Diagenesis-porosity evolution and“sweet spot”distribution of low permeability reservoirs:A case study from Oligocene Zhuhai Formation in Wenchang A sag,Pear River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

The characteristics of low permeability reservoirs and distribution of sweet spots in the Oligocene Zhuhai Formation of Wenchang A sag, Pearl River Basin were investigated by core observation and thin section analysis. The study results show that there develop the fine, medium and coarse sandstone reservoirs of tidal flat–fan delta facies, which are of mostly low permeability and locally medium permeability. There are two kinds of pore evolution patterns: oil charging first and densification later, the reservoirs featuring this pattern are mainly in the third member of Zhuhai Formation between the south fault zone and the sixth fault zone, and the pattern of densification first and gas charging later is widespread across the study area. Strong compaction and local calcium cementation are the key factors causing low permeability of the reservoirs in the Zhuhai Formation. Thick and coarse grain sand sedimentary body is the precondition to form "sweet spot" reservoirs. Weak compaction and cementation, dissolution, early hydrocarbon filling and authigenic chlorite coating are the main factors controlling formation of "sweet spot" reservoir. It is predicted that there develop between the south fault and sixth fault zones the Class Ⅰ "sweet spot" in medium compaction zone, Class Ⅱ "sweet spot" in nearly strong compaction zone, Class Ⅲ "sweet spot" reservoir in the nearly strong to strong compaction zone with oil charging at early stage, and Class IV "sweet spot" reservoir in the strong compaction and authigenic chlorite coating protection zone in the sixth fault zone.

TRMM-retrieved Cloud Structure and Evolution of MCSs over the Northern South China Sea and Impacts of CAPE and Vertical Wind Shear

Cloud structure and evolution of Mesoscale Convective Systems （MCSs） retrieved from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager （TRMM TMI） and Precipitation Radar （PR） were investigated and compared with some pioneer studies based on soundings and models over the northern South China Sea （SCS）. The impacts of Convective Available Potential Energy （CAPE） and environmental vertical wind shear on MCSs were also explored. The main features of MCSs over the SCS were captured well by both TRMM PR and TMI. However, the PR-retrieved surface rainfall in May was less than that in June, and the reverse for TMI. TRMM-retrieved rainfall amounts were generally consistent with those estimated from sounding and models. However, rainfall amounts from sounding-based and PR-based estimates were relatively higher than those retrieved from TRMM-TMI data. The Weather Research and Forecasting （WRF） modeling simulation underestimated the maximum rain rate by 22% compared to that derived from TRMM-PR, and underestimated mean rainfall by 10.4% compared to the TRMM-TMI estimate, and by 12.5% compared to the sounding-based estimate. The warm microphysical processes modeled from both the WRF and the Goddard Cumulus Ensemble （GCE） models were quite close to those based on TMI, but the ice water contents in the models were relatively less compared to that derived from TMI. The CAPE and wind shear induced by the monsoon circulation were found to play critical roles in maintaining and developing the intense convective clouds over SCS. The latent heating rate increased more than twofold during the monsoon period and provided favorable conditions for the upward transportation of energy from the ocean, giving rise to the possibility of inducing large-scale interactions.

Differences in the Tectonic Evolution of Basins in the CentralSouthern South China Sea and their Hydrocarbon Accumulation Conditions

To reveal the causes of differences in the hydrocarbon accumulation in continental marginal basins in the centralsouthern South China Sea,we used gravity-magnetic,seismic,drilling,and outcrop data to investigate the tectonic histories of the basins and explore how these tectonic events controlled the hydrocarbon accumulation conditions in these basins.During the subduction of the Cenozoic proto-South China Sea and the expansion of the new South China Sea,the continental margin basins in the central-southern South China Sea could be classified as one of three types of epicontinental basins:southern extensional-foreland basins,western extensional-strike slip basins,and central extensional-drift basins.Because these basins have different tectonic and sedimentary histories,they also differ in their accumulated hydrocarbon resources.During the Cenozoic,the basin groups in the southern South China Sea generally progressed through three stages:faulting and subsidence from the late Eocene to the early Miocene,inversion and uplift in the middle Miocene,and subsidence since the late Miocene.Hydrocarbon source rocks with marine-continental transitional facies dominated byⅡ-Ⅲkerogen largely developed in extremely thick Miocene sedimentary series with the filling characteristics being mainly deep-water deposits in the early stage and shallow water deposits in the late stage.With well-developed sandstone and carbonate reservoirs,this stratum has a strong hydrocarbon generation potential.During the Cenozoic,the basin groups in the western South China Sea also progressed through the three developmental stages discussed previously.Hydrocarbon source rocks with lacustrine facies,marine-continental transitional facies,and terrigenous marine facies dominated byⅡ2-Ⅲkerogen largely developed in the relatively thick stratum with the filling characteristics being mainly lacustrine deposits in the early stage and marine deposits in the late stage.As a reservoir comprised of self-generated and self-stored sandstone,this unit also has a high hydrocarbon generation potential.Throughout those same three developmental stages,the basin groups in the central South China Sea generated hydrocarbon source rocks with terrigenous marine facies dominated byⅢkerogen that have developed in a stratum with medium thicknesses with the filling characteristics being mainly sandstone in the early stage and carbonate in the late stage.This reservoir,which is dominated by lower-generation and upper-storage carbonate rocks,also has a high hydrocarbon generation potential.

The gradual subduction-collision evolution model of Proto-South China Sea and its control on oil and gas

This study involved outcrop,drilling,seismic,gravity,and magnetic data to systematically document the geological records of the subduction process of Proto-South China Sea(PSCS)and establish its evolution model.The results indicate that a series of arc-shaped ophiolite belts and calcalkaline magmatic rocks are developed in northern Borneo,both of which have the characteristics of gradually changing younger from west to east,and are direct signs of subduction and collision of PSCS.At the same time,the subduction of PSCS led to the formation of three accretion zones from the south to the north in Borneo,the Kuching belt,Sibu belt,and Miri belt.The sedimentary formation of northern Borneo is characterized by a three-layer structure,with the oceanic basement at the bottom,overlying the deep-sea flysch deposits of the Rajang–Crocker group,and the molasse sedimentary sequence that is dominated by river-delta and shallow marine facies at the top,recording the whole subduction–collision–orogeny process of PSCS.Further,seismic reflection and tomography also confirmed the subduction and collision of PSCS.Based on the geological records of the subduction and collision of PSCS,combined with the comprehensive analysis of segmented expansion and key tectonic events in the South China Sea,we establish the“gradual”subduction-collision evolution model of PSCS.During the late Eocene to middle Miocene,the Zengmu,Nansha,and Liyue–Palawan blocks were separated by West Baram Line and Balabac Fault,which collided with the Borneo block and Kagayan Ridge successively from the west to the east,forming several foreland basin systems,and PSCS subducted and closed from the west to the east.The subduction and extinction of PSCS controlled the oil and gas distribution pattern of southern South China Sea(SSCS)mainly in three aspects.First,the“gradual”closure process of PSCS led to the continuous development of many large deltas in SSCS.Second,the deltas formed during the subduction–collision of PSCS controlled the development of source rocks in the basins of SSCS.Macroscopically,the distribution and scale of deltas controlled the distribution and scale of source rocks,forming two types of source rocks,namely,coal measures and terrestrial marine facies.Microscopically,the difference of terrestrial higher plants carried by the delta controlled the proportion of macerals of source rocks.Third,the difference of source rocks mainly controlled the distribution pattern of oil and gas in SSCS.Meanwhile,the difference in the scale of source rocks mainly controlled the difference in the amount of oil and gas discoveries,resulting in a huge amount of oil and gas discoveries in the basin of SSCS.Meanwhile,the difference of macerals of source rocks mainly controlled the difference of oil and gas generation,forming the oil and gas distribution pattern of“nearshore oil and far-shore gas”.

Evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their controls on the development of source rocks in continental margin basins:A case study from the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Hydrocarbon resources in the Qiongdongnan Basin have become an important exploration target in China.However,the development of high-quality source rocks in this basin,especially in its deep-water areas,are still not fully understood.In this study,evolutions of sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironment and their influences on the development of source rocks in diverse tectonic regions of the Qiongdongnan Basin were investigated.The results show that during the Oligocene and to Miocene periods,the sedimentary environment of this basin progressively varied from a semi-closed gulf to an open marine environment,which resulted in significant differences in palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column for various tectonic regions of the basin.In shallow-water areas,the palaeoproductivity and reducibility successively decrease,and the hydrodynamic intensity gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In deep-water areas,the water column of the Yacheng and Lingshui strata has a higher palaeoproductivity and a weaker hydrodynamic intensity than that of the Sanya-Meishan strata,while the reducibility gradually increases for the water columns of the Yacheng,Lingshui,and Sanya-Meishan strata.In general,the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the water column are the most favorable to the development of the Yacheng organic-rich source rocks.Meanwhile,the Miocene marine source rocks in the deep-water areas of the Qiongdongnan Basin may also have a certain hydrocarbon potential.The differences in the development models of source rocks in various tectonic regions of continental margin basins should be fully evaluated in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons.

Genesis, evolution and reservoir identification of a Neogene submarine channel in the southwestern Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

A rarely reported middle-late Miocene-Pliocene channel(incised valley fill),the Huaguang Channel(HGC),has been found in the deep-water area of the southwestern Qiongdongnan Basin(QDNB).This channel is almost perpendicular to the orientation of another well-known,large,and nearly coeval submarine channel in this area.Based on the interpretation of high-resolution 3D seismic data,this study describes and analyzes the stratigraphy,tectonics,sedimentation,morphology,structure and evolution of HGC by means of well-seismic synthetic calibration,one-and two-dimensional forward modeling,attribute interpretation,tectonic interpretation,and gas detection.The HGC is located on the downthrown side of an earlier activated normal fault and grew northwestward along the fault strike.The channel is part of a slope that extends from the western Huaguang Sag to the eastern Beijiao Uplift.The HGC underwent four developmental stages:the(1)incubation(late Sanya Formation,20.4–15.5 Ma),(2)embryonic(Meishan Formation,15.5–10.5 Ma),(3)peak(Huangliu Formation,10.5–5.5 Ma)and(4)decline(Yinggehai Formation,5.5–1.9 Ma)stages.The channel sandstones have a provenance from the southern Yongle Uplift and filled the channel via multistage vertical amalgamation and lateral migration.The channel extended 42.5 km in an approximately straight pattern in the peak stage.At 10.5 Ma,sea level fell relative to its lowest level,and three oblique progradation turbidite sand bodies filled the channel from south to north.A channel sandstone isopach map demonstrated a narrow distribution in the early stages and a fan-shaped distribution in the late stage.The formation and evolution of the HGC were controlled mainly by background tectonics,fault strike,relative sea level change,and mass supply from the Yongle Uplift.The HGC sandstone reservoir is near the Huaguangjiao Sag,where hydrocarbons were generated.Channel-bounding faults and underlying faults link the source rock with the reservoir.A regionally extensive mudstone caprock overlies the channel sandstone.Two traps likely containing gas were recognized in a structural high upstream of the channel from seismic attenuation anomalies.The HGC will likely become an important oil and gas accumulation setting in the QDNB deep-water area.

Three-stage tectonic subsidence and its implications for the evolution of conjugate margins of the southwest subbasin,South China Sea

To reveal the tectonic characteristics of the continental margins in the southwest subbasin(SWB)of the South China Sea,a long high-resolution seismic profile was studied using empty basin subsidence.We find that tectonic subsidence features on both margins are uniformly divided into three stages:(1)slow subsidence from Tg to 18.5 Ma(synrift stage);(2)extremely slow subsidence/uplift from18.5 to 16 Ma(spreading stage);and(3)accelerated subsidence from 16 to 0 Ma(post-spreading stage).This feature differs from the classic tectonic subsidence pattern of rifted basins,which exhibits fast subsidence during synrift stage and slow subsidence during the post-rift stage.The tectonic uplift occurred during the spreading stage and the magnitude increased from the continent to the ocean,which is likely related to mantle flow during seafloor spreading.We propose that lower crustal flow played a significant role in the tectonic evolution of the continental margins of the SWB.The lower crust of the SWB margins was warmer and therefore weaker,and more prone to flow beneath the faulting center,which compensated for the upper crustal thinning caused by brittle faulting during the synrift period and thus reduced the tectonic subsidence rate.During the spreading stage,faulting attenuated rapidly,and a necking zone appeared at the continentocean transition formed by lithospheric extension.With upwelling asthenosphere,small-scale secondary mantle convection occurred under the necking zone,which raised the continental margin isotherms and increased the buoyancy.Simultaneously,secondary mantle convection lifted the overriding crust,thus the overall subsidence rate decreased sharply or even reversed to uplift.After seafloor spreading,the effect of mantle convection faded away,and sediment loading drove the lower crust to flow landward.Thermal relaxation,lower crust flow,and vanish of secondary mantle convection together led to rapid subsidence in this stage.

Seismic sequence and depositional evolution of slope basins in mid-northern margin of the South China Sea

As one of the biggest marginal seas in the western Pacific margin, the South China Sea （SCS） experienced continental rifting and seafloor spreading during the Cenozoic. The northern continental margin of the SCS is classified as a passive continental margin. However, its depositional and structural evolution remains controversial, especially in the deep slope area. The lack of data hindered the correlation between continental shelf and oceanic basin, and prevented the establishment of sequence stratigraphic frame of the whole margin. The slope basins in the mid-northern margin of SCS developed in the Cenozoic; the sediments and basin infill recorded the geological history of the continental margin and the SCS spreading. Using multi-channel seismic dataset acquired in three survey cruises during 1987 to 2004, combined with the data of ODP Leg 184 core and industrial wells, we carried out the sequence stratigraphic division and correlation of the Cenozoic in the middle-northern margin of SCS with seismic profiles and sedimentary facies. We interpreted the seismic reflection properties including continuity, amplitude, fi＇equency, reflection terminals, and 15 sequence boundaries of the Cenozoic in the study area, and correlated the well data in geological age. The depositional environment changed from river and lake, shallow bay to open-deep sea, in correspondence to tectonic events of syn-rifting, early drifting, and late drifting stages of basin evolution.

Sedimentary evolution and control factors of the Rizhao Canyons in the Zhongjiannan Basin, western South China Sea

Submarine canyon is an important channel for long-distance sediment transport, and an important part of deepwater sedimentary system. The large-scale Rizhao Canyons have been discovered for the first time in 2015 in the continental slope area of the western South China Sea. Based on the interpretation and analysis of multi-beam bathymetry and two-dimensional multi-channel seismic data, the geology of the canyons has however not been studied yet. In this paper, the morphology and distribution characteristics of the canyon are carefully described,the sedimentary filling structure and its evolution process of the canyon are analyzed, and then its controlling factors are discussed. The results show that Rizhao Canyons group is a large slope restricted canyon group composed of one east-west west main and nine branch canyons extending to the south. The canyon was formed from the late Miocene to the Quaternary. The east-west main canyon is located in the transition zone between the northern terrace and the southern Zhongjiannan Slope, and it is mainly formed by the scouring and erosion of the material source from the west, approximately along the slope direction. Its development and evolution is mainly controlled by sediment supply and topographic conditions, the development of 9 branch canyons is mainly controlled by gravity flow and collapse from the east-west main canyon. This understanding result is a supplement to the study of “source-channel–sink” sedimentary system in the west of the South China Sea, and has important guiding significance for the study of marine geological hazards.

The formation and evolution of the East China Sea winter dense water

On the basis of the historical profile observations and the recent Kuroshio observations,the yearly formation,development and decay of the high density water found between 50 to 100 m isobath over the middle and southern East China Sea continental shelf are anyalysed. The formation of this high density water occurs between November and March of the following year. A possible reason for it is that as the mixed water between the coastal water and the outer sea water transports northward by the Taiwan Warm Current, its density increases by surface cooling. It also mixes with the neighbouring lower density water masses. The transportation and decay of the high density water through April to July are also descussed. They can be ascribed to the seasonal surface layer warming and the fast development of Taiwan Warm Current. The high density water disappears in August.

Geological evolution of the Dongsha Uplift and its surrounding depressions in the South China Sea

-The tectonic types of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea are epicontinental rift-depression basins. Prior to Early Cretaceous time, the Dongsha Uplift arid its surrounding depressions had been combined with the Eurasia Plate in a single unit. Many ENE-trending narrow rifted basins were formed in the third episode of Yanshan orogeny (Late Laramide). The rifted basins in the Paleocene and Eocene were stretched and extended, forming Zhu 1, Zhu 2 and Zhu 3 depressions. The Dongsha Uplift is located between Zhu 1 and Zhu 2 depressions . covering an area of 28 000 Km2. Its geologic evolution can be divided into four stages:(1) Late Cretaceous - Paleocene block-faulting stage.(2) Eocene -Oligocene uplifting and eroding stage.(3) Late Oligocene - Early Miocene sustained subsiding stage.(4) Middle Miocene -Recent noncompensated subsiding stage.The Dongsha Uplift is a structural zone favourable for oil-gas accumulation.

The evolution of the coral reefs in the middle and north parts of the South China Sea and its relation with tectonic and eustatic movements

In this paper, the morphogenesis, stratigraphic sequences and dates of the coral reefs in the middle and north parts of the South China Sea are discussed, the position of the distributary regions of Cenozoic coral reefs in plate tectonics, the relationships of coral-reef evolutionary characteristics and dates with sea-basin spreading. Neogene sea-water transgression and Quaternary global climate-eustatic fluctuation are expounded and proved, and the latitudinal variation of the distribution of coral reefs in various geologic times are summed up.

Pressure Prediction for High-Temperature and High-Pressure Formation and Its Application to Drilling in the Northern South China Sea

There are plentiful potential hydrocarbon resources in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins in the northern South China Sea. However, the special petrol-geological condition with high formation temperature and pressure greatly blocked hydrocarbon exploration. The conventional means of drills, including methods in the prediction and monitoring of underground strata pressure, can no longer meet the requirements in this area. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has allocated one well with a designed depth of 3200 m and pressure coefficient of 2.3 in the Yinggehai Basin (called test well in the paper) in order to find gas reservoirs in middle-deep section in the Miocene Huangliu and Meishan formations at the depth below 3000 m. Therefore, combined with the '863' national high-tech project, the authors analyzed the distribution of overpressure in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins, and set up a series of key technologies and methods to predict and monitor formation pressure, and then apply the results to pressure prediction of the test well. Because of the exact pressure prediction before and during drilling, associated procedure design of casing and their allocation in test well has been ensured to be more rational. This well is successfully drilled to the depth of 3485 m (nearly 300 m deeper than the designed depth) under the formation pressure about 2.3 SG (EMW), which indicate that a new step in the technology of drilling in higher temperature and pressure has been reached in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

The tectonic differences between the east and the west in the deep-water area of the northern South China Sea

The deep-water area of the northern South China Sea, which has active and complicated tectonics, is rich in natural gas and gas hydrate. While the tectonic characteristics is different obviously between the east and the west because of the special tectonic position and tectonic evolution process. In terms of submarine geomorphology, the eastern shelf-slope structure in Pearl River Mouth Basin is characterized by having wide sub-basins and narrow intervening highs, whereas the western （Qiongdongnan Basin） structure is characterized by narrow sub- basins and wide uplift. As to the structural features, the deep-water sags in the east are all structurally half- grabens, controlled by a series of south-dipping normal faults. While the west sags are mainly characterised by graben structures with faulting in both the south and north. With regards to the tectonic evolution, the east began neotectonic activity when the post-rifting stage had completed at the end of the Middle Miocene. In the Baiyun Sag, tectonic activity became strong and was characterised by rapid subsidence and obvious faulting. Whereas in the west, neotectonic activity began at the end of the Late Miocene with rapid deposition and weak fault activity.

Tectonic Evolution of the Wanan Basin,Southwestern South China Sea

Quantitative studies on the extension and subsidence of the Wanan Basin were carried out based on available seismic and borehole data together with regional geological data. Using balanced cross-section and backstripping techniques, we reconstructed the stratigraphic deposition and tectonic evolution histories of the basin. The basin formed from the Eocene and was generally in an extensional/transtensional state except for the Late Miocene local compressoin. The major basin extension ocurred in the Oligocene and Early Miocene （before -16.3 Ma） and thereafter uniform stretch in a smaller rate. The northern and middle basin extended intensely earlier during 38.6-23.3 Ma, while the southern basin was mainly stretched during 23.3-16.3 Ma. The basin formation and development are related to alternating sinistral to dextral strike-slip motions along the Wanan Fault Zone. The dominant dynamics may be caused by the seafloor spreading of the South China Sea and the its peripheral plate interaction. The basin tectonic evolution is divided into five phases： initial rifting, main rifting, rift-drift transition, structural inversion, and thermal subsidence.

Characteristics and distribution patterns of reef complexes on the carbonate platform margin in deep water areas:the western South China Sea

As a potential oil and gas reservoir, reef complexes have been a research focus from petroleum geologists for a long time. There are favorable conditions for the development of reef complexes in the South China Sea; however, their internal structures, evolution and distribution are still poorly understood. Based on 2D and 3D seismic data, the internal structures and evolution patterns of the reef complexes on the carbonate platform margin in the deep water areas over the western South China Sea were studied in detail. The result shows that two types of reef complexes, i.e., fault controlling platform margin reef complexes and ramp reef complexes have been developed in the study area. The reef complexes have independent or continuous mound or lenticular seismic reflections, with three internal structures （i.e., aggrading, prograding and retrograding structures）. There are different growth rates during the evolution of the reef complexes, resulting in the formation of catch-up reefs, keep-up reefs and quick step reefs. The study also reveals that different platform margin reef complexes have different internal structures and distributions, because of the different platform types. These results may be applied to the exploration and prediction of carbonate platform margin reef complexes in other areas that are similar to the study area.

The geological characteristics of the large-and medium-sized gas fields in the South China Sea

By the end of 2019,more than 220 gas fields had been discovered in the South China Sea.In order to accurately determine the geological characteristics of the large-and medium-sized gas fields in the South China Sea,this study conducted a comprehensive examination of the gas fields.Based on the abundant available geologic and geochemical data,the distribution and key controlling factors of the hydrocarbon accumulation in the South China Sea were analyzed.The geological and geochemical features of the gas fields were as follows:(1)the gas fields were distributed similar to beads in the shape of a"C"along the northern,western,and southern continental margins;(2)the natural gas in the region was determined to be composed of higher amounts of alkane gas and less CO2;(3)the majority of the alkane gas was observed to be coal-type gas;(4)the gas reservoir types included structural reservoirs,lithologic reservoirs,and stratigraphic reservoirs,respectively;(5)the reservoir ages were mainly Oligocene,Miocene,and Pliocene,while the lithology was mainly organic reef,with some sandstone deposits;and(6)the main hydrocarbon accumulation period for the region was determined to be the late Pliocene-Quaternary Period.In addition,the main controlling factors of the gas reservoirs were confirmed to have been the development of coal measures,sufficient thermal evolution,and favorable migration and accumulation conditions.

Numerical studies of gas hydrate evolution time in Shenhu area in the northern South China Sea

Although the Shenhu sea area has been a topic and focus of intense research for the exploration and study of marine gas hydrate in China, the mechanism of gas hydrate accumulation in this region remains controversial. The formation rate and evolution time of gas hydrate are the critical basis for studying the gas hydrate formation of the Shenhu sea area. In this paper, based on the positive anomaly characteristics of chloride concentration that measured in the GMGS3-W19 drilling site is higher than the seawater value, we numerically simulated the gas hydrate formation time of GMGS3-W19 site. The simulation results show that the gas hydrate formation rate positively correlates with the chloride concentration when the hydrate reaches the measured saturation. The formation time of gas hydrate in the GMGS3-W19 site is approximately 30 ka. Moreover, the measured chloride concentration is consistent with the in-situ chloride concentration, indicating that the formation rate of gas hydrate at the GMGS3-W19 site is very fast with a relatively short evolution time.

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Volcanic Rocks from the Continent-Ocean Transition Zone in Northern South China Sea and Their Tectonic Implications

Miocene–Pliocene(22–5 Myr) volcanism and associated seamounts are abundant in the continent-ocean transition(COT) zone in the margin of the north South China Sea(SCS). The petrogenesis of volcanic rocks from these seamounts and regional tectonic evolution of COT zone are poorly known. In this paper, we obtained whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data for these volcanic rocks from the Puyuan and Beipo seamounts within COT zone, in northeastern SCS. Based on the geochemical analyses, the volcanic rocks are classified as alkaline ocean island basalts(OIB) and enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts(E-MORB). The OIBs from the Puyuan seamount are alkaline trachybasalts and tephrites that show enrichment of the light rare earth elements(LREE) relative to heavy rare earth elements(HREE) and more radiogenic Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, and have significant ‘Dupal isotopic anomaly'. In contrast, the E-MORBs from the Beipo seamount are tholeiitic basalts that have less enrichment in LREE and less radiogenic Sr-Nd isotopic compositions than the counterparts from the Puyuan seamount. Petrological and geochemical differences between the OIBs and MORBs from these two seamounts can be explained by different mantle sources and tectonic evolution stages of the COT zone. Syn-spreading OIB type basalts from the Puyuan seamount were derived from an isotopically ‘enriched', and garnet facies-dominated pyroxenitic mantle transferred by the Hainan mantle plume. In contrast, post-spreading E-MORB type basalts from the Beipo seamount are considered to be derived from the melting of isotopically ‘depleted' pyroxenite mantle triggered by lithosphere bending and subsequent post-rifting at the lower continental slope of the northern margin.

Characteristics of seismic reflections in central region of the South China Sea and their geological significance

More than 4 000 km 48-channel seismic reflection data from the central region of the South China Sea have been interpreted. Five seismic interfaces have been distinguished, named T1, T2, T4, T6 and Tg respectively Meanwhile, five seismic sequences numbered I - V have been divided with the ages of Quaternary and Pliocene, Later Mocene, Earlier and Middle Miocene, Oligocene and Pre- Oligocene separately. Sequences I-II overlie all parts of the area. In the continental slope and island slope, Sequences III-V are mainly found in the grabens. Sequence III is found at moot profiles of the deep-sea basin, and Sequnce IV is seen not only at the margins of the east subbasin but also at the margins of the southwest subbasin. Strong reflection from Moho is found at most profiles of the deep-sea basin. The depth of Moho varies between 10 and 12 km, with a thickness of 6- 8 km for the crust. Calculated by age-basement depth correlation formula, the age of basaltic basement in the southwest subbasin is 51-39 Ma. It is indicated that the evolution of the southwest subbasin is simultaneous with or earlier than that of the east subbasin.