The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field, and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic, it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field, for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW.SE, the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults, because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous, in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction, the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults, thus, fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction, stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places, especially at the end of the NE-SE faults, the cross positions of NE-SW, and S-N faults. Therefore, fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults, the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction, the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state, the best connectivity, the widest aperture, the highest permeability, and the minimum opening pressure.

A comparison analysis between developed and undeveloped depressions over the South China Sea

-- In this paper, by using two sets of composite data of developed and undeveloped depressions over the South China Sea, we analyze and compare the dynamic structures, the heating fields and the vorticity budget residuals of two different types of depressions. Our conclusions are as follows:The two types of depressions are similar in thermodynamical and dynamical structures. The main differ ences are : in the high layer of developed depression there is a divergence field, with a center near the zero line of vertical wind shear, and over undeveloped depression, the divergence field is weaker and the vertical wind at its center is greater than 5 m s-1. The thermodynamical field of the former is asymmetrical and that of the latter is quasi - symmetrical. As far as the dynamics structure is concerned, the convergence in the lower layer and the difference of divergence between the upper and lower layers of developed depression is three tmies larger than that of undeveloped depression. The upward motion and heating field at the center of developed depression is also stronger than that of undeveloped one.The vorticity budget of the two types of depressions is mainly determined by the divergence term, the vorticity advection term and the vertical transport term. The residual term is also important.The principal contribution comes from the divergence term . This is more significant for developed depression than for undeveloped depression.

Geological evolution of the Dongsha Uplift and its surrounding depressions in the South China Sea

-The tectonic types of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea are epicontinental rift-depression basins. Prior to Early Cretaceous time, the Dongsha Uplift arid its surrounding depressions had been combined with the Eurasia Plate in a single unit. Many ENE-trending narrow rifted basins were formed in the third episode of Yanshan orogeny (Late Laramide). The rifted basins in the Paleocene and Eocene were stretched and extended, forming Zhu 1, Zhu 2 and Zhu 3 depressions. The Dongsha Uplift is located between Zhu 1 and Zhu 2 depressions . covering an area of 28 000 Km2. Its geologic evolution can be divided into four stages:(1) Late Cretaceous - Paleocene block-faulting stage.(2) Eocene -Oligocene uplifting and eroding stage.(3) Late Oligocene - Early Miocene sustained subsiding stage.(4) Middle Miocene -Recent noncompensated subsiding stage.The Dongsha Uplift is a structural zone favourable for oil-gas accumulation.

Preliminary Prediction and Evaluation on Source Rock in Low Exploration Basin—A Case Study from the Northeast Depression,South Yellow Sea Basin,East China

Low exploration activity fields（e.g.,deep formation,deep water,and new exploration areas） are of great importance for petroleum exploration.The prediction of source rocks is critical to the preliminary evaluation of low exploration activity fields,which will determine the early strategic electoral district and decision of exploration activity.The northeast depression is a new exploration area at the South Yellow Sea basin at present.Based on lots of seismic data in the study area and a few of well data in adjacent homologous depression,the early evaluation of source rock in the northeast depression was finished by comprehensively using the techniques of geological analogy,geophysical inversion and basin modeling,and an integrated methodology about preliminary evaluation of source rocks to low exploration activity fields is also presented.The methodology consists of three aspects：（1） prediction of the main formation of major source rocks,based on analogy analysis of seismic reflection characteristics and quality of source rocks in adjacent homologous depression;（2） method of seismic attribution to determine the thickness of source rocks;and（3） prediction of vitrinite reflectance,based on basin modeling technique to determine the maturation of source rocks.The results suggest that the source rock of the Taizhou（泰州） Formation is the most important interval for hydrocarbon generationin the northeast depression,which is characterized as high TOC,fine OM type,huge thickness,and high maturity.The western subdepression is the most important hydrocarbon kitchen in the northeast depression.