西沙群岛生物碳酸盐的成因和沉积:来自活体仙掌藻的证据

A recent island survey reveals that the Xuande Atoll and the Yongle Atoll in the Xisha Islands can be classified into one of two systems: the depleted atoll system and growth atoll system; the survey also indicates that the decreased area of several shoals is an unbearable burden for the Xisha Islands, of which the largest island area is 2.13 km2 and the minimum elevation is 1.4 m. According to a survey on the ecological characteristics of Halimeda in the Laolongtou breaker zone of Shidao Island in the Xisha Islands, the green and white living Halimeda are collected,the isotopic ages of 14 C contained in the Halimeda are shown to be 27 years and 55 years, respectively, and carbonate mainly occurs in five types, i.e., luster, segment, sand, sand grain, and marl in the formation. The Halimeda segments mainly provide the carbonate sediments of long-term biogenic deposits in the reef environment and the annual productivity per area is 60–100 g/m2; the characteristics of the microstructure of the Halimeda are analyzed, the aragonite raphide carbonate is deposited and enriched in the cortexes, medullas and cysts, and the Halimeda generally contain major elements such as C, O, Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na, S and Al, and are rich in trace elements such as tellurium(Te), rhodium(Rh) and strontium. It is believed that the Halimeda grow slowly,including the biotic community of reef corals in the reef areas, thus they possess an environmental remediation capacity, but it takes much time to remedy the environment, and it is necessary to make the law to protect the diversity and vulnerability of the Xisha marine ecology, the ecology of the reef community and the island environment in a scientific way. As indicated in the survey, under the background of global warming and sea-level rise, the discovery of large amounts of Halimeda in the Laolongtou sea area is significant for the natural increase of the depleted atoll system of the Xuande Atoll, while the Halimeda segments represent the primary form of the fossil Halimeda, of which the species can be identified and preserved in great numbers under geological conditions. The Miocene was discovered in large amounts in the Xichen-1 well, therefore the study on the characteristics and mechanism of Halimeda carbonate sediments plays a pivotal role in the formation and construction of organic reefs in the South China Sea as well as oil and gas exploration.     

Facies character and geochemical signature in the late Quaternary meteoric diagenetic carbonate succession at the Xisha Islands,South China Sea

The late Quaternary shallow-water carbonates have been altered by a variety of diagenetic processes, and further influenced by high-amplitude global and regional sea level changes. This study utilizes a new borehole drilled on the Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands to investigate meteoric diagenetic alteration in the late Quaternary shallowwater carbonates. Petrographic, mineralogical, stable isotopic and elemental data provide new insights into the meteoric diagenetic processes of the reef limestone. The results show the variation in the distribution of aragonite,high-Mg calcite(HMC) and low-Mg calcite(LMC) divides the shallow-water carbonates in Core SSZK1 into three intervals, which are Unit I(31.20–55.92 m, LMC), Unit II(18.39–31.20 m, aragonite and LMC) and Unit III(upper 18.39 m of core, aragonite, LMC and HMC). Various degrees of meteoric diagenesis exist in the identified three units. The lowermost Unit I has suffered almost complete freshwater diagenesis, whereas the overlying Units II and III have undergone incompletely meteoric diagenesis. The amount of time that limestone has been in the freshwater diagenetic environment has the largest impact on the degree of meteoric diagenesis. Approximately four intact facies/water depth cycles are recognized. The cumulative depletion of elements such as strontium(Sr),sodium(Na) and sulphur(S) caused by duplicated meteoric diagenesis in the older reef sequences are distinguished from the younger reef sequences. This study provides a new record of meteoric diagenesis, which is well reflected by whole-rock mineralogy and geochemistry.     

EVOLUTIONAL PATTERN OF THE CORAL SAND ISLANDS IN THE XISHA AREA

Sand island or cay is the dominant type of coral reef islands in the South China Sea. This paper gives in detail the sand islands composed of loose accumulational materials on the atoll reef flats in the Xisha Islands, their types, characteristics of morphological structure and evolutional pattern and dynamics.     

上新世以来南海海水表层温度（SST）的变化

The reconstruction of sea surface temperature(SST) is a key issue in research on paleoceanography. The recently related studies are mainly concentrated on the Quaternary. The skeletons of a typical species of benthonic foraminifer(Amphistegina radiata) in the top 0–375.30 m interval of Well "Xike-1" reef core, Shidao Island, the Xisha Islands, are uniformly selected. The ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations and other indicators are analyzed by an electron microprobe analysis(EMPA) with the purpose of estimating the paleo-SSTs since the Pliocene and further investigating the periodic change law of paleoclimate in the South China Sea(SCS).Meanwhile, the geologic significance of paleoclimatic events in the SCS is discussed with global perspectives. The results indicate that the paleo-SSTs reconstructed by the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the SCS show a general periodic trend of "high–low–high–low" in values changes since the Pliocene. By comparison,the fluctuations of reconstructed paleo-SSTs are much stronger in the Quaternary. Moreover, the variations of the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the A. radiata skeletons have recorded a series of major paleoclimatic events since the Pliocene, of which the Quaternary glaciation events and the Arctic ice cap forming events during the late Pliocene are more significant. Thus, using the changes of the ratios of magnesium to calcium concentrations in the A. radiata skeletons from Well "Xike-1" reef core to reflect the relative changes of paleo-SSTs is a relatively feasible and reliable way in the SCS, which is also proved by the correlation of drilling cores characteristics in this area.     

桑沟湾磷循环

The phosphorus cycle is studied during 2013–2014 in the Sanggou Bay(SGB), which is a typical aquaculture area in northern China. The forms of measured phosphorus include dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP), dissolved organic phosphorus(DOP), particulate inorganic phosphorus(PIP), and particulate organic phosphorus(POP).DIP and PIP are the major forms of total dissolved phosphorus(TDP) and total particulate phosphorus(TPP),representing 51%–75% and 53%–80%, respectively. The concentrations and distributions of phosphorus forms vary among seasons relative to aquaculture cycles, fluvial input, and hydrodynamic conditions. In autumn the concentration of DIP is significantly higher than in other seasons(P0.01), and higher concentrations are found in the west of the bay. In winter and spring the phosphorus concentrations are higher in the east of the bay than in the west. In summer, the distributions of phosphorus forms are uniform. A preliminary phosphorus budget is developed, and shows that SGB is a net sink of phosphorus. A total of 1.80×10~7 mol/a phosphorus is transported into the bay. The Yellow Sea is the major source of net input of phosphorus(61%), followed by submarine groundwater discharge(SGD)(27%), river input(11%), and atmospheric deposition(1%). The main phosphorus sink is the harvest of seaweeds(Saccharina japonica and Gracilaria lemaneiformis), bivalves(Chlamys farreri),and oysters(Crassostrea gigas), accounting for a total of 1.12×10~7 mol/a. Burial of phosphorus in sediment is another important sink, accounting for 7.00×10~6 mol/a. Biodeposition by bivalves is the major source of phosphorus in sediment, accounting for 54% of the total.     

An insight into shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area,South China Sea

Previous studies of gas hydrate in the Dongsha area mainly focused on the deep-seated gas hydrates that have a high energy potential, but cared little about the shallow gas hydrates occurrences. Shallow gas hydrates have been confirmed by drill cores at three sites(GMGS2 08, GMGS2 09 and GMGS2 16) during the GMGS2 cruise, which occur as veins, blocky nodules or massive layers, at 8–30 m below the seafloor. Gas chimneys and faults observed on the seismic sections are the two main fluid migration pathways. The deep-seated gas hydrate and the shallow hydrate-bearing sediments are two main seals for the migrating gas. The occurrences of shallow gas hydrates are mainly controlled by the migration of fluid along shallow faults and the presence of deep-seated gas hydrates.Active gas leakage is taking place at a relatively high-flux state through the vent structures identified on the geophysical data at the seafloor, although without resulting in gas plumes easily detectable by acoustic methods.The presence of strong reflections on the high-resolution seismic profiles and dim or chaotic layers in the subbottom profiles are most likely good indicators of shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area. Active cold seeps,indicated by either gas plume or seepage vent, can also be used as indicators for neighboring shallow gas hydrates and the gas hydrate system that is highly dynamic in the Dongsha area.     

琼东南盆地南部早中新世碳酸盐岩台地的地震解释

The southern uplift of the Qiongdongnan Basin is a deepwater area in which no wells have beens drilled. The Miocene-Quaternary strata in the Xisha Islands, which are located 40–100 km to the south, are composed of carbonate reef formations. Paleotectonic and paleogeographic analyses of the basin suggest that the southern uplift experienced favorable geological conditions for the development of carbonate reefs during the Miocene.The high-impedance carbonates have high amplitudes and low frequencies on seismic profiles. The reefs are distributed on paleotectonic highs and are thicker than the contemporaneous formations. A forward model of the variation in carbonate thickness based on lithological and velocity information from wells in nearby regions can simulate the seismic response of carbonates with different thicknesses. We identified several important controlling points for determining the thickness of carbonates from seismic profiles, including the pinchout point,the λ/4 thickness point, and the λ/2 thickness point. We depict a carbonate thickness map in the deepwater area of the southern Qiongdongnan Basin based on this model. The carbonate thickness map, the paleotectonic and paleogeographic background, and the seismic response characteristics of reefs suggest that the carbonates that developed on the southern uplift of the Qiongdongnan Basin during the Miocene were mainly an isolated carbonate platform peninsula and ramp deposits. It consisted of gentle ramp platform, steep slope platform,platform depression, gravity flow, and reef bank facies.     

Global parameter estimation of the Cochlodinium polykrikoides model using bioassay data

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is a notoriously harmful algal species that inflicts severe damage on the aquacultures of the coastal seas of Korea and Japan. Information on their expected movement tracks and boundaries of influence is very useful and important for the effective establishment of a reduction plan. In general, the information is supported by a red-tide(a.k.a algal bloom) model. The performance of the model is highly dependent on the accuracy of parameters, which are the coefficients of functions approximating the biological growth and loss patterns of the C. polykrikoides. These parameters have been estimated using the bioassay data composed of growth-limiting factor and net growth rate value pairs. In the case of the C. polykrikoides, the parameters are different from each other in accordance with the used data because the bioassay data are sufficient compared to the other algal species. The parameters estimated by one specific dataset can be viewed as locally-optimized because they are adjusted only by that dataset. In cases where the other one data set is used, the estimation error might be considerable. In this study, the parameters are estimated by all available data sets without the use of only one specific data set and thus can be considered globally optimized. The cost function for the optimization is defined as the integrated mean squared estimation error, i.e., the difference between the values of the experimental and estimated rates. Based on quantitative error analysis, the root-mean squared errors of the global parameters show smaller values, approximately 25%–50%, than the values of the local parameters. In addition, bias is removed completely in the case of the globally estimated parameters. The parameter sets can be used as the reference default values of a red-tide model because they are optimal and representative. However, additional tuning of the parameters using the in-situ monitoring data is highly required.As opposed to the bioassay data, it is necessary because the bioassay data have limitations in terms of the in-situ coastal conditions.     

A buried submarine canyon in the northwest South China Sea:architecture,development processes and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

High-resolution multichannel seismic data enables the discovery of a previous, undocumented submarine canyon(Huaguang Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwest South China Sea. The Huaguang Canyon with a NW orientation is 140 km in length, and 2.5 km to 5 km in width in its upper reach and 4.6 km to 9.5 km in width in its lower reach. The head of the Huaguang Canyon is close to the Xisha carbonate platform and its tail is adjacent to the central canyon. This buried submarine canyon is formed by gravity flows from the Xisha carbonate platform when the sea level dropped in the early stage of the late Miocene(～10.5 Ma). The internal architecture of the Huaguang Canyon is mainly characterized by high amplitude reflections, indicating that this ancient submarine canyon was filled with coarse-grained sediments. The sediment was principally scourced from the Xisha carbonate platform. In contrast to other buried large-scale submarine canyons(central canyon and Zhongjian Canyon) in the Qiongdongnan Basin, the Huaguang Canyon displays later formation time, smaller width and length, and single sediment supply. The coarse-grained deposits within Huaguang Canyon provide a good environment for reserving oil and gas, and the muddy fillings in Huaguang Canyon have been identified as regional caps. Therefore, Huaguang Canyon is potential area for future hydrocarbon exploration in the northwest South China Sea. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of submarine canyons formed in carbonate environment.     

Dynamic Buckling of Elasto-Plastic Cylindrical Shells Under Axial Fluid-Solid Impact Load

- The dynamic buckling of elasto-plastic cylindrical shells under axial fluid-solid impact is investigated theoretically. A simplified liquid- gas- structure model is given to approximately imitate the problem. The basic equation of the structure is derived from a minimum principle in dynamics of elasto-plastic continua at finite deformation, and the flow theory of plasticity is employed. The liquid is incompressible and the gas is compressed adiabatically. A number of numerical results are presented and the characteristics of the buckling behavior under fluid-solid impact are illustrated.     

Gravels in the Daxing conglomerate and their effect on reservoirs in the Oligocene Langgu Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin,North China

The Daxing conglomerate reservoir has become an important exploration target in the Langgu Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin. In this paper, gravel composition, void space, poroperm characteristics and hydrocarbon productivity of the Daxing conglomerate in the third member of the Oligocene Shahejie Formation (Es3) are studied in detail to understand the impact of gravel type on reservoir quality based on cores, petrographic thin-sections, scanning electron microscope (SEM) photos, porosity, permeability and well test data. The Daxing conglomerate is composed of limestone and dolomite gravels. The void space of the Daxing conglomerate includes intragravel and intergravel pores as well as fissures. Intragravel pores are dominated by gravel type. They develop as intergranular pores, intergranular dissolved pores, intragranular dissolved pores and few intercrystalline pores in limestone gravels, whereas in dolomite gravels they develop as intercrystalline pores, intercrystalline dissolved pores, dissolved pores and cavities, few intergranular pores and intergranular dissolved pores. The analysis shows that dolomite conglomerates provide better reservoir quality than limestone conglomerates. Microscopically, areal porosity in dolomite gravels is higher than that in limestone gravels. Macroscopically, porosity and permeability of conglomerates that are dominated by dolomite gravels (dolomite conglomerates) are better than those of conglomerates dominated by limestone gravels (limestone conglomerates). The dolomite conglomerates are superior to the limestone conglomerate with regard to hydrocarbon productivity at the level of parent rock and gravel properties. Poroperm characteristics and hydrocarbon productivity of dolomite reservoirs in the middle Proterozoic Changcheng and Jixian Systems (parent rocks of dolomite gravels) are better than those of the limestone reservoirs in the lower Paleozoic, Cambrian and Ordovician (parent rocks of limestone gravels). Gravel properties, including grain structure, physical nature and dissolution velocity cause the dolomite conglomerates to have more intercrystalline pores, fissures and secondary dissolved pores than limestone conglomerates.     

Pore structure characteristics of tight sandstones in the northern Songliao Basin,China

Understanding the pore structure characteristics of tight gas sandstones is the primary purpose of reservoir evaluation and efforts to characterize tight gas transport and storage mechanisms and their controls. Due to the various pore types and multi-scale pore sizes in tight reservoirs, it is essential to combine several techniques to characterize pore structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen gas adsorption (N₂GA), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were conducted on tight sandstones from the Lower Cretaceous Shahezi Formation in the northern Songliao Basin to investigate pore structure characteristics systematically (e.g., type and size distribution of pores) and to establish how significant porosity and permeability are for different pore types. The studied tight sandstones are composed of intergranular pores, dissolution pores and intercrystalline pores. The integration of N₂GA and NMR can be used as an efficient method to uncover full pore size distribution (PSD) of tight sandstones, with pore sizes ranging from 2 nm to dozens of microns. The full PSDs indicate that the pore sizes of tight sandstones are primarily distributed within 1.0 μm. With an increase in porosity and permeability, pores with larger sizes contribute more to porosity. Intercrystalline pores and intergranular/dissolution pores can be clearly distinguished on the basis of mercury intrusion and surface fractal. The relative contribution of intercrystalline pores to porosity ranges from 58.43% to 91.74% with an average of 79.74%. The intercrystalline pores are the primary contributor to pore space, whereas intergranular/dissolution pores make a considerably greater contribution to permeability. A specific quantity of intergranular/dissolution pores is the key to producing high porosity and permeability in tight sandstone reservoirs. The new two permeability estimation models show an applicable estimation of permeability with R² values of 0.955 and 0.962 for models using D_max (pore diameter corresponding to displacement pressure) and D_f (pore diameter at inflection point), respectively. These results indicate that both D_max and D_f are key factors in determining permeability.     

南沙群岛南科1井白云岩发育特征及铁白云石成因机制的初步研究*

南海自新生代以来发育了大量的碳酸盐岩台地和生物礁, 并普遍发生白云岩化作用, 具有广阔的油气勘探前景。文章通过开展岩相学观察、矿物学分析、常微量元素和碳氧同位素分析, 同时结合Fe组分及Fe同位素地球化学分析, 对南沙群岛南科1井白云岩的发育特征和成岩环境进行了系统研究。结果表明: 南科1井上中新统—下更新统白云岩主要形成于近地表环境中, 溶蚀孔隙发育, 残余结构明显。白云岩层中发育有多个与暴露成因有关的界面, 未发现石膏层的存在。同时, 白云岩普遍具有低Fe、Mn和Sr的特征以及与现代海水相似的REE分布模式, δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O多为正值, 但不存在相关性。整体来看, 白云岩可能形成于轻微蒸发海水的渗透回流作用, 还受到了与古气候变冷有关的海平面下降的控制。此外, 南科1井岩芯中多个层位发育铁白云石, 并且集中分布在暴露面附近。Fe组分和Fe同位素组成结果显示, 白云岩中Fe主要来源于海水中碳酸盐的沉淀, 成岩过程中基本不存在额外的陆源或热液来源的Fe混入。铁白云石主要形成于低温和浅埋藏环境中, 大气淡水对生物骨架、生物碎屑以及自生碳酸盐矿物的淋滤-溶解作用为其提供了重要的物质来源。作为生物礁体暴露地表期间的产物, 铁白云石的发育层位可能指示着低海平面时期。     

西沙岛礁白云岩化特征与成因模式分析

关于碳酸盐岩的白云岩化作用至今仍是一个争论颇大的科学问题。在2012-2013年期间,中海石油（中国）有限公司湛江分公司在西沙石岛钻取了长达1 268.02 m的“西科1井”岩心,在0~1 257.52 m主要由碳酸盐岩组成的岩心中存在有7个白云岩层。本文基于西科1井岩心样品的矿物组成、常量、微量及稀土元素含量等地球化学特征分析,探讨了西沙岛礁特有的白云岩化作用过程。结果表明:西科1井7层白云岩在成因上与埋深和压实成岩作用无关,其分布与海平面下降的地质事件有良好的对应关系,白云岩层元素地球化学特征表明白云岩成岩流体为浓缩的高盐度海水。根据白云岩层的矿物学和地球化学特征,提出了礁滩潟湖环境下高盐卤水渗透回流作用的白云岩化模式:伴随海平面的升降,礁体处于淹没与暴露的交替之中,海平面下降导致了礁滩潟湖的形成,由于西沙海区蒸发量大于降水量而使澙湖中海水盐度增高,最终形成富Mg卤水;澙湖中高盐度富Mg卤水在礁体内下渗和侧向扩散,Mg逐渐替代早期CaCO₃晶格中Ca而形成白云石;海平面的升降变化和礁体淹没与暴露的交替导致了钻井岩心多个白云岩层的形成。海平面升降直接控制了岛礁碳酸盐岩的发育和白云岩化作用,导致海平面升降的古气候变化在岛礁的形成发育中起到主导作用。     

西沙海区碳酸盐台地地震反射特征及沉积模式

随着南海海盆的持续扩张,西沙海区整体沉降,从早中新世起西沙碳酸盐台地开始发育,而且在台地之上生长了不同类型的生物礁。通过地震识别认为,西沙海区生物礁在地震剖面上表现为顶底强振幅的丘形连续反射、内部弱振幅杂乱反射;碳酸盐台地表现为顶部强振幅连续平行反射、底部界面局部模糊、内部强弱相间亚平行连续反射。通过对西沙海区地层层序的分析以及大量地震资料的解释认为,在西沙碳酸盐台地的发育早期它受基底构造的控制,而在后期主要受多期海平面变化的影响,其发育演化经历了初始生长—加积—出露—二次生长—淹没等一系列阶段,复杂的演化过程也使西沙碳酸盐岩具有较好的储集条件和油气远景。     

Controls on reservoir heterogeneity of tight sand oil reservoirs in Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in Longdong Area,southwest Ordos Basin,China: Implications for reservoir quality prediction and oil accumulation

Compared to conventional reservoirs, pore structure and diagenetic alterations of unconventional tight sand oil reservoirs are highly heterogeneous. The Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation is a major tight-oil-bearing formation in the Ordos Basin, providing an opportunity to study the factors that control reservoir heterogeneity and the heterogeneity of oil accumulation in tight oil sandstones.The Chang 8 tight oil sandstone in the study area is comprised of fine-to medium-grained, moderately to well-sorted lithic arkose and feldspathic litharenite. The reservoir quality is extremely heterogeneous due to large heterogeneities in the depositional facies, pore structures and diagenetic alterations. Small throat size is believed to be responsible for the ultra-low permeability in tight oil reservoirs. Most reservoirs with good reservoir quality, larger pore-throat size, lower pore-throat radius ratio and well pore connectivity were deposited in high-energy environments, such as distributary channels and mouth bars. For a given depositional facies, reservoir quality varies with the bedding structures. Massive- or parallel-bedded sandstones are more favorable for the development of porosity and permeability sweet zones for oil charging and accumulation than cross-bedded sandstones.Authigenic chlorite rim cementation and dissolution of unstable detrital grains are two major diagenetic processes that preserve porosity and permeability sweet zones in oil-bearing intervals. Nevertheless, chlorite rims cannot effectively preserve porosity-permeability when the chlorite content is greater than a threshold value of 7%, and compaction played a minor role in porosity destruction in the situation. Intensive cementation of pore-lining chlorites significantly reduces reservoir permeability by obstructing the pore-throats and reducing their connectivity. Stratigraphically, sandstones within 1 m from adjacent sandstone-mudstone contacts are usually tightly cemented (carbonate cement > 10%) with low porosity and permeability (lower than 10% and 0.1 mD, respectively). The carbonate cement most likely originates from external sources, probably derived from the surrounding mudstone. Most late carbonate cements filled the previously dissolved intra-feldspar pores and the residual intergranular pores, and finally formed the tight reservoirs.The petrophysical properties significantly control the fluid flow capability and the oil charging/accumulation capability of the Chang 8 tight sandstones. Oil layers usually have oil saturation greater than 40%. A pore-throat radius of less than 0.4 μm is not effective for producible oil to flow, and the cut off of porosity and permeability for the net pay are 7% and 0.1 mD, respectively.     

西沙海区新近纪碳酸盐岩台地地震响应特征和控制因素

利用西沙海域最新采集的高分辨率二维地震资料及钻井资料,结合前人研究成果,建立了西沙海区高精度层序地层格架;并在西沙海区新近纪识别出点礁、塔礁、台地边缘礁和环礁这4种不同类型生物礁,总结了不同生物礁的地震反射特征。早中新世时,西沙碳酸盐岩台地开始发育,台地数量较少且规模有限;中中新世,随着海平面的持续上升,海平面上升速率和碳酸盐岩的生长速率接近,此时碳酸盐岩台地发育规模达到最大;晚中新世以后,海平面继续上升,海平面上升速率远大于碳酸盐岩的生长速率,随着水深的快速增加,台地进入淹没阶段,不适合碳酸盐岩台地及生物礁发育,仅在部分构造高部位继续发育,生物礁主要为大型的环礁。控制西沙碳酸盐岩台地发育的影响因素为构造作用和相对海平面变化。     

Dolomitization of the lower Ordovician Catoche formation: Implications for hydrocarbon exploration in western Newfoundland

The lower Ordovician St. George Group in Western Newfoundland consists of a sequence of subtidal and peritidal carbonates, which are extensively dolomitized. The current study investigates the diagenetic evolution of the Catoche Formation from the Port aux Choix and Port au Port peninsulas in order to study the controls on reservoir quality in western Newfoundland. The Catoche Formation dolomites are classified into three main generations. Early and pervasive replacement dolomite (D1) indicates that dolomitization began during early stages of diagenesis. Stable isotope and trace element data indicate significant variations between D1 dolomite on the Port aux Choix and Port au Port peninsulas. The depleted δ¹⁸O signature of D1 dolomite fluids (−8.7 ± 1.3‰ VPBD) on the Port aux Choix Peninsula is consistent with partial dolomitization associated with mixing of seawater and meteoric waters on the flanks of structural highs. In contrast δ¹⁸O values (−6.1 ± 0.7‰ VPBD) and trace element data from the Port au Port Peninsula indicate that pervasive D1 was associated with mixing of possibly post evaporitic brines with meteoric waters.Later-stage replacement dolomites (D2) are associated with enhancement in porosity through the development of intercrystalline pores, while latest stage saddle dolomite (D3), significantly occluded the pores in some horizons. D2 dolomite formed due to the influx of warm (>100 °C), saline (>15 eq. wt% NaCl) fluids. Intercrystalline porosity in D2 formed due to the dolomitization of precursor calcite, due to the lower molar volume of dolomite compared to calcite. Therefore porosity development is lower on the Port au Port Peninsula, with no significant volume change during the recrystallization of the pervasive early (D1) dolomicrite. Similarly, extensive porous horizons on the Port aux Choix Peninsula are related to the limited extent of D1 dolomitization. This suggests that the quality of a potential dolomite reservoir is strongly controlled by tectonic and diagenetic history of host carbonates.     

Characteristics and controlling factors of reservoir space of mudstone and shale in Es3x in the Zhanhua Sag

Zhanhua Sag is a widely accepted target zone with huge exploration and development potential for shale oil and shale gas resources. Many detailed studies have been undertaken around the geochemistry of the lower section of the third member of the Shahejie Formation (Es3x), while few studies have focused on the reservoir. In this study, based on the mineralogical features and geochemical characteristics, and by using statistical methods, the characteristics and controlling factors of reservoir space of mudstone and shale in Es3x in the Zhanhua Sag are explored through field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high pressure mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Three major findings were obtained. ① There are micropores and microfractures in the reservoir space, which include intergranular pores, clay intercrystal pores, pyrite intercrystal pores, dissolved pores, structural microfractures, and bedding microfractures. ② According to the features of pore size distribution (PSD), the pore distribution can be divided into the following three categories: 0–50 nm, 50 nm–2 μm, and >2 μm; the average volumes of these components are 0.01079 mL g⁻¹, 0.00361 mL g⁻¹, and 0.00355 mL g⁻¹, respectively, thus showing that the pores whose radii are distributed at 0–50 nm form the most important reservoir space (though those with the 50 nm–2 μm and >2 μm radii are also important and cannot be ignored). ③ There are different controlling factors when it comes to different scale pores. Based on statistics and FE-SEM results, the dissolved pores in calcite were determined to be the controlling factor for the 0–50 nm portion, the intercrystalline pores in clay and pyrite, and intergranular pores between authigenic minerals (calcite, dolomite, and pyrite) and clastic minerals (calcite and dolomite) were determined to be the controlling factors for the 50 nm–2 μm portion, and the structural microfractures and bedding microfractures were determined to be the main factors for the >2 μm portion. Furthermore, it is the brittle minerals content and bedded structure that control the microfractures. This study thus clarifies the types and characteristics of reservoir space and identifies pore structure controlling factors of mudstone and shale in Es3x in the Zhanhua Sag; this information has important significance for future reservoir evaluations.