fault core. Its main movement is interpreted as sinistral-reverse oblique-slip or sinistral strike-slip under NE-SW compressional stress regime, although it could have experienced other faultings with different senses before/after this movement. Cylindrical folds, having the NW-trending fold axes of low angle plunge, are only observed along the southern damage zone of the fault with a continuous narrow width of several tens of meters. It is thus interpreted that the formation of the folds and sinistral movement of the fault were almost contemporaneously generated due to the concentration of the regional NE-SW compressional stress along pre-existing WNW-trending faults or densely populated fracture zone in a relatively stable intraplate region.

氦气富集与天然气成藏差异、勘探误区

氦气是重要的稀缺资源,应用广泛且在许多领域不可替代。由于富氦天然气是获取氦气的主要来源,很容易造成认识误区,认为只要能找到天然气自然就能找到氦气资源。但实际上氦气的富集与天然气成藏差异较大,不能用寻找天然气的理论和方法来寻找氦气。为此,针对氦气的富集特点,总结了氦气富集与天然气成藏的差异,系统梳理了氦气勘探中的5大误区,最后针对性地提出了氦气勘探建议。研究结果表明:①氦气的富集与天然气成藏在来源、生成机理、运聚过程(包括初次、二次运移方式)、对构造背景的要求及对地下水活跃程度的要求等诸多方面都存在较大差异。②目前的氦气勘探存在5大认识误区,即在天然气富集甜点区找氦气;富氦气藏需要更好的盖层;坐落在古老基底之上的气藏都可富氦气;在煤层气中寻找氦气;在火山岩储集层中找氦气。结论认为:①寻找富氦气资源,需要避开那些给氦气造成严重稀释的勘探区,避开天然气充注强度高值区域,避免在煤层气和火山岩气藏中找氦气;②在氦气勘探上应该摆脱油气勘探思想的束缚,根据氦气富集条件进行合理选区,氦气通常在基底断裂和古老地层水系统控制下在相同层位的构造高部位气藏中富集,符合这些条件的含气区将是氦气勘探的有利地区。