Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tectonics of the Yellow Sea and Oil-Gas Exploration

The purpose of the present study was to study the tectonics of the Yellow Sea. Although oilgas exploration has been undertaken for more than 30 years in the southern Yellow Sea, the exploration progress has achieved little. There are three tectonic periods with near N-S trending shortening and compression （260-200 Ma, 135-52 Ma and 23-0.78 Ma） and three tectonic periods with near E-W trending shortening and compression （200-135 Ma, 52--23 Ma and 0.78 Ma） at the Yellow Sea and adjacent areas during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The lndosinian tectonic period is the collision period between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze Plates, which formed the basic tectonic framework for the Yellow Sea area. There were strong intraplate deformations during the Yanshanian （200-135 Ma） and Sichuanian （135-52 Ma） periods with different tectonic models, which are also the main formation periods for endogenic metallic mineral deposits around the Yellow Sea. The three tectonic periods during the Cenozoic affect important influences for forming oil-gas reservoirs. The Eocene-Oligocene （52-23 Ma） is the main forming period for oil-gas sources. The Miocene-Early Pleistocene （23-0.78 Ma） was a period of favorable passage for oil-gas migration along NNE trending faults. Since the Middle Pleistocene （0.78 Ma） the NNE trending faults are closed and make good conditions for the reservation of oil-gas. The authors suggest that we pay more attention to the oil-gas exploration at the intersections between the NNE trending existing faults and Paleogene- Neogene systems in the southern Yellow Sea area.

Exploration Potential of Atectonic Oil-gas Pools in the Northern Shelf Basin of the South China Sea

Large-scale oil exploration has been done and large quantities of oil-gas fields have been found in the northern shelf basin of the South China Sea for more than 20 years. The tectonic oil-gas pools are the main type. With the exploration to be deepened, looking for atectonic oil-gas pools is listed in China's exploration strategy. There are advantages for the forming of atectonic oil-gas pools in the northern shelf basin of the South China Sea. Because the level of water has been frequently changing within all historical periods, lithozones are changed alternately in both vertical and lateral directions and formed lithologic deposition especially at low water level stages, such as the low-lying fans of basin-floor fans and slope fans. Due to frequent tectonic movement within all historical periods, many structural surfaces and structural unconformities were formed. At the same time, they also formed many kinds of structural unconformity oil-gas pools. According to our exploration and research, the promising areas of atectonic reservoirs within marine basins include: (1) the basin-floor fan of the deep water district, such as the central depression of the Southeast Qiong basin and Baiyun sag in the Zhujiangkou basin; (2) the frontal area of the large ancient delta, such as the Lingao structural belt in the Yingge Sea basin and Huizhou sag in the Zhujiangkou basin; (3) the unconformity pinchout belt or denudation belt in the slope area and the uplift area, for instance, the Yingdong slope belt in the Yingge Sea basin and Yacheng 13-1 structural belt in the southeast Qiong basin. All this proves that the prospects for atectonic oil-gas pools in the northern shelf basin of the South China Sea are very broad.

Distribution characteristics, exploration and development, geological theories research progress and exploration directions of shale gas in China

The shale gas resources in China have great potential and the geological resources of shale gas is over 100×10^(12)m^(3),which includes about 20×10^(12)m^(3) of recoverable resources.Organic-rich shales can be divided into three types according to their sedimentary environments,namely marine,marine-continental transitional,and continental shales,which are distributed in 13 stratigraphic systems from the Mesoproterozoic to the Cenozoic.The Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have the highest geological resources of shale gas,and the commercial development of shale gas has been achieved in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in these areas,with a shale gas production of up to 20×10^(9)m^(3) in 2020.China has seen rapid shale gas exploration and development over the last five years,successively achieving breakthroughs and important findings in many areas and strata.The details are as follows.(1)Large-scale development of middle-shallow shale gas(burial depth:less than 3500 m)has been realized,with the productivity having rapidly increased;(2)breakthroughs have been constantly made in the development of deep shale gas(burial depth:3500-4500 m),and the ultradeep shale gas(burial depth:greater than 4500 m)is under testing;(3)breakthroughs have been made in the development of normal-pressure shale gas,and the assessment of the shale gas in complex tectonic areas is being accelerated;(4)shale gas has been frequently discovered in new areas and new strata,exhibiting a great prospect.Based on the exploration and development practice,three aspects of consensus have been gradually reached on the research progress in the geological theories of shale gas achieved in China.(1)in terms of deep-water fine-grained sediments,organic-rich shales are the base for the formation of shale gas;(2)in terms of high-quality reservoirs,the development of micro-nano organic matter-hosted pores serves as the core of shale gas accumulation;(3)in terms of preservation conditions,weak structural transformation,a moderate degree of thermal evolution,and a high pressure coefficient are the key to shale gas enrichment.As a type of important low-carbon fossil energy,shale gas will play an increasingly important role in achieving the strategic goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality.Based on the in-depth study of shale gas geological conditions and current exploration progress,three important directions for shale gas exploration in China in the next five years are put forward.

Petroleum Exploration of Craton Basins in China

Craton basins are a significant petroliferous provenance. Having undergone multiple open- dose tectonic cycles and strong reworking of the late Cenozoic tectonic movement, the craton basins in China are highly broken. This has resulted in multi-source and multiphase hydrocarbon generation and later hydrocarbon accumulation so that a complicated spatial assemblage of primary, paraprimary and secondary oil-gas pools has been formed. The primary factors controlling hydrocarbon accumulation include hydrocarbon-generating depressions, paleouplifts, paleoslopes, unconformity surfaces, paleo-karst, faults and fissure systems as well as the later conservation conditions. In consequence, the strategy of exploration for China＇s craton basins is to identify the effective source rocks, pay attention to the different effects of paleohighs and late reworking, enhance studies of the secondary storage space, attach importance to the exploration of lithologic oil-gas reservoirs and natural gas pools, and approach consciously from the secondary oil pools to the targets near the source rocks. At the same time, a complete system of technologies and techniques must be built up.

Determination of oil source rock palaeotemperature ascertains the direction of oil-gas exploration in Huahai-Jinta Basin

Having a good oil-generation condition, the Lower Cretaceous Xinminbao Group is the main oil-generation bed in the Huahai Depression. Although the Huahai-Jinta Basin has an exploration history of about 21 years, and has numerous oil indications, little advance has been made on oil exploration. Based on a synthetical study of geological data, and by using many methods such as apatite fission track, fluid inclusion, vitrinite reflectance

Design and feasibility analysis of a new completion monitoring technical scheme for natural gas hydrate production tests

As a prerequisite and a guarantee for safe and efficient natural gas hydrates(NGHs)exploitation,it is imperative to effectively determine the mechanical properties of NGHs reservoirs and clarify the law of the change in the mechanical properties with the dissociation of NGHs during NGHs production tests by depressurization.Based on the development of Japan’s two offshore NGHs production tests in vertical wells,this study innovatively proposed a new subsea communication technology-accurate directional connection using a wet-mate connector.This helps to overcome the technical barrier to the communication between the upper and lower completion of offshore wells.Using this new communication technology,this study explored and designed a mechanical monitoring scheme for lower completion(sand screens).This scheme can be used to monitor the tensile stress and radial compressive stress of sand screens caused by NGHs reservoirs in real time,thus promoting the technical development for the rapid assessment and real-time feedback of the in-situ mechanical response of NGHs reservoirs during offshore NGHs production tests by depressurization.

Evaluation of reservoir environment by chemical properties of reservoir water‒A case study of Chang 6 reservoir in Ansai oilfield,Ordos Basin,China

The Ordos Basin is the largest continental multi-energy mineral basin in China,which is rich in coal,oil and gas,and uranium resources.The exploitation of mineral resources is closely related to reservoir water.The chemical properties of reservoir water are very important for reservoir evaluation and are significant indicators of the sealing of reservoir oil and gas resources.Therefore,the caprock of the Chang 6 reservoir in the Yanchang Formation was evaluated.The authors tested and analyzed the chemical characteristics of water samples selected from 30 wells in the Chang 6 reservoir of Ansai Oilfield in the Ordos Basin.The results show that the Chang 6 reservoir water in Ansai Oilfield is dominated by calcium-chloride water type with a sodium chloride coefficient of generally less than 0.5.The chloride magnesium coefficients are between 33.7 and 925.5,most of which are greater than 200.The desulfurization coefficients range from 0.21 to 13.4,with an average of 2.227.The carbonate balance coefficients are mainly concentrated below 0.01,with an average of 0.008.The calcium and magnesium coefficients are between 0.08 and 0.003,with an average of 0.01.Combined with the characteristics of the four-corner layout of the reservoir water,the above results show that the graphics are basically consistent.The study indicates that the Chang 6 reservoir in Ansai Oilfield in the Ordos Basin is a favorable block for oil and gas storage with good sealing properties,great preservation conditions of oil and gas,and high pore connectivity.

Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

世界含盐盆地盐下油气勘探历史与展望

为了研究含盐盆地盐下勘探历史与现状,通过查阅收集大量的资料文献,结合油气地震采集技术,地震资料处理技术与钻探设备和计算机硬件的发展,将含盐盆地油气勘探分为三个阶段:被动勘探阶段(1970年前),主动探索阶段(1970~1990年)和大规模主动勘探阶段(1990年至今),并分析总结了每个阶段的主要油气藏发现与技术设备发展状况。最后,文章从采集技术、成像技术和钻探技术三个技术层面对世界含盐盆地盐下油气勘探前景做出展望。同时也提出我国应了解国外含盐盆地油气勘探现状,学习国外先进的盐下勘探技术,引进相关设备,对我国含盐盆地油气勘探具有重要的指导意义与实践意义。

巴西坎普斯盆地盐下层系油气发现及其勘探潜力

2002—2012年间,在巴西坎普斯盆地盐下层系接连发现了15个油气田,可采储量7×108t油当量,其中大型油气田11个,凸显了坎普斯盆地的石油潜力,使得该盆地盐下层系成为继桑托斯盆地之后新的勘探热点。坎普斯盆地经历了裂谷期、过渡期和漂移期3个构造演化阶段,盐下层系是裂谷期(侏罗纪晚期—阿普特早期)沉积的典型陆相沉积体系,包括欧特里夫阶裂缝发育的玄武岩基岩和阿普特阶至巴雷姆阶的碳酸盐岩。盆地的主要烃源岩是下白垩统LagoaFeia群黑色钙质页岩,该烃源岩有极好的生烃潜力;盆地发育多套储层。坎普斯盆地盐下层系勘探程度低,目前油气探明率只有约50%,油气潜力巨大。坎普斯盆地盐下层系勘探前景十分广阔,应是未来储量增长最快的领域。勘探的重点地区是中央隆起带;主要油藏类型是LagoaFeia群自生自储型油气藏;主要圈闭类型是碳酸盐岩岩性—构造型圈闭。

Porosity distribution in cyclic dolomites of the Lower Qiulitag Group(Upper Cambrian)in northwestern Tarim Basin,China

Increasing interests in hydrocarbon resources at depths have drawn greater attentions to the deeply-buried carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin in China.In this study,the cyclic dolomite rocks of Upper Cambrian Lower Qiulitag Group from four outcrop sections in northwestern Tarim Basin were selected to investigate and evaluate the petrophysical properties in relation to depositional facies and cyclicity.The Lower Qiulitag Group includes ten lithofacies,which were deposited in intermediate to shallow subtidal,restricted shallow subtidal,intertidal,and supratidal environments on a carbonate ramp system.These lithofacies are vertically stacked into repeated shallowing-upward,meter-scale cycles which are further grouped into six third-order depositional sequences(Sq1 to Sq6).There are variable types of pore spaces in the Lower Qiulitag Group dolomite rocks,including interparticle,intraparticle,and fenestral pores of primary origin,inter crystal,and vuggy pores of late diagenetic modification.The porosity in the dolomites is generally facies-selective as that the microbially-originated thrombolites and stromatolites generally yield a relatively high porosity.In contrast,the high-energy ooidal grainstones generally have very low porosity.In this case,the microbialite-based peritidal cycles and peritidal cycle-dominated highstand(or regressive)successions have relatively high volumes of pore spaces,although highly fluctuating(or vertical inhomogeneous).Accordingly,the grainstone-based subtidal cycles and subtidal cycle-dominated transgressive successions generally yield extremely low porosity.This scenario indicates that porosity development and preservation in the thick dolomite successions are primarily controlled by depositional facies which were influenced by sea-level fluctuations of different orders and later diagenetic overprinting.

A review and research on comprehensive characterization of microscopic shale gas reservoir space

In this paper,substantial domestic and foreign research results of microscopic shale reservoir space were systemically reviewed,the research history consisting of simple observation and qualitative classification,quantitative research,the combination of qualitative and quantitative research successively as well as the characteristics of each research stage were summarized.In addition,the current problems existing in the characterization methods of shale reservoir space were also analyzed.Furthermore,based on massive actual detection of typical core samples obtained from more than 50 global shale gas wells and relevant practical experience,a comprehensive characterization method of combining qualitative with the semiquantitative characterization was put forward.In detail,the indicators of the qualitative characterization include pore combination type and organic-matter microscopic morphology type,while the core elements of the semi-quantitative characterization include the percentage of the organic-matter area and the plane porosity of the pores of different types.Based on the reference of the naming and classification of rocks,the three-end-member diagram method was used to characterize microscopic shale reservoir space.This is achieved by plotting the three end-member diagram of 3 kinds of first-order critical reservoir spaces,i.e.,organic-matter pores,matrix pores,and micro-fractures,in order to intuitively present the features of the microscopic pore combination.Meanwhile,statistic histograms of organic-matter microscopic morphology type and the plane porosity of different types of pores were adopted to characterize the development degree of second-order pores quantitatively.By this comprehensive characterization method,the importance of both pore combination and the microscopic morphology of organic matter were emphasized,revealing the control of organic-matter microscopic morphology over the organic-matter pores.What is more,high-resolution FE-SEM was adopted to obtain semi-quantitative statistics results.In this way,the features of pore development and pore combination were quantified,not only reflecting the types and storage capacity of the microscopic shale reservoir space,but also presenting the hydrocarbongenerating potential of organic matter in shale.Therefore,the results of this research are capable of providing in-depth microscopic information for the assessment and exploration and development of shale gas resources.

Coupling relationship between reservoir diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation in Lower Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation of Dongling,Changling fault depression,Songliao Basin,Northeast China

The Lower Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation in the southern Songliao Basin is the typical tight oil sandstone in China.In order to better predict the petrophysical properties of the tight sandstone reservoirs in the Lower Cretaceous Yingcheng Formation,Songliao Basin,Northeast China,the diagenesis and porosity evolution was investigated using a suite of petrographic and geochemical techniques including thin section analysis,scanning electron microscopy,mercury intrusion and fluid inclusion analysis,on a set of selected tight sandstone samples.Combined with the histories of burial evolution,organic matter thermal evolution and hydrocarbon charge,the matching relationship between reservoir porosity evolution and hydrocarbon accumulation history is analyzed.The result showed that the tight sandstone reservoirs characterized of being controlled by deposition,predominated by compaction,improved by dissolution and enhanced by cementation.The hydrocarbon accumulation period was investigated using a suite of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history,microfluorescence determination and temperature measurement technology.According to the homogenization temperature of the inclusions and the history of burial evolution,Yingcheng Formation has mainly two phases hydrocarbon accumulation.The first phase of oil and gas is charged before the reservoir is tightened,the oil and gas generated by Shahezi source rocks enter the sand body of Yingcheng Formation,influenced by the carrying capability of sand conducting layer,oil and gas is mainly conducted by the better properties and higher connectivity sand body and enriched in the east,which belongs to the type of densification after hydrocarbon accumulation.The second phase of oil and gas charge after densification,which belongs to the type of densification before the hydrocarbon accumulation.

Characteristics and evolution of faults in the north-central Yin’e Basin and the effects on the coal-seam in the Cretaceous strata

Research on the characteristics of faults and their evolutionary history since the Cretaceous in the Suhongtu-Dagu depressions can provide a theoretical basis for geological evaluation of the coal seams in the Suhongtu Formation in the northern-central region of the Yin’e Basin.Using 3-D seismic-logging inversion techniques,seismic stratigraphic calibration,stratigraphic sequence delineation,and thickness calculations on the Suhongtu-Dagu depressions were carried out to clarify the planar and profile distributions of the faults,as well as the evolutionary history of these faults and the tectonic history of the depressions.The results of this study revealed that the distribution of the faults in the Suhongtu-Dagu depressions in the northern part of the Yin’e Basin varies with region,and the fault system was multi-period,orthotropic,north-east-trending,and north-north-east-trending,with a certain degree of inheritance in terms of the geological setting.Three types of faults were identified:Y-shaped fractures,reverse Y-shaped fractures,and parallel fractures,which can be classified as Paleozoic-Cenozoic continuous syncline faults and intra-depression faults from the top of the Permian to the Upper Cretaceous series and inter-stratigraphic adjustment faults within the Cretaceous System,respectively.The evolution of these faults can be divided into three phases:the controlling faults were the faults that existed before the Early Cretaceous and had been active since then;synclinal faults that formed during the Early Cretaceous;and modified faults that formed since the Early Cretaceous.The development and modification of the coal seams in the Cretaceous Suhongtu Formation in the Hari,Kuanzihu,and Babei sags were strongly controlled and influenced by a multi-phase complex fault system.

RECOGNITION OF THE SLUMPING TURBIDITE FANS IN DOWN-FAULTED LACUSTRINE BASINS

In the past 30 years, people have been paying attention to the relation between the deltas located on the slope of a basin border and the turbidite fans located in deep marine plain or deep lake plain, and have found that the turbidites related to the deltas develop in lacustrine basins better than in marine basins. And, it is difficult to use the standard sub-