Relationship between Natural Fracture and Structural Style and its Implication for Tight Gas Enrichment:A Case Study of Deep Ahe Formation in the Dibei–Tuzi Area,Kuqa Depression

The deep Lower Jurassic Ahe Formation(J_(1a))in the Dibei–Tuzi area of the Kuqa Depression has not been extensively explored because of the complex distribution of fractures.A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the natural fracture distribution and structural style.The J_(1a)fractures in this area were mainly high-angle shear fractures.A backward thrust structure(BTS)is favorable for gas migration and accumulation,probably because natural fractures are more developed in the middle and upper parts of a thick competent layer.The opposing thrust structure(OTS)was strongly compressed,and the natural fractures in the middle and lower parts of the thick competent layer around the fault were more intense.The vertical fracture distribution in the thick competent layers of an imbricate-thrust structure(ITS)differs from that of BTS and OTS.The intensity of the fractures in the ITS anticline is similar to that in the BTS.Fracture density in monoclinic strata in a ITS is controlled by faulting.Overall,the structural style controls the configuration of faults and anticlines,and the stress on the competent layers,which significantly affects deep gas reservoir fractures.The enrichment of deep tight sandstone gas is likely controlled by two closely spaced faults and a fault-related anticline.

Genetic Analysis of Structural Styles in the Makran Accretionary Wedge–Insight from Physical Simulations

The Makran accretionary wedge has the smallest subduction angle among any accretionary prism in the world. The factors controlling the spacing and morphological development of its deep thrust faults, as well as the formation mechanism of shallow normal faults, remain unclear. Meanwhile, the factors affecting the continuity of plane faults must be comprehensively discussed. Clarifying the development characteristics and deformation mechanisms of the Makran accretionary wedge is crucial to effectively guide the exploration of gas hydrate deposits in the area. This study aims to interpret seismic data to identify typical structures in the Makran accretionary wedge, including deep imbricate thrust faults, shallow and small normal faults, wedge-shaped piggyback basins, mud diapirs with fuzzy and disorderly characteristics of reflection, décollements with a northward tilt of 1° – 2°, and large seamounts. Physical simulation-based experiments are performed to comprehensively analyze the results of the plane, section, and slices of the wedge. Results reveal that the distances between and shapes of thrust faults in the deep parts of the Makran accretionary wedge are controlled by the bottom décollement. The uplift of the thrust fault-related folds and the upwelling of the mud diapirs primarily contribute to the formation of small normal faults in the shallow part of the area. The mud diapirs originate from plastic material at the bottom, while those that have developed in the area near the trench are larger. Seamounts and mud diapirs break the continuity of fault plane distribution.

Main Structural Styles and Deformation Mechanisms in the Northern Sichuan Basin,Southern China

The Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and Leikoupo Formation are characterized by thick salt layers. Three tectono-stratigraphic sequences can be identified according to detachment layers of Lower-Middle Triassic salt beds in the northern Sichuan Basin, i.e. the sub-salt sequence composed of Sinian to the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation, the salt sequence of the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and Mid-Triassic Leikoupou Formation, and the supra-salt sequence composed of continental clastics of the Upper-Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Jurassic and Cretaceous. A series of specific structural styles, such as intensively deformed belt of basement-involved imbricated thrust belt, basement-involved and salt-detached superimposed deformed belt, buried salt-related detached belt, duplex, piling triangle zone and pop-up, developed in the northern Sichuan Basin. The relatively thin salt beds, associated with the structural deformation of the northern Sichuan Basin, might act as a large decollement layer. The deformation mechanisms in the northern Sichuan Basin included regional compression and shortening, plastic flow and detachment, tectonic upwelling and erosion, gravitational sliding and spreading. The source rocks in the northern Sichuan Basin are strata underlying the salt layer, such as the Cambrian, Silurian and Permian. The structural deformation related to the Triassic salt controlled the styles of traps for hydrocarbon. The formation and development of hydrocarbon traps in the northern Sichuan Basin might have a bearing upon the Lower-Middle Triassic salt sequences which were favorable to the hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation. The salt layers in the Lower-Middle Triassic formed the main cap rocks and are favorable for the accumulation and preservation of hydrocarbon.

Structural Styles of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Evolution of the Foreland Basin in Western Sichuan Province, China

The Longmenshan thrust system consists of two major groups of structural styles according to the depth of their involvement: basement thrusts-compressional fault blocks; fold-thrust system in the cover. In cross-section, the Longmenshan structural belt is divided into 5 zones. The propagation of the Longmenshan thrust system is piggy-back due to pushing at the early stage and overstep due to gravity sliding at the late stage. Balanced cross-sections and palinspastic reconstruction reveal that the total sliding displacement of the thrust system amounts to 120 km. The tectonic evolution of the Tethys domain in western Sichuan has experienced 5 stages: continental break-up; ocean-continent subduction ; continent-arc collision; orogenic thrusting; uplift of western Sichuan.

Differential Hydrocarbon Accumulation Controlled by Structural Styles along the Southern and Northern Tianshan Thrust Belt

The Kuqa and the Southern Junggar foreland thrust belts, which lie to the southern and northern Tianshan, respectively, were formed under a strong compressional tectonic setting. Due to the differential propagation and deformation under the control of the décollement horizon, the structural deformation styles differ in the Kuqa and Southern Junggar thrust belts. Imbricated stacking is developed in the Kuqa thrust belt, forming a piggyback imbricated pattern of faulted anticline and fault-block structural assemblage dominated by salt structures. In contrast, wedge-shaped thrusts are developed in Southern Junggar, mainly forming vertical laminated patterns of multi-wedge-structure stacks strongly influenced by the décollement horizons. The different deformation patterns and structural styles of the north and south of Tian Shan control the contrasting characteristics of hydrocarbon accumulation in the foreland thrust belts of the Kuqa and the Southern Junggar thrust belts, including the variance in the hydrocarbon trap types, pathway systems and hydrocarbon-bearing horizons. Proven by the hydrocarbon accumulation research and exploration achievements, recent exploration targets should focus on sub-salt piggyback imbricated structural patterns in the Kuqa and the deep laminated patterns in the Southern Junggar thrust belt.

Tectonic characteristics and structural styles of a continental rifted basin:Revelation from deep seismic reflection profiles

The Fushan Depression is a half-graben rifted sub-basin located in the southeast of the Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea. The Paleogene Liushagang sequence is the main hydrocarbon-bearing stratigraphic unit in the sub-basin. Using three-dimensional（3-D）seismic data and logging data over the sub-basin, we analyzed structural styles and sedimentary characteristics of the Liushagang sequence. Five types of structural styles were defined： ancient horst, traditional slope, flexure slope-break, faulted slope-break and multiple-stage faults slope, and interpretations for positions, background and development formations of each structural style were discussed. Structural framework across the sub-basin reveals that the most remarkable tectonic setting is represented by the central transfer zone（CTZ） which divides the sub-basin into two independent depressions, and two kinds of sequence architectures are summarized：（i） the western multi-stage faults slope;（ii） the eastern flexure slope break belt. Combined with regional stress field of the Fushan Depression, we got plane combinations of the faults, and finally built up plan distribution maps of structural system for main sequence. Also, we discussed the controlling factors mainly focused on subsidence history and background tectonic activities such as volcanic activity and earthquakes. The analysis of structural styles and tectonic evolution provides strong theoretical support for future prospecting in the Fushan subbasin and other similar rifted basins of the Beibuwan Basin in South China Sea.

Structural Styles of Fronts of Thrust-Detachment Faults in Petroleum-bearing Areas of Western China

The front of a thrust-detachment fault may have various styles such as decoupling, fold, forethrust and backthrust ones because of differences in magnitude, direction and time of the forces exerted on the fault and the inhomogeneity of rock mechanical properties. They have different characteristics and are usually associated with gravity structure, inverse structure and diapir structure. These structures exist together in the same thrust-detachment fault and can influence, compensate for and convert into each other. They provide important grounds not only for the study of the dynamic state, propagation mode, evolutionary process and formation mechanism but also for the analysis of the petroleum generation, migration, accumulation and preservation and arrangement of drill holes in foreland basins.

Structural Styles of Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt,SW China

Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles： thrust belt, fault-related fold （fault bend fold, fault propagation fold, and fault decollement fold）, pop-up, triangle zone, duplex, superimposed fold, ductile deformation structures, reverse thrust fault, klippe, decollement structure,etc.. These structural styles have evident distribution characteristics; they had zonation and segmentation in plane. The zonation presents as the thrust nappe tectonic zone to the west of Tongjichang （通济场） fault, fault-related folds between Tongjichang fault and Guankou （关口） fault, and low and mild folds to the east of Guankou fault. The segmentation is evidenced as the scale of reverse thrust faults was minor between Tongjichang No. 1 fault and Tongjichang No. 2 fault. The distance between these two faults became long in the Daynanbao （大园包） structure, and there developed typical fault propagation fold and pop-up between these two faults. Furthermore, the structures had stratifi-cation in profile. The salt layer of T21 provided good conditions for the formation and development of large listric thrust faults; the thrust fault slipped in the salt layer and formed decollement structures and fault-related fold. At the same time, there formed duplex and reverse thrust faults between the two decollement layers.

Structural Origin of the Red-Ribbon Style Iron Ores in the Xinyu Iron Deposit,Central Jiangxi Province

The Xinyu iron deposit, located in central Jiangxi Province, is one of the most important BIF-type deposits in China. It is hosted in the Late Proterozoic volcanic- sedimentary rocks, which are composed of sericite- chlorite pyhllite, magnetite-bearing chlorite phyllite or schist, magnetite quartzite, and schist （Yu et al., 1989; Zeng et al., 2011）.

Structure Styles of Mesozoic-Cenozoic U-bearing Rock Series in Northern China

In Northern China, sandstone-type uranium （U） deposits are mostly developed in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins. These U deposits are usually hosted in unvarying horizons within the basins and exhibit typical U-forming sedimentary associations, which is referred to as U-bearing rock series. This study describes the structural features of U-bearing rock series within the main Mesozoic-Cenozoic U-producing continental basins in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia in the western segment of the Central Asian Metallogenic Belt （CAMB）, and Northern China in the eastern segment of the CAMB. We analyze the basic structural conditions and sedimentary environments of U-bearing rock series in Northern China and classify their structural styles in typical basins into river valley, basin margin, and intrabasin uplift margin types. The intrabasin uplift margin structural style proposed in this study can be used to indicate directions for the exploration of sandstone-type U deposits hosted in the center of a basin. At the same time, the study of structural style provides a new idea for exploring sandstone-type U deposits in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins and it is of great significance to prospecting of sandstone-type uranium deposits.

Coalfield structure and structural controls on coal in China

The occurrence of coal-bearing strata in a variety of coal-bearing basins of China is characterized by late tectonic deformation and remarkable spatial and geochronologic differences.The main controlling factors,which determine the tectonic framework of coalfields,include the geodynamic environment,tectonic evolution,deep structures,tectonic stress,and lithologic combination of the coal measures.The Chinese continent has experienced multi-stage tectonic movements since the Late Paleozoic.The spatial and temporal heterogeneity of its continental tectonic evolution,the complexity of its basement properties,and its stratigraphic configurations control the tectonic framework of its coalfields’present complex and orderly patterns.The concept of coal occurrence structural units is proposed in this paper and is defined as the structural zoning of coal occurrence.China’s coalfields are divided into five coal occurrence structural areas,and the structural characteristics of the coalfields in five main coal occurrence areas throughout the country are summarized.Based on the analysis of the relationship between the structure characteristics and occurrence of coal in these coalfields,the coal-controlling structures are divided into six groups:extensional structural styles,compressional structural styles,shearing and rotational structural styles,inverted structural styles,sliding structural styles,and syn-depositional structural styles.In addition,the distribution of coal-controlling structural styles is briefly summarized in this paper.

Analysis on Structural Control of Coal Distribution in the Northern Qaidam Basin,NW China

The distribution of the Jurassic coal measures in the northern Qaidam Basin is obviously controlled by the regional structures. Based on the existing data of coalfield exploration and combined with the analysis of coalfield basement structures, features of the main faults, and the distribution of coal measures, this paper brings forward a scheme of coalfield tectonic divisional units and the definition of the coal-controlling structural styles in the northern Qaidam Basin. The structure control of the distribution of coal measures is further discussed. Several stages of regional tectonic activities since the Indosinian has led to the distribution of coal measures into the characteristics of zonation from the north to south and block from east to west. The results indicate that the structural deformations are the most intense in the front of the three uplifted belts, which are characterized by the combination of thrusts. The coal measures are uplifted to the shallow formations, and are easy to be exploited, but the scale of mines is small because of serious damages by the coal distribution. On the contrary, the stress and strain are weak in the three depressions, with the coal-controlling structural styles being mainly the thrust-fold and thrust-monocline combinations. The distribution of coals in the depressions is relatively stable. The shallower part of the depression will become the key areas for exploration and development of coal resources in the northern Qaidam Basin.

Source-sink System and Sedimentary Model of Progradational Fan Delta Controlled by Restricted Ancient Gully:An Example in the Enping Formation in the Southern Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,Northern South China Sea

Tectonic activity occurred during the depositional period of the Enping Formation in the southern Baiyun Sag in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,with a series of synsedimentary faults and a set of large fan delta reservoir bodies developing.There is no data from drilling,cores,etc.for this area,so this paper applies three-dimensional seismic data to study the structural style of the steep slope zone,the seismic facies characteristics of fan deltas,and the source-sink system and sedimentary model of the Enping Formation.The control action of tectonic activity on fan deltaic sedimentary systems is studied by combining interpretation of fault systems,dissection of structural styles,seismic reflection structure,seismic facies geometry,and seismic attribute analysis,together with theoretical analysis of the source-sink deposition process.The Baiyun Sag has experienced tectonic activity since the Eocene,and a series of synsedimentary faults are developed in the southern steep slope zone.Under the common control of multiple large synsedimentary faults,a large ancient gully formed in the steep slope zone in the south,which gradually widened from south to north.The uplift area in the southern part of the sag was exposed for a long time during the deposition of the Enping Formation and consequently suffered weathering and erosion.The resulting sediments were transported through a system of provenance channels composed of slopes and an ancient gully to the depression area,where they were deposited and eventually converged to form a large fan delta.The fan delta presents the overall characteristics of NS strong wedge reflection and EW strong domal reflection—thick in the middle part and thin in the wings.It displays a lobe-shaped distribution on the plane,with the fan root pointing to the south slope.According to differences in reflection intensity from bottom to top,it can be subdivided into three stages of progradational sedimentary bodies—the southern uplift and denudation zone,the large ancient gully,and the fan delta—which together constitute a complete source-sink system.This represents a sedimentary model of progradational fan delta under the overall joint control of the re stricted ancient gully and syndepositional faults.

Geodynamics on Formation and Evolution of Bohaiwan Basin,China

he Bohaiwan basin is a Cenozoic lacustrine fault basin, which was composed of many subbasins in Eogene. The subbasins can be classified into three types,such as extension subbasin,shove subbasin and transform subbasin, and five subtypes. In the light of the structural styles and distributions of the subbasins, regional dynamic setting and basalt data in the Bohaiwan basin, this paper proposes an inland transformextension model.

Seismotectonics of the 2008 and 2009 Qaidam Earthquakes and its Implication for Regional Tectonics

Three magnitude 〉6 earthquakes struck Qaidam, Qinghai province, China, in November 10th 2008, August 28th and 31st 2009 respectively. The Zongwulongshan fault has often been designated as the active seismogenic structure, although it is at odd with the data. Our continuous GPS station （CGPS）, the Xiao Qaidam station, located in the north of the Qaidam basin, is less than 30 km to the southwest of the 2008 earthquake. This CGPS station recorded the near field co-seismic deformation. Here we analyzed the co-seismic dislocation based on the GPS time series and the rupture processes from focal mechanism for the three earthquakes. The afiershocks were relocated to constrain the spatial characteristics of the 2008 and 2009 Qaidam earthquakes. Field geological and geomorphological investigation and interpretation of satellite images show that the Xitieshan fault and Zongwulongshan fault were activated as left lateral thrust during the late Quaternary. Evidence of folding can also be identified. Integrated analyses based on our data and the regional tectonic environment show that the Xitieshan fault is the fault responsible for the 2008 Qaidam earthquake, which is a low dip angle thrust with left lateral strike slip. The Zongwulongshan fault is the seismogenic fault of the 2009 earthquakes, which is a south dipping back thrust of the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin. Folding takes a significant part of the deformation in the northern marginal thrust system of the Qaidam basin, dominating the contemporary structure style of the northern margin of the Qaidam basin and Qilianshan tectonic system. In this region, this fault and fold system dominates the earthquake activities with frequent small magnitude earthquakes.

The valuation of multi-counterparties CDS with credit rating migration

In this paper,the pricing of a Credit Default Swap(CDS)contract with multiple counterparties is considered.The pricing model takes into account the credit rating migration risk of the reference.It is a new model established under the reduced form framework,where the intensity rates are assumed to have structural styles.We derive from it a non-linear partial differential equation system where both positive and negative correlations of counterparties and the references are considered via a single factor model.Then,an ADI(Alternating Direction Implicit)difference method is used to solve the partial differential equations by iteration.From the numerical results,the comparison of multi-counterparty CDS contract and the standard one are analyzed respectively.Moreover,the impact of default parameters on value of the contracts are discussed.

Fault System,Deformation Style and Development Mechanism of the Bachu Uplift,Tarim Basin

The Bachu （巴楚） uplift is one of the most active tectonic regions nowadays in the Tarim basin, which is also a faulted block uplift that was intensively active during the Cenozoic. This study was based primarily on the geological structure interpretation of seismic profiles, applying the theories and methods of basin dynamics, structural analysis and tectono-stratigraphic analysis, the geometry and kinematics features of the fault systems in the Bachn uplift were analyzed in detail. Our study shows that each fault belt is mainly characterized by compression and overthrusting, most of the faults initiated and activated during the Mid-Late Himalayan period, and that the general structural styles of the Bachu uplift were basement-involved pop-up thrust faulted block uplift, of which the southern margin was covered by the large-scale decollement fault system. The basement-involved structures widely developed in the higher position of the basement uplift, while decollement fault system developed mainly at the position with gypsum mudstone. The evolution process of Bachu uplift included back-bulge slope of the peripheral foreland basin in Mid-Late Caledonian, forebulge in HercynianYanshanian and the latest compressional faulted block uplift in Mid-Late Himalayan. Meanwhile,the study also suggests that the formation, reconstruction and stabilization of the uplift were controlled by the development and evolution of fault systems clearly. In the early forebulge stage, it was mainly presented as flexural deformation without the developing of thrust faults in the Bachu area; to the late stage, under the influence of violent lateral compression deformation, the faulted block uplift formed finally.