Geochemical characteristics and exploration significance of ultra-deep Sinian oil and gas from Well Tashen 5,Tarim Basin,NW China

The Well Tashen 5(TS5),drilled and completed at a vertical depth of 9017 m in the Tabei Uplift of the Tarim Basin,NW China,is the deepest well in Asia.It has been producing both oil and gas from the Sinian at a depth of 8780e8840 m,also the deepest in Asia in terms of oil discovery.In this paper,the geochemical characteristics of Sinian oil and gas from the well were investigated and compared with those of Cambrian oil and gas discovered in the same basin.The oil samples,with Pr/Ph ratio of 0.78 and a whole oil carbon isotopic value of31.6‰,have geochemical characteristics similar to those of Ordovician oils from the No.1 fault in the North Shuntuoguole area(also named Shunbei area)and the Middle Cambrian oil from wells Zhongshen 1(ZS1)and Zhongshen 5(ZS5)of Tazhong Uplift.The maturity of light hydrocarbons,diamondoids and aromatic fractions all suggest an approximate maturity of 1.5%e1.7%Ro for the samples.The(4-+3-)methyldiamantane concentration of the samples is 113.5 mg/g,indicating intense cracking with a cracking degree of about 80%,which is consistent with the high bottom hole temperature(179℃).The Sinian gas samples are dry with a dryness coefficient of 0.97.The gas is a mixture of kerogen-cracking gas and oil-cracking gas and has Ro values ranging between 1.5%and 1.7%,and methane carbon isotopic values of41.6‰.Based on the equivalent vitrinite reflectance(R_(eqv)=1.51%e1.61%)and the thermal evolution of source rocks from the Cambrian Yu'ertusi Formation of the same well,it is proposed that the Sinian oil and gas be mainly sourced from the Cambrian Yu'ertusi Formation during the Himalayan period but probably also be joined by hydrocarbon of higher maturity that migrated from other source rocks in deeper formations.The discovery of Sinian oil and gas from Well TS5 suggests that the ancient ultra-deep strata in the northern Tarim Basin have the potential for finding volatile oil or condensate reservoirs.

Occurrence of Mafic Rocks within Ediacaran Strata in the Aksu Region,NW Tarim Craton,and its Geological Implications

The Tarim Craton is an ancient Precambrian continental block,and detailed knowledge of its thermo-tectonic history is crucial for understanding the early history of continental evolution.Abundant layered mafic rocks,which have commonly been regarded as basalts,occur within the Ediacaran Sugetbrak Formation(Fm.)in the Aksu region of the northwestern Tarim Craton.Clear intrusive features have now been discovered,including mafic rocks truncating Ediacaran sedimentary layers,exhibiting an intrusion-baked margin where they interact with both the overlying and bottom wall rocks,and displaying a fine-grained transition zone from their interior to their margins.The new findings demonstrate that these mafic rocks within the Aksu Ediacaran strata were not erupted basalts but instead are intrusive diabase dykes.Therefore,these mafic rocks cannot be used to constrain the timing of the Sugetbrak Fm.in the Aksu area,nor as marker layers for regional stratigraphic correlation.Furthermore,the Ediacaran thermo-tectonic evolution in this region,deduced from the assumption that the mafic rocks are lavas,needs to be revised.

Nitrogen isotope stratigraphy of the Early Cambrian successions in the Tarim Basin:Spatial variability of nitrogen cycling and its implication for paleo-oceanic redox conditions

The Early Cambrian represents a critical time period characterized by extraordinary biological innovations and dynamic redox conditions in seawaters.Nitrogen isotopic signatures of ancient sediments have the potential to elucidate the evolutionary path of marine redox states and the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle within the water column of the Early Cambrian ocean.While existing research on this topic has predominantly focused on South China,the exploration of other continental margins has been limited,leaving contradictory hypotheses untested.In this study,pairedδ^(15)N andδ^(13)C org analyses were performed on the Lower Cambrian successions from the Shiairike section(inner ramp)and Well Tadong 2(deep shelf/basin)in the northwestern and eastern Tarim Basin,respectively.Our data from the Shiairike section reveal a discernible shift in the operation of different nitrogen cycles for the black chert-shale unit,also referred to as the black rock series in Chinese literature,of the Yurtus Formation(Fortunian stage to lower Stage 3).Oscillatingδ^(15)N values for its lower part are suggestive of alternating anaerobic assimilation of NH 4+and denitrification/anammox.This is likely attributed to a shallow,unstable chemocline consistent with the upwelling and incursion of deep,anoxic waters during a major transgression.In contrast,aerobic nitrogen cycling,indicated by positiveδ^(15)N values of>2‰,dominated the upper part alongside a reduction in upwelling intensity.On the other hand,theδ^(15)N signatures of Xishanbulake and Xidashan Formations of Well Tadong 2,which encompass a time interval from the Cambrian Fortunian Age to Age 4,are indicative of N_(2)fixation by diazotrophs as the major nitrogen source.The two studied intervals,although not time-equivalent,exhibit separated states of nitrogen cycling at least during the deposition of the Yurtus black rock series.The spatially different nitrogen cycling of the studied sections is compatible with a redox-stratified ocean during the deposition of the Yurtus black rock series.The build-up of a NO_(3)−reservoir and aerobic nitrogen cycling in seawater was largely restricted to near-shore settings whereas anaerobic nitrogen cycling dominated by N_(2)fixation served as the main nitrogen uptake pathway in off-shore settings.

Evolution and Application of Sealing Ability of Gypsum Caprocks under Temperature-Pressure Coupling:An Example of the ZS5 Well in the Tazhong Area of the Tarim Basin

Gypsum caprocks'sealing ability is affected by temperature-pressure coupling.Due to the limitations of experimental conditions,there is still a lack of triaxial stress-strain experiments that simultaneously consider changes in temperature and pressure conditions,which limits the accuracy of the comprehensive evaluation of the brittle plastic evolution and sealing ability of gypsum rocks using temperature pressure coupling.Triaxial stress-strain tests were utilized to investigate the differences in the evolution of the confinement capacity of gypsum rocks under coupled temperaturepressure action and isothermal-variable pressure action on the basis of sample feasibility analysis.According to research,the gypsum rock's peak and residual strengths decrease under simultaneous increases in temperature and pressure over isothermal pressurization experimental conditions,and it becomes more ductile.This reduces the amount of time it takes for the rock to transition from brittle to plastic.When temperature is taken into account,both the brittle–plastic transformation's depth limit and the lithological transformation of gypsum rocks become shallower,and the evolution of gypsum rocks under variable temperature and pressure conditions is more complicated than that under isothermal pressurization.The sealing ability under the temperature-pressure coupling is more in line with the actual geological context when the application results of the Well#ZS5 are compared.This provides a theoretical basis for precisely determining the process of hydrocarbon accumulation and explains why the early hydrocarbon were not well preserved.

The Lower Cambrian Xiaoerbulake Formation in the Tarim Basin as a potential carbonate source rock

The oil and gas exploration of the Middle and Lower Cambrian in the Tarim Basin reveals widely distributed source rocks with the Yuertusi Formation being recognized as high-quality source rocks that are distributed in a rather small range.The Xiaoerbulake Formation that is right under the Yuertusi Formation has also been eyed as potential high-quality source rocks and is studied through analyses focusing on the stratigraphic development,the abundance,type,and maturity of organic matter,and the paleoproductivity of a dark-colored algae dolomite within the formation.The results show that the dolomite is rich in organic matter of mainly types Ⅰ and Ⅱ kerogens.Although reached the high mature to over-mature stage,the dolomite was deposited in an anoxic sedimentary environment featuring a high paleoproductivity level and a high organic carbon burial efficiency,quite favorable for the development of high-quality source rocks.The study provides material evidence to the Middle-Lower Cambrian subsalt source rock-reservoir-caprock combination model for the Tarim Basin.

New findings of Changxingaspis(Xiushuiaspidae,Galeaspida)from the Silurian of Tarim Basin and Zhejiang Province,China

New discovery of the early Silurian fossil fish Changxingaspis(Xiushuiaspidae,Galeaspida),Changxingaspis nianzhongi sp.nov.and C.gui,are described from the Tataertag Formation in Tarim Basin and the Kangshan Formation in Zhejiang Province,respectively.C.nianzhongi mainly differs from C.gui in the shape of the median dorsal opening that is transverse elliptic with a width/length ratio of about 3.0,the long lateral transverse canals extending to the lateral margin of the headshield,and the second lateral transverse canal with dichotomous branchings.Discovery of C.nianzhongi from the Tataertag Formation and C.gui from the Kangshan Formation provide direct evidence on the specific level for the correlation between these two formations,which further supports the Silurian fish-bearing red beds in northwest Zhejiang belonging to the Silurian Lower Red Beds(LRBs)rather than the Upper Red Beds(URBs).Additionally,as the first record of the Changxingaspis in Tarim Basin,it extends the paleogeographical distribution of this genus from the South China Block to the Tarim Block,providing new evidence to support faunal exchanges between these two blocks and the hypothesis of a united Tarim-South China Block during the early Silurian.

Geometry and formation mechanism of tension gashes and their implication on the hydrocarbon accumulation in the deep-seated strata of sedimentary basin:A case from Shunnan area of Tarim Basin

With the theoretical and technological developments related to cratonic strike-slip faults,the Shuntuoguole Low Uplift in the Tarim Basin has attracted considerable attention recently.Affected by multi-stage tectonic movements,the strike-slip faults have controlled the distribution of hydrocarbon resources owing to the special fault characteristics and fault-related structures.In contrast,the kinematics and formation mechanism of strike-slip faults in buried sedimentary basins are difficult to investigate,limiting the discussion of these faults and hydrocarbon accumulation.In this study,we identified the characteristics of massive sigmoidal tension gashes(STGs)that formed in the Shunnan area of the Tarim Basin.High-resolution three-dimensional seismic data and attribute analyses were used to investigate their geometric and kinematic characteristics.Then,the stress state of each point of the STGs was calculated using seismic curvature attributes.Finally,the formation mechanism of the STGs and their roles in controlling hydrocarbon migration and accumulation were discussed.The results suggest that:(1)the STGs developed in the Shunnan area have a wide distribution,with a tensile fault arranged in an enéchelon pattern,showing an S-shaped bending.These STGs formed in multiple stages,and differential rotation occurred along the direction of strike-slip stress during formation.(2)Near the principal displacement zone of the strike-slip faults,the stress value of the STGs was higher,gradually decreasing at both ends.The shallow layer deformation was greater than the deep layer deformation.(3)STGs are critical for connecting source rocks,migrating oil and gas,sealing horizontally,and developing efficient reservoirs.This study not only provides seismic evidence for the formation and evolution of super large STGs,but also provides certain guidance for oil and gas exploration in this area.

Quantitative prediction model for the depth limit of oil accumulation in the deep carbonate rocks:A case study of Lower Ordovician in Tazhong area of Tarim Basin

With continuous hydrocarbon exploration extending to deeper basins,the deepest industrial oil accumulation was discovered below 8,200 m,revealing a new exploration field.Hence,the extent to which oil exploration can be extended,and the prediction of the depth limit of oil accumulation(DLOA),are issues that have attracted significant attention in petroleum geology.Since it is difficult to characterize the evolution of the physical properties of the marine carbonate reservoir with burial depth,and the deepest drilling still cannot reach the DLOA.Hence,the DLOA cannot be predicted by directly establishing the relationship between the ratio of drilling to the dry layer and the depth.In this study,by establishing the relationships between the porosity and the depth and dry layer ratio of the carbonate reservoir,the relationships between the depth and dry layer ratio were obtained collectively.The depth corresponding to a dry layer ratio of 100%is the DLOA.Based on this,a quantitative prediction model for the DLOA was finally built.The results indicate that the porosity of the carbonate reservoir,Lower Ordovician in Tazhong area of Tarim Basin,tends to decrease with burial depth,and manifests as an overall low porosity reservoir in deep layer.The critical porosity of the DLOA was 1.8%,which is the critical geological condition corresponding to a 100%dry layer ratio encountered in the reservoir.The depth of the DLOA was 9,000 m.This study provides a new method for DLOA prediction that is beneficial for a deeper understanding of oil accumulation,and is of great importance for scientific guidance on deep oil drilling.

The Middle and Lower Cambrian salt tectonics in the central Tarim Basin,China:A case study based on strike-slip fault characterization

Due to the considerable depth of the salt layers and the lack of calibration by exploratory drilling,the interpretation of the Middle and Lower Cambrian salt formations in the central Tarim Basin poses a challenge.In this paper,we apply the coupling and decoupling deformation theory in salt tectonics to analyze the No.7 fault mapped in the seismic datasets by the response characteristics of the Middle and Lower Cambrian layers.By quantifying the stratigraphic framework of the Middle and Lower Cambrian strata,we define the position of the salt layer with the seismic data.Structural decoupling is observed in the Middle and Lower Cambrian sequences in the Shuntuoguole Low Uplift,while deformation coupling is observed in these two sequences in the Shaya Uplift.

Effect of CO_(2)flooding in an oil reservoir with strong bottom-water drive in the Tahe Oilfield,Tarim Basin,Northwest China

The dissolution and diffusion of CO_(2)in oil and water and its displacement mechanism were investigated by laboratory experiment and numerical simulation for Block 9 in the Tahe oilfield,a sandstone oil reservoir with strong bottom-water drive in Tarim Basin,Northwest China.Such parameters were analyzed as solubility ratio of CO_(2)in oil,gas and water,interfacial tension,in-situ oil viscosity distribution,remaining oil saturation distribution,and oil compositions.The results show that CO_(2)flooding could control water coning and increase oil production.In the early stage of the injection process,CO_(2)expanded vertically due to gravity differentiation,and extended laterally under the action of strong bottom water in the intermediate and late stages.The CO_(2)got enriched and extended at the oil-water interface,forming a high interfacial tension zone,which inhibited the coning of bottom water to some extent.A miscible region with low interfacial tension formed at the gas injection front,which reduced the in-situ oil viscosity by about 50%.The numerical simulation results show that enhanced oil recovery(EOR)is estimated at 5.72%and the oil exchange ratio of CO_(2)is 0.17 t/t.

A Structural Interpretation Model and Restoration of the Mesozoic Proto-basin for the Kuqa Depression,Tarim Basin

A thrust-fold belt consisting of a series of thrusts and buckling folds developed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata within the Kuqa Depression,Tarim Basin.In this study,a structural interpretation model of the Kuqa Depression is established and the Mesozoic proto-basin is reconstructed on the basis of outcrop geology along the basin margin,seismic,well-log and CEMP data.The model is called‘delaminate contractional deformation',which emphasizes the decoupling between the Cenozoic,Mesozoic,pre-Mesozoic and the basin-basement within the Kuqa Depression,but there is no unified detachment.The model has a shortening amount ranging from 12 km to 16 km and the depth involved in contractional deformation ranges from 21 km to 28 km.A prototype of the Mesozoic basin reconstructed by interpretation model is a subbasin superposed on the transitional zone between the uplift at the northern edge of the Tarim Craton and the southern Tianshan orogenic wedge formed in the Hercynian orogeny.Lithospheric thermal and crustal isostatic activity after the Hercynian orogeny maybe the controlling dynamic factors of basin subsidence during the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic,the difference in rock mechanical properties between different levels,craton and orogenic wedge being the major cause of the‘delaminate contractional deformation'during the Himalayan orogeny.

Petrological and geochemical characteristics of mafic rocks from the Neoproterozoic Sugetbrak Formation in the northwestern Tarim Block,China

The Neoproterozoic Sugetbrak Formation in the Aksu area,which is located at the northwest margin of Tarim Block,comprises mafic rocks and provides key records of the evolution of the Rodinia supercontinent.However,the genetic relationship among these mafic rocks exposed in different geographical sections are still unclear.In this study,the petrology,geochemistry,and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of the mafic rocks exposed in the Aksu-Wushi and Yuermeinark areas have been studied in some detail along three sections.The authors found that the mafic rocks in these three typical sections were mainly composed of pyroxene and plagioclase,containing a small amount of Fe-Ti oxides and with typical diabasic textures.All the mafic rocks in this region also showed similar geochemical compositions.They were characterised by high TiO_(2)contents(1.47%–3.59%)and low MgO(3.52%–7.88%),K_(2)O(0.12%–1.21%).Large ionic lithophile elements(LILEs)(Rb,Sr,and Cs)were significantly depleted.Meanwhile,high field strength elements(HFSEs)were relatively enriched.In the samples,light rare earth elements(LREEs)were enriched,while heavy rare earth elements(HREEs)were depleted.Based on the Zr/Nb,Nb/Y,and Zr/TiO_(2)ratios,the Aksu mafic rocks belong to a series of sub-alkaline and alkaline transitional rocks.The mafic rocks along the three typical sections showed similar initial values of^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr(I_(Sr))(0.7052–0.7097)and ε_(Nd)(t)(–0.70 to–5.35),while the Pb isotopic compositions with^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb,^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb and^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb values of 16.908–17.982,15.487–15.721,37.276–38.603,respectively.Most of the samples plot into the area near EM-Ⅰ,indicating that the magma of the mafic rocks might have derived from a relatively enriched mantle with some crustal materials involved.The geochemical element characteristics of most samples showed typical OIB-type geochemical characteristics indicating that the source region had received metasomatism of recycled materials.Combining with the regional geological background and geochemical data,we inferred that the mafic rocks of the Sugetbrak Formation in the Aksu area were formed in an intraplate rift environment.Summarily,based on our study,the mafic rocks of the Sugetbrak Formation in the Aksu area were derived from a common enriched mantle source,and they were product of a magmatic event during the rift development period caused by the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.

Surface Processes Driving Intracontinental Basin Subsidence in the Context of India–Eurasia Collision:Evidence from Flexural Subsidence Modeling of the Cenozoic Southern Tarim Basin along the West Kunlun Foreland,NW Tibetan Plateau

The India–Eurasia collision has produced a number of Cenozoic deep intracontinental basins,which bear important information for revealing the far-afield responses to the remote collision.Despite their significance,their subsiding mechanism remains the subject of debate,with end-member models attributing it to either orogenic or sedimentary load.In this study,we conduct flexural subsidence modeling with a two-dimensional finite elastic plate model on the Hotan-Mazatagh section along the southern Tarim Basin,which defines a key region in the foreland of the West Kunlun Orogen,along the NW margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The modeling results indicate that the orogenic load of West Kunlun triggers the southern Tarim Basin to subside by up to less than ~6 km,with its impact weakening towards the basin interiors until ~230 km north from the Karakax fault.The sedimentary load,consisting of Cenozoic strata,forces the basin to subside by ~2 to~7 km.In combination with the retreat of the proto-Paratethys Sea and the paleogeographic reorganization of the Tarim Basin,we propose that surface processes,in particular a shift from an exorheic to an endorheic drainage system associated with the consequent thick sedimentary load,played a decisive role in forming deep intracontinental basins in the context of the India-Eurasia collision.

Environmental Effects on Differential Organic Matter Enrichment of the Lower Cambrian Shale,Tarim Basin,NW China

Early Cambrian shale is an important petroleum source rock around the world.Because of little drilling data and poor seismic data,until recently,organic matter enrichment of the Lower Cambrian Yuertusi and Xishanbulake formations shale is still an enigma in the Tarim Basin,northwestern China.Total organic carbon(TOC),major and trace element data of Cambrian shale samples from five boreholes have been analyzed to decipher the mechanism of the organic matter enrichment.The results show that the shales deposited in the western restricted intraplatform have much higher TOC contents(3.2%-19.8%,on average 11.0%)than those from the eastern basin(2.2%-10.2%,on average 4.5%).The paleoproductivity proxies(Ba,Ba/Al,P/Al)in the western restricted platform are much higher than those in the eastern basin.The trace element indicators such as V/Cr,Ni/Co,Mo-TOC and Mo_(EF)-U_(EF)suggest an anoxic environment across the basin,but a more restricted environment in the western intraplatform.The paleoproductivity rather than anoxic condition and hydrothermal activity are concluded to have resulted in the differentiation of the organic matter enrichment from the western intraplatform to eastern basin in the early Cambrian shales;the restricted environment was favorable for paleoproductivity and preservation of organic matter.

Quantitatively unmixing method for complex mixed oil based on its fractions carbon isotopes: A case from the Tarim Basin, NW China

Deep mixed oils with secondary alterations have been widely discovered in the Tarim Basin,but current methods based on biomarkers and isotopes to de-convolute mixed oil cannot calculate the exact mixing proportion of different end-member oils,which has seriously hindered further exploration of deep hydrocarbons in the study area.To solve this problem,we constructed a novel method based on the carbon isotope(δ13C)of the group components to de-convolute mixed liquid hydrocarbons under the material balance principle.The results showed that the mixed oil in the Tazhong Uplift was dominantly contributed at an average proportion of 68% by an oil end-member with heavier d13C that was believed to be generated from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks,whereas the mixed oil in the Tabei Uplift was predominantly contributed at an average proportion of 61% by an oil end-member with lighter d13C that was believed to be generated from the Middle-Upper Ordovician source rocks.This indicates that,on the basis of the detailed description of the distribution of effective source rocks,the proposed method will be helpful in realizing differential exploration and further improving the efficiency of deep liquid hydrocarbon exploration in the Tarim Basin.In addition,compared to traditional δ13C methods for whole oil and individual n-alkanes in de-convoluted mixed oil,the proposed method has a wider range of applications,including for mixed oils with variations in color and density,indicating potential for promoting the exploration of deep complex mixed oils in the Tarim Basin and even around the world.

Driving forces and their relative contributions to hydrocarbon expulsion from deep source rocks: A case of the Cambrian source rocks in the Tarim Basin

To thoroughly understand the dynamic mechanism of hydrocarbon expulsion from deep source rocks,in this study,five types of hydrocarbon expulsion dynamics(thermal expansion,hydrocarbon diffusion,compaction,product volume expansion,and capillary pressure difference(CPD))are studied.A model is proposed herein to evaluate the relative contribution of different dynamics for hydrocarbon expulsion using the principle of mass balance,and the model has been applied to the Cambrian source rocks in the Tarim Basin.The evaluation results show that during hydrocarbon expulsion from the source rocks,the relative contribution of CPD is the largest(>50%),followed by compaction(10%-40%),product volume expansion(5%-30%),and thermal expansion(2%-20%).The relative contribution of diffusion to hydrocarbon expulsion is minimal(<10%).These results demonstrate that CPD plays an important role in the hydrocarbon expulsion process of deep source rocks.The hydrocarbon expulsion process of source rocks can be categorized into three stages based on the contribution of different dynamics to the process:the first stage is dominated by compaction and diffusion to expel hydrocarbons,the second stage is dominated by product volume expansion and CPD,and the third stage is dominated by product volume expansion and CPD.This research offers new insights into hydrocarbon exploration in tight oil and gas reservoirs.

Origin of gas condensate reservoir in Fuman Oilfield, Tarim Basin, NW China

To understand the reservoir property and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions of the Middle and Upper Ordovician intraplatform shoal between ultra-deep main strike-slip faults in Fuman Oilfield of the Tarim Basin, China, the main strike-slip faults in and around well FD1 in the basin were analyzed in terms of sedimentary facies, sequence stratigraphy, intraplatform shoal reservoir property, and oil and gas origins, based on drilling data. The Yingshan Formation intraplatform shoal between the main strike-slip faults is superimposed with low-order faults to form a new type of hydrocarbon play. Firstly, hydrocarbons generated from the Lower Cambrian Yuertusi Formation source rocks vertically migrated into the second member of Yingshan Formation through the main strike-slip faults, and then migrated laterally until they were accumulated. A small amount of oil from Well FD1 came from the Yuertusi Formation source rocks in the mature stage, and a large amount of gas originated from oil cracking in the ultra-deep reservoirs. Therefore, the secondary gas condensate reservoir in Well FD1 is characterized by high gas to oil ratio, dry gas (dryness coefficient being 0.970) and hybrid origin. This new type of hydrocarbon play characterized by intraplatform shoal and low-order fault suggests a prospect of continuous hydrocarbon-bearing area in Fuman Oilfield, which will expand the ultrap-deep oil and gas exploration in the oilfield.

Migration of paleo-uplift in southwestern Tarim Basin and its implications for orogenesis and reservoir development, NW China

Based on well horizon calibration,the typical seismic profiles in southwestern Tarim Basin were interpreted systematically,regional geological sections were established,and the regional denudation thickness of each tectonic period was restored.On this basis,the plane morphology maps of ancient structures of the Cambrian pre-salt dolomites in different periods were compiled,and the spatial distribution,development,evolution and migration of paleo-uplift in the late Early Paleozoic were analyzed.In the late Early Paleozoic,there existed a unified regional paleo-uplift widely distributed in southwestern Tarim Basin,which is called the southwestern Tarim plaeo-uplift.The“Tarim SW paleo-uplift”and“Hetian paleo-uplift”proposed in previous literatures are not independent,but the result of the spatio-temporal migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift identified in this paper.The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift emerged at the end of Middle Ordovician,and took its initial shape with increased amplitude in the Late Ordovician.During the Silurian,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift rose steadily and expanded rapidly to the east,incorporating Pishan-Hetian and other areas,with the structural high locating in the Pishan-Hetian area.During the Devonian,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift began to shrink gradually,to a limited range in the Pishan-Hetian area in the southern part of the basin.During the Carboniferous,the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift became an underwater uplift,that is,the paleo-uplift gradually died out.The southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift belongs to the forebulge of the southwestern Tarim foreland basin in the late Early Paleozoic,and its formation and evolution are related to the early Paleozoic orogeny of the West Kunlun orogenic belt in the south of the Tarim Basin.The migration of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift from the northwestern part of the southwestern Tarim Basin to the Pishan-Hetian area indicates the early Paleozoic orogenic process of the West Kunlun orogenic belt,which started in the western section at the end of Middle Ordovician and extended from west to east in a“scissor”style.The migration and evolution of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift controlled the development of unconformities at the end of Middle Ordovician,the end of Late Ordovician,and the end of Middle Devonian,and the spatial distribution of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust below the unconformities in the southwest of Tarim Basin.The migration of the structural high of the southwestern Tarim paleo-uplift also played an important role in controlling the development of dissolved fracture-cave reservoirs in weathered crust.

塔里木盆地三大构造旋回油气成藏特征

塔里木盆地形成经历了南华纪—中泥盆世、晚泥盆世—三叠纪和侏罗纪—第四纪3大伸展-挤压构造旋回,其多旋回构造演化导致油气成藏和分布十分复杂。随着近年来盆地超深层已经成为油田的重点勘探领域,有必要对盆地的油气成藏规律进行深入探讨。本文基于最新的地震资料、钻井资料及油气地质资料,发现塔里木盆地油气规模成藏主力烃源岩为库车地区三叠系—侏罗系及塔西南地区石炭系—二叠系陆相烃源岩、台盆区寒武系海相烃源岩。盆内烃源岩及储盖组合的发育均受控于盆地3大伸展-挤压构造旋回,烃源岩的发育位置决定了塔里木盆地发育库车山前、北部坳陷、麦盖提斜坡及塔西南山前四大含油气系统。盆地在历经3大伸展-挤压旋回,其台盆区、库车前陆及塔西南前陆地区油气成藏组合差异大。台盆区发育石炭系膏泥岩与志留系—石炭系海相砂岩、奥陶系泥岩与灰岩、中寒武统膏盐岩与震旦系—寒武系白云岩储盖组合;库车地区发育新近系—第四系泥岩与砂岩、古近系膏盐层与白垩系砂岩、侏罗系泥岩与三叠系—侏罗系砂岩储盖组合;塔西南地区发育中新统泥岩-砂岩、古近系膏盐层与白垩系砂岩、石炭系—二叠系泥岩与碳酸盐岩储盖组合,分别组成了台盆区、库车及塔西南地区的上部、中部及下部组合。盆内烃源岩在加里东晚期、海西晚期—印支期、喜山期发生排烃,形成三期油气充注,结合塔里木盆地关键变革期的岩性、断裂、不整合及隆起的发育特征,构建了盆地三期成藏模式。

塔里木盆地先巴扎地区走滑断裂特征及石油地质意义

文中利用三维地震资料开展了麦盖提斜坡先巴扎地区断裂的精细解析,明确了走滑断裂特征、形成期次、成因机制等,结合邻区含油气地质条件,探讨了奥陶系走滑断裂的含油气性,预测油气富集模式。研究发现,研究区发育北东向、北西向、近南北向、北东东向等4组走滑断裂体系,主要经历了5期构造活动,形成了5个构造层:加里东早期发育北东向、北西向正断裂(基底构造层);加里东中晚期受西昆仑造山运动影响,部分正断裂继承活动,形成左行左阶北东向、右行左阶北西向走滑断裂(下构造层);加里东晚期—海西早期受阿尔金造山运动影响,形成1条左行左阶北东东向走滑断裂(中构造层);海西晚期北东向、北西向走滑断裂继承活动,同时新形成色力布亚逆冲断裂的近南北向伴生断裂(上构造层);喜山早期沿古近系膏泥层发育叠瓦状逆冲断裂及在喜山晚期发生整体掀斜(顶构造层)。基于邻区含油气特征,认为该区沿断裂带发育加里东中期Ⅰ—Ⅲ幕岩溶缝洞型储层,与上覆志留系泥岩形成储盖组合,海西晚期来自麦盖提斜坡西北部寒武系玉尔吐斯组的远源油气沿先巴扎断裂带向走滑断裂调整聚集成藏。其中,断穿基底的奥陶系北东向张扭走滑断裂的储集性能优于其他走向断裂,含油气条件最优越,值得探索。