Discovery and petroleum geological significance of delta in the third member of Oligocene Lingshui Formation in southern Baodao Sag,Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

Based on the 3D seismic data and the analysis and test data of lithology,electricity,thin sections and chronology obtained from drilling of the Qiongdongnan Basin,the characteristics and the quantitative analysis of the source-sink system are studied of the third member of the Upper Oligocene Lingshui Formation(Ling 3 Member)in the southern fault step zone of the Baodao Sag.First,the YL10 denudation area of the Ling 3 Member mainly developed two fluvial systems in the east and west,resulting in the formation of two dominant sand transport channels and two delta lobes in southern Baodao Sag,which are generally large in the west and small in the east.The evolution of the delta has experienced four stages:initiation,prosperity,intermittence and rejuvenation.Second,the source-sink coupled quantitative calculation is performed depending on the parameters of the delta sand bodies,including development phases,distribution area,flattening thickness,area of different parent rocks,and sand-forming coefficient,showing that the study area has the material basis for the formation of large-scale reservoir.Third,the drilling reveals that the delta of the Ling 3 Member is dominated by fine sandstone,with total sandstone thickness of 109-138 m,maximum single-layer sandstone thickness of 15.5-30.0 m,and sand-to-strata ratio of 43.7%-73.0%,but the physical properties are different among the fault steps.Fourth,the large delta development model of the small source area in the step fault zone with multi-stage uplift is established.It suggests that the episodic uplift provides sufficient sediments,the fluvial system and watershed area control the scale of the sand body,the multi-step active fault steps dominate the sand body transport channel,and local fault troughs decide the lateral propulsion direction of the sand body.The delta of the Ling 3 Member is coupled with fault blocks to form diverse traps,which are critical exploration targets in southern Baodao Sag.

Cyclostratigraphy and paleoclimate analysis of the Lingshui Formation in Changchang Sag,Qiongdongnan Basin,China

The Qiongdongnan Basin,located in the sea between Hainan Island and the Xisha Islands,is a faulted Cenozoic basin on the northern continental margin of the South China Sea.The Changchang Sag,situated in the eastern part of the central depressional zone in the deepwater area of the Qiongdongnan Basin,exhibits a near EW-striking morphology and represents an important potential target for oil/gas exploration.However,the age of the interface of the Lingshui Formation remains controversial,which hinders a comprehensive understanding of the tectonic evolution and hydrocarbon accumulation pattern in the Changchang Sag.This study focuses on well A,located in the depositional center of the Changchang Sag,and employs cyclostratigraphic analysis to identify cyclic signals of the Milankovitch cycles recorded in the sedimentary strata.Spectral analysis of natural gamma logging data from this well reveals the presence of 405 kyr long eccentricity cycles,100 kyr short eccentricity cycles,39.3 kyr obliquity cycles,and 20.58 kyr age precession cycles.By employing astronomical tuning,a“floating”astronomical time scale of the Lingshui Formation spanning 5.483 million years(Myr)is established.The top interface of the Oligocene in the International Geological Time Scale 2020(GTS2020),with a geological age of 23.03 Ma,is used as the time anchor to establish a high-precision absolute astronomical age framework for the Lingshui Formation.The results indicate that the bottom interface of the first member of the Lingshui Formation is dated at 23.79 Ma,the bottom interface of the second member is dated at 25.08 Ma,and the bottom interface of the third member is dated at 28.51 Ma.Additionally,the average sedimentation rate during this period is estimated to be 9.261 cm/kyr.Furthermore,paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions were carried out through quantitative analysis of spore and pollen assemblages,as well as foraminifera within the Lingshui Formation.These analyses suggest that the deposition of the Lingshui Formation occurred under warm and humid temperate climatic conditions.The results of paleoclimate proxy analysis and comparative fitting analysis of the astronomical time scale confirm that the climate evolution during this period was influenced by astronomical orbital forces,such as eccentricity and precession.

Genetic relationship between formation,accumulation and migration and dispersion of peat materials in Paleogene——Take the Qiongdongnan Basin as an example

Coal-type source rocks include both coal and terrigenous marine source rocks.By studying the distribution of secondary depressions,uplifts,as well as the characteristics of peat formation and accumulation in the northern marginal sea basin of the South China Sea,and combining them with coal formation characteristics observed in other basins,five genetic theories on the relationship between peat accumulation and dispersed organic matter accumulation are proposed.The northern marginal sea basin of the South China Sea is characterized by“disadvantageous coals formation and favorable terrigenous marine source rocks formation.”This paper provides a distribution map of coal seams and terrigenous marine source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin and determines their distribution patterns.Research shows that the migration of sedimentary facies in the basins and inner depressions led to the formation and migration of the peat accumulation centers.In addition,the vertical migration of the peat accumulation centers led to planar migration,which is actually a type of coupling relationship.Previous research results have revealed that the formation of coal-type source rock is multi-phased.The marginal sea basin is composed of several fault-depression basins,with each basin developing a second order of depression and uplift.There is no unified basin center or depositional center to be found.As a result,the concentration centers of coal-forming materials also vary greatly.Based on the distribution characteristics of coal-type source rocks in different basins within the marginal sea basins of the South China Sea,the research results have practical significance and provide guidance for exploring coal-type oil and gas reservoirs in this area.

Deep-large faults controlling on the distribution of the venting gas hydrate system in the middle of the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Many locations with concentrated hydrates at vents have confirmed the presence of abundant thermogenic gas in the middle of the Qiongdongnan Basin(QDNB).However,the impact of deep structures on gasbearing fluids migration and gas hydrates distribution in tectonically inactive regions is still unclear.In this study,the authors apply high-resolution 3D seismic and logging while drilling(LWD)data from the middle of the QDNB to investigate the influence of deep-large faults on gas chimneys and preferred gasescape pipes.The findings reveal the following:(1)Two significant deep-large faults,F1 and F2,developed on the edge of the Songnan Low Uplift,control the dominant migration of thermogenic hydrocarbons and determine the initial locations of gas chimneys.(2)The formation of gas chimneys is likely related to fault activation and reactivation.Gas chimney 1 is primarily arises from convergent fluid migration resulting from the intersection of the two faults,while the gas chimney 2 benefits from a steeper fault plane and shorter migration distance of fault F2.(3)Most gas-escape pipes are situated near the apex of the two faults.Their reactivations facilitate free gas flow into the GHSZ and contribute to the formation of fracture‐filling hydrates.

Predicting Turbidite Channel in Deep-Water Canyon Based on Grey Relational Analysis-Support Vector Machine Model:A Case Study of the Lingshui Depression in Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea

The turbidite channel of South China Sea has been highly concerned.Influenced by the complex fault and the rapid phase change of lithofacies,predicting the channel through conventional seismic attributes is not accurate enough.In response to this disadvantage,this study used a method combining grey relational analysis(GRA)and support vectormachine(SVM)and established a set of prediction technical procedures suitable for reservoirs with complex geological conditions.In the case study of the Huangliu Formation in Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea,this study first dimensionalized the conventional seismic attributes of Gas Layer Group I and then used the GRA method to obtain the main relational factors.A higher relational degree indicates a higher probability of responding to the attributes of the turbidite channel.This study then accumulated the optimized attributes with the highest relational factors to obtain a first-order accumulated sequence,which was used as the input training sample of the SVM model,thus successfully constructing the SVM turbidite channel model.Drilling results prove that the GRA-SVMmethod has a high drilling coincidence rate.Utilizing the core and logging data and taking full use of the advantages of seismic inversion in predicting the sand boundary of water channels,this study divides the sedimentary microfacies of the Huangliu Formation in the Lingshui 17-2 Gas Field.This comprehensive study has shown that the GRA-SVM method has high accuracy for predicting turbidite channels and can be used as a superior turbidite channel prediction method under complex geological conditions.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology,Hf isotopes,and geochemistry constraints on the age and tectonic affinity of the basement granitoids from the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Studies in the northern South China Sea(SCS)basement remain important for understanding the evolution of the Southeast Asian continental margin.Due to a thick cover of sediments and scarce borehole penetration,little is known about the age and tectonic affinity of this basement.In this study,an integrated study of zircon U-Pb geochronology,Hf isotopes,and whole-rock major and trace elements on seven basement granitoids from seven boreholes of Qiongdongnan Basin has been carried out.New zircon U-Pb results for these granitoids present middle-late Permian((270.0±1.2)Ma;(253±3.4)Ma),middle to late Triassic((246.2±3.4)Ma;(239.3±0.96)Ma;(237.9±0.99)Ma;(228.9±1.0)Ma)and Late Cretaceous ages((120.6±0.6)Ma).New data from this study,in combination with the previous dataset,indicates that granitoid ages in northern SCS basement vary from 270 Ma to 70.5 Ma,with three age groups of 270–196 Ma,162–142 Ma,and 137–71 Ma,respectively.Except for the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks in the basement of the northern SCS,a few old zircon grains with the age of(2708.1±17)Ma to(2166.6±19)Ma provide clues to the existence of the pre-Proterozoic components.The geochemical signatures indicate that the middle Permian-early Cretaceous granitoids from the Qiongdongnan Basin are I-type granites formed in a volcanic arc environment,which were probably related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

Evaluation of the submarine debris-flow hazard risks to planned subsea pipeline systems: a case study in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

The ever-increasing deepwater oil and gas development in the Qiongdongnan Basin,South China Sea has initiated the need to evaluate submarine debris-flow hazard risks to seafloor infrastructures.This paper presents a case study on evaluating the debris-flow hazard risks to the planned pipeline systems in this region.We used a numerical model to perform simulations to support this quantitative evaluation.First,one relict failure interpreted across the development site was simulated.The back-analysis modeling was used to validate the applicability of the rheological parameters.Then,this model was applied to forecast the runout behaviors of future debris flows originating from the unstable upslope regions considered to be the most critical to the pipeline systems surrounding the Manifolds A and B.The model results showed that the potential debris-flow hazard risks rely on the location of structures and the selection of rheological parameters.For the Manifold B and connected pipeline systems,because of their remote distances away from unstable canyon flanks,the potential debris flows impose few risks.However,the pipeline systems around the Manifold A are exposed to significant hazard risks from future debris flows with selected rheological parameters.These results are beneficial for the design of a more resilient pipeline route in consideration of future debris-flow hazard risks.

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.

Spatial distribution and inventory of natural gas hydrate in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate is a potential clean energy source and is related to submarine geohazard,climate change,and global carbon cycle.Multidisciplinary investigations have revealed the occurrence of hydrate in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea.However,the spatial distribution,controlling factors,and favorable areas are not well defined.Here we use the available high-resolution seismic lines,well logging,and heat flow data to explore the issues by calculating the thickness of gas hydrate stability zone(GHSZ)and estimating the inventory.Results show that the GHSZ thickness ranges between mostly~200 and 400 m at water depths>500 m.The gas hydrate inventory is~6.5×109-t carbon over an area of~6×104 km2.Three areas including the lower uplift to the south of the Lingshui sub-basin,the Songnan and Baodao sub-basins,and the Changchang sub-basin have a thick GHSZ of~250-310 m,250-330 m,and 350-400 m,respectively,where water depths are~1000-1600 m,1000-2000 m,and2400-3000 m,respectively.In these deep waters,bottom water temperatures vary slightly from~4 to 2℃.However,heat flow increases significantly with water depth and reaches the highest value of~80-100 mW/m2 in the deepest water area of Changchang sub-basin.High heat flow tends to reduce GHSZ thickness,but the thickest GHSZ still occurs in the Changchang sub-basin,highlighting the role of water depth in controlling GHSZ.The lower uplift to the south of the Lingshui sub-basin has high deposition rate(~270-830 m/Ma in 1.8-0 Ma);the thick Cenozoic sediment,rich biogenic and thermogenic gas supplies,and excellent transport systems(faults,diapirs,and gas chimneys)enables it a promising area of hydrate accumulation,from which hydrate-related bottom simulating reflectors,gas chimneys,and active cold seeps were widely revealed.

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.

Aliphatic biomarker signatures of early Oligocene-early Miocene source rocks in the central Qiongdongnan Basin:Source analyses of organic matter

The geochemical signatures of fifty-four rock samples and three supplementary drill stem test(DST)oils from the Yacheng-Sanya formations in the central Qiongdongnan Basin(CQB)were analysed.Reconstruction of the early Oligocene-early Miocene(36–16 Ma)palaeovegetation and source analyses of organic matter(OM)were conducted using aliphatic biomarkers in ancient sediments and DST oils.Both the interpreted aquatic and terrigenous OM contributed to the CQB source rocks(SRs)but had varying relative proportions.The four distribution patterns derived from n-alkanes,terpanes,and steranes are representative of four OM composition models of the Yacheng-Sanya SRs,including model A,model B,model C,and model D,which were classified based on the increasing contribution from terrigenous OM relative to aquatic OM.Some terrigenous higher plantderived biomarkers,including oleanane,des-A-oleanane,C_(29)ααα20R sterane,bicadinanes,the C_(19)/(C_(19)+C_(23))tricyclic terpane ratio,and other n-alkane-derived ratios suggest that angiosperms had increased proportions in the palaeoflora from early Oligocene to early Miocene,and the bloom of terrigenous higher plants was observed during deposition of upper Lingshui Formation to lower Sanya Formation.These findings are consistent with the incremental total organic carbon and free hydrocarbons+potential hydrocarbons(S_1+S_2)in the lower Lingshuilower Sanya strata with a significant enrichment of OM in the E_3l_1-N_1s_2 shales.The maturity-and environmentsensitive aliphatic parameters of the CQB SRs and DST oils suggest that all the samples have predominantly reached their early oil-generation windows but have not exceeded the peak oil windows,except for some immature Sanya Formation shales.In addition,most of the OM in the analysed samples was characterised by mixed OM contributions under anoxic to sub-anoxic conditions.Furthermore,terrestrial-dominant SRs were interpreted to have developed mainly in the Lingshui-Sanya formations and were deposited in sub-oxic to oxic environments,compared to the anoxic to sub-anoxic conditions of the Yacheng Formation.

Origin of a giant fuzzy reflection zone and its implication for natural gas exploration in the southwestern Qiongdongnan Basin of the South China Sea

The southwestern depression of the Qiongdongnan Basin(QDNB)hosts thick Cenozoic sediments and awaits major hydrocarbon discovery.Multichannel seismic(MCS)profile CFT2011 across the southwestern QDNB reveals a~60-km-wide fuzzy reflection zone(FRZ)within the sediments,but its origin and distribution remain unclear.Here ocean bottom seismometer(OBS)data of Line CFT2011 are processed with focus on the velocity structures by traveltime tomography inversion and analyzed together with the coincident and adjacent MCS profiles.The OBS velocity results show that the giant FRZ features lower velocity with difference up to 1.5 km/s and smaller vertical velocity gradient than the surrounding sedimentary sequences at the same depth,likely resulting from enhanced fluid infilling.The MCS profile exhibits that the giant FRZ is about 3-9-km thick and extends from the Paleogene strata rich in organic matters upward to the lower Pleistocene sediments.Within the shallow overlying sediments,multiple bright spots with reverse polarity are imaged and their reflection amplitudes increase with offset,consistent with the features of gas-charged sediments.They are probably shallow gas reservoirs with gases sourced from the deep FRZ.Therefore,the FRZ is proposed to be a giant gas-charged zone,which probably contains lots of hydrocarbon gases migrated vertically from the deep Paleogene source rocks through the boundary faults of the depressions and the minor fractures generated under overpressure.This FRZ is also imaged on the adjacent MCS profiles MCS-L1 and MCS-L2 with the width of about 40 km and 68 km,respectively.It is roughly estimated to cover an area of~1900 km2 and host a volume of~11400 km3 assuming an average thickness of 6 km,implying huge natural gas potential in the sedimentary depression of the southwestern QDNB of the South China Sea.

Sedimentary characteristics and genetic mechanism of the giant ancient pockmarks in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

In the late Miocene,giant ancient pockmarks,which are fairly rare globally,developed in the Qiongdongnan Basin.In this paper,to determine the sedimentary characteristics and genetic mechanism of these giant ancient pockmarks in the Yinggehai Formation of the Qiongdongnan Basin,based on high-resolution 3D seismic data and multiattribute fusion technologies,we analyzed the planar distribution and seismic facies of the ancient pockmarks and compared the characteristics of the ancient pockmarks with those of channels,craters,and hydrate pits.Moreover,we also discussed the implications of the fluid escape system and paleo-bottom current activity in the ancient pockmark development area and analyzed the influence of the ancient pockmarks on the paleoclimate in this region.Finally,an evolutionary model was proposed for the giant ancient pockmarks.This model shows that the giant ancient pockmarks in the southern Qiongdongnan Basin were affected by both deep fluid escape and lateral transformation of paleobottom currents.In addition,the giant ancient pockmarks contributed to the atmospheric CO_(2)concentration in the late Miocene and played a great role in the contemporary evaluation of deepwater petroleum exploration.

Gravity Flow on Slope and Abyssal Systems in the Qiongdongnan Basin,Northern South China Sea

The study of new seismic data permits the identification of sediment gravity flows in terms of internal architecture and the distribution on shelf and abyssal setting in the Qiongdongnan Basin （QDNB）. Six gravity flow types are recognized： （1） turbidite channels with a truncational basal and concordant overburden relationship along the shelf edge and slope, comprising laterally-shifting and vertically-aggrading channel complexes; （2） slides with a spoon-shaped morphology slip steps on the shelf-break and generated from the deformation of poorly-consolidated and high water content sediments; （3） slumps are limited on the shelf slope, triggered either by an anomalous slope gradient or by fault activity; （4） turbidite sheet complexes （TSC） were ascribed to the basin-floor fan and slope fan origin, occasionally feeding the deep marine deposits by turbidity currents; （5） sediment waves occurring in the lower slope-basin floor, and covering an area of approximately 400 km2, were generated beneath currents flowing across the sea bed; and （6） the central canyon in the deep water area represents an exceptive type of gravity flow composed of an association of debris flow, turbidite channels, and TSC. It presents planar multisegment and vertical multiphase characteristics. Turbidite associated with good petrophysical property in the canyon could be treated as a potential exploration target in the QDNB.

Structure and kinematic analysis of the deepwater area of the Qiongdongnan Basin through a seismic interpretation and analogue modeling experiments

Located at the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, the Qiongdongnan Basin bears valley-shaped bathymetry deepening toward east. It is separated from the Yinggehai Basin through NW-trending Indo-China-Red River shear zone, and connected with NW subsea basin through the Xisha Trough. Along with the rapid progress of the deepwater exploration, large amounts of high resolution geophysical and geological data were accumulated. Scientific researches about deepwater basins kept revealing brand new tectonic and sedimentary discoveries. In order to summarize the structural features and main controlling factors of the deepwater Qiongdongnan Basin, a series of researches on basin architecture, fault activities, tectonic deformation and evolution were carried out. In reference to analogue modeling experiments, a tectonic situation and a basin formation mechanism were discussed. The researches indicate that：the northern boundary of the Qiongdongnan Basin is strongly controlled by No. 2 fault. The overlapping control of two stress fields from the east and the west made the central depression zone extremely thinned. Combined with the changed stress field, the segmentation of a preexisting weakness zone made the sags in the east experiencing different rifting histories from the west ones. The NE-trending west segment of the Qiongdongnan Basin experienced strong rifting during Eocene, while the roughly EW-trending sags in the east segment show strong rifting during late Eocene and early Oligocene. Local structures such as NW-trending basal fault and inherited uplifts controlled the lateral segmentation. So first order factors such as regional stress field and preexisting weakness zone controlled the basin zonation, while the second order factors determined the segmentation from east to west.

A heavy mineral viewpoint on sediment provenance and environment in the Qiongdongnan Basin

Based on heavy mineral data in core samples from eleven drillings, supplemented by paleontological, element geochemical and seismic data, the evolution of sediment provenance and environment in the Qiongdongnan Basin （QDNB） was analysed. The results show that the basement in the QDNB was predominantly composed of terrigenous sediments. Since the Oligocene the QDNB has gradually undergone transgressions and evolution processes in sedimentary environment from terrestrial-marine transitional to littoral-neritic, neritic, and bathyal roughly. The water depth showed a gradually increasing trend and was generally greater in the southern region than that in the northern region in the same time. With changes in sedimentary environment, provenances of the strata （from the Yacheng Formation to the Yinggehai Formation） showed principal characteristics of multi-sources, evolving from autochthonous source, short source to distant source step by step. During the Early Oligocene, the sediments were mainly proximal basaltic pyroclastic source and adjacent terrigenous clastic source, afterwards were becoming distant terrigenous clastic sources, including Hainan Island on the north, Yongle Uplift on the south, Shenhu Uplift on the northeast, the Red River System on the northwest and Indochina Peninsula on the southwest, or even a wider region. The Hainan Island provenance began to develop during the Early Oligocene and has become a main provenance in the QDNB since the Middle Miocene. The provenances from Yongle Uplift and Shenhu Uplift most developed from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene and gradually subsided during the Middle Miocene. During the Late Miocene, as a main source of sediments filled in the central canyon, the Red River System provenance added to the QDNB massively, whose impact terminated at the end of the Pliocene. The western Yinggehai Basin （YGHB） provenance derived from Indochina Peninsula had developed from the Pliocene on to the Pleistocene. In addition, the material contribution of marine authigenous source to the basin （especially to the southern region） could not be ignored.

Evolution of deepwater sedimentary environments and its implication for hydrocarbon exploration in Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea

Over the past several years, a number of hydrocarbon reservoirs have been discovered in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea. These oil/gas fields demonstrate that the evolution of the deepwater sedimentary environment are controlling the formation and distribution of large-scale clastic reservoirs. Integration between seismic and borehole data were necessary to best clarify the distribution and quality of these deepwater reservoirs. Geochemical and paleobiological evidence from discrete samples was also applied to document specific information regarding the sedimentary environment. Results show that the Qiongdongnan Basin has existed as a thriving marine environment since Oligocene, when several rifting depressions developed throughout the entire Qiongdongnan Basin. Triggered by the faults activities, several distinct provenances supplied the coarse sediments, transporting and depositing them in deep parts of the rifting depressions. A fan delta system then formed nearby the source in the deeper area of these rifting depressions. The sedimentary environment of Qiongdongnan gradiationally became deepwater since early Miocene. Consequently, abundances of sediments were transported from Hainan Island and Southern Uplift, and then sunk into the basin center. The submarine fans revealed by many boreholes in this area verified them as good reservoir. Because the area reached its lowest sea level at late Miocene and the Southern Uplift subsidenced under sea level, not providing any sediment, so that the carbonate mesa and biorhythms characteristic of this area also developed during this period. In the west part of Qiongdongnan Basin, sediments transported from Vietnam increased in response to the Tibetan Uplift. Consequently, a central canyon developed along the center of Qiongdongnan Basin, which has been confirmed by several boreholes as a favorable hydrocarbon reservoir. The clarification of the deepwater sedimentary environment’s evolution is potentially highly beneficial to future hydrocarbon exploration in the deepwater area of Qiongdongnan Basin.

Characterising the nature, evolution and origin of detachment fault in central depression belt, Qiongdongnan Basin of South China Sea: evidence from seismic reflection data

Using regional geological, newly acquired 2D and 3D seismic, drilling and well log data, especially 2D long cable seismic profiles, the structure and stratigraphy in the deep-water area of Qiongdongnan Basin are interpreted. The geometry of No.2 fault system is also re-defined, which is an important fault in the central depression belt of the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin by employing the quantitative analysis techniques of fault activity and backstripping. Furthermore, the dynamical evolution of the No.2 fault sys-tem and its controls on the central depression belt are analyzed. This study indicates that the Qiongdongnan Basin was strongly influenced by the NW-trending tensile stress field during the Late Eocene. At this time, No.2 fault system initiated and was characterized by several discontinuous fault segments, which controlled a series small NE-trending fault basins. During the Oligocene, the regional extensional stress field changed from NW-SE to SN with the oceanic spreading of South China Sea, the early small faults started to grow along their strikes, eventually connected and merged as the listric shape of the No.2 fault system as ob-served today. No.2 fault detaches along the crustal Moho surface in the deep domain of the seismic profiles as a large-scale detachment fault. A large-scale rollover anticline formed in hanging wall of the detachment fault. There are a series of small fault basins in both limbs of the rollover anticline, showing that the early small basins were involved into fold deformation of the rollover anticline. Structurally, from west to east, the central depression belt is characterized by alternatively arranged graben and half-graben. The central depression belt of the Qiongdongnan Basin lies at the extension zone of the tip of the V-shaped northwest-ern ocean sub-basin of the South China Sea, its activity period is the same as the development period of the northwestern ocean sub-basin, furthermore the emplacement and eruption of magma that originated from the mantle below the Moho surface occurred at the region between Songnan-Baodao and Changchang sags, from east to west with the early-stage spreading of the South China Sea. Therefore, this study not only helps in depicting the structural features and evolution of the deep-water basin in the Qiongdongnan Basin, but also provides the geological and structural evidence for establishing a unified model of continental margin extension and oceanic spreading.

The main controlling factors and developmental models of Oligocene source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Coals developed in the Oligocene Yacheng and Lingshui formations in the Qiongdongnan Basin have high organic matter abundance, and the dark mudstones in the two formations have reached a good source rock standard but with strong heterogeneity. Through the analysis of trace elements, organic macerals and biomarkers, it is indicated that plankton has made little contribution to Oligocene source rocks compared with the terrestrial higher plants. The organic matter preservation depends on hydrodynamics and the redox environment, and the former is the major factor in the study area. During the sedimentary period of the Yacheng Formation, tidal flats were developed in the central uplift zone, where the hydrodynamic conditions were weak and the input of terrestrial organic matter was abundant. So the Yacheng Salient of the central uplift zone is the most favorable area for the development of source rocks, followed by the central depression zone. During the sedimentary period of the Lingshui Formation, the organic matter input was sufficient in the central depression zone due to multiple sources of sediments. The semi-enclosed environment was favorable for organic matter accumulation, so high quality source rocks could be easily formed in this area, followed by the Yacheng salient of central uplift zone. Source rocks were less developed in the northern depression zone owing to poor preservation conditions,

Geochemical characteristics and their significances of rare-earth elements in deep-water well core at the Lingnan Low Uplift Area of the Qiongdongnan Basin

A geochemical analysis of rare-earth elements （REEs） in 97 samples collected from the core of deep-water Well LS-A located at the Lingnan Low Uplift Area of the Qiongdongnan Basin is conducted, with the pur-pose of revealing the changes of sedimentary source and environment in the study region since Oligocene and evaluating the response of geochemical characteristics of REEs to the tectonic evolution. In the core samples, both∑REE and∑LREE （LREE is short for light-group REEs） fluctuate in a relatively wide range, while∑HREE （HREE is short for heavy-group REEs） maintains a relatively stable level. With the stratigraphic chronology becoming newer, both∑REE and∑LREE show a gradually rising trend overall. The∑REE of the core is relatively high from the bottom of Yacheng Formation （at a well depth of 4 207 m） to the top of Ledong Formation, and the REEs show partitioning characteristics of the enrichment of LREE, the stable content of HREE, and the negative anomaly of Eu to varying degrees. Overall the geochemical characteristics of REEs are relatively approximate to those of China＇s neritic sediments and loess, with significant ＂continental ori-entation＂. The∑REE of the core is relatively low in the lower part of Yacheng Formation （at a well depth of 4 207-4 330 m）, as shown by the REEs partitioning characteristics of the depletion of LREE, the relative enrich-ment of HREE, and the positive anomaly of Eu; the geochemical characteristics of REEs are approximate to those of oceanic crust and basalt overall, indicating that the provenance is primarily composed of volcanic eruption matters. As shown by the analyses based on sequence stratigraphy and mineralogy, the provenance in study region in the early Oligocene mainly resulted from the volcanic materials of the peripheral uplift ar-eas; the continental margin materials from the north contributed only insignificantly; the provenance devel-oped to a certain extent in the late Oligocene. Since the Miocene, the provenance has ceaselessly expanded from proximal to distal realm, embodying a characteristic of multi-source sedimentation. In the core strata with 31.5, 28.4, 25.5, 23, and 16 Ma from today, the geochemical parameters of REEs and Th/Sc ratio have significant saltation, embodying the tectonic movement events in the evolution of the Qiongdongnan Basin. In the tectonic evolution history of the South China Sea, the South China Sea Movement （34-25 Ma BP, early expansion of the South China Sea）, Baiyun Movement （23 Ma BP）, late expansion movement （23.5-16.5 Ma BP）, expansion-settlement transition, and other important events are all clearly recorded by the geochemi-cal characteristics of REEs in the core.