Controlling effects of cap rocks on the formation of deep geothermal resources

Cap rocks with high thermal insulation are important for deep geothermal systems at a depth of 3000‒6000 m.Based on the deep geothermal geological conditions in the Fujian-Guangdong-Hainan area of South China,this study established an ideal geological model of reservoir-cap rock assemblages and simulated the geothermal field distribution of cap rocks of different thicknesses and thermal conductivity.The simulation results show that the vertical geothermal temperature distribution in an uplifted area of a depression was present as inverted mirror reflections relative to the elevated area of the basement.Specifically,the isotherms above the elevated area are convex in shape,while those below the elevated area are concave.There is a temperature equilibrium line between the convex and concave isotherms.The heat flow moves from the depressed area to the uplifted area below the temperature equilibrium line and migrates in an opposite direction above the line.On this base,this study conducted the inversion of geothermal temperature fields in typical areas with thin,moderately thick,and thick cap rocks.The results indicate that,at the depth of 3000e6000 m,areas with thin cap rocks(igneous rock zone in the coastal area of Fujian)mainly host moderate-to low-temperature hydrothermal resources;areas with moderately thick cap rocks(Yuezhong Depression)have the geothermal temperature ranging between 100℃and 200℃and may develop moderate-to high-temperature hydrothermal resources and hot dry rocks(HDRs),with the former superimposing on the latter;and areas with thick cap rocks(onshore Beibuwan Basin)have a geothermal temperature of 120‒220℃,and contains mainly moderate-to high-temperature hydrothermal resources and HDRs.Therefore,it is recommended that the evaluation,exploitation,and utilization of deep geothermal resources be carried out according to the burial depth of the temperature equilibrium line and the specific demand for geothermal resources.

Control of hydrocarbon accumulation by Lower Paleozoic cap rocks in the Tazhong Low Rise, Central Uplift, Tarim Basin, West China

Despite the absence of regional cap rocks in the Lower Paleozoic for the entire Tazhong Low Rise,several sets of effective local cap rocks are well preserved on the Northern Slope.Of these the best is the Ordovician mudstone of the Sangtamu Formation; the second is the Silurian Red Mudstone Member of the Tatairtag Formation and the marl of the Ordovician Lianglitag Formation; and the third is the gray mudstone of the Silurian Kepingtag Formation.The dense limestone of the Ordovician Yingshan Formation and the gypsum of the Middle Cambrian have shown initial sealing capacity.These effective cap rocks are closely related to the distribution of Lower Palaeozoic hydrocarbons in the Tazhong Low Rise.With well-preserved Sangtamu Formation mudstone and its location close to migration pathways,rich Lower Paleozoic hydrocarbon accumulation can be found on the Northem Slope.Vertically,most of the reserves are distributed below the Sangtamu Formation mudstone; areally,hydrocarbons are mainly found in the areas with well-developed Sangtamu Formation mudstone and Lianglitag Formation marl.Burial history and hydrocarbon charging history show that the evolution of Lower Palaeozoic cap rocks controlled the accumulation of hydrocarbon in the Tazhong Low Rise.Take the Red Mudstone Member of the Tatairtag Formation and Sangtamu Formation mudstone for examples：1） In the hydrocarbon charging time of the Late Caledonian-Early Hercynian,with top surfaces at burial depths of over 1,100 m,the cap rocks were able to seal oil and gas; 2） During the intense uplifting of the Devonian,the cap rocks with top surfaces at burial depths of 200-800 m and 500-1,100 m respectively were denuded in local areas,thus hydrocarbons trapped in earlier time were degraded to widespread bitumen; 3） In the hydrocarbon charging time of the Late Hercynian and Himalayan,the top surfaces of the cap rocks were at burial depths of over 2,000 m without intense uplifting and denudation thereafter,so trapped hydrocarbons were preserved.Based on cap rocks,the Ordovician Penglaiba Formation and Lower Cambrian dolomite could be potential targets for exploration on the Tazhong Northern Slope,and combined with hydrocarbon migration,less risk would be involved.

Evaluation of the dynamic sealing performance of cap rocks of underground gas storage under multi-cycle alternating loads

The static sealing of underground gas storage(UGS),including the integrity of cap rocks and the stability of faults,is analyzed from a macro perspective using a comprehensive geological evaluation method.Changes in pore structure,permeability,and mechanical strength of cap rocks under cyclic loads may impact the rock sealing integrity during the injection and recovery phases of UGS.In this work,the mechanical deformation and failure tests of rocks,as well as rock damage tests under alternating loads,are conducted to analyze the changes in the strength and permeability of rocks under multiple-cycle intense injection and recovery of UGS.Additionally,this study proposes an evaluation method for the dynamic sealing performance of UGS cap rocks under multi-cycle alternating loads.The findings suggest that the failure strength(70%)can be used as the critical value for rock failure,thus providing theoretical support for determining the upper limit of operating pressure and the number of injection-recovery cycles for the safe operation of a UGS system.

Petroleum geological characteristics and exploration targets of the oil-rich sags in the Central and West African Rift System

Based on seismic,drilling,and source rock analysis data,the petroleum geological characteristics and future exploration direction of the oil-rich sags in the Central and West African Rift System(CWARS)are discussed.The study shows that the Central African Rift System mainly develops high-quality lacustrine source rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,and the West African Rift System mainly develops high-quality terrigenous organic matter-rich marine source rocks in the Upper Cretaceous,and the two types of source rocks provide a material basis for the enrichment of oil and gas in the CWARS.Multiple sets of reservoir rocks including fractured basement and three sets of regional cap rocks in the Lower Cretaceous,the Upper Cretaceous,and the Paleogene are developed in the CWARS.Since the Late Mesozoic,due to the geodynamic factors including the dextral strike-slip movement of the Central African Shear Zone,the basins in different directions of the CWARS differ in terms of rifting stages,intervals of regional cap rocks,trap types and accumulation models.The NE-SW trending basins have mainly preserved one stage of rifting in the Early Cretaceous,with regional cap rocks developed in the Lower Cretaceous strata,forming traps of reverse anticlines,flower-shaped structures and basement buried hill,and two types of hydrocarbon accumulation models of"source and reservoir in the same formation,and accumulation inside source rocks"and"up-source and down-reservoir,and accumulation below source rocks".The NW–SE basins are characterized by multiple rifting stages superimposition,with the development of regional cap rocks in the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene,forming traps of draping anticlines,faulted anticlines,antithetic fault blocks and the accumulation model of"down-source and up-reservoir,and accumulation above source rocks".The combination of reservoir and cap rocks inside source rocks of basins with multiple superimposed rifting stages,as well as the lithologic reservoirs and the shale oil inside source rocks of strong inversion basins are important fields for future exploration in basins of the CWARS.

Source Rock and Cap Rock Controls on the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation–Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation Shale Gas Accumulation in the Sichuan Basin and its Peripheral Areas

Objective The Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation is one of the priority interval for shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral areas, and commercial shale gas has been discovered from this interval in Jiaoshiba, Changning and Weiyuan shale gas fields in Sichuan Province. However, there is no significant discovery in other parts of the basin due to the different quality of black shale and the differences of tectonic evolution. Based on the progress of shale gas geological theory and exploration discoveries, as well as the theory of ＂source rock and cap rock controls on hydrocarbon accumulation＂, of the Upper Ordovician the main controlling factors Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale gas enrichment in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral areas were analyzed, and the source rock and cap rock controls on the shale gas were also discussed. The results can provide new insights for the next shale gas exploration in this area.

Cap rock blast caving of cavity under open pit bench

A laser technique based scanning system was employed to make a comprehensive scanning through borehole forunmapped cavity under open pit bench,then the three-dimensional data will be obtained,and these data were used for theoreticalanalysis and numerical simulation to analyze the stability of cap rock.Acoustic emission techniques were also adopted to carry outlong term real time rupture monitoring in cap rock.Therefore,a complete safety evaluation system for the cap rock was establishedto ensure safe operation of subsequent blasting processes.The ideal way of eliminating collapse hazard of such cavity is cap rockcaving through deep-hole blasting,thus,two deep-hole blasting schemes named as vertical deep-hole blasting scheme and one-timeraise driving integrated with deep-hole bench blasting scheme were proposed.The vertical deep-hole blasting scheme has moreexplosive consumption,but the relatively simple blasting net work structure can greatly reduce workloads.However,the one-timeraise driving integrated with deep-hole bench blasting scheme can obviously reduce explosive consumption,but the higher technicalrequirements on drilling,explosive charging and blasting network will increase workloads.

Relationship between Landslides, Geologic Structures, and Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in the Ohekisawa-Shikerebembetsugawa Landslide Area, Hokkaido, Japan

This paper elucidates the relationship between landslides, geologic structures, and hydrothermal alteration zones based primarily on X-ray powder diffraction and uniaxial compressive strength tests on weakly weathered and hydrothermally altered rocks from the Ohekisawa-Shikerebembetsugawa landslide area in Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido, Japan. The OHS （Ohekisawa slide） occurred on a dip slope of sedimentary rocks from the Upper Miocene Shikerepe Formation within a homocline, and also on weathered and hydrothermally altered rocks within the boundary area between the hydrothermal smectite zone and smectite-bearing mordenite zone. The SHS （Shikerebembetsugawa slide） occurred on a dip slope of sedimentary rocks from the Upper Miocene Hanakushibe Formation within wavy folds and was also controlled by a cap rock of Teshikaga Volcano Somma Lava. The SHS occurred also on weathered and hydrothermally altered rocks within the boundary area between the hydrothermal smectite zone and smectite-bearing laumontite zone. The mechanical properties of smectite, smectite-bearing mordenite, and smectite-bearing laumontite zone weakly weathered rocks indicate that they are very weak, soft rocks. These landslides are regarded as HAZLs （hydrothermal alteration zone landslides）. The hydrothermal alteration yielding smectite is thus closely related to these two ancient landslides, suggesting that the potential for HAZLs within a hydrothermal area can be assessed based on the swelling clay mineral-beating hydrothermal alteration types, dip slope, and cap rock.

Controls of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous tectonic event on source rocks and seals in marine sequences,South China

Thermal evolution of source rocks and dynamic sealing evolution of cap rocks are both subjected to tectonic evolution.The marine sequences in South China have experienced superposed structural deformation from multiple tectonic events.To investigate the effectiveness of preservation conditions,it is of great importance to understand the controls of key tectonic events on the dynamic evolution of cap rocks.This paper discusses the controls of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous(J3-K1) tectonic event on source and cap rocks in marine sequences in South China based on the relationships between J3-K1 tectonic event and the burial history types of the marine sequences,the hydrocarbon generation processes of marine source rocks,the sealing evolution of cap rocks,the preservation of hydrocarbon accumulations,and the destruction of paleo-oil pools.The study has the following findings.In the continuously subsiding and deeply buried areas during the J3-K1 period,marine source rocks had been generating hydrocarbons for over a long period of time and hydrocarbon generation ended relatively late.At the same time,the sealing capacity of the overburden cap rocks had been constantly strengthened so that hydrocarbons could be preserved.In the areas which suffered compressional deformation,folding and thrusting,uplifting and denudation in J3-K1,the burial history was characterized by an early uplifting and the hydrocarbon generation by marine source rocks ended(or suspended) during the J3-K1 period.The sealing capacity of the cap rocks was weakened or even vanished.Thus the conditions for preserving the hydrocarbon accumulations were destroyed.The continuously subsiding and deeply buried areas during the J3-K1 period are the strategic precincts of the petroleum exploration in marine sequences in South China.