Structural characteristics of central depression belt in deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin and the hydrocarbon discovery of Songnan low bulge

The Qiongdongnan Basin has the first proprietary high-yield gas field in deep-water areas of China and makes the significant breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration. The central depression belt of deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin is constituted by five sags, i.e. Ledong Sag, Lingshui Sag, Songnan Sag, Baodao Sag and Changchang Sag. It is a Cenozoic extensional basin with the basement of pre-Paleogene as a whole. The structural research in central depression belt of deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin has the important meaning in solving the basic geological problems, and improving the exploration of oil and gas of this basin. The seismic interpretation and structural analysis in this article was operated with the 3D seismic of about 1.5×10~4 km~2 and the 2D seismic of about 1×10~4 km. Eighteen sampling points were selected to calculate the fault activity rates of the No.2 Fault. The deposition rate was calculated by the ratio of residual formation thickness to deposition time scale. The paleo-geomorphic restoration was obtained by residual thickness method and impression method. The faults in the central depression belt of deep-water area of this basin were mainly developed during Paleogene, and chiefly trend in NE–SW, E–W and NW–SE directions. The architectures of these sags change regularly from east to west: the asymmetric grabens are developed in the Ledong Sag, western Lingshui Sag, eastern Baodao Sag, and western Changchang Sag; half-grabens are developed in the Songnan Sag, eastern Lingshui Sag, and eastern Changchang Sag. The tectonic evolution history in deep-water area of this basin can be divided into three stages,i.e. faulted-depression stage, thermal subsidence stage, and neotectonic stage. The Ledong-Lingshui sags, near the Red River Fault, developed large-scale sedimentary and subsidence by the uplift of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during neotectonic stage. The Baodao-Changchang sags, near the northwest oceanic sub-basin, developed the large-scale magmatic activities and the transition of stress direction by the expansion of the South China Sea. The east sag belt and west sag belt of the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin, separated by the ancient Songnan bulge, present prominent differences in deposition filling, diaper genesis, and sag connectivity. The west sag belt has the advantages in high maturity, well-developed fluid diapirs and channel sand bodies, thus it has superior conditions for oil and gas migration and accumulation. The east sag belt is qualified by the abundant resources of oil and gas. The Paleogene of Songnan low bulge, located between the west sag belt and the east sag belt, is the exploration potential. The YL 8 area, located in the southwestern high part of the Songnan low bulge, is a favorable target for the future gas exploration. The Well 8-1-1 was drilled in August 2018 and obtained potential business discovery, and the Well YL8-3-1 was drilled in July 2019 and obtained the business discovery.     

琼东南盆地深水区断层垂向输导及成藏模式

In the Qiongdongnan Basin, faults are well developed.Based on the drilling results, the traps controlled two or more faults are oil-rich. However, when only one fault cut through the sand body, there is no sign for hy-drocarbon accumulation in the sandstone. In terms of this phenomenon, the principle of reservoir-forming controlled by fault terrace is proposed, i.e., when the single fault activates, because of the incompressibility of pore water, the resistance of pore and the direction of buoyancy, it is impossible for hydrocarbon to ac-cumulate in sandstone. But when there are two or more faults, one of the faults acts as the spillway so the hydrocarbon could fill in the pore of sandstone through other faults. In total five gas bearing structures and four failure traps are considered, as examples to demonstrate our findings. According to this theory, it is well-advised that south steep slope zone of Baodao-Changchang Depression, south gentle slope zone of Lingshui Depression, north steep slope zone of Lingshui Depression, and north steep slope zone of Baodao Depression are the most favorable step-fault zones, which are the main exploration direction in next stage.     

Difference in full-filled time and its controlling factors in the Central Canyon of the Qiongdongnan Basin

Based on the interpretation of high resolution 2D/3D seismic data,sedimentary filling characteristics and fullfilled time of the Central Canyon in different segments in the Qiongdongnan Basin of northwestern South China Sea have been studied.The research results indicate that the initial formation age of the Central Canyon is traced back to 11.6 Ma(T40),at which the canyon began to develop due to the scouring of turbidity currents from west to east.During the period of 11.6–8.2 Ma(T40–T31),strong downcutting by gravity flow occurred,which led to the formation of the canyon.The canyon fillings began to form since 8.2 Ma(T31) and were dominated by turbidite deposits,which constituted of lateral migration and vertical superposition of turbidity channels during the time of8.2–5.5 Ma.The interbeds of turbidity currents deposits and mass transport deposits(MTDs) were developed in the period of 5.5–3.8 Ma(T30–T28).After then,the canyon fillings were primarily made up of large scale MTDs,interrupted by small scale turbidity channels and thin pelagic mudstones.The Central Canyon can be divided into three types according to the main controlling factors,geomorphology-controlled,fault-controlled and intrusionmodified canyons.Among them,the geomorphology-controlled canyon is developed at the Ledong,Lingshui,Songnan and western Baodao Depressions,situated in a confined basin center between the northern slope and the South Uplift Belt along the Central Depression Belt.The fault-controlled canyon is developed mainly along the deep-seated faults in the Changchang Depression and eastern Baodao Depression.Intrusion-modified canyon is only occurred in the Songnan Low Uplift,which is still mainly controlled by geomorphology,the intrusion just modified seabed morphology.The full-filled time of the Central Canyon differs from west to east,displaying a tendency of being successively late eastward.The geomorphology-controlled canyon was completely filled before3.8 Ma(T28),but that in intrusion-modified canyon was delayed to 2.4 Ma(T27) because of the uplifted southern canyon wall.To the Changchang Depression,the complete filling time was successively late eastward,and the canyon in eastern Changchang Depression is still not fully filled up to today.Difference in full-filled time in the Central Canyon is mainly governed by multiple sediment supplies and regional tectonic activities.Due to sufficient supply of turbidity currents and MTDs from west and north respectively,western segment of the Central Canyon is entirely filled up earlier.Owing to slower sediment supply rate,together with differential subsidence by deep-seated faults,the full-filled time of the canyon is put off eastwards gradually.     

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.     

Hydrocarbon Potential of Pre-cenozoic Strata in the North Yellow Sea Basin

The North Yellow Sea Basin ( NYSB ), which was developed on the basement of North China (Huabei) continental block, is a typical continental Mesozoic Cenozoic sedimentary basin in the sea area. Its Mesozoic basin is a residual basin, below which there is probably a larger Paleozoic sedimentary basin. The North Yellow Sea Basin comprises four sags and three uplifts. Of them, the eastern sag is a Mesozoic Cenozoic sedimentary sag in NYSB and has the biggest sediment thickness; the current Korean drilling wells are concentrated in the eastern sag. This sag is comparatively rich in oil and gas resources and thus has a relatively good petroleum prospect in the sea. The central sag has also accommodated thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments. The latest research results show that there are three series of hydrocarbon source rocks in the North Yellow Sea Basin, namely, black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous. The principal hydrocarbon source rocks in NYSB are the Mesozoic black shale. According to the drilling data of Korea, the black shales of the Paleogene, Jurassic and Cretaceous have all come up to the standards of good and mature source rocks. The NYSB owns an intact system of oil generation, reservoir and capping rocks that can help hydrocarbon to form in the basin and thus it has the great potential of oil and gas. The vertical distribution of the hydrocarbon resources is mainly considered to be in the Cretaceous and then in the Jurassic.     

琼东南盆地深水区崖城组生成天然气的化学动力学及其应用

The natural gas generation process is simulated by heating source rocks of the Yacheng Formation, including the onshore-offshore mudstone and coal with kerogens of Type II_2-III in the Qiongdongnan Basin. The aim is to quantify the natural gas generation from the Yacheng Formation and to evaluate the geological prediction and kinetic parameters using an optimization procedure based on the basin modeling of the shallow-water area. For this, the hydrocarbons produced have been grouped into four classes(C_1, C_2, C_3 and C_(4-6)). The results show that the onset temperature of methane generation is predicted to occur at 110℃ during the thermal history of sediments since 5.3 Ma by using data extrapolation. The hydrocarbon potential for ethane, propane and heavy gaseous hydrocarbons(C_(4-6)) is found to be almost exhausted at geological temperature of 200℃ when the transformation ratio(TR) is over 0.8, but for which methane is determined to be about 0.5 in the shallow-water area. In contrast, the end temperature of the methane generation in the deep-water area was over 300℃ with a TR over 0.8. It plays an important role in the natural gas exploration of the deep-water basin and other basins in the broad ocean areas of China. Therefore, the natural gas exploration for the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan Basin shall first aim at the structural traps in the Ledong, Lingshui and Beijiao sags, and in the forward direction of the structure around the sags, and then gradually develop toward the non-structural trap in the deep-water area basin of the broad ocean areas of China.     

南海北部莺歌海岭头岬近岸烃类渗漏喷口分布及气体地球化学

Natural hydrocarbon seeps in a marine environment are one of the important contributors to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,including methane,which is significant to the global carbon cycling and climate change.Four hydrocarbon seep areas,the Lingtou Promontory,the Yinggehai Rivulet mouth,the Yazhou Bay and the Nanshan Promontory,occurring in the Yinggehai Basin delineate a near-shore gas bubble zone.The gas composition and geochemistry of venting bubbles and the spatial distribution of hydrocarbon seeps are surveyed on the near-shore Lingtou Promontory.The gas composition of the venting bubbles is mainly composed of CO_2,CH_4,N_2 and O_2,with minor amounts of non-methane hydrocarbons.The difference in the bubbles' composition is a possible consequence of gas exchange during bubble ascent.The seepage gases from the seafloor are characterized by a high CO_2 content(67.35%) and relatively positive δ~(13)C_(V_PDB) values(-0.49×10~(-3)-0.86×10~(-3)),indicating that the CO_2 is of inorganic origin.The relatively low CH_4 content(23%) and their negative δ~(13)C_(V-PDB) values(-34.43×10~(-3)--37.53×10~(-3)) and high ratios of C_1 content to C_(1-5) one(0.98-0.99)as well point to thermogenic gases.The hydrocarbon seeps on the 3.5 Hz sub-bottom profile display a linear arrangement and are sub-parallel to the No.1 fault,suggesting that the hydrocarbon seeps may be associated with fracture activity or weak zones and that the seepage gases migrate laterally from the central depression of the Yinggehai Basin.     

琼东南盆地深水区烃源岩生烃动力学及生气模式

In order to investigate the hydrocarbon generation process and gas potentials of source rocks in deepwater area of the Qiongdongnan Basin, kinetic parameters of gas generation(activation energy distribution and frequency factor) of the Yacheng Formation source rocks(coal and neritic mudstones) was determined by thermal simulation experiments in the closed system and the specific KINETICS Software. The results show that the activation energy(Ea) distribution of C1–C5 generation ranges from 50 to 74 kcal/mol with a frequency factor of 2.4×1015 s–1 for the neritic mudstone and the Ea distribution of C1–C5 generation ranges from 49 to 73 kcal/mol with a frequency factor of 8.92×1013 s–1 for the coal. On the basis of these kinetic parameters and combined with the data of sedimentary burial and paleothermal histories, the gas generation model of the Yacheng Formation source rocks closer to geological condition was worked out, indicating its main gas generation stage at Ro(vitrinite reflectance) of 1.25%–2.8%. Meanwhile, the gas generation process of the source rocks of different structural locations(central part, southern slope and south low uplift) in the Lingshui Sag was simulated. Among them, the gas generation of the Yacheng Formation source rocks in the central part and the southern slope of the sag entered the main gas window at 10 and 5 Ma respectively and the peak gas generation in the southern slope occurred at 3 Ma. The very late peak gas generation and the relatively large gas potential indices(GPI:20×108–60×108 m3/km2) would provide favorable conditions for the accumulation of large natural gas reserves in the deepwater area.     

New perspective of Miocene marine hydrocarbon source rocks in deep-water area in Qiongdongnan Basin of northern South China Sea

Drilling wells reveal that the organic matter abundance of Miocene marine source rocks in shallow water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin is relatively low with poor hydrocarbon generation poten- tial. However, in some drilling wells of deep water area close to the central depression belt, Miocene marine source rocks with better organic matter abundance and hydrocarbon generation have been found, which have achieved better source rock standard based on the analysis of geochemical charac- teristics. Although there are no exploratory wells in deep water area of the research region, through the comparative analysis of geochemical data of several typical exploratory wells respectively from shallow water area in the basin, central depression belt margin in deep-water area of the basin and Site 1148 of deep sea drilling in the South China Sea Basin, it reveals that the tendency of the quality of source rocks becomes positive gradually from delta to bathyal environment, which then becomes negative as in deep oceanic environment. Owing to the lack of terrestrial organic matter input, the important controlling factors of Miocene marine source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin are ocean productivity and preservation conditions of organic matter. The element geochemistry data indicate that the tendency of the paleoproductivity and the preservation conditions of organic matter become positive as water depth increase from shallow area to bathyal area close to central depression belt. So it is speculated that there must exist high quality source rocks in the central depression area where the preservation conditions of organic matter are much better. Besides, in theory, in oxygen-poor zone of oceanic environment at the water depth 400-1 000 m, the preservation conditions of organic matter are well thus forming high-quality marine source rocks. The result- ing speculation, it is reasonable to consider that there are high hydrocarbon generation potential source rocks in bathyal environment of the Qiongdongnan Basin, especially at the water depth 400- 1 000 m.     

Diagenetic evolution and reservoir quality of the Oligocene sandstones in the Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

The Oligocene Zhuhai sandstones are significant reservoirs for hydrocarbons in the Baiyun Sag, South China Sea.For effective appraisal, exploration and exploitation of such a deep-water hydrocarbon sandstone, samples of five wells from depths of 850 m to 3 000 m were studied. A series of comprehensive petrographic and geochemical analyses were performed to unravel the diagenetic features and their impact on the reservoir quality.Petrographically, the sandstones are dominated by feldspathic litha...     

Hydrocarbon accumulation model for Neogene traps in the Chengdao area,Bohai Bay Basin,China

Chengdao is an offshore area in the Bohai Bay Basin that contains approximately 25.7 × 10⁸ bbl of oil and gas reserves within the sandstone reservoirs in Neogene strata. However, previous predictions of hydrocarbon accumulation in Neogene traps are inaccurate, resulting in a current failure rate of 50% when drilling for hydrocarbons in this area. To build an improved exploration model for Neogene traps, we select 92 traps from Neogene strata in the Chengdao area to quantify the filling degree, which is an indicator of hydrocarbon accumulation efficiency. The quantified filling degree is based on actual geological and exploration data and differs significantly among various trap types. The filling degree of traps also varies significantly with their structural locations and decreases generally from the northwest to the southeast along the Chengbei Fault zone. Vertically, the filling degree is highly heterogeneous, initially increasing from the bottom to the middle of Neogene strata and then decreasing towards the top of the strata. These Neogene hydrocarbon reservoirs are sourced from the Paleogene, and as they lay vertically away from the source rocks, their hydrocarbon enrichment is constrained largely by hydrocarbon migration distance and vertical migration pathways. The sealing capacity of faults and cap rocks, sandbody orientation and reservoir sedimentary facies determine the maximum column height, which in turn affects the amount of hydrocarbon accumulation within these traps. A scatter plot analysis of individual controls and volumetric filling for each trap type is compiled using multivariate linear regression analysis to quantify controls and the dominant control of hydrocarbon accumulation is determined.     

琼东南盆地深水区长昌凹陷勘探潜力

长昌凹陷位于琼东南盆地深水区中央坳陷东部,是深水勘探新区。通过对凹陷成藏条件分析认为,长昌凹陷供烃充足;存在三角洲砂岩、滨海相砂岩、海底扇及水道砂岩等4种类型储层,且储盖组合发育;发育多层系构造圈闭,面积普遍较大;油气成藏条件优越。在上述研究基础上,对长昌凹陷A、B、C、D、E 5个次一级洼陷勘探潜力进行了评价,认为长昌环A洼成藏特征好,发育大型有利目标。落实万宁X-1、万宁X-2、长昌X-1等多个大中型"构造+岩性"圈闭,圈闭含油气信息好,潜在资源量大,是琼东南盆地深水区下步勘探的重点。     

南海深水盆地油气地质特征及勘探方向

在深入调研南海深水盆地油气地质条件的基础上,系统分析了油气分布规律和成藏主控因素,明确了油气资源潜力和有利勘探方向,旨在为南海深水油气勘探决策提供科学依据。研究结果表明:南海深水盆地发育在非典型边缘海大陆边缘,其石油地质条件具有特殊性,油气分布特征存在显著的南北差异。其中,南海北部深水的珠江口盆地和琼东南盆地,以构造圈闭型油气藏为主;南海中南部深水的曾母盆地南部和文莱-沙巴盆地,主要为构造圈闭型油气藏,曾母盆地北部以岩性油气藏(生物礁滩型油气藏)为主,万安盆地主要为构造圈闭型和基岩潜山型油气藏。南海北部深水盆地和中南部深水盆地的烃源岩、储盖和圈闭等油气地质特征表明,南海深水盆地具有巨大的油气勘探潜力。南海深水的有利勘探方向为:①琼东南盆地乐东-陵水凹陷的中央峡谷、陵南斜坡带,松南-宝岛凹陷的反转构造带,宝岛凹陷北坡海底扇,长昌凹陷的环A洼圈闭带(海底扇);珠江口盆地白云凹陷的主洼深水扇、主洼两翼、西南断阶带,荔湾凹陷的深水扇。②南海中南部深水盆地的文莱-沙巴、曾母和万安盆地。     

空间地质建模技术在宝岛凹陷深水成藏研究中的应用

随着盆地模拟和地质建模技术的不断进步，油气成藏研究逐渐向定量化、动态化和3D可视化方向发展。通过集成PetroMod多维度盆地模拟和Petrel数据处理的功能，搭建起多维度、动态化、可视化技术平台，建立了勘探阶段空间地质建模技术的流程及方法，包括构造建模、岩相建模、参数设置和模型校正。应用该技术，首次建立了琼东南盆地宝岛凹陷空间地质模型，重点实现了深水区南部断阶带油气成藏动态化和成藏3D可视化，恢复了4个关键时期的空间成藏动态过程，研究表明，南部断阶带早期成藏时空配置良好，成藏规模小，晚期成藏时空配置优越且纵向叠置，成藏规模大。南部断阶带成藏模式为煤系和浅海源岩供烃、断裂-砂体-构造脊阶梯型输导、大型海底扇储集、多层系复式聚集，主力聚集层系是陵三段和三亚一段，下一步勘探应积极寻找多期叠置成藏的大型储集体。     

琼东南深水区海陆过渡相富生烃凹陷评价及优选

琼东南盆地古近系崖城组被证实为海陆过渡相烃源岩,但是深水盆地内6个凹陷的特征及演化存在显著差异,如何确定最富生烃的凹陷直接关系到深水钻探的成效。本文在深水凹陷区域构造形成机制、沉积环境演变特征以及海陆过渡相烃源岩有机质特征分析的基础上,充分利用现有钻井和地震资料,首先依据地震相模式分析方法预测了烃源岩层段沉积相分布,并根据沉积相与有机相的对应关系,预测了有机相分布;同时采用地震速度岩性定量分析技术确定出各凹陷烃源岩厚度分布,并利用地震反演速度及区域内泥岩孔隙度和烃源岩Ro的关系,定量预测了源岩热成熟度分布;然后依据烃源岩有机相、厚度和热成熟度等参数计算了崖城组各层段生气量和生气强度;最后以这两个参数为主,结合资源量和油气发现概况,建立了深水区富生烃凹陷评价标准,以此对6个凹陷进行综合评价优选。研究认为陵水、乐东、宝岛和长昌四个凹陷是Ⅰ类(最富生烃)凹陷,而松南和北礁凹陷为Ⅱ类(较富生烃)凹陷。该评价结果对南海北部深水区下一步勘探部署和目标钻探有重要的指导意义。     

琼东南盆地深水区L18气田上新统地层圈闭气田形成条件及成藏模式

近期在琼东南盆地超深水区发现了L18气田上新统地层圈闭气田，但在聚气背景、烃源岩、储层沉积成因及天然气输导体系等气田形成条件和成藏模式认识存在争议。通过对该气田形成条件的综合分析，认为上新世轴向古洼槽内地层圈闭、陵水凹陷东洼下渐新统崖城组浅海相烃源岩、上新统限制型重力流砂岩储层和渐新统-中新统断裂垂向沟源通道是形成上新统地层圈闭气田的4个基本条件。中中新世以来盆地中央继承性发育轴向古洼槽和限制型重力流沉积，随着后期地层沉积迁移、差异压实作用，上新统莺歌海组砂岩顶面在轴向洼槽内起伏，并被周边泥岩封盖、封堵，形成了地层圈闭；约3.4 Ma BP，陵水凹陷东洼下渐新统崖城组浅海相烃源岩生成了成熟天然气，沿渐新统-中新统断裂向上运移到上新统莺歌海组重力流沉积砂岩中，再侧向运移至地层圈闭中聚集成藏，具有"烃源岩、圈闭、断裂+砂岩输导层"三要素控藏的上新统地层圈闭成藏模式。     

南海北部琼东南盆地陵水段峡谷沉积建造及勘探意义

琼东南盆地中央峡谷为一大型轴向峡谷体系,具有明显的"分段性"特征,不同区段沉积充填和内部结构均存在明显的差异,其中陵水段位于峡谷西段,具有非常好的储层物性特征,是深水区峡谷勘探的重点区域。为了进一步精细刻画陵水段峡谷内部水道复合体的沉积充填及沉积微相展布特征,本文借助新增加的三维地震资料和新钻井资料,通过峡谷三级层序界面的识别,将峡谷充填划分为3个三级层序SQ1、SQ2和SQ3,并通过古生物有孔虫化石带、钙质超微化石带及井-震结合确定了峡谷底界为中中新世晚期S40界面,陵水段峡谷自西向东依次识别出6种主要的内部充填结构,且将SQ3层序细分为5个次级层序(SSQ1~SSQ5);结合属性特征,精细刻画了陵水段峡谷内沉积微相平面展布及空间演化特征,并指出点砂坝在SSQ1层序最发育,且规模较大,横向上连片分布,将是下步勘探的有利储集体。