Control of neotectonic movement on hydrocarbon accumulation in the Kuqa Foreland Basin,west China

Neotectonic movement refers to the tectonic movement that has happened since the Cenozoic, which is the latest movement. It has the most important influence on the basins in west China, especially on the hydrocarbon accumulation in the western foreland basins. We determined the time of neotectonic movement in the Kuqa Foreland Basin, which began from the Neogene, and analyzed the patterns of movement, which were continuous and fast subsidence in the vertical direction and intense lateral compression. The structure styles are that the faulting is weakened and the folding is strengthened gradually from north to south. We studied the control of neotectonic movement on the hydrocarbon accumulation process and model in the Kuqa Foreland Basin with basin simulation technique. The largest subsidence rate of the Kuqa Foreland Basin reached 1,200 m/Ma during the neotectonic movement, leading to rapid maturing of source rock within 5 Ma and a large quantity of hydrocarbon being generated and expelled. The thick neotectonic strata can form high quality reservoirs with the proved gas and oil reserves accounting for 5% and 27% of the total reserves, respectively. 86% of the structural traps were formed in the neotectonic movement period. The faults formed during the neotectonic movement serve as important migration pathways and they exist in the region where the hydrocarbon reservoirs are distributed. Abnormally high pressure caused by the intense lateral compression, thick neotectonic strata deposition and rapid hydrocarbon generation provide driving force for hydrocarbon migration. The accumulation elements match each other well over a short period, leading to many large gas fields formed later in the Kuqa Foreland Basin.

The Formation of the Qarhan Saline Lakes as Viewed in the Light of Neotectonic Movement

Investigations on stratigraphy, geomorphology and neotectonic movement in the Eastern Kunlun Moun-tains show that there existed a series of ancient lakes, including some saline lakes. in the studied region about30,000 years ago, They were distributed south of the middle Kunlun fault. from the middle-upper reaches of thepresent Narin Gol River in the west to the Alag Lake-Tosou Lake in the east. Of these the ancient Narin GolLake and Kunlun Lake were mainly recharged by the hot water related to valcanos. so the B, Li and K con-tents are relatively high. The neotectonic movement that commenced at 30.000 a B.P. caused the river system in the EasternKunlun Mountains to invade southwards. as a result the ancient lake water was captured to recharge theQarhan area. Therefore, the hot springs related to recent volcanism and faulting on the southern bank of theupper reaches of the Narin Gol River became an important source of saline materials for the Qarhan Lake.

NEW PROGRESS ON THE STUDY OF NEOTECTONIC MOVEMENT ON THE NORTHWESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU

Various data obtained from Karakorum-West Kunlun Mts in recent years showed that the northem Tibetan Plateau has been intensely uplifted since early Pleistocene and it is being in a violent rising stage. A total amplitude is estimated to be about 3100~3600 m which is similar to the Himalayas. Mean annual uplift rate along the Yecheng-Shiquanhe highway is computed to be 4.2 mma-1, and the highest rate, 8 mma-1 and 9 mma-1 appears in the Karakorum and on the northem flank of West Kunlun Mts. Recent investigntions along the Faults of the Altyn-Tagh and the Karakorum showed that these faults are very active in Holocene time in features of lateral slip (hundreds of metres) and vertical displacemat (several to dozens metres).According to the results of study on Cenozoic volcanism in the Kunlun Mts, the Quatemary volcanic eruptions are responsive to the southward intraplate subduction from the Tarim Basin which infers that on-going mantle delamination and decollement conpensation melt may exist beneath the northem Tibetan Plateau.

A Review of Formation Mechanism Study on Reservoirs with Tilted Oil-water Contacts

The distribution characteristics of the oil-water contact are the basis for the reservoir exploration and development and reserves evaluation. The reservoir with a tilted oil-water contact has a unique formation mechanism, and the understanding of its distribution and formation mechanism will directly affect the evaluations for the reservoir type, well deployment, selection of well pattern and type, determination of test section, and reserves evaluation. Based on the analysis of reservoir characteristics, petrophysical properties and geological structure in 40 reservoirs worldwide with tilted oil-water contacts, the progress of the research on the formation mechanisms of titled oil-water contacts is summarized in terms of the hydrodynamic conditions, reservoir heterogeneity, neotectonic movement and oil-gas exploitation. According to the formation mechanism of tilted oil-water contacts and the needs of exploration research, different aspects of research methods are summarized and classified, such as the calculation of equipotential surfaces for oil and water in the formation, analysis of formation pressure and analysis of reservoir physical properties and so on. Based upon statistical analysis, it is suggested that the degree of the inclination of the oil-water contact be divided based on the dip of oil-water contact（DipTOWC）. The tilted oil-water contact is divided into three categories： large dip（DipTOWC≥55 m/km）, medium dip（4 m/km≤DipTOWC55 m/km）, and small dip（DipTOWC4 m/km）. The classification and evaluation method can be combined with structure amplitude and reservoir property. The formation mechanism of domestic and international reservoirs with tilted oil-water contacts are summarized in this paper, which have important significance in guiding the exploration and development of the oilfield with tilted oil-water contacts, reserves evaluation, and well deployment.

The Evolution of the Quaternary Salt Lakes in the Qaidam Basin

The paper discusses the distribution of Quaternary sediments, occurrence of saline minerals and phases of neotectonic movements and their manifestations in the Qaidam basin. The formation of four successive lacustrine terraces in Tertiary anticlinal zones in the western part of the basin was related to the neotectonic movements that took place 100 Ka ago, and the distribution of such terraces discloses, in a way. the evolutionary history of the Quaternary salt lakes. According to the distribution of the terraces coupled with the distribution of Quaternary sediments and features of salt deposition, four periods of Quaternary salt lake evolution in the basin may be distinguished, which correspond to four stages of salt deposition respectively.

洞庭盆地的第四纪构造活动

依据第四系分统等厚度图,分析了洞庭盆地第四纪构造活动的演变。早更新世及晚更新世表现为盆地东西两侧对边掀斜,沉积中心呈近南北向伸延;中更新世及全新世,迎丰桥-北景港断裂两侧断块反向扭动掀斜,以致盆地西北角和东南角掀升,并形成与此主掀升部位相应的俯伏部位,其伸延方向与主掀升部位的掀斜方向垂直。

Reservoir formation conditions and key exploration & development technoloiges in the Yingdong Oilfield in western Qaidam Basin

Located in east part of Yingxiongling structural belt in the Qaidam Basin,the Yingdong oilfield has a extremely complicated ground condition.Due to no significant discovery,this oilfield was considered to have no favorable geologic conditions for formation of oil or gas reservoir.In the past few years,with continuous improvement in the mountain 3D seismic surveys and logging data interpretation,some breakthroughs were obtained in 2010,and the Yingdong oilfield,the largest-scale reserves of a single reservoir with highest organic matter abundance,most favorable physical property and optimal development efficiencies in the Qaidam Basin,had been discovered,the production capacity was up to 0.55×10^(6) t.Through detailed analyses of the Yingdong oilfield,some studies,such as hydrocarbon accumulation conditions and technical challenges,are carried out,and following conclusions can be achieved.The Yingxiongling area is located in Mangya hydrocarbon-generation sag in the west part of the Qaidam Basin,its oil sources are rich;the Neogene Xiayoushashan Formation and Shangyoushashan Formation are dominated by wide and gentle delta frontdshore-shallow lacustrine sediments with interbeds of sandstone and mudstone,the sandbodies are widely distributed with favorable physical condition,and the mudstone is the key caprock,combined with high-quality Paleogene hydrocarbon source rocks,a complete source-reservoir-cap assemblage can be formed.Large-scale detachment faults of the Yingdong area connect high-quality Paleogene hydrocarbon source rocks with middle-shallow buried structural traps,thus,reservoirs formed in the early stage are modified,and at the same time,hydrocarbons formed in the later stage continue to migrate and accumulate;in this way,the deep and shallow faults form a relay-style hydrocarbon transport system,and hydrocarbons are accumulated in the shallow structural traps in the later stage;in this area,the middle-shallow faults have good lateral plugging performance which is favorable for preservation of oil and gas.For complex landforms and reservoir features in the Yingdong area,the integral 3D seismic acquisition,processing and interpretation technology is developed for complex mountain areas to provide a reliable foundation for hydrocarbon exploration.For some problems in the Yingdong oilfield like long oil/gas-bearing intervals,great diffi-culty in identification of fluids,the development mode of multiple oil/gas/water systems in the long intervals is established,and the geologic modeling technology with constraint of multiple conditions on complex fault blocks is also developed.Thus,hydrocarbon accumulation mechanism in the Yingdong oilfield is clear,and some complex key technology of engineering are well solved,providing necessary geologic theories and technical supports for high-efficiency development and rapid production construction in the Yingdong oilfield.