Sedimentary build-ups of pre-salt isolated carbonate platforms and formation of deep-water giant oil fields in Santos Basin,Brazil

In response to the problems of unclear distribution of deep-water pre-salt carbonate reservoirs and formation conditions of large oil fields in the Santos passive continental margin basin,based on comprehensive utilization of geological,seismic,and core data,and reconstruction of Early Cretaceous prototype basin and lithofacies paleogeography,it is proposed for the first time that the construction of pre-salt carbonate build-ups was controlled by two types of isolated platforms:inter-depression fault-uplift and intra-depression fault-high.The inter-depression fault-uplift isolated platforms are distributed on the present-day pre-salt uplifted zones between depressions,and are built on half-and fault-horst blocks that were inherited and developed in the early intra-continental and inter-continental rift stages.The late intra-continental rift coquinas of the ITP Formation and the early inter-continental rift microbial limestones of the BVE Formation are continuously constructed;intra-depression fault-high isolated platforms are distributed in the current pre-salt depression zones,built on the uplifted zones formed by volcanic rock build-ups in the early prototype stage of intra-continental rifts,and only the BVE microbial limestones are developed.Both types of limestones formed into mound-shoal bodies,that have the characteristics of large reservoir thickness and good physical properties.Based on the dissection of large pre-salt oil fields discovered in the Santos Basin,it has been found that both types of platforms could form large-scale combined structural-stratigraphic traps,surrounded by high-quality lacustrine and lagoon source rocks at the periphery,and efficiently sealed by thick high-quality evaporite rocks above,forming the optimal combination of source,reservoir and cap in the form of“lower generation,middle storage,and upper cap”,with a high degree of oil and gas enrichment.It has been found that the large oil fields are all bottom water massive oil fields with a unified pressure system,and they are all filled to the spill-point.The future exploration is recommended to focus on the inter-depression fault-uplift isolated platforms in the western uplift zone and the southern section of eastern uplift zones,as well as intra-depression fault-high isolated platforms in the central depression zone.The result not only provides an important basis for the advanced selection of potential play fairways,bidding of new blocks,and deployment of awarded exploration blocks in the Santos Basin,but also provides a reference for the global selection of deep-water exploration blocks in passive continental margin basins.

Build-ups and hydrocarbon accumulation of the isolated carbonate platforms in the eastern Mediterranean

Based on regional geology,2D seismic and ocean drilling data,the formation of the Eratosthenes Seamount(ESM)and its surrounding isolated platforms,types of organic reefs and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions in the eastern Mediterranean were analyzed through fine tectonic interpretation and seismic facies study,and the future exploration targets were pointed out.The formation and evolution of the ESM and its peripheral isolated platforms are highly related to the open and close of the Neotethyan ocean.The precursors of the ESM and its peripheral isolated platforms are both horst-type fault blocks formed in the Middle Triassic-Early Jurassic intracontinental rift stage.The ESM and its peripheral isolated platforms underwent continued and inherited carbonate build-ups during the Middle Jurassic intercontinental rift stage,the Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous Turonian passive drift stage,and Late Cretaceous Senonian-Miocene subduction stage,as well as medium-slight inversion transformation beginning in the Late Miocene Messinian caused by the closure of the Neotethyan ocean.Three types of isolated platforms formed controlled by variant paleo-tectonic settings:the first type is composed of a single patch-like reef controlled by a small-scale and narrow horst-type fault block,the second type consists of a single atoll controlled by a middle-scale and wide horst-type fault block,and the third type is comprised of multiple reef-beach complexes controlled by a large-scale and broad paleo-high.The first two types universally developed in the highs of the alternate sag-uplift structural zones on the south and west of Eratosthenes,and the third type only developed in the ESM.As a result of fluctuation of sea level,two sequences of reef build-ups,i.e.the Middle Jurassic Bajocian-Upper Cretaceous Turonian and the Miocene,developed in the ESM as well as the highs in the alternate sag-uplift structural zones on the south and west of Eratosthenes.Drillings have confirmed that the first two types of isolated platforms with a single patch-like reef and a single circle-like reef have good conditions for natural gas accumulations.The isolated platform of reef-beach complexes in the ESM also has accumulation potentials of natural gas and is worth prospecting.

Protective Effects of Dimethyl-4,4'-Dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-Dimethylene Dioxybiphenyl-2,2'-Dicarboxylate on Damages of Isolated Rat Hepatocytes Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride and D-galactosamine

The protective effect of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) on chemically induced damages was studied in isolated suspended rat hepatocytes. The experimental results showed that DDB (200μg/106 cells) efficiently protected the hepatocytes against carbon tetrachloride (CC14 10 mrnol.L-1) and D-galactosamine (1 mmol.L-1) induced damages. Membranal lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA formation) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) release from the hepatocytes were markedly decreased. The damage of the cell surfaces of the hepatocytes were also reduced as seen under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Pretreatment with DDB (300 mg-kg-1) orally ameliorated the reduction of liver glycogen and blood glucose caused by ip injection of D-galactosamine (800 mg-kg-1) in mice. When normal rats were given DDB 300 mg-kg-1 once daily for 10 d, the free ribosomal protein and RNA in the liver increased significantly. These results indicate that DDB is of beneficial effects on both damaged and normal hepatocytes.