Velocity structure in the South Yellow Sea basin based on first-arrival tomography of wide-angle seismic data and its geological implications

The South Yellow Sea basin is filled with Mesozoic-Cenozoic continental sediments overlying pre-Palaeozoic and Mesozoic-Palaeozoic marine sediments.Conventional multi-channel seismic data cannot describe the velocity structure of the marine residual basin in detail,leading to the lack of a deeper understanding of the distribution and lithology owing to strong energy shielding on the top interface of marine sediments.In this study,we present seismic tomography data from ocean bottom seismographs that describe the NEE-trending velocity distributions of the basin.The results indicate that strong velocity variations occur at shallow crustal levels.Horizontal velocity bodies show good correlation with surface geological features,and multi-layer features exist in the vertical velocity framework(depth:0–10 km).The analyses of the velocity model,gravity data,magnetic data,multichannel seismic profiles,and drilling data showed that high-velocity anomalies(>6.5 km/s)of small(thickness:1–2 km)and large(thickness:>5 km)scales were caused by igneous complexes in the multi-layer structure,which were active during the Palaeogene.Possible locations of good Mesozoic and Palaeozoic marine strata are limited to the Central Uplift and the western part of the Northern Depression along the wide-angle ocean bottom seismograph array.Following the Indosinian movement,a strong compression existed in the Northern Depression during the extensional phase that caused the formation of folds in the middle of the survey line.This study is useful for reconstructing the regional tectonic evolution and delineating the distribution of the marine residual basin in the South Yellow Sea basin.

Characteristics of Meso-Cenozoic Igneous Complexes in the South Yellow Sea Basin,Lower Yangtze Craton of Eastern China and the Tectonic Setting

The South Yellow Sea Basin is partially surrounded by the East Asian continental Meso- Cenozoic widespread igneous rocks belt. Magnetic anomaly and multi-channel seismic data both reveal the prevalent occurrence of igneous rocks. We preliminarily defined the coupling relation between magnetic anomalies and igneous rock bodies. Some igneous complexes were also recognized by using multi-channel seismic and drilling data. We identified various intrusive and extrusive igneous rock bodies, such as stocks, sills, dikes, laccoliths and volcanic edifice relics through seismic facies analysis. We also forecasted the distribution characteristics of igneous complexes. More than fifty hypabyssal intrusions and volcanic relics were delineated based on the interpretation of magnetic anomaly and dense intersecting multi-channel seismic data. It is an important supplement to regional geology and basin evolution research. Spatial matching relations between igneous rock belts and fractures document that extensional N-E and N-NE-trending deep fractures may be effective pathways for magma intrusion. These fractures formed under the influence of regional extension during the Meso- Cenozoic after the Indosinian movement. Isotopic ages and crosscutting relations between igneous rock bodies and the surrounding bedded sedimentary strata both indicate that igneous activities might have initiated during the Late Jurassic, peaked in the Early Cretaceous, gradually weakened in the Late Cretaceous, and continued until the Miocene. Combined with previous studies, it is considered that the Meso-Cenozoic igneous activities, especially the intensive igneous activity of the Early Cretaceous, are closely associated with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

Basin modeling in the initial stage of exploration： a case study from the North Subbasin of the South Yellow Sea Basin

Basin modeling has become an important tool for analyzing sedimentary basins. The North Subbasin of the South Yellow Sea Basin is filled with thick Meso-Cenozoic terrigenous deposits during the rift evolution stage. The accumulation of data and achievements of geological investigations in recent years have provided the preconditions for basin modeling. The necessary parameters and geological elements for simulations are collated and summarized. Modeling of tectono-thermal evolution is performed and the related trend in heat flow is reconstructed and calibrated. The heat flow value commences from an average level of 61 m W/m2during MiddleLate Jurassic, rises to about 80 m W/m2from circa 145 Ma to circa 74 Ma, and then undergoes a gradual decline to65 m W/m2until the end of Oligocene.Three evolutionary phases, namely, the initial rifting phase, syn-rifting phase, and post-rifting phase, have been identified. The modeling results show that the North Subbasin generally enters into a stage of strong rifting during Cretaceous and undergoes rapid subsidence until the Late Cretaceous,then follows by a stage of moderate rifting during the Paleogene. The input and general workflow involved in 3-D modeling are introduced. Reconstruction of the petroleum system in the North Subbasin reveals that the threshold depth of hydrocarbon generation is located near the top of the Paleogene Funing formation, and the underlying Jurassic and Cretaceous source rocks have reached or exceeded peak oil generation and have almost completed the generation and expulsion of hydrocarbons. The main generation and expulsion in the Jurassic source rocks take place during the syn-rifting and post-rifting phases, whereas the peak generation and expulsion in the Cretaceous and Paleogene source rocks take place during the post-rifting phase. Although the study area is still a relatively less explored sedimentary basin, the results of modeling can provide valuable information for exploration. A preliminary discussion of the main uncertainty factors is also presented.

Hydrocarbon Geological Conditions and Exploration Potential of Mesozoic–Paleozoic Marine Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin

No substantial breakthroughs have been made in hydrocarbon exploration of the South Yellow Sea Basin.It is believed that the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine sedimentary formation in the South Yellow Sea Basin is similar to that in the Sichuan Basin.Therefore,outcrop,drilling,and seismic data were determined and compared with the research results on petroleum geological conditions in the Yangtze land area,and the hydrocarbon geological conditions were analyzed comprehensively from multiple aspects,such as basin evolution and main source rocks,reservoir characteristics,preservation conditions,and structural traps.The results show that two main stages in the South Yellow Sea Basin(the stable evolution stage of the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine basin and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic reformation and basin formation stage)were important for the development and evolution of four sets of main source rocks.Reservoirs dominated by carbonate rocks,three sets of capping beds with good sealing capability,relatively weak magmatic activity,and multiple types of structural traps jointly constituted relatively good hydrocarbon-reservoir-forming conditions.There were four sets of main source-reservoir-cap assemblages and three possible hydrocarbon reservoir types(primary residual-type hydrocarbon reservoir,shallow reformed-type hydrocarbon reservoir,and composite-type hydrocarbon reservoir)developed in the marine strata.It is concluded that the marine strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin have relatively good hydrocarbon potential.The Laoshan Uplift is characterized by stable structure,complete preserved source reservoir cap assemblage,and large structural traps,and thus it is the preferred prospect zone for marine Paleozoic hydrocarbon exploration in this area.

Organic geochemical characteristics and significance of Permian Gufeng formation siliceous shale in well CSDP-2 of South Yellow Sea central uplift

In order to understand the hydrocarbon generation potential of the siliceous shale in the Permian Gufeng Formation of the South Yellow Sea,the organic geochemistry and organic petrology of the siliceous shale in the Gufeng Formation of the CSDP-2 well were studied and analyzed.It is found that the TOC of the samples is mainly between 9%and 12%,and Tmaxis mainly distributed between 510 and 540℃.The value of the organic microscopic type index(TI)is between 25.71 and 31.00,which is a set of II_(2)high-quality source rocks with high organic matter abundance in the over mature stage of largescale gas generation.According to the distribution characteristics of Molecular fossils in siliceous shale of Gufeng Formation of well CSDP-2,bacterial organic matter is the main hydrocarbon generating parent material,and aquatic animal organic matter is an important hydrocarbon generating parent material.The siliceous shale in Gufeng Formation of CSDP-2 well is in the stage of large-scale gas generation;Therefore,the Gufeng Formation in the central uplift of the South Yellow Sea has the material basis for the formation of large-scale shale gas reservoirs.At the same time,the siliceous metasomatism of the siliceous shale reservoir of Gufeng Formation is not conducive to the primary migration of oil,and there is much oil and gas remaining in the reservoir.

New insights into marine hydrocarbon geological conditions in the South Yellow Sea Basin:evidence from borehole CSDP-2

The South Yellow Sea Basin(SYSB) has multiple sets of proven source rocks and good hydrocarbon prospects,but no industrial oil and gas has been explored at present.To solve this puzzle for petroleum geologists,we systematically investigated the marine hydrocarbon geological conditions based on cores and testing data from borehole CSDP-2,the first exploration well with continuous coring in SYSB.The qualities of source rocks are evaluated in detail according to organic matter abundance,type,and maturity.The reservoir characterization mainly includes porosity,permeability,and reservoir space.Displacement pressure test and stratum thickness are the main foundations for defining the caprocks.Then,the oil-source rock correlation in the Permian and stratum model are analyzed to determine the favorable source-reservoir-caprock assemblages.The results show that three sets of effective source rocks(the Lower Triassic,Upper Permian,and Lower Permian),two sets of tight sandstone re servoirs(the Upper Permian and Lower Silurian-Upper Devonian),and two sets of caprocks(the Lower Triassic and Carboniferous) combine to constitute the hydrocarbon reservoir-forming as se mblages of "lower-ge neration and upper-accumlation" and "self-generation and self-accumlation",thus laying a solid foundation for promising petroleum prospects.The three sets of marine source rocks are characterized by successive generation and expulsion stages,which guarantees multistage hydrocarbon accumulation.Another three sets of continental source rocks distributed across the Middle Jurassic,Upper Cretaceous,and Paleogene depression areas,especially in the Northern Depression,may supplement some hydrocarbons for the Central Uplift through faults and the Indosinian unconformity.The favorable Permian exploration strata have been identified in the Central Uplift of SYSB.First,the Lower Permian and Upper Permian source rocks with high organic matter abundance and high thermal maturity supply sufficient hydrocarbons.Secondly,the interbedding relationship between the source rocks and sandstones in the Upper Permian strata ensures that hydrocarbons have been migrated into the nearby Upper Permian sandstones,reflecting near-source hydrocarbon accumulation.Finally,the good sealing property of the Lower Triassic Qinglong Formation caprocks plays an indispensable role in hydrocarbon preservation of the Permian reservoirs.This conclusion is supported by direct oil shows,gas logging anomalous layers,and hydrocarbon-bearing fluid inclusions.

Provenance and Tectonic Implications of Paleozoic Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin, China-Revealed from the Borehole CSDP-2

Well CSDP-2 is a fully coring deep drilling hole, penetrating the thick Paleozoic marine strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin(SYSB) in the lower Yangtze Block(LYB). Based on the petrological and geochemical analysis of 40 sandstone samples from the core CSDP-2, the provenance and tectonic features of Paleozoic detrital rocks from SYSB are analyzed and systematically delineated in this article. The results show that the Silurian – Carboniferous sandstones are mature sublitharenite, while the Permian sandstones are unstable feldspathic litharenite. The average CIA(chemical index of alteration) is 74.61, which reflects these sediments were derived from source rocks with moderate chemical weathering. The REE(rare earth element) patterns are characterized by LREE enrichment, flat HREE and obviously negative Eu anomaly, which are similar to that of the upper continental crust. Dickinson QFL discrimination results indicate the recycled orogeny provenance. Various diagrams for the discrimination of sedimentary provenance based on major and trace element data show all the sediments were derived predominantly from quartz sedimentary rocks, of which the Permian strata contain more felsic sedimentary rocks. Geochemical data for these detrital rocks suggest they occur at the passive continental margin and island arc settings, and the Permian sandstone presents active continental margin setting.

Structural characteristics and evolution of the South Yellow Sea Basin since Indosinian

Based on the seismic data gathered in past years and the correlation between the sea and land areas of the Lower Yangtze Platform,the structural characteristics of the South Yellow Sea Basin since the Indosinian tectonic movement is studied in this paper.Three stages of structural deformation can be distinguished in the South Yellow Sea Basin since the Indosinian.The first stage,Late Indosinian to Early Yanshanian, was dominated by foreland deformation including both the uplifting and subsidence stages under an intensively compressional environment.The second stage,which is called the Huangqiao Event in the middle Yanshanian,was a change for stress fields from compression to extension.While in the third stage (the Sanduo Event)in the Late Himalayan,the basin developed a depression in the Neogene-Quatemary after rifting in the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene.The long-time evolution controlled 3 basin formation stages from a foreland basin,then a fault basin to a final depression basin.In conclusion,since the Indosinian,the South Yellow Sea Basin has experienced compressional fold and thrust,collisional orogen,compressional and tensional pulsation,strike-slip,extensional fault block and inversion structures,compression and convergence.The NE,NEE,nearly EW and NW trending structures developed in the basin.From west to east,the structural trend changed from NEE to near EW to NW.While from north to south,they changed from NEE to near EW with a strong-weak-strong zoning sequence.Vertically,the marine and terrestrial facies basins show a "seesaw"pattern with fold and thrust in the early stages,which is strong in the north and weak in the south and an extensional fault in later stages,which is strong in the north and weak in the south.In the marine facies'basin,thrust deformation is more prevailing in the upper structural layer than that in the lower layer.The tectonic mechanism in the South Yellow Sea Basin is mainly affected by the collision between the Yangtze and North China Block,while the stress environment of large-scale strike- slip faults was owing to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.The southern part of the Laoshan uplift is a weak deformation zone as well as a stress release zone,and the Meso-Paleozoic had been weakly reformed in later stages.The southern part of the Laoshan uplift is believed,therefore,to be a promising area for oil and gas exploration.

Superimposed versus residual basin:The North Yellow Sea Basin

北方黄海盆是中生代和新生代盆。把外形基于盆边缘，沉积变瘦，盆和 vitrinite 反射的尺寸和形状，诺思黄海盆不是剩余盆。盆的开发的分析三结构的层，独立石油系统，边界差错活动， MesozoicCenozoic 沉积中心的移植，在不同时期期间形成的不同的盆结构，和二阶段的扩大的盆和一个阶段消沉盆的重叠，北方黄海盆作为附加的盆被认出。

Tectonic Evolution and Geological Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in Marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin

The South Yellow Sea Basin is the main body of the lower Yangtze area in which marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata are widely distributed.The latest geophysical data were used to overcome the limitation of previous poor-quality deep data.Meanwhile,the geological characteristics of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin were analyzed by comparing the source rocks and the reservoir and utilizing drilling and outcrop data.It is believed that the South Yellow Sea Basin roughly underwent six evolutionary stages:plate spreading,plate convergence,stable platform development,foreland basin development,faulted basin development,and depression basin development.The South Yellow Sea Basin has characteristics of a composite platform-fault depression geological structure,with a half-graben geological structure and with a ‘sandwich structure' in the vertical direction.Four sets of hydrocarbon source rocks developed – the upper Permian Longtan–Dalong formation,the lower Permian Qixia formation,the lower Silurian Gaojiabian formation,and the lower Cambrian Hetang formation/Mufushan formation,giving the South Yellow Sea Basin relatively good hydrocarbon potential.The carbonate is the main reservoir rock type in the South Yellow Sea area,and there are four carbonate reservoir types:porous dolomitic,reef-bank,weathered crust,and fractured.There are reservoir-forming horizons similar to the typical hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Yangtze land area developed in the South Yellow Sea,and there are three sets of complete source-reservoir-cap rock assemblages developed in the marine strata,with very good hydrocarbon potential.

Tectonic Evolution of the North Depression of the South Yellow Sea Basin Since Late Cretaceous

On the basis of subsidence history analysis and balanced cross-section analysis, the vertical uplift/subsidence history and horizontal extension/compression history of the north depression of the south Yellow Sea basin are quantitatively studied. The results show that the tectonic evolution of the north depression of the south Yellow Sea basin since late Cretaceous can be divided into a rifting phase(late Cretaceous to Paleogene) and a post-rifting phase(Neogene to Quaternary). The rifting phase can be further subdivided into an initial rifting stage(late Cretaceous), an intensive rifting stage(Paleocene), a rifting termination stage(Eocene), and an inversion-uplifting stage(Oligocene). Together, this division shows the characteristics of an episodic-evolved intracontinental rift-depression basin. The deformation of the north depression of the south Yellow Sea basin since late Cretaceous was mainly fault-related. The horizontal extension and tectonic subsidence were controlled by the activity of faults. The differential evolution of faults also caused variations in local uplift/subsidence movements and the regional heterogeneity in extension. The late Cretaceous initial rifting of the north depression of the south Yellow Sea basin is related to the Pacific-Eurasia convergence. From the Paleocene intensive rifting stage to present, the Pacific-Eurasia convergence and India-Eurasia convergence have played important roles in the evolution of this region.

Hydrocarbon Potential of Pre-cenozoic Strata in the North Yellow Sea Basin

The North Yellow Sea Basin ( NYSB ), which was developed on the basement of North China (Huabei) continental block, is a typical continental Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the sea area. Its Mesozoic basin is a residual basin, below which there is probably a larger Paleozoic sedimentary basin. The North Yellow Sea Basin comprises four sags and three uplifts. Of them, the eastern sag is a Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary sag in NYSB and has the biggest sediment thickness; the current Korean drilling wells are concentrated in the eastern sag. This sag is comparatively rich in oil and gas resources and thus has a relatively good petroleum prospect in the sea. The central sag has also accommodated thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments. The latest research results show that there are three series of hydrocarbon source rocks in the North Yellow Sea Basin, namely, black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The principal hydrocarbon source rocks in NYSB are the Mesozoic black shale. According to the drilling data of Korea, the black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous have all come up to the standards of good and mature source rocks. The NYSB owns an intact system of oil generation, reservoir and capping rocks that can help hydrocarbon to form in the basin and thus it has the great potential of oil and gas. The vertical distribution of the hydrocarbon resources is mainly considered to be in the Cretaceous and then in the Jurassic.

Geochemistry of the upper Permian sandstones in the Dalong Formation in the South Yellow Sea Basin,East China:implications to provenance,weathering,and tectonic setting

To reconstruct the paleoenvironment,the petrography and geochemical compositions of the upper Permian Dalong Formation(Fm)(P_(3)d)sandstones in the Central Uplift,South Yellow Sea Basin,was investigated,after which the provenance,tectonic setting,weathering conditions,and diagenetic history were determined.The Dalong Fm is mainly composed of sandstones with a few mudstones and limestones.The petrographic analysis showed that the P_(3)d sandstones are in low maturity and could be classified into feldspar sandstone and lithic sandstone on average framework composition of Q_(63)F_(16)L_(21).The major and trace element results show that Dalong Fm sandstones are enriched in Rb and depleted in Cr and Ni compared with the upper continental crust(UCC).The chemical weathering intensity is weak to low moderate in the source area as indicated by the chemical index of alteration(CIA)and other results from a variety of methods.The diagenetic process included three main stages:eodiagenesis,mesodiagenesis,and telodiagenesis.Tectonic discrimination plots show that the source areas were an active continental margin(ACM)and a passive continental margin(PCM),which may have been related to the northward movement of the Lower Yangtze Plate(LYP)and the collision between the LYP and the North China Plate(NCP).

Characteristics of Milankovitch cycles recorded in Eocene strata in the eastern depression of North Yellow Sea Basin, North China

As cyclical orbital movements of Earth,Milankovitch cycles can be recorded in sedimentary strata.The time they reflect can be used to accurately divide and compare strata.Milankovitch cycles recorded in strata enrich the stratigraphic theory,especially the theories of cycle stratigraphy,and thus they are widely used in geological survey engineering nowadays.This study explored the characteristics of the Milankovitch cycles recorded in the eastern depression of the North Yellow Sea Basin,highlighting their control over high-frequency stratigraphic sequences.The Eocene Milankovitch cycles in the depression were calculated based on the method proposed by J.Laskar,and their parameters primarily include eccentricity cycles of 125 ka and 99 ka,obliquity cycles of 51 ka and 39 ka,and precession cycles of 23 ka and 19 ka.Spectral analysis of gamma-ray(GR)and spontaneous potential(SP)log curves of the Eocene strata was carried out to divide and compare stratigraphic sequences,revealing that the spectral peaks correspond well to astronomical cycles.This indicates that the strata in the depression fully record Milankovitch cycles.Furthermore,there are long-,medium-,and short-term stratigraphic cycles in the eastern depression,with a thickness of 13.03-15.89 m,3.70-5.21 m,and 2.17-2.94 m,respectively.The sedimentation rates of the Eocene strata were calculated to be 121.2-127.12 m/Ma accordingly.From the uplift to the center of the lacustrine basin along the slope in the eastern depression,both the sedimentation duration and the sediment thickness increase,while the sedimentation rate remains relatively stable.The Eocene strata can be divided into six stages of high-frequency sequences by continuous wavelet transformation,namely E_(6)-E_(1) from bottom to top.The sedimentation duration and sedimentation rates of the sequences were calculated using spectral analysis with each of the sequences as a separate window.Moreover,the impacts of climate change on the sedimentary environment in the eastern depression were analyzed.It can be concluded that E_(6) was a lowstand system tract,E_(5) and E_(4) were lacustrine expansion system tracts,E_(3) was a highstand system tract,and E_(2) and E_(1) were lacustrine contraction system tracts.All these verify that Milankovitch cycles serve as an effective approach for the analysis of sedimentary cycles.

Characteristics and classification of paleozoic tight reservoirs in the central uplift of the South Yellow Sea Basin

Several sets of Paleozoic tight reservoirs are developed in the Central Uplift of the South Yellow Sea Basin.A qualitative analysis of the microscopic pore structure of the tight reservoir rocks was carried out through cast thin slice and scanning electron microscopic image observation.Based on reservoir pet-rophysical properties,thirty core samples in the Central Uplift of the South Yellow Sea Basin were selected for high-pressure mercury intrusion(HPMI)analysis,which was then combined with fractal calculation to classify and evaluate the tight reservoirs.The analysis of the HPMI curves and related parameters shows that the Paleozoic tight reservoirs can be divided into three types:Type-A,Type-B and Type-C.Type-A sandstone reservoirs contain pores with size mostly ranging between 0.01 and 0.1 mm,followed by pores with size range of 0.001-0.01 m m,and relatively fewer pores larger than 0.1 m m.The Type-B reservoirs are carbonate rocks with extremely heterogeneous pore size distribution,which is closely related to the development of dissolution pores and microfractures.Type-C sandstone reservoirs are dominated by nanopores and submicron pores that distribute more heterogeneously than pores in Type-A reservoirs.The pore distribution in sandstone reservoirs shows significant fractal characteristics and is closely related to the pore size.The heterogeneity of nanopore distribution has a negative cor-relation with porosity and median pressure and a relatively weak correlation with permeability.Our study has important implications for petroleum exploration in the South Yellow Sea Basin.

Geological structure of the yellow sea area from regional gravity and magnetic interpretation

盖住 32 °的区域的地区性的严肃和空中地磁学的数据 38 ° N， 118 °在 1:1,000,000 的规模的 127 ° E 被协调并且集成于华南黄海和邻近的区域的合成研究。到磁性的水晶的地下室和它的结构的深度被磁性的异例倒置决定。深度到和古生代的岩石的厚度被严肃异例倒置也揭示与从几侧面地下室和已知的地震信息抑制。结构单位，主要差错，盆边界，和亚抑制根据严肃数据解释被构画出。

Prospective prediction and exploration situation of marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic oil and gas in the South Yellow Sea

The South Yellow Sea Basin is a large sedimentary basin superimposed by the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine sedimentary basin and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic terrestrial sedimentary basin, where no oil and gas fields have been discovered after exploration for 58 years. After the failure of oil and gas exploration in terrestrial basins, the exploration target of the South Yellow Sea Basin turned to the marine Mesozoic- Paleozoic strata. After more than ten years' investigation and research, a lot of achievements have been obtained. The latest exploration obtained effective seismic reflection data of deep marine facies by the application of seismic exploration technology characterized by high coverage, abundant low-frequency components and strong energy source for the deep South Yellow Sea Basin. In addition, some wells drilled the Middle-Upper Paleozoic strata, with obvious oil and gas shows discovered in some horizons. The recent petroleum geological research on the South Yellow Sea Basin shows that the structure zoning of the marine residual basin has been redetermined, the basin structure has been defined, and 3 seismic reflection marker layers are traceable and correlatable in the residual thick Middle-Paleozoic strata below the continental Meso-Cenozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin. Based on these, the seismic sequence of the marine sedimentary strata was established. According to the avaliable oil and gas exploration and research, the marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic oil and gas prospects of the South Yellow Sea were predicted as follows.(1) The South Yellow Sea Basin has the same sedimentary formation and evolution history during the sedimentary period of the Middle-Paleozoic marine basin with the Sichuan Basin.(2) There are 3 regional high-quality source rocks.(3) The carbonate and clastic reservoirs are developed in the Mesozoic- Paleozoic strata.(4) The three source-reservoir-cap assemblages are relatively intact.(5) The Laoshan Uplift is a prospect area for the Lower Paleozoic oil and gas, and the Wunansha Uplift is one for the marine Upper Paleozoic oil and gas.(6) The Gaoshi stable zone in the Laoshan Uplift is a favorable zone.(7) The marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin has the geological conditions required to form large oil and gas fields, with remarkable oil and gas resources prospect. An urgent problem to be addressed now within the South Yellow Sea Basin is to drill parametric wells for the Lower Paleozoic strata as the target, to establish the complete stratigraphic sequence since the Paleozoic period, to obtain resource evaluation parameters, and to realize the strategic discovery and achieve breakthrough in oil and gas exploration understanding.

Petroleum geological framework and hydrocarbon potential in the Yellow Sea

Sedimentary basins in the Yellow Sea can be grouped tectonically into the North Yellow Sea Basin (NYSB), the northern basin of the South Yellow Sea (SYSNB) and the southern basin of the South Yellow Sea (SYSSB). The NYSB is connected to Anju Basin to the east. The SYSSB extends to Subei Basin to the west. The acoustic basement of basins in the North Yellow Sea and South Yellow Sea is disparate, having different stratigraphic evolution and oil accumulation features, even though they have been under the same stress regime since the Late Triassic. The acoustic basement of the NYSB features China-Korea Platform crystalline rocks, whereas those in the SYSNB and SYSSB are of the Paleozoic Yangtze Platform sedimentary layers or metamorphic rocks. Since the Late Mesozoic terrestrial strata in the eastern of the NYSB (West Korea Bay Basin) were discovered having industrial hydrocarbon accumulation, the oil potential in the Mesozoic strata in the west depression of the basin could be promising, although the petroleum exploration in the South Yellow Sea has made no break-through yet. New deep reflection data and several drilling wells have indicated the source rock of the Mesozoic in the basins of South Yellow Sea, and the Paleozoic platform marine facies in the SYSSB and Central Rise could be the other hosts of oil or natural gas. The Mesozoic hydrocarbon could be found in the Mesozoic of the foredeep basin in the SYSNB that bears potential hydrocarbon in thick Cretaceous strata, and so does the SYSSB where the same petroleum system exists to that of oil-bearing Subei Basin.

北黄海盆地东部坳陷下白垩统层序地层及沉积演化

北黄海盆地东部坳陷下白垩统是一套有利的油气勘探储集层,对其精细的地层划分及沉积演化的研究薄弱,制约了对东部坳陷油气勘探前景的深入认识。本文通过对东部坳陷钻井的岩芯观察,测井、录井分析及地震层序的井震标定,认为北黄海盆地东部坳陷下白垩统发育典型的陆相层序,可划分为3个三级层序,从底部向上依次为K1SQ1、K1SQ2和K1SQ3。在钻井上仅可见K1SQ1和K1SQ2两个三级层序,且K1SQ2层序的下降半旋回不完整,只残留该层序的上升半旋回。K1SQ1时期为湖盆断陷伸展期,发育一个完整的湖进—湖退旋回。早期盆地边缘发育河流相,南部主控断裂带发育扇三角洲相,北部缓坡带发育辫状河三角洲相;中后期由于湖平面上升,发育泥岩为主的湖泊沉积;晚期北部缓坡带见小规模辫状河三角洲沉积。K1SQ2时期为湖盆稳定裂陷期,继承了K1SQ1时期的沉积特征并略有收缩。K1SQ3时期为湖盆断陷萎缩期,以发育大范围的河流相沉积为特征。

YZ1斜井定向井小井眼侧钻技术

YZ1斜井是位于南黄海盆地南五凹陷北部斜坡带南中11号构造的第一口风险探井。YZ1斜井215.9 mm井眼段在钻至3588 m后无进尺,起钻至井口发现钻头落井,多次尝试打捞失败后,决定在裸眼井段注200 m水泥塞后侧钻开窗。侧钻点较深、地层强度高、地层岩性多变、井况复杂,侧钻作业难度大。通过减少扶正器数量,选择5刀翼、强攻击性的胜利天工S323 PDC型钻头搭配1.5°螺杆马达的钻具组合,进行控压控时钻进、划槽、造台阶,克服了该段侧钻位置深、井况复杂、地层强度高等困难,一次性成功侧钻。侧钻过程顺利、新井眼轨迹平滑、井斜降低。