Characteristics and exploration targets of Chang 7 shale oil in Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, NW China

The geological characteristics and enrichment laws of the shale oil in the third submember of the seventh member of Triassic Yanchang Formation(Chang 7_(3)) in the Ordos Basin were analyzed by using the information of core observations, experiments and logging, and then the exploration potential and orientation of the Chang 7_(3) shale oil were discussed. The research findings are obtained in three aspects. First, two types of shale oil, i.e. migratory-retained and retained, are recognized in Chang 7_(3). The former is slightly better than the latter in quality. The migratory-retained shale oil reservoir is featured with the frequent interbedding and overlapping of silty-sandy laminae caused by sandy debris flow and low-density turbidity current and semi-deep-deep lacustrine organic-rich shale laminae. The retained shale oil reservoir is composed of black shale with frequent occurrence of bedding and micro-laminae. Second, high-quality source rocks provide a large quantity of hydrocarbon-rich high-quality fluids with high potential energy. The source-reservoir pressure difference provides power for oil accumulation in thin interbeds of organic-poor sandstones with good seepage conditions and in felsic lamina, tuffaceous lamina and bedding fractures in shales. Hydrocarbon generation-induced fractures, bedding fractures and microfractures provide high-speed pathways for oil micro-migration. Frequent sandstone interlayers and felsic laminae provide a good space for large-scale hydrocarbon accumulation, and also effectively improve the hydrocarbon movability. Third, sand-rich areas around the depression are the main targets for exploring migratory-retained shale oil. Mature deep depression areas are the main targets for exploring retained oil with medium to high maturity. Theoretical research and field application of in-situ conversion in low-mature deep depression areas are the main technical orientations for exploring retained shale oil with low to medium maturity.

Qinghai Petroleum Administration Has Set Its Near-Term Exploration Target

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Genetic model and exploration target area of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area, Xiamen, China

The geothermal resources in Fujian Province are mainly hydrothermal resources of medium-low temperature.To better understand the whole process and conditions of heat control in the middle and deep crust,this study focuses on the analysis of heat accumulation model in Hongtang Area of Xiamen,and the main conditions of the model such as faults and sags are explored and interpreted in detail by using gravity and wide-field electromagnetic methods.4 main faults(F33,F2,F12 and HT-F1)and 10 secondary faults(HT-F2,HT-F3,HT-F4,HT-F5,HT-F6,HT-F7,HT-F8,HT-F9,HT-F10 and HT-F11)were inferred,and the distribution range of sags was delineated.The convective geothermal system is composed of four components:Heat source,geothermal reservoir,heat-conductive fault and heat retaining cover,which form a quaternary heat accumulation model.According to the model,the intersection of the main faults F12,HTF1 and F33 can be delineated as the primary target area of geothermal exploration,while the intersection of the secondary faults(F12 and HT-F6;F12 and HT-F2;HT-F9,HT-F10 and F12;F12 and HT-F11;F33 and HT-F3;HT-F8 and HT-F3;HT-F2,HT-F10 and HT-F1)can be delineated as the secondary target area.Borehole DR01,which is located in the primary target area,shows that the water temperature increases from fast to slow in the depth range of 0–500 m,and stays at 36℃below 500 m.The reliability of the heat accumulation model and the target area was tested via geothermal boreholes,which is of great significance to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area of Xiamen.

The characteristics, formation and exploration progress of the potash deposits on the Khorat Plateau, Thailand and Laos, Southeast Asia

The giant potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau is one of the most promising targets for exploitation of potassium salts.So far,many researches and geologic survey have been conducted on the giant potash deposits.Hence,it is necessary to make an overall review on the potash deposits.The potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau was formed during the Middle to Late Cretaceous,during which seawater was enriched in Ca2+and depleted in SO42-compared with those of modern seawater.In addition to seawater,continental water and hydrothermal fluids could have affected the evaporite basins.The seawater was probably derived from Tethys ocean,and the brine should have evaporated to some extent before entering into the basin systems based on the evidence of absence of carbonates and unproportionate sulphate compared with chloride salts.The paleo-climate during Middle to Late Cretaceous was characterized as high temperature and extremely arid environment,which is favourable for deposition of potassium-magnesium saline minerals.The major saline minerals are of anhydrite,halite,carnallite,sylvite and,tachyhydrite,with trace amounts of borates.The resources of the potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau could be approximately as much as 400×109 t of carnallite and 7×109 t of sylvite.The evaporite sequences have been deformed and altered by postdepositinal processes,including tectonic movements and chemical alteration.Salt domes were formed in the postdepositional processes.Based on the analyses of geophysical surveys and drilling projects,high-quality sylvinite ores are commonly found at the flanks of those salt domes due to incongruent dissolution of carnallite.The furure potential prospecting areas for the highquality sylvinite ores would be on the edges of the Khorat Plateau.

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Palaeogene in the HGZ Area of Qaidam Basin

Sequence stratigraphy can be used to predict the oil and gas reservoir bodies and to choose the oil targets. Fan delta and sublacustrine fan systems are developed in the HGZ Area, which is located in front of the Altun Mountain in the west of the Qaidam Basin. On the basis of seismic and well drilling data, the deposits in the area were studied by using sequence stratigraphy and reservoir prediction techniques. Various reservoir prediction techniques used under the constraint of high resolution sequence framework could help to improve the precision of reservoir prediction and to recognize the pinch out line of sand layers, the distribution of isolated sandstone bodies and the types of oil pools. The study of sequence stratigraphy makes reservoir prediction more effective by dividing different scales of sequences and distinguishing the system tracts and parasequence sets, and indicates the internal relationship between oil/gas and sedimentary bodies in different system tracts with evolution in time and space.

Prototypes,modifications,and hydrocarbon enrichment variations in basins influenced by Tethyan evolution:A comparative analysis of the Persian Gulf Basin and the Sichuan Basin

The hydrocarbon accumulation modes and differences in the Tethyan realm serve as a hot research topic in the petroleum geology community at home and abroad.Both the Persian Gulf Basin in the Middle East and the Sichuan Basin in China,situated on the southern and northern sides of the Tethyan realm,respectively,record the whole geological process of the opening and closure of the Prototethys,the Paleotethys,and the Neotethys sequentially,exhibiting anomalous hydrocarbon enrichment.Based on the analysis of the plate tectonic evolution in the Tethyan realm,this study dissects the structures and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions of both basins.Followed by a systematic comparative analysis of the factors controlling hydrocarbon enrichment in the process of plate breakup and convergence in the Tethyan realm,this study proposes petroleum exploration targets in the realm.The results are as follows:(1)Since the Meso-Neoproterozoic,the Persian Gulf Basin and the Sichuan Basin have undergone similar tectonic evolution in the early stage but different in the late stage.Under the influence of the formation and evolution of the Prototethys,Paleotethys,and Neotethys oceans,both basins experienced multi-stage development and modification,forming two major extension-convergence cycles.Consequently,both basins are characterized by the vertical orderly superimposition of various basin prototypes in the order of rift-intracratonic basin(passive continental margin)-foreland.(2)The fact that the Tethyan realm was long located at medium-low latitudes and the local anoxic environment formed in the process of plate breakup and convergence played a vital role in the formation of extensive source rocks.The source rocks are predominantly distributed in underfilled rifts and deep depressions that were connected to the ocean in the unidirectional continental breakup process;basin-slopes and intra-shelf basins on passive continental margins;basinal lows within intracratonic basins,and underfilled foredeeps in foreland basins.The favorable areas for the formation of carbonate reservoirs include platform margins,submarine highs and paleo-uplifts within platforms,and fault zones.The evaporite cap rocks,intimately associated with the basin evolutionary stages and global dry-hot events,are critical for large-scale hydrocarbon preservation.(3)Under the influence of Tethyan evolution,the Persian Gulf Basin and the Sichuan Basin share similar primary factors controlling hydrocarbon enrichment.The moderate tectono-sedimentary differentiation and structural modification in the process of prototype basin superimposition,as well as the spatio-temporal matching of elements critical for hydrocarbon accumulation,are beneficial for the development of large oil and gas fields.The macroscopic hydrocarbon distribution is dictated by source rock-cap rock assemblages,while the local hydrocarbon distribution is governed by trap-reservoir assemblages.The critical factors determining the differential hydrocarbon enrichment in the Persian Gulf Basin and the Sichuan Basin include plate size and position,basement stability,eustatic movement,paleoclimate,and tectonic transformation.Besides,different tectonic modification intensities are closely related to the type,enrichment degree,and distribution of hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Identifying porphyry-Cu geochemical footprints using local neighborhood statistics in Baft area, Iran

Identifying geochemical anomalies related to ore deposition processes facilitates the practice of vectoring toward undiscovered mineral deposit sites.In districtscale exploration studies,analysis of dispersion patterns of ore-forming elements results in more-reliable targets.Therefore,deriving significant geochemical footprints and mapping the ensuing geochemical anomalies are of important issues that lead exploration geologists toward anomaly sources,e.g.,mineralization.This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of local relative enrichment index and singularity mapping technique,as two methods of local neighborhood statistics,in the delineation of anomalous areas for further exploration.A data set of element contents obtained from stream sediment samples in Baft area,Iran,therefore was applied to illustrate the procedure proposed.The close relationship between anomalous patterns recognized and known Cu-occurrences demonstrated that the procedures proposed can efficiently model complex dispersion patterns of geochemical anomalies in the study area.The results showed that singularity mapping method is a better technique,compared to local relative enrichment index,to delineate targets for follow-up exploration in the area.We made this comparison because,as pointed out by exploration geochemists,dispersion patterns of geochemical indicators in stream sediments vary in different areas even for the same deposit type.The variety in the dispersion patterns is due to the operation of post-mineralization subsystems,which are affected by local factors such as landscape of the areas under study.Therefore,the effectiveness of the methods should be evaluated in every area for every targeted deposit.