Compressional origin of the Aegean Orogeny,Greece

The Aegean Sea area is thought to be an actively extending back-arc region,north of the present day Hellenic volcanic arc and north-dipping subduction zone in the Eastern Mediterranean.The area shows extensive normal faulting,ductile‘extensional’shear zones and extensional S-C fabrics throughout the islands that have previously been related to regional Aegean extension associated with slab rollback on the Hellenic Subduction Zone.In this paper,we question this interpretation,and suggest the Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the Aegean region is associated with a Late Cretaceous-Eocene NE-dipping subduction zone that was responsible for continentcontinent collision between Eurasia and Adria-Apulia/Cyclades.Exhumation of eclogite and blueschist facies rocks in the Cyclades and kyanite-sillimanite grade gneisses in the Naxos core complex have pressures that are far greater than could be accounted for purely by lithospheric extension and isostatic uplift.We identify four stages of crustal shortening that affected the region prior to regional lithospheric extension,herein called the Aegean Orogeny.This orogeny followed a classic Wilson cycle from early ophiolite obduction(ca.74 Ma)onto a previously passive continental margin,to attempted crustal subduction with HP eclogite and blueschist facies metamorphism(ca.54-45 Ma),through crustal thickening and regional kyanite-sillimanite grade Barroviantype metamorphism(ca.22-14 Ma),to orogenic collapse(<14 Ma).At least three periods of‘extensional’fabrics relate to:(1)Exhumation of blueschists and eclogite facies rocks showing tight-isoclinal folds and top-NE,base-SW fabrics,recording return flow along a subduction channel in a compressional tectonic setting(ca.50-35 Ma).(2)Extensional fabrics within the core complexes formed by exhumation of kyanite-and sillimanite gneisses showing thrust-related fabrics at the base and‘extensional’fabrics along the top(ca.18.5-14 Ma).(3)Regional ductile-brittle‘extensional’fabrics and low-angle normal faulting related to the North Cycladic Detachment(NCD)and the South(West)Cycladic Detachment(WCD)during regional extension along the flanks of a major NW-SE anticlinal fold along the middle of the Cyclades.Major low-angle normal faults and ductile shear zones show symmetry about the area,with the NE chain of islands(Andros,Tinos,Mykonos,Ikaria)exposing the NE-dipping NCD with consistent top-NE ductil e fabrics along 200 km of strike.In contrast,from the Greek mainland(Attica)along the SE chain of islands(Kea,Kythnos,Serifos)a SW-dipping low-angle normal fault and ductile shear zone,the WCD is inferred for at least 100 km along strike.Islands in the middle of the Cyclades show deeper structural levels including kyanite-and sillimanite-grade metamorphic core complexes(Naxos,Paros)as well as Variscan basement rocks(Naxos,Ios).The overall structure is an~100 km wavelength NW-SE trending dome with low-angle extensional faults along each flank,dipping away from the anticline axis to the NE and SW.Many individual islands show post-extensional large-scale folding of the low-angle normal faults around the domes(Naxos,Paros,Ios,Sifnos)indicating a post-Miocene late phase of E-W shortening.

Overpressure origins and evolution in deep-buried strata:A case study of the Jurassic Formation,central Junggar Basin,western China

Overpressure is significant to the exploration and exploitation of petroleum due to its influence on hydrocarbon accumulation and drilling strategies.The deep-burial hydrocarbon reservoirs of Jurassic strata in the central Junggar Basin are characterized by intensive overpressure,whose origins are complex and still unclear.In this study,Bowers'method and sonic velocity-density crossplot method based on well logging data were used as a combination for overpressure judgements in geophysics.Furthermore,the corresponding geological processes were analysed in quality and quantity to provide a rational comprehension of the overpressure origins and the model of overpressure evolution and hy-drocarbon accumulation processes.The results showed that hydrocarbon generation in the Jurassic source rocks led to overpressure in the mudstones,while hydrocarbon generation in Permian source rocks led to overpressure in the sandstone reservoirs in Jurassic strata by vertical pressure transfer.The burial and thermal history indicated that the aquathermal effect of pore fluids by temperature increase in deep strata is also an important origin of overpressure,while disequilibrium compaction may not be the dominant cause for the overpressure in deep-buried strata.Furthermore,the continuous tectonic compression in both the north-south and west-east trends from the Jurassic period to the present may also have enhanced the overpressure in deep strata.Meanwhile,the developed faults formed by intensive tectonic compression led to pressure transfer from source rocks to the Jurassic reservoirs.Overpressured geofluids with hydrocarbons migrated to sandstone reservoirs and aggravated the over-pressure in the Jurassic strata.To conclude,the intensive overpressure in the central Junggar Basin is attributed to the combination of multiple mechanisms,including hydrocarbon generation,the aqua-thermal effect,tectonic compression and pressure transfer.Furthermore,the developed overpressure indicated hydrocarbon migration and accumulation processes and the potential of oil and gas reservoirs in deeply buried strata.We hope this study will provide a systematic research concept for overpressure origin analysis and provide guidance for petroleum exploration and exploitation in deep-buried strata.

Characteristics,origin and controlling effects on hydrocarbon accumulation of overpressure in foreland thrust belt of southern margin of Junggar Basin,NW China

Aiming at the differential distribution of overpressure in vertical and lateral directions in the foreland thrust belt in the southern margin of Junggar Basin,the study on overpressure origin identification and overpressure evolution simulation is carried out.Based on the measured formation pressure,drilling fluid density and well logging data,overpressure origin identification and overpressure evolution simulation techniques are used to analyze the vertical and lateral distribution patterns of overpressure,genetic mechanisms of overpressure in different structural belts and causes of the differential distribution of overpressure,and the controlling effects of overpressure development and evolution on the formation and distribution of oil and gas reservoirs.The research shows that overpressure occurs in multiple formations vertically in the southern Junggar foreland thrust belt,the deeper the formation,the bigger the scale of the overpressure is.Laterally,overpressure is least developed in the mountain front belt,most developed in the fold anticline belt,and relatively developed in the slope belt.The differential distribution of overpressure is mainly controlled by the differences in disequilibrium compaction and tectonic compression strengths of different belts.The vertical overpressure transmission caused by faults connecting the deep overpressured system has an important contribution to the further increase of the overpressure strength in this area.The controlling effect of overpressure development and evolution on hydrocarbon accumulation and distribution shows in the following aspects:When the strong overpressure was formed before reservoir becoming tight overpressure maintains the physical properties of deep reservoirs to some extent,expanding the exploration depth of deep reservoirs;reservoirs below the overpressured mudstone cap rocks of the Paleogene Anjihaihe Formation and Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Group are main sites for oil and gas accumulation;under the background of overall overpressure,both overpressure strength too high or too low are not conducive to hydrocarbon enrichment and preservation,and the pressure coefficient between 1.6 and 2.1 is the best.

Overpressure and gas charging in tight sandstone:Xujiahe Formation,northeastern Sichuan Basin

Overpressure is a key factor for oil and gas charging in tight reservoirs,but it is still a challenge to evaluate the overpressure evolution and its control on oil and gas charging.Taking Xujiahe Formation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin as an example,this paper presented a method for evaluating overpressure and its effect on natural gas charging in tight sandstone in compressional basin.The abnormally high pressure and its causes were analyzed by measured data and logging evaluation.Theoretical calculation and PVT simulation were used to investigate the amounts of overpressure resulted from hydrocarbon generation and tecto nic compression,respectively.Then the source rock-reservoir pressu re differences were calculated and the characteristics of natural gas charging during the natural gas charging periods were analyzed.It was revealed that hydrocarbon generation and tectonic compression were the main causes of the overpressure.The overpressure of both source rocks and reservoir exhibited a gradually increasing trend from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous(J2-K1),then decreased since Later Cretaceous(K2),and some of that preserved to now.The contributions of the hydrocarbon generation and tectonic compression to overpressure were different in different periods.The residual pressure difference between the source rocks and the reservoir is the major driving force for tight sandstone gas charging.The main hydrocarbon generating area of the source rocks and the area of high driving force were major natural gas enrichment areas,and the driving force determined the natural gas charging space in the pore throat system of the reservoir.This research helps evaluate the overpressure and pressure difference between source rocks and reservoir in compressed basin,as well as investigate the effective pore throat space of tight gas charging by the driver of overpressure.

Origin of abnormal high pressure and its relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation in the Dina 2 Gas Field, Kuqa Depression

Based on distribution of formation pressure by indirect estimation and formation testing,this study investigates origin of abnormal high pressure in the Dina 2 Gas Field in the Kuqa Depression in combination with the latest research findings.Contribution of major overpressure mechanisms to this gas field is estimated,and generation of the abnormal high pressure as well as its relationship with natural gas accumulation is explored.Disequilibrium compaction,tectonic stress,and overpressure transfer are the major overpressure mechanisms.Overpressure transfer resulted from vertical opening of faults and folding is the most important cause for the overpressure.Gas accumulation and abnormal high pressure generation in the reservoirs of the Dina 2 Gas Field show synchroneity.During the early oil-gas charge in the Kangcun stage,the reservoirs were generally normal pressure systems.In the Kuqa deposition stage,rapid deposition caused disequilibrium compaction and led to generation of excess pressure(approximately 5-10 MPa)in the reservoirs.During the Kuqa Formation denudation stage to the Quaternary,reservoir overpressure was greatly increased to approximately 40-50 MPa as a result of vertical pressure transfer by episodic fault activation,lateral overpressure transfer by folding and horizontal tectonic stress due to intense tectonic compression.The last stage was the major period of ultra-high pressure generation and gas accumulation in the Dina 2 Gas Field.