Generation of hydrocarbons in the burial history of Silurian formations in the Libyan part of the Ghadames Basin

Burial history, temperature variations, and organic matter maturation in the sedimentary rocks in the Ghadames Basin were numerically reconstructed using the GALO system for basin modeling taking into account repeated tectonic (stretching) and thermal activation events in the basin lithosphere. The modeling improved the reconstruction of the thermal history of the basin and hydrocarbon generation potential compared with previous model estimates based on the assumption of a constant temperature gradient during the whole period of basin development. In particular, the results of modeling suggest that the amplitude of Cenozoic erosion was smaller than that proposed in previous studies. The central part of the Ghadames Basin, which was considered in this study, is the western part of the Libyan sector of the basin, which underwent intense subsidence reaching 4000 m already in the Carboniferous. Given the relatively active thermal history of the basin, the modeling suggests high degrees of organic maturity in the source rocks of the Lower Silurian in the modern section of the basin and confirms the high generation potential of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in these formations. Significant hydrocarbon generation has occurred there since the Late Carboniferous. On the other hand, the generation potential of the Late Devonian (Frasnian) sequences is limited and strongly dependent on burial depth. The main stage of hydrocarbon generation in these rocks coincided with the Cenozoic thermal activation of the basin lithosphere. In all the areas considered, the oil window overlaps a significant portion of the modern sedimentary section of the Ghadames Basin.     

Influence of saline deposits on the conditions of petroleum generation in the rocks underlying the salt complex of the northern part of the Precaspian Basin

Numerous studies on the potential of hydrocarbon generation by the rocks of the sedimentary cover of the northern Precaspian Basin are based either on the interpolation of measurements from a relatively sparse boreholes network or on the numerical estimations of the history of development of the hydrocarbon potential under the assumption of a steady temperature gradient both with depth in the sedimentary cover and with time during basin evolution. By the example of sedimentary sections from the northeastern part of the Precaspian Basin, variations in thermal history and petroleum formation conditions were numerically analyzed for the rocks underlying the salt complex of the basin. Variations in the temperature gradient and thermal properties of the rocks with depth and time were accounted for in the modeling. Numerical reconstructions of the thermal and maturation history of sedimentary sections from the basin were used to estimate the influence of evaporite sequences on the thermal history, the maturation level of organic matter, and the hydrocarbon generation potential of the subsalt complex of the basin. The calculations showed that this influence could be significant, but there remained an uncertainty related to the absence of reliable data on the time and rate of salt diapir formation.     

Change in the degree of catagenesis and hydrocarbon generation in the sedimentary rocks of the South Sumatra Basin,Indonesia

Temperature and catagenetic history of the South Sumatra Basin in Indonesia is considered by the example of the sedimentary sequence of the Limau graben during its subsidence from the Oligocene to the present time. GALO system for basin modeling was applied for numerical reconstruction of six sedimentary successions in the area of holes Pandan-81, Petanang-1, Tepus-2, Tepus-1, Gambir-1, and Lembak-8 located along the profile cutting across the Limau graben. Modeling suggests significant cooling of the basemen for the last 15–20 Ma from the high initial heat flow of 105 mW/m², which is typical of axial zones of continental rifting, and significant heating of the basin lithosphere during the last 2–5 Ma. Examination of variations in tectonic subsidence of the basin confirms the possible extension of the lithosphere in the Oligocene-Miocene with an amplitude β increasing from 1.12 on the flanks of the Limau graben (Hole Lembak-8) to 1.32 in the central part of the graben (Tepus-1 and 2), Tectonic analysis indicates also the notable thermal activation of the basin in the Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene. This activation is consistent with the high temperature gradient typical of the present-day sedimentary cover of the basin. Numerical modeling of the evolution of the organic matter maturity and hydrocarbon generation by main source formations of the basin confirms good prospects of the inferred source formations (Lemat, Talang Akar, and Gumai) of the South Sumatra basin for the generation of liquid hydrocarbons (HC) in the Limau Graben. It is also demonstrated that the source rocks of the Lemat Formation are ore-generating rocks in the main part of the Limau graben and are gas-generating rocks only in the deepest portions of the graben. The rocks at the base and roof of the Talang Akar Formation could be considered as highly oil-generating rocks, probably except for the upper horizons of the formation in the shallowest portions of the graben (Hole Lembak-8). Oil generation reached peak in the last 5–10 Ma. Modeling showed that intense oil generation by the Gumai Formation may be significant in the most part of the Limau graben and negligible only in the distant flanks of the graben (Hole Lembak-8).     

柴达木盆地德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩成熟度演化史

德令哈坳陷是柴达木盆地石炭系具有勘探前景的地区。综合区域调查、平衡剖面反演、镜质体反射率等分析,获取了柴达木盆地主要构造运动期次,并结合盆地模拟技术,重建了石炭系埋藏史;结合石炭系烃源岩油气地化指标,研究了德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩热演化史。研究表明,德令哈坳陷内石炭系烃源岩广泛发育,有机质丰度较高,埋深较大,但未发生变质,处于成熟-高成熟阶段。德令哈坳陷石炭系埋藏史主要表现为晚石炭世、中侏罗世早期-晚白垩世、渐新世晚期-中新世为快速埋藏期,早二叠世-晚三叠世、早白垩世-始新世为稳定期,晚三叠世末-晚侏罗世、始新世末-中新世、中新世末以来为强烈抬升剥蚀期,沉降史与抬升剥蚀史新生代以来存在着差异;石炭系烃源岩热演化史主要表现为"二次生烃、晚期生烃为主"的特点,主要受控于区域构造运动。晚古生代以来柴达木盆地热演化总体表现为缓慢降低的特征,主要受控于柴达木盆地岩浆热事件与构造活动特征。      

柴达木盆地石炭系油气调查最新进展

柴达木盆地石炭系是海相油气勘探的新领域,通过对柴达木盆地石炭系油气地质条件进行调查,评价其资源潜力,为该区寻找油气战略接替区提供科学依据。以柴达木盆地石炭系为主要目标,通过调查和研究,首次获得柴达木盆地石炭系油气流,在柴达木盆地古生界海相新层系油气方面取得重要发现;综合区域调查、平衡剖面反演及镜质体反射率等分析,获取柴达木盆地主要构造运动期次;结合盆地模拟技术,重建了石炭系埋藏史,分析了柴达木盆地德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩油气地化指标,研究了烃源岩生烃演化史。研究表明:柴达木盆地德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩广泛发育,有机质丰度较高,埋深较大,但未发生变质,处于成熟-高成熟阶段;德令哈坳陷石炭系埋藏史主要表现为快速埋藏期、稳定期与强烈抬升剥蚀期,新生代以来沉降史与抬升剥蚀史存在着差异;石炭系烃源岩热演化史主要表现为“存在二次生烃,晚期生烃为主”的特点,主要受该区构造运动控制;柴达木盆地热演化总体表现为缓慢降低的趋势,主要受控于柴达木盆地岩浆热事件与构造活动。调查分析表明,新层系石炭系油气条件良好,资源前景广阔,是柴达木盆地下一步勘探的接替层系。     

柴达木盆地石炭系油气调查最新进展

柴达木盆地石炭系是海相油气勘探的新领域,通过对柴达木盆地石炭系油气地质条件进行调查,评价其资源潜力,为该区寻找油气战略接替区提供科学依据。以柴达木盆地石炭系为主要目标,通过调查和研究,首次获得柴达木盆地石炭系油气流,在柴达木盆地古生界海相新层系油气方面取得重要发现; 综合区域调查、平衡剖面反演及镜质体反射率等分析,获取柴达木盆地主要构造运动期次; 结合盆地模拟技术,重建了石炭系埋藏史,分析了柴达木盆地德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩油气地化指标,研究了烃源岩生烃演化史。研究表明: 柴达木盆地德令哈坳陷石炭系烃源岩广泛发育,有机质丰度较高,埋深较大,但未发生变质,处于成熟—高成熟阶段; 德令哈坳陷石炭系埋藏史主要表现为快速埋藏期、稳定期与强烈抬升剥蚀期,新生代以来沉降史与抬升剥蚀史存在着差异; 石炭系烃源岩热演化史主要表现为“存在二次生烃,晚期生烃为主”的特点,主要受该区构造运动控制; 柴达木盆地热演化总体表现为缓慢降低的趋势,主要受控于柴达木盆地岩浆热事件与构造活动。调查分析表明,新层系石炭系油气条件良好,资源前景广阔,是柴达木盆地下一步勘探的接替层系。     

No major thermal event on the mid-Cretaceous Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin

Transient mid-Cretaceous thermal uplift induced by lateral heating from passing oceanic lithosphere is often invoked as a mechanism for the formation of the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana basement ridge in the Equatorial Atlantic. This heating event should have affected mid-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks along the ridge. However, organic maturity and clay mineral data on the thermal evolution of these rocks suggest that burial temperatures did not exceed 80 °C and that palaeo–geothermal gradients are not anomalous. Optical petrography and the stratigraphic pattern of temperature-sensitive parameters indicate that higher palaeotemperature estimates are related to admixtures of preheated, detrital organic and inorganic matter. Erosion brought the sediments to their present shallow burial depths. Lack of evidence for significant thermal alteration implies that either thermal exchange between oceanic and continental lithosphere along the Côte d'Ivoire–Ghana Transform Margin was negligible, or that lateral heating by oceanic lithosphere was not strong enough to affect the sedimentary cover of the basement ridge.     

地球生物学方法与海相优质烃源岩形成过程的正演和评价

烃源岩存在生烃和排烃过程, 高-过成熟区还叠加了烃源岩有机质的强烈改造和破坏, 从海相地层残余有机质出发评价烃源岩的反演方法需要进一步完善.以探索生命系统与地球系统相互作用为主题的地球生物学为正演烃源岩形成的动力学过程提供了理论依据.分子地球生物学、地球微生物学、地球生态学和生物地球化学等地球生物学的各分支学科(要素) 为恢复烃源岩形成时的生产力及其组成、沉积有机质的量和类型、有机埋藏量及其过程和类型等提供了技术方法支撑, 分别论述了如何利用地球生物学的技术方法来定量计算原始生产力、沉积有机质和埋藏有机质.表征地球生物学过程的地球生物相则综合和集成了烃源岩生物相、有机相和沉积相的相关信息, 包含了生境型(群落型)、生产力和有机埋藏等定量化指标, 它为建立优质烃源岩的地球生物学评价体系服务.通过烃源岩实验模拟得出的有机质恢复系数对残余有机碳进行恢复, 并与地球生物学得出的埋藏有机质进行量的对比, 由此实现地球生物学方法与传统反演方法的接口和校正.      

莺-琼盆地海相烃源岩特征及高温高压环境有机质热演化

莺歌海盆地与琼东南盆地存在渐新统海岸平原-半封闭浅海相和中新统浅海相两套海相烃源岩。其中,渐新统烃源岩发育于琼东南盆地早第三纪半地堑,存在海岸平原和半封闭浅海两类烃源岩组合。海岸平原含煤烃源岩有机质丰度高,富含陆源有机质,具有很好的生气潜力;半封闭浅海相烃源岩TOC含量总体低于1.0%,但其规模大且存在TOC1.5%的较高丰度段,故亦具有较大的生气能力。中新统海相烃源岩主要分布于莺歌海盆地裂后热沉降形成的中央坳陷,其有机质丰度横向变化比较大,位于中央坳陷带的烃源岩有机质丰度较高,TOC大多在0.40%～2.97%之间,有机质以气型干酪根为主。盆地的高地温为有机质向天然气转化提供了有利的条件,尤其是热流体活动使浅层有机质超前熟化,但地层超压对有机质热演化也有一定的抑制作用。盆地模拟结果显示,莺-琼盆地主要凹陷烃源岩大量生气时间较晚,与圈闭形成期的时空配置好,有利于成藏。     

Formation and Tectonic Evolution of the Pattani Basin,Gulf of Thailand

The stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Pattani Basin, the most prolific petroleum basin in Thailand, reflects the extensional tectonic regime of continental Southeast Asia. E-W extension resulting from the northward collision of India with Eurasia since the Early Tertiary resulted in the formation of a series of N-S-trending sedimentary basins, which include the Pattani Basin. The sedimentary succession in the Pattani Basin is divisible into synrift and post-rift sequences. Deposition of the synrift sequence accompanied rifting and extension, with episodic block faulting and rapid subsidence. The synrift sequence comprises three stratigraphic units: (1) Upper Eocene to Lower Oligocene alluvial-fan, braidedriver, and floodplain deposits; (2) Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene floodplain and channel deposits; and (3) a Lower Miocene regressive package consisting of marine to nonmarine sediments. Post-rift succession comprises: (1) a Lower to Middle Miocene regressive package of shallow marine sediments through floodplain and channel deposits; (2) an upper Lower Miocene transgressive sequence; and (3) an Upper Miocene to Pleistocene transgressive succession. The post-rift phase is characterized by slower subsidence and decreased sediment influx. The present-day shallow-marine condition in the Gulf of Thailand is the continuation of this latest transgressive phase.

The subsidence and thermal history of the Pattani Basin is consistent with a nonuniform lithospheric-stretching model. The amount of extension as well as surface heat flow generally increases from the margin to the basin center. The crustal stretching factor (β) varies from 1.3 at the basin margin to 2.8 in the center. The subcrustal stretching factor (5) ranges from 1.3 at the basin margin to more than 3.0 in the basin center. The stretching of the lithosphere may have extended the basement rocks by as much as 45 to 90 km and has led to passive upwelling of the aesthenosphere, resulting in high heat flow (1.9 to 2.5 Heat Flow Units [HFU]) and high geothermal gradient (45 to 60° C/km). The validity of nonuniform lithospheric stretching as a mechanism for the formation of the Pattani Basin is confirmed by the good agreement between the level of organic maturation modeled on the basis of the predicted heatflow history and measured vitrinite reflectance at various depths measured in some 30 boreholes.     

Contribution of erosion and intrusive-hydrothermal activity to the depth profile of organic matter maturation in sedimentary basins

Sharp variations in organic matter (OM) maturity with depth in sedimentary basins reflected in an abrupt increase in vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) can be caused by both the thermal effect of intrusions accelerating OM maturation in adjacent rocks and removal of a thick sedimentary layer during the extensive erosion of the basin. It is traditionally believed that the erosion of a 1.5–3.0-km-thick sedimentary layer must significantly affect the depth profile of OM maturity, resulting in a drastic increase in %Ro in the present-day sedimentary basin. Some authors used such jumps (ΔRo) to estimate the amplitude of erosion. However, our analysis showed that the depth profile of %Ro is controlled not only by the amplitude of erosion but also by sedimentation history during the posterosion stage of basin evolution. Eastern Algerian basins are good examples to examine this problem, because their evolution involved both the stage of extensive Hercynian erosion and subsequent strong hydrothermal and intrusive activity. Numerous measurements of %Ro in core samples from eastern Algerian sedimentary basins were used to analyze this problem. The calculations of %Ro(z) distributions on the basis of numerical reconstructions of the thermal history of sedimentary sections in more than 60 boreholes of the area showed that the Hercynian erosion could account for only a minor part of the observed amplitude of Δ%Ro, in spite of the significant amplitude of erosion (1.5–3.5 km) typical of the basins of the Algerian Sahara. At the same time, the intrusive and associated hydrothermal activity of the Triassic and Jurassic adequately explains the amplitude of a stepwise increase in OM maturation with depth in the present-day sedimentary sections of these basins. Thus, the reliability of erosion amplitudes estimated from jumps in depth profiles of %Ro can be assessed only after the detailed examination of the posterosion history of the basin. Original Russian Text ? Yu.I. Galushkin, M. Makhous, 2006, published in Geokhimiya, 2006, No. 12 pp. 1325–1337.     

Maturity studies and source-rock potential in the southern Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada

The purpose of the study is to better understand the relationship between organic matter optical properties and the presence of potentially large oil and gas accumulations in Arctic Canada. The type and thermal maturity of the dispersed organic matter of the Mesozoic formations in the southern Sverdrup Basin, Melville Island, have been studied using organic petrology and Rock-Eval pyrolysis.All types of organic matter are present in the strata of Mesozoic age. Hydrogen-rich liptinite is dominated by alginite (Botryococcus and Tasmanites), dinoflagellate cysts and amorphous fluorescing matrix. Sporinite, cutinite, resinite and liptodetrinite made up the lesser hydrogen-rich exinite. Vitrinite reflectance in Cretaceous sediments ranges from 0.36 to 0.65% R_o; in Jurassic sediments it ranges from 0.40 to 1.0% R_o and in the Triassic from 0.45 to 1.30% R_o, showing an overall increase with depth of burial.Cretaceous sediments of the Deer Bay Formation are thermally immature and contain organic matter of terrestrial origin. The Upper Jurassic shales of the Ringnes Formation contain predominantly organic matter of liptinitic and exinitic origin with a considerable vitrinitic input. At optimum maturation levels, potential source beds of this formation would have a good hydrocarbon-generating potential. The hydrocarbon potential, however, would be limited to the generation of gases due to the leanness of the source rocks. Parts of the Lower Jurassic Jameson Bay Formation are organic-rich and contain a mixed exinitic/vitrinitic organic matter, Botryococcus colonial algae but visible organic matter is dominated by high plant remains (mainly spores). The Schei Point Group shales and siltstones contain organic matter of almost purely marine origin, whereas the predominantly higher plant-derived organic matter found in the Deer Bay, Jameson Bay and partly in the Ringnes formations have higher TOC. Among the Schei Point Group samples, the Cape Richards and Eden Bay members of the Hoyle Bay Formation are richer in TOC (>2.0%) than the Murray Harbour Formation (Cape Caledonia Member). This may reflect differences in the level of maturity or in the depositional environment (more anoxic conditions for the former).Regional variations in the level of thermal maturity of Mesozoic sediments in Sverdrup Basin appear to be a function of burial depth. The Mesozoic formations thicken towards the basin centre (NNE direction), reflecting the general pattern of increasing thermal maturity north of Sabine Peninsula. However, the regional thermal-maturation pattern of the Mesozoic is not solely a reflection of the present-day geothermal gradient, which indicates that anomalous zones of high geothermal gradient may have existed in the past, at least since when the Mesozoic sediments attained maximum burial depth. The contour pattern of the regional variation of maturity at the base of numerous Triassic formations is similar to that of the structural contours of the Sverdrup Basin, indicating that present-day maturation levels are largely controlled by basin subsidence.     

大陆岩石圈流变学研究及其在伸展盆地动力学中的应用

大陆岩石圈流变性是伸展盆地动力学研究中的一个重要方面。大陆岩石圈具有多种流变学特征,控制着不同的岩石圈变形样式以及盆地形态、沉降/上隆、沉积样式和岩浆岩分布等岩石圈变形在伸展盆地中的表现形式。大陆岩石圈流变学研究在伸展盆地运动学和动力学模拟中的应用现状和最新进展表明,尽管大陆岩石圈的流变性非常复杂,其在伸展盆地动力学分析中起到了非常重要的作用,应该加以足够重视和深入研究。     

Source rock potential of the Middle Jurassic to Middle Pliocene,onshore Nile Delta Basin,Egypt

Organic geochemical characterization of cutting samples from the Abu Hammad-1 and Matariya-1 wells elucidates the depositional environment and source rock potential of the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous successions and the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene section in the southern and eastern Nile Delta Basin. The burial and thermal histories of the Mesozoic and Miocene sections were modeled using 1D basin modeling based on input data from the two wells. This study reveals fair to good gas-prone source rocks within the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sections with total organic carbon (TOC) averaging 2.7% and hydrogen index (HI) up to 130 mg HC/g TOC. The pristane/n-C₁₇ versus phytane/n-C₁₈ correlation suggests mixed marine and terrestrial organic matter with predominant marine input. Burial and thermal history modeling reveals low thermal maturity due to low heat flow and thin overburden. These source rocks can generate gas in the western and northern parts of the basin where they are situated at deeper settings. In contrast, the thick Middle Miocene shows fair source rock quality (TOC averaging at 1.4%; HI maximizing at 183 mg HC/g TOC). The quality decreases towards the younger section where terrestrial organic matter is abundant. This section is similar to previously studied intervals in the eastern Nile Delta Basin but differs from equivalents in the central parts where the quality is better. Based on 1D modeling, the thick Middle Miocene source rocks just reached the oil generation stage, but microbial gas, however, is possible.     

鄂尔多斯盆地构造沉降特征及对盆地成因的启示

构造沉降作为盆地成因研究中的重要组成部分,对其特征进行分析有助于盆地成因的解析。本次通过对鄂尔多斯盆地内5口典型探井的多期不整合所代表的的剥蚀厚度进行恢复,结合去压实矫正模型以及平均密度、平均古水深等参数的确定,较为精确地刻画出了鄂尔多斯盆地不同构造单元自早寒武世至今的构造沉降特征,同时结合裂谷盆地瞬时拉张模型、裂后热坳陷模型以及前陆盆地挠曲模型对构造沉降曲线进行了模拟,对盆地成因进行分析。鄂尔多斯盆地中寒武世—中生代末期主要由早古生代沉降旋回、二叠—三叠纪沉降旋回与侏罗—白垩纪沉降旋回组成。其中岩石圈热冷却作用引起的沉降贯穿全地质时期。早古生代沉降旋回中,中寒武世的加速沉降主要体现在盆地南部,沉降机制为岩石圈伸展减薄,中奥陶世马家期为全盆地尺度的加速沉降,沉降机制仍为岩石圈伸展减薄。二叠—三叠纪沉降旋回中,晚二叠世—早-中三叠世为该旋回的加速沉降期,该期加速沉降具有多幕裂陷的特征。侏罗—白垩纪沉降旋回中,中侏罗世盆地南部处于缓慢沉降期,沉降机制为岩石圈热冷却作用,晚侏罗世—早白垩世,除伊盟隆起,盆地整体处于加速沉降期,沉降机制为前陆盆地引起的挠曲沉降。     

云南曲靖盆地构造演化及其对生物气成藏条件的控制

曲靖盆地是在云南省发现的具有工业价值生物气藏的第三系沉积盆地之一。利用二维地震测线结合地质和钻井等资料开展了详细的构造和沉积解释,对曲靖盆地的构造特征、盆地形成和演化进行了较为系统的综合研究,分析了构造演化对生物气成藏条件的控制作用。曲靖盆地的早—中渐新世的断陷阶段为大套湖相暗色泥岩(蔡家冲组)形成时期;渐新世晚期—上新世早期为盆地整体抬升萎缩阶段,避免了蔡家冲组有机质的大量消耗,保存了第四纪以来生物气成藏的有机物质;晚上新世的盆地坳陷阶段为茨营组含煤层系(次要气源岩)、储集层、盖层和岩性圈闭形成的主要时期;上新世末的压扭抬升萎缩阶段是断背斜和断鼻等构造圈闭和构造—岩性复合圈闭发育时期;第四纪盆地稳定沉降阶段为生物气聚集成藏时期。     

Variable Phanerozoic thermal history in the Southern Canadian Shield: Evidence from an apatite fission track profile at the Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Manitoba

Analysis of a 1.15 km deep apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology profile at the Underground Research Laboratory (URL), in the southwestern Canadian Shield suggests two Phanerozoic heating and cooling episodes indicating significant, previously unsuspected, Phanerozoic heat flow variations. Phanerozoic temperature and heat flow variations are temporally associated with burial and erosion of the Precambrian crystalline shield and its overlying Phanerozoic successions, which are now eroded completely. Maximum Phanerozoic temperatures occurred in the late Paleozoic when the geothermal gradient is estimated to have been ~ 40-50 °C/km (compared to a present day gradient of ~ 14 ± 2 °C/km) and the sedimentary cover was ~ 800-1100 m thick. Our thermal history models, confirm regional stratigraphic relationships that suggest that the Paleozoic succession was completely eroded prior to beginning of Mesozoic sedimentation. A second heating phase occurred during Late Cretaceous-Paleogene burial when the geothermal gradient is estimated to have been ~ 20-25 °C/km and the Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession was ~ 1200 to 1400 m thick. The Phanerozoic thermal history at the URL site shows a pattern similar to that inferred previously for the epicratonic Williston Basin, the centre of which lies several 100 km to the west. This implies a common regional thermal history for cratonic rocks underlying both the basin and the currently exposed shield. It is suggested that the morphotectonic differences between the Williston Basin and the exposed shield at the URL are due to a dissimilar thermomechanical response to a common, but more complicated than previously inferred, Phanerozoic geodynamic history. The two Phanerozoic periods of variations in geothermal gradient (heat flow) were coeval with epeirogenic movements related to the deposition and erosion of sediments. These paleogeodynamic variations are tentatively attributed to far-field effects of orogenic processes occurring at the plate margin (i.e. the Antler and the Cordilleran orogenies) and the associated accumulation of cratonic seaway sedimentary sequences (Kaskaskia and Zuni sequences).     

川东北地区埋藏–剥露历史分析——来自盆地模拟和热年代的制约

构造热演化是沉积盆地基础地质研究的重要内容,更是油气勘探中不可或缺的部分,多种古地温方法的综合对比研究是目前热史研究主要发展趋势。本文将裂变径迹(FT)和(U-Th)/He热年代学、镜质体反射率法(Ro)和盆地模拟等技术相结合,运用正演和反演的方法重建了川东北地区埋藏–剥露热演化历史。研究表明川东北地区自晚白垩世埋深达到最大后进入剥蚀阶段,大约从92 Ma开始隆升,经历了快速隆升–缓慢隆升–加速隆升三个阶段,整个过程的剥蚀量大约3~4 km,且两次大的剥露过程分别受控于雪峰山的隆起造山以及大巴山的推覆和青藏高原的隆升作用。研究还建立了综合热年代学、Ro和盆地模拟技术恢复复杂构造–热演化历史的方法,这对于复杂环境下的构造热演化历史的恢复以及海相油气勘探具有重要的意义。     

异常压力对有机质的抑制作用及其石油地质意义

板桥凹陷异常压力发育,在板深35井中发现有机质的演化明显的受到了超压的抑制作用,具有和活化能、热导率、水动力等因素造成的热演化异常明显不同的特征。综合地质、地球化学分析表明,异常孔隙流体压力对有机质热演化的抑制作用是有条件的,在超压早期发育、高原始有机质丰度和高有机质热演化产物滞留的情况下超压对有机质的演化具有明显的抑制作用,超压对有机质演化的抑制作用在深层勘探方面具有重要的意义。     

Subsidence Analysis and Burial History of the Late Carboniferous to Early Jurassic Soutpansberg Basin, Limpopo Province, South Africa

The subsidence history of the Soutpansberg Basin was reconstructed by a tectonic subsidence analysis coupled with backstripping calculations based on data of newly interpreted sequence boundaries. Furthermore,burial and time plots were constructed in order to understand the burial and thermal history of the basin. Input data were based on facies,lithostratigraphic models and tectonic interpretations. The studied succession is up to 1000 m and is underlain by the Achaean Limpopo Mobile Belt. The subsidence within the basin supports the primary graben system which must have been centred within the present basins,and later became a region of faulting. The subsidence and burial history curves suggests two phases of rapid subsidence during the Early-Late Permian(300–230 Ma) and Middle Triassic(215–230 Ma). The areas of greater extension subsided more rapidly during these intervals. Two slow subsidence phases are observed during the Late Triassic(215–198 Ma) and Early Jurassic(198–100 Ma). These intervals represent the post-rift thermal subsidence and are interpreted as slow flexural subsidence. Based on these observations on the subsidence curves,it is possible to infer that the first stage of positive inflexion(300 Ma) is therefore recognised as the first stage of the Soutpansberg Basin formation.