Influences of burial process on diagenesis and high-quality reservoir development of deep-ultra-deep clastic rocks:A case study of Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in southern margin of Junggar Basin,NW China

Taking the Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the southern margin of Junggar Basin as an example,the influences of the burial process in a foreland basin on the diagenesis and the development of high-quality reservoirs of deep and ultra-deep clastic rocks were investigated using thin section,scanning electron microscope,electron probe,stable isotopic composition and fluid inclusion data.The Qingshuihe Formation went through four burial stages of slow shallow burial,tectonic uplift,progressive deep burial and rapid deep burial successively.The stages of slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift not only can alleviate the mechanical compaction of grains,but also can maintain an open diagenetic system in the reservoirs for a long time,which promotes the dissolution of soluble components by meteoric freshwater and inhibits the precipitation of dissolution products in the reservoirs.The late rapid deep burial process contributed to the development of fluid overpressure,which effectively inhibits the destruction of primary pores by compaction and cementation.The fluid overpressure promotes the development of microfractures in the reservoir,which enhances the dissolution effect of organic acids.Based on the quantitative reconstruction of porosity evolution history,it is found that the long-term slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift processes make the greatest contribution to the development of deep-ultra-deep high-quality clastic rock reservoirs,followed by the late rapid deep burial process,and the progressive deep burial process has little contribution.

Sedimentology and Chronology of Paleogene Coarse Clastic Rocks in East-Central Tibet and Their Relationship to Early Tectonic Uplift

A systematic sedimentological and chronological study of typical Paleogene basins in eastcentral Tibet suggests that the depositional characteristics of extensively developed huge-bedded, purplish-red coarse clastic rocks formed in a tectonic setting of regional thrusting and strike-slipping represent a typical dry and hot subaerial alluvial fan environment formed in a proximal and rapidaccumulating sediment body in debris flows and a fan-surface braided river. Combining results from basin-fill sequences, sequences of coarse clastic rocks, fauna and sporo-pollen associations and thermochronological data, it is conduded that the coarse clastic rocks formed in the period of 54.2- 24.1 Ma, nearly coeval with the formation of Paleogene basins in the northern （Nangqen-Yushu thrust belt）, middle （Batang-Lijiang fault belt）, and disintegration of large basins in the southern （LanpingSimao fold belt） segments of Tibet. The widespread massive-bedded coarse clastic rocks, fold thrusting and strike-slip, thrust shortening, and igneous activities in the Paleogene basins of eastcentral Tibet indicate that an early diachronous tectonic uplift might have occurred in the Tibetan Plateau from Middle Eocene to Oligocene, related to the initial stage of collision of the Indian and Asian plates.

Evolution characteristics and exploration targets of Permian clastic rock reservoirs in Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on core observation, thin section examination, fluid inclusions analysis, carbon and oxygen isotopic composition analysis, and other approaches, the structural and burial evolution histories were investigated, and the diagenetic evolution process and genetic/development models were systematically discussed of the Upper Paleozoic Permian clastic rock reservoirs in the Bohai Bay Basin, East China. The Bohai Bay Basin underwent three stages of burial and two stages of uplifting in the Upper Paleozoic. Consequently, three stages of acid dissolution generated by the thermal evolution of kerogen, and two stages of meteoric freshwater leaching occurred. Dissolution in deeply buried, nearly closed diagenetic system was associated with the precipitation of authigenic clay and quartz, leading to a limited increase in storage space. Different structural uplifting–subsidence processes of tectonic zones resulted in varying diagenetic–reservoir-forming processes of the Permian clastic reservoirs. Three genetic models of reservoirs are recognized. The Model I reservoirs with pores formed in shallow strata and buried in shallow to medium strata underwent two stages of exposure to long-term open environment and two stages of meteoric freshwater leaching to enhance pores near the surface, and were shallowly buried in the late stage, exhibiting the dominance of secondary pores and the best physical properties. The Model Ⅱ reservoirs with pores formed in shallow strata and preserved due to modification after deep burial experienced an early exposure-open to late burial-closed environment, where pore types were modified due to dissolution, exhibiting the dominance of numerous secondary solution pores in feldspar and the physical properties inferior to Model I. The Model Ⅲ reservoirs with pores formed after being regulated after multiple periods of burial and dissolution experienced a dissolution of acidic fluids of organic origin under a near-closed to closed environment, exhibiting the dominance of intercrystalline micropores in kaolinite and the poorest physical properties. The target reservoirs lied in the waterflood area in the geological period of meteoric freshwater leaching, and are now the Model Ⅱ deep reservoirs in the slope zone–depression zone. They are determined as favorable options for subsequent exploration.

Analysis of petrophysical cutoffs of reservoir intervals with production capacity and with accumulation capacity in clastic reservoirs

Methodologies have been developed for calculating cutoffs of reservoir intervals with production capacity （RIPC） and reservoir intervals with accumulation capacity （RIAC） according to the types of pore throat structures and dynamic force by using data from petrophysical analysis, production tests and mercury injection. The data are from clastic reservoirs in the third member （Es3） and the fourth member （Es4） of the Shahejie Formation in the Shengtuo area on the North Slope of the Dongying Sag, Jiyang Depression, China. The method of calculating cutoffs of RIPC is summarized as follows： 1） determination of permeability cutoffs of RIPC; 2） classification of types of pore-throat structures according to mercury injection data and then relating porosity to permeability and determining the relationship between porosity and permeability according to each type of pore-throat structure; and 3） calculating porosity cutoffs of RIPC using established correlation between porosity and permeability according to the type of pore throat structure. The method of calculating cutoffs of RIAC includes： 1） establishing a functional relationship between oil-water interracial tension and formation temperature; 2） calculating limiting values of maximum connected pore-throat radii according to formation temperature and dynamic forces of each reservoir interval; 3） correlating permeability with maximum connected pore-throat radius and then obtaining permeability cutoffs of RIAC; and 4） calculating porosity cutoffs on the basis of permeability cutoffs according to specific correlations, suitable for the type of porethroat structure. The results of this study show that porosity and permeability cutoffs of clastic reservoirs decrease with depth. For a fixed permeability cutoff, the porosity cutoff of R1PC varies because the type of pore throat is different. At a fixed temperature, porosity and permeability cutoffs of RIAC decrease as dynamic force increases. For a fixed permeability cutoff of effective hydrocarbon accumulation, the porosity cutoff also varies with different types of pore throat.

Experimental investigation of creep behavior of clastic rock in Xiangjiaba Hydropower Project

There are many fracture zones crossing the dam foundation of the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Project in southwestern China. Clastic rock is the main media of the fracture zone and has poor physical and mechanical properties. In order to investigate the creep behavior of clastic rock, triaxial creep tests were conducted using a rock servo-controlling rheological testing machine. The results show that the creep behavior of clastic rock is significant at a high level of deviatoric stress, and less time-dependent deformation occurs at high confining pressure. Based on the creep test results, the relationship between axial strain and time under different confining pressures was investigated, and the relationship between axial strain rate and deviatoric stress was also discussed. The strain rate increases rapidly, and the rock sample fails eventually under high deviatoric stress. Moreover, the creep failure mechanism under different confining pressures was analyzed. The main failure mechanism of clastic rock is plastic shear, accompanied by a significant compression and ductile dilatancy. On the other band, with the determined parameters, the Burgers creep model was used to fit the creep curves. The results indicate that the Burgers model can exactly describe the creep behavior of clastic rock in the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Project.

A new understanding of Jurassic provenance and sedimentary framework in northwestern Sikeshu Sag, Junggar Basin, China

For a basin or sag with low exploration maturity,the understanding of its provenance system and clastic distribution system is the key to the analysis of its sedimentary framework and further influence the decision making and deployment of exploration.This study analyzed the Jurassic provenance of the Sikeshu Sag based on the data from cores,well logging,and seismic survey.The analysis of seismic profile characteristics revealed that there is a remote possibility that the Chepaizi Uplift in the northern part serves as the main Jurassic provenance of the Sikeshu Sag.On the contrary,systematic indicative signs of provenance have developed in the study area,including west-to-east progradational reflection config-urations and composite mounded reflections that show bi-directional downlapping contact in both the south and north directions.These systematic indicative signs suggest that the denuded uplift area in the western part is the main Jurassic provenance in the study area.Controlled by the provenance in the western part,the study area shows an orderly distribution of paleosedimentary systems from west to east and from shallow to deep water.The paleosedimentary system mainly exhibits the following characteristics after undergoing later high-intensity transformation.(1)The western part is dominated by the subfacies of a braided river delta front and is composed of three microfacies including distributary channels,interdistributary bays,and sandbars;(2)The middle and eastern parts show a semi-deep lacustrine environment,where debris flow sedimentary systems of slumping origin or in deep can-yons,gullies and channels connected to the denudation area developed from west to east.These debris flow sedimentary systems jointly form the clastic sedimentary system under the control of western provenance.

Palaeoclimate of the Paleogene Dongying Formation in Bozhong Sag of Bohai Bay Basin

It was showed that the sedimentary environment of lacustrine basins is more susceptible to basin size than that of marine basins,leading to frequent changes in sedimentary environment and large differences in sediment supply and types.Based on the comprehensive analysis of clay minerals,spore pollen,major elements and trace elements,the sedimentary environment of Dongying Formation and its evolution in Bozhong Sag were studied.The results showed that during the sedimentary period of Dongying Formation,the study area was in a subtropical warm and humid climate as a whole.In addition,the vertical distribution of spore pollen and algae was divided into four zones and each one represents different sedimentary environments.Combination zone I is characterized by a large number of spore pollen and algae,including juglanspollenites verus,ulmipollemites minor,abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites,taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus,leiosphaeridia and granodiscus,and it indicates a relatively hot and dry climatic;Combination zone II mainly contains juglanspollenites verus,ulmipollemites minor,abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites,pediastrum and leiosphaeridia.Compared with I,the number of spore pollen and algae decreases,but the number of pediastrum increases a lot,which represents warm and humid climate.The combination zone III is dominated by abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites and chaetosphaeridium,and the species and quantity decrease significantly.It indicates a relatively hot and humid climate at that time.Combination zone IV contains a small amount of spore pollen and algae,and it means the climate was warm and humid at that period.The frequent changes of sedimentary environment in lacustrine basins are influenceded by regional tectonic environment and basin scale.Using S/A and E-T parameters,the paleoclimate in the study area was delineated and 10 sedimentary environment interfaces were identified,which further illustrated the characteristics of frequent fluctuations of sedimentary environment in lacustrine basins.