Abstract:

There are favorable hydrocarbon elements in the Miquan area of the western margin of Bogda Mountain, Xinjiang. However, complex tectonic deformation and poor seismic imaging quality make identification of underground structures difficult. The accuracy of such identification is the key to a breakthrough in oil and gas exploration. Well-exposed outcrops, seismic sections, magnetotelluric and drilling data, etc., provide important information for defining underground structures. From an integrated analysis based on fault-related fold theory and main methods of structural analysis and modeling, it is pointed out that geological outcrops, magnetotelluric, drilling and logging data, together with other factors need to be comprehensively taken into account during seismic interpretation in order to accurately identify subsurface structures. Therefore, structural analysis and modeling implies a highly comprehensive work in the tectonically-deformed zone of the foreland fold and thrust belt. Beginning with a summary of traditional structural analysis and modeling workflows and theoretical methods for complex structures, a new multi-factors-constrained, integrated analysis and modeling technique is proposed, based on fault-related fold analysis. Using this developed technology as a guide, a multi-level detachment thrust nappe model is built for the Miquan area of the western margin of Bogda Mountain, Xinjiang. This technique can be applied to guide the seismic interpretation of strongly-deformed, low image quality structures, effectively improving its accuracy.