Ordovician Basement Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, China

Ordovician marine carbonate basement traps are widely developed in the paleo-highs and paleo-slopes in the Tarim Basin. Reservoirs are mainly altered pore-cavity-fissure reservoirs. Oil sources are marine carbonate rocks of the Lower Paleozoic. Thus, the paleo-highs and paleo-slopes have good reservoiring conditions and they are the main areas to explore giant and large-scale oil reservoirs. The main factors for their reservoiring are: (1) Effective combination of fenestral pore-cavity-fracture reservoirs, resulting from multi-stage, multi-cyclic karstification (paleo-hypergene and deep buried) and fracturing, with effective overlying seals, especially mudstone and gypsum mudstone in the Carboniferous Bachu Formation, is essential to hydrocarbon reservoiring and high and stable production; (2) Long-term inherited large rises and multi-stage fracture systems confine the development range of karst reservoirs and control hydrocarbon migration, accumulation and reservoiring; (3) Long-term multi-source hydrocarbon supply, early reservoiring alteration and late charging adjustment are important reservoiring mechanisms and determine the resource structure and oil and gas properties. Favorable areas for exploration of Ordovician carbonate basement hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are the Akekule rise, Katahe uplift, Hetianhe paleo-high and Yakela faulted rise.

Origin, hydrocarbon accumulation and oil-gas enrichment of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs: A case study of Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in South Tahe area of Halahatang oilfield, Tarim Basin

Based on comprehensive analysis of tectonic and fault evolution, core, well logging, seismic, drilling, and production data, the reservoir space characteristic, distribution, origin of fault-karst carbonate reservoir in Yueman block of South Tahe area, Halahatang oilfield, Tarim Basin, were studied systematically. And the regular pattern of hydrocarbon accumulation and enrichment was analyzed systematically based on development practice of the reservoirs. The results show that fault-karst carbonate reservoirs are distributed in the form of "body by body" discontinuously, heterogeneously and irregularly, which are controlled by the development of faults. Three formation models of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs, namely, the models controlled by the main deep-large fault, the secondary fault and the secondary internal fault, are built. The hydrocarbon accumulation and enrichment of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs is controlled by the spatiotemporal matching relation between hydrocarbon generation period and fault activity, and the size and segmentation of fault. The study results can effectively guide the well deployment and help the efficient development of fault-karst carbonate reservoirs of South Tahe area, Halahatang oilfield.

Main progress and problems in research on Ordovician hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tarim Basin

The Tarim Basin is the largest petroliferous basin in the northwest of China, and is composed of a Paleozoic marine craton basin and a Meso-Cenozoic continental foreland basin. It is of great significance in exploration of Ordovician. In over 50 years of exploration, oil and gas totaling over 1.6 billion tonnes oil-equivalent has been discovered in the Ordovician carbonate formation. The accumulation mechanisms and distribution rules are quite complicated because of the burial depth more than 3,500 m, multi-source, and multi-stage accumulation, adjustment, reconstruction and re-enrichment in Ordovician. In this paper, we summarized four major advances in the hydrocarbon accumulation mechanisms of Ordovician carbonate reservoirs. First, oil came from Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks separately and as a mixture, while natural gas was mainly cracked gas generated from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician crude oil. Second, most hydrocarbon migrated along unconformities and faults, with different directions in different regions. Third, hydrocarbon migration and accumulation had four periods： Caledonian, early Hercynian, late Hercynian and Himalayan, and the latter two were the most important for oil and gas exploration. Fourth, hydrocarbon accumulation and evolution can be generally divided into four stages： Caledonian （the period of hydrocarbon accumulation）, early Hercynian （the period of destruction）, late Hercynian （the period of hydrocarbon reconstruction and re-accumulation）, and Himalayan （the period of hydrocarbon adjustment and re-accumulation）. Source rocks （S）, combinations of reservoir-seal （C）, paleo-uplifts （M）, structure balance belt （B） matched in the same time （T） control the hydrocarbon accumulation and distribution in the Ordovician formations. Reservoir adjustment and reconstruction can be classified into two modes of physical adjustment and variation of chemical compositions and five mechanisms. These mechanisms are occurrence displacement, biodegradation, multi-source mixing, high-temperature cracking and late gas invasion. Late hydrocarbon accumulation effects controlled the distribution of current hydrocarbon. The T-BCMS model is a basic geological model to help understanding the control of reservoirs. At present, the main problems of hydrocarbon accumulation focus on two aspects, dynamic mechanisms of hydrocarbon accumulation and the quantitative models of oil-bearing in traps, which need further systemic research.

Hydrocarbon Accumulation Conditions of Ordovician Carbonate in Tarim Basin

Based on comprehensive analysis of reservoir-forming conditions, the diversity of reservoir and the difference of multistage hydrocarbon charge are the key factors for the carbonate hydrocarbon accumulation of the Ordovician in the Tarim Basin. Undergone four major deposition-tectonic cycles, the Ordovician carbonate formed a stable structural framework with huge uplifts, in which are developed reservoirs of the reef-bank type and unconformity type, and resulted in multistage hydrocarbon charge and accumulation during the Caledonian, Late Hercynian and Late Himalayan. With low matrix porosity and permeability of the Ordovician carbonate, the secondary solution pores and caverns serve as the main reservoir space. The polyphase tectonic movements formed unconformity reservoirs widely distributed around the paleo-uplifts; and the reef-bank reservoir is controlled by two kinds of sedimentary facies belts, namely the steep slope and gentle slope. The unconventional carbonate pool is characterized by extensive distribution, no obvious edge water or bottom water, complicated oil/gas/water relations and severe heterogeneity controlled by reservoirs. The low porosity and low permeability reservoir together with multi-period hydrocarbon accumulation resulted in the difference and complex of the distribution and production of oil/gas/water. The distribution of hydrocarbon is controlled by the temporal-spatial relation between revolution of source rocks and paleo-uplifts. The heterogenetic carbonate reservoir and late-stage gas charge are the main factors making the oil/ gas phase complicated. The slope areas of the paleo-uplifts formed in the Paleozoic are the main carbonate exploration directions based on comprehensive evaluation. The Ordovician of the northern slope of the Tazhong uplift, Lunnan and its periphery areas are practical exploration fields. The Yengimahalla-Hanikatam and Markit slopes are the important replacement targets for carbonate exploration. Gucheng, Tadong, the deep layers of Cambrian dolomite in the Lunnan and Tazhong-Bachu areas are favorable directions for research and risk exploration.

Characteristics and impacts on favorable reservoirs of carbonate ramp microfacies: A case study of the Middle-Lower Ordovician in Gucheng area,Tarim Basin,NW China

Based on the latest drilling core, thin section, 3D seismic, well logging data as well as exploration results, the sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary microfacies of the Middle-Lower Ordovician carbonates in Gucheng area, and their controlling effects on the development of reservoir were examined by the theories and methods of fine carbonate sedimentology.The results show that the Middle-Lower Ordovician in Gucheng area is a set of typical carbonate ramp deposits, which can be divided into 10 microfacies in 4 subfacies as follows: back ramp, inner shallow ramp, outer shallow ramp, and deep ramp. The back ramp subfacies consists of muddy-dolomitic flat and dolomitic lagoon microfacies;it is dominated by lamellar micrite dolomite tight in lithology. The inner shallow ramp subfacies includes dolomitic shoal and dolomitic flat in shoal top and dolomitic flat between shoals microfacies;it is mainly composed of crystal dolomite with metasomatic residual structure, as well as abundant karst vugs and intercrystalline pores. The crystal dolomite has an average porosity of 4.36%. The outer ramp subfacies includes medium-high and low energy grain shoal and inter-shoal microfacies;it is dominated by sandy limestone,oolitic limestone, and micrite limestone with few pores. The deep ramp subfacies is dominated by low-energy argillaceous deposits, with local presences of storm shoal microfacies. The Lower-Middle Ordovician has six third-order sequences from bottom to top, among which sequence(SQ3) represents the third member of Yingying Formation. The main reservoir has three fourth-order high-frequency sequences. Apparently, the favorable reservoir in the study area is jointly controlled by sedimentary microfacies and high frequency sequence in the carbonate ramp. The former controls the primary pore structure, and the latter controls the intensities of karstification exposure and dolomitization in the penecontemporaneous period. The dolomitic shoals and top dolomitic flats of different stages, superimposed and connected into favorable reservoirs of considerable scale like "platform margin", are favorable exploration facies in the carbonate ramp.

Evolution of Ordovician YJ1X ultra-deep oil reservoir in the Yuecan oilfield, Tarim Basin, NW China

Based on a combined in-situ calcite U-Pb dating, molecular geochemical correlations of reservoir oil and extract from reservoir rocks, and fluid inclusion analysis, the charge and evolution history of the YJ1X ultra-deep oil reservoir of the Ordovician Yijianfang Formation in the southwestern part of the Tabei Uplift has been determined systematically.(1) The reservoir oil, free oil and inclusion oil have similar geochemical characteristics and are presumably derived from marine source rock deposited in similar sedimentary environment.(2) The reservoir oil, free oil and inclusion oil have similar maturities with calculated equivalent vitrinite reflectance values in the range of 0.80%-0.96%.(3) Two types(Group Ⅰ and Ⅱ) of oil inclusion assemblages(OIAs) have been identified in the reservoir, of which Group Ⅰ represents the original gas-saturated oil entering the trap during the initial oil charge, whereas Group Ⅱ represents undersaturated residual oil retained in the reservoir after minor leakage of light hydrocarbon.(4) The reservoir experienced oil charge only once during the Early Devonian around 425 Ma and has been well preserved after the minor light hydrocarbon leakage in the Middle Devonian. The study shows that there may be old oil and gas accumulations in ultra-deep strata of petroliferous basins with well-developed caprock and stable tectonic background.

Characteristics and main control factors of Ordovician shoal dolomite gas reservoir in Gucheng area,Tarim Basin,NW China

Based on seismic, drilling data and experimental analysis, the characteristics and main controlling factors of shoal dolomite gas reservoir in the third member of Ordovician Yingshan Formation of Gucheng area, Tarim basin were examined.The study shows that the dolomite gas reservoir in Gucheng area is lithologic gas reservoir controlled by shoal and fault jointly,and its formation is mainly attributed to the following factors:(1) The continuously developing paleotectonic structure has been in the direction of gas migration and accumulation;(2) The large area of medium-high energy grain bank deposited in gentle slope environment is the material basis for the formation of dolomite reservoir;(3) Atmospheric water leaching and dolomitization and fluid dissolution in fault zone are the key factors for the formation of high-quality dolomite reservoir;(4)The natural gas comes from cracking of the ancient oil reservoir and hydrocarbon generation of dispersed organic matter in source rocks, and the NNE-trending strike-slip fault is the dominant channel for vertical migration of natural gas;(5) Limestone cap rocks in the first and second members of Yingshan Formation provide direct sealing for the formation of gas reservoir there. On the basis of comprehensive analysis, it is pointed out that the Gucheng area has three grain shoal zones in the third member of Yingshan Formation in nearly S-N direction, which together with seven strike-slip fault zones in NNE direction control the development of shoal dolomite gas reservoir.

Geochemical analysis of mixed oil in the Ordovician reservoir of the Halahatang Depression,Tarim Basin,China

In this study,12 crude oil samples were collected and analyzed from the Ordovician reservoir in the Halahatang Depression,Tarim Basin,China.Although the density of oil samples varies considerably,based on saturated hydrocarbon gas chromatographic(GC),saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric(GC/MS) and stable carbon isotopic composition analyses,all the samples are interpreted to represent a single oil population with similar characteristics in a source bed or a source kitchen,organic facies and even in oil charge history.The co-existence of a full suite of n-alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids with UCM and 25-norhopanes in the crude oil samples indicates mixing of biodegraded oil with fresher non-biodegraded oil in the Ordovician reservoir.Moreover,according to the conversion diagram of double filling ratios for subsurface mixed crude oils,biodegraded/non-biodegraded oil ratios were determined as in the range from 58/42 to 4/96.Based on oil density and oil mix ratio,the oils can be divided into two groups:Group 1,with specific density>0.88(g/cm3) and oil mix ratio>1,occurring in the north of the Upper Ordovician Lianglitage and Sangtamu Formation pinchout lines,and Group 2,with specific density<0.88(g/cm3) and oil mix ratio<1,occurring in the south of the pinchout lines.Obviously,Group 2 oils with low densities and being dominated by non-biodegraded oils are better than Group 1 oils with respect to quality.It is suggested that more attention should be paid to the area in the south of the Upper Ordovician Lianglitage and Sangtamu Formation pinchout lines for further exploration.

Formation of hoodoo-upland on Ordovician karst slope and its significance in petroleum geology in Tahe area,Tarim Basin,NW China

Based on a large number of geological and geophysical data,the formation,fracture-caves types and hydrocarbon distribution of hoodoo-upland on the Ordovician karst slope in the Tahe area,Tarim Basin,are discussed by analyzing faults and strata thickness.The hoodoo-upland was made of high peaks and narrow valleys in the Ordovician karst slope during the Early Hercynian karst period,which were distributed along the NNE positive flower structure and had inherited evolution.The fault-fractures and fracture-vugs complex were extremely developed,with a thickness of 100 m.The cumulative oil production of 60% oil wells was more than 20×10^(4) t per well in the hoodoo-upland,where the residual thickness of the Ordovician Yingshan Formation was greater than karst depressions.Caves formed by the shelter of collapsed breccias were developed in the valleys.They were 1.6 to 13.5 m high,with a filling rate of 51.6%.The positive flower structure under the settings of strike-slip compression controlled the early formation of the hoodoo-upland on the karst slope,resulting in the differences of drainage distribution and karstification.Compared with the water-rich karst valley,the hoodoo-upland with lean water suffered weaker karstification,had thicker residual stratum,and was higher in terrain.In rainy season,the meteoric water flew and corrode along the cracks,forming a complex network of fractures and caves.Combined with inherited uplift and the effective match of the NNE deep faults,oil and gas continuously charged into the reservoir space in the upland,forming the hoodoo fracture-cave reservoir with vertically quasi continuous distribution,high hydrocarbon abundance and high production.

K-Ar Dating of Authigenic Illites and Its Applications to the Study of Hydrocarbon Charging Histories of Typical Sandstone Reservoirs in Tarim Basin, China

The Tarim Basin in China comprises eight sets of sandstone reservoirs, five of which are investigated in detail in this study. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrocarbon charging histories of reservoirs by applying K-Ar dating of authigenic illites. The ages of authigenic illites from the Lower Silurian bituminous sandstones in the Central Uplift area range from 383.5 to 235.2 Ma, suggesting that the Silurian oil accumulations were formed from the late Caledonian till the late Hercynian. The ages of authigenic illites from the Upper Devonian Donghe Sandstone reservoirs range from 263.8 to 231.3 Ma, indicating that hydrocarbon accumulations within the Donghe sandstone were formed mainly in the late Hercynian. The authigenic illites ages from the Lower Jurassic Yangxia Group sandstones in the Yinan-2 gas reservoir (Yinan-2, Kuqa Depression) range from 28.1 to 23.9 Ma, suggesting that the initial hydrocarbon charging occurred in the Miocene. The ages of the authigenic illites from the Lower Cretaceous sandstones in the Akemomu gas field (Ake-1, Kashi Sag, Southwest Depression) range from 22.6 to 18.8 Ma, indicating a probable early oil accumulation or early migration of hydrocarbon within this area. The illites from the Paleogene sandstones in the Dina-2 gas reservoir (Dina-201, Kuqa Depression) have a detrital origin; they cannot be used to study the hydrocarbon charging histories. The ages of authigenic illites in the underlying Cretaceous sandstones in the same well (Dina-201) range from 25.5 to 15.5 Ma, indicating that hydrocarbon charging in this reservoir probably occurred within the Miocene. This study highlights the potential of applying K-Ar dating of authigenic illites to investigate the timing of hydrocarbon charging histories of the Tarim Basin reservoir sandstones.

Ordovician Carbonate Reservoir Bed Characteristics and Reservoir-Forming Conditions in the Lungudong Region of the Tarim Basin

Basic characteristics of Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds in the Lungudong region of northeastern part of the Tarim Basin are described in detail and the reservoir-forming conditions of oil and gas are preliminarily discussed in this paper by collecting and sorting out a large amount of data. The carbonate reservoir beds are mainly developed in open-platform and platform marginal facies; the reservoir beds have large changes in and low average values of physical property; the main type is fractured reservoir beds with the fracture-porous type second. The reservoir bed development is chiefly controlled by the distribution of sedimentary facies, tectonic activity and karstification. Whereas the accumulation and distribution of hydrocarbons in the region are controlled by an advantageous structural location, a good reservoir-caprock combination and a favorable transporting system, with the distribution characterized by zones horizontally and belts vertically, the oil and gas are mainly concentrated in areas with structural uplift, densely developed fractures, and surface karst, a vertical vadose zone, and a horizontal undercurrent belt of palaeokarst.

Characteristics of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs and the relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China

In order to predict favorable exploration areas of the Paleozoic, Carboniferous and Silurian clastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China, we studied the basic characteristics of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area based on a lot of data. Several issues about the hydrocarbon accumulation related to the reservoirs were also discussed. The results were concluded that： the high-value areas of the porosity and permeability of clastic reservoirs were located in the southeast of the Tazhong area; the content of cement （carbonate cement in particular） was the main factor controlling the porosity and permeability of clastic reservoirs; the hydrocarbon distributions of Carboniferous and Silurian clastic reservoirs were closely related to the porosity and permeability; the favorable hydrocarbon accumulation areas of the two sets of strata were located in the southeast of this area, especially in the updip pinch-out area.

Hydrocarbon Inclusion Characteristics in the Cambrian-Ordovician Carbonates of the TS2 Well:Implication for Deep Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Tahe Oilfield,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

Going deep has been the strategy for the sustainable development of the Tahe Oilfield.Following the TS1 well in block 1,which revealed excellent combinations of hydrocarbon generation,migration and accumulation in the deeper parts of the Tarim Basin,the TS2 well was drilled to learn more about the prospectivity in the deeper parts of the main blocks of the Tahe Oilfield.Seventeen core samples were collected to perform fluid inclusion studies,including petrography,fluorescence microspectrometry,and microthermometry.The results show that the deeper parts of the Tahe Oilfield have a good hydrocarbon potential.The Cambrian source rocks can supply sufficient oil for not only the Cambrian reservoirs,but also for the Lower Ordovician reservoirs.The CambrianOrdovician carbonates reservoirs experienced at least three oil charging events and one late gas charging event.Oil accumulations formed in the early stage of basin evolution were likely destroyed in the late stage with deep burial,tectonic movements,or invasion of hydrothermal fluids.Therefore,the deep hydrocarbon exploration of the Tahe Oilfield,even the whole Tarim Basin,should focus on gas accumulations,although oil accumulations,especially in Cambrian reservoirs,cannot be neglected.

Strike-Slip Faults and Their Control on Differential Hydrocarbon Enrichment in Carbonate Karst Reservoirs: A Case Study of Yingshan Formation on Northern Slope of Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin

Objective Oil and gas are abundant in the Ordovician Yingshan Formation carbonate karst reservoirs on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift in the Tarim Basin, and have extremely complicated oil-gas-water distribution, however. The difference in burial depth of the reservoirs between east and west sides is up to 1000 m. Water-bearing formations exist between oil- and gas-bearing formations vertically and water-producing wells are drilled between oil- and gas-producing wells. Macroscopically, oil and gas occur at low positions, while water occurs at high positiona on the northern slope of Tazhong uplift. The mechanism of differential hydrocarbon enrichment in heterogeneous reservoirs is by far not clarified, which has affected the efficient exploration and development of oil and gas fields in this area.

Characteristics and geochemical implications of light hydrocarbons from ultra-deep Ordovician oils in the North Shuntuoguole area, Tarim Basin

The ultra-deep Ordovician reservoirs in North Shuntuoguole Oilfield(or Shunbei Oilfield)of Sinopec have achieved annual production of one million ton,and the oil&gas in different faults show different physical properties and fluid phases.In this study,the 28 oil samples from the ultra-deep Ordovician were analyzed using whole oil chromatography.The heptane and isoheptane values of the oil samples were in the range of 29.79%‒46.86%and 1.01%-3.06%,respectively,indicating the oils are high mature.The maturity that calculated based on light hydrocarbon values was higher than which calculated by using aromatic hydrocarbon parameters,suggesting the light hydrocarbon maturity mostly reflects the maturity of the late charged hydrocarbon.The 2M-/3M-C5 and 2M-/3M-C_(6) ratios varied in the ranges of 1.41‒1.81 and 0.79-1.09,respectively,and the iC_(5)/nC_(5) and 3M-C_(5)/nC_(6) ratios were 0.31‒0.90 and 0.16-0.37,respectively,indicating that ultra-deep Ordovician reservoirs have not experienced biodegradation.The Mango parameter K_(1) of the oil samples ranges 0.96‒1.01 except for the oil from Well SB4,which suggests that most of the reservoirs have not suffered thermochemical sulfur reduction(TSR).Meanwhile,the oils have not experienced evaporative fractionation since the toluene/nC_(7) and nC_(7)/MCC_(6) ratios range from 0.10-0.38 and 1.50‒1.80,respectively.The close correlation between P_(3) and P_(2)+N_(2) and between P_(2) and N_(2)/P_(3) indicates that the oils from different faults have the same origin.According to the characteristics of LHs rich in n-alkane,as well as other biomarkers,such as aryl isoprenoids,and aromatic hydrocarbon parameters,the oil originated from the source rock of Lower Cambrian Yu’ertusi Formation.Meanwhile,the source rocks in different fault zones slightly differed in organic facies.

Reservoir characterization of the Odovician oil and gas pools in the Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin, Northwest China

About 88. 1% of the proven reserves in the Tahe Oilfield in the Tarim Basin of Northwest China are trapped in Ordovician carbonate reservoirs. These reservoirs are formed by unconnected and interconnected networks of karstic porosity forming a heterogeneous and complex reservoir system. Oil, water and gas characteristics vary significantly in different portions of the Ordovician reservoir. There is no uniform oil/water contact in the field, adding to its complexity.An acid fracture treatment is beneficial in 76% of the wells, stimulating nonproductive wells and enhancing production in other wells by fracturing into unconnected reservoirs and enhancing flow pathways with acid. Acid fracture treatments should be a standard procedure for developing this and similar oil fields.

Reservoir Geochemistry of the Kuche Petroleum System in the Tarim Basin, China

The geochemical characteristics of crude oils and reservoir core extracts from the Kuche petroleum system are described and studied systematically by means of various geochemical techniques and methods to acquire molecular information. The results suggest crude oils from the petroleum system can be divided into two groups: marine oils and non-marine oils. The former represents the dominant oils found in the area. Tar mats were firstly discovered and determined accurately in terrestrial oil and gas reservoirs, with Lower Tertiary sandstone reservoirs in the Yaha oilfield of the Tarim Basin. However, based on the ratio of 20S/(20S+20R)C-29 sterane as a maturity parameter, lacustrine oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs in the direction toward the western part of the petroleum system. In contrast, according to the fact that methylcyclohexane indices of eastern oils are greater than those of western oils, the location in which coal-generated oils filled into the Tertiary reservoirs lies in the eastern part of the petroleum system.

Bioturbation enhanced petrophysical properties in the Ordovician carbonate reservoir of the Tahe oilfield,Tarim Basin,NW China

Bioturbation plays an important role in enhancing the reservoir capacity of tight reservoirs.This study aims to understand the alteration mechanism and effects of bioturbation on oil and gas reservoirs,to clarify the key control factors and constraints influencing the production of bioturbation.The petrophysical characteristics of bioturbation and host sediments in carbonate rocks,such as mineral composition,pore spaces,porosity and permeability,were studied based on the detailed observation and description of the Ordovician cores from the Tahe oilfield.The effect of bioturbation on petrophysical properties of carbonate rocks were carefully analyzed.The results show:(1)Two types of bioturbation,Thalassinoides-like burrows and Planolites-like burrows,mainly occur in the Ordovician cores of the Tahe oilfield,ranging from the Lower-Middle Ordovician Yingshan Formation to the Middle Ordovician Yijianfang Formation.The burrow-fills are mainly composed of dolomite with subhedral and euhedral crystals.The host sediments mainly consist of micrite.(2)The pores in the host sediments are poorly developed and are incapable of forming effective reservoir spaces.However,well-developed intercrystalline pores among dolomites and microfractures in bioturbated sediments with better connectivity can form effective pore spaces.The results of porosity and permeability show that the host sediments without bioturbation are characterized by poor porosity and permeability.However,with the increase of bioturbation intensity,the porosity of the bioturbated sediments firstly increases and then decreases,whereas the permeability increases all the time.(3)Multiple burrows overprinted in the Ordovician carbonate rocks,forming a large-scale bioturbated carbonate rocks with lateral continuity and vertical connectivity,due to the suitable sedimentary setting,ecological conditions,favorable spatiotemporal sediment matching,and abundant organism-substrate interaction.Subsequently,diagenesis(particularly dolomitization and dissolution)has played a positive role in altering the rock fabric and improving the petrophysical properties of bioturbated carbonates.

Influence of Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds in Tarim Basin by faulting

The quality of the Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds in the Tarim Basin is closely related to the development of secondary pores,fractures and cavities. Karstification is important in improving the properties of reservoir beds,and karstification related to unconformity has caught wide attention. Compared with the recent research on the unconformity karst reservoir bed improvement,this paper shows a new way of carbonate reservoir bed transformation. Based on field survey,core and slices observation,transformation of Ordovician carbonate reservoir beds by faulting can be classified into three types: (1) Secondary faults and fracturs generated by faulting improved carbonate reservoir bed properties,which were named the Lunnan or Tazhong82 model; (2) upflow of deep geothermal fluids caused by faulting,with some components metasomatizing with carbonate and forming some secon-dary deposit,such as fluorite. It can improve carbonate reservoir bed properties obviously and is named the Tazhong 82 model; and (3) the faulting extending up to the surface increased the depth of supergene karstification and the thickness of reservoir bed. It is named the Hetianhe model. Trans-formation effect of carbonate reservoir beds by faulting was very significant,mainly distributed on the slopes or on the edge or plunging end of the uplift.

Relationship between the later strong gas-charging and the improvement of the reservoir capacity in deep Ordovician carbonate reservoir in Tazhong area, Tarim Basin

Some large-scale oil-gas fields have recently been discovered in marine carbonate in China, especially the significant discoveries in deep reservoir that reveals a favorable exploration prospect. Tazhong area is the first-order tectonic unit in Tarim Basin, where there are nearly trillion cubic meters of natural gas resources in the Ordovician limestone reef flat complex in Lianglitage Formation. The reservoir is shelf edge reef flat complex, characterized by ultra-low porosity, low permeability and strong heterogeneous, with a current burial depth of 4500―6500 m. Studies find that the formation and distribution of deep reservoir of the Lianglitage Formation were controlled not only by the early high-energy sedimentary facies and corrosion, but the fracture network formed by the strong gas-charging process since the Himalayan epoch, which played an important role in optimizing and improving reservoir properties. This paper discusses the relationship between the strong later gas-charging and the improvement of the reservoir capacity in deep Ordovician carbonate reservoir, and also builts the corresponding mechanisms and modes, which is favorable for the prediction and evaluation of the advantageous exploration targets.