南海北部白云深水区水道与朵体沉积序列及演化

近年来,深水水道、朵体已成为油气勘探的重要目标,南海北部白云深水区发育大量深水水道-朵体沉积体系。研究现今陆坡深水沉积过程有助于揭示深海沉积分布、沉积演化规律。在回顾深水层序地层研究的基础上,利用近地表高分辨率三维地震资料所揭示的地震反射(下超点和上超点迁移)特征研究深水沉积序列,初步探讨不同时期深水水道-朵体体系沉积动力机制,深水水道-朵体体系具有垂向的前积、加积和退积特征,并提出一种深水水道-朵体体系沉积层序模式,低位体系域早期,发育碎屑流或滑块为主的水道-朵体体系,后期则转化为浊流为主的水道-朵体体系。在深水等时地层格架内研究现代深海沉积过程及其产物,对深水储层预测具有十分重要的意义。     

南海北部西沙海槽北侧陆坡块体搬运沉积体系的发育特征及演化

Triple mass-transport deposits(MTDs) with areas of 625, 494 and 902 km2, respectively, have been identified on the north slope of the Xisha Trough, northern South China Sea margin. Based on high-resolution seismic reflection data and multi-beam bathymetric data, the Quaternary MTDs are characterized by typical geometric shapes and internal structures. Results of slope analysis showed that they are developed in a steep slope ranging from 5° to 35°. The head wall scarps of the MTDs arrived to 50 km in length(from headwall to termination). Their inner structures include well developed basal shear surface, growth faults, stepping lateral scarps, erosion grooves, and frontal thrust deformation. From seismic images, the central deepwater channel system of the Xisha Trough has been filled by interbedded channel-levee deposits and thick MTDs. Therefore, we inferred that the MTDs in the deepwater channel system could be dominated by far-travelled slope failure deposits even though there are local collapses of the trough walls. And then, we drew the two-dimensional process model and threedimensional structure model diagram of the MTDs. Combined with the regional geological setting and previous studies, we discussed the trigger mechanisms of the triple MTDs.     

海盆沉积“源-汇”系统分析:南海北部珠江海谷-西北次海盆第四纪深水浊积扇

运用近年来采集的高分辨率地震资料和多波束测深数据,在珠江海谷及西北次海盆深海平原区发现大规模发育的第四纪重力流沉积体系,该沉积体系沿珠江海谷以北西-南南东方向贯穿整个北部陆坡,进入西北次海盆后呈扇形展开,形成珠江海谷-西北次海盆大型深水浊积扇系统。据沉积体系空间展布特征差异,将珠江海谷划分为北、中、南三段,北段为过路侵蚀和水道下切,中段以水道充填和天然堤沉积为主,南段以水道-天然堤和朵叶体沉积共存为特征,揭示出北部陆坡珠江海谷是珠江口外陆缘物质输送海盆深海平原的主要通道;海盆区总体以朵叶体发育为特色,呈扇形展布。深水扇系统可分为三期次沉积体,其区域结构记录了重力流沉积物从侵蚀、卸载到南海海盆作为限制性盆地接收陆源沉积物的全过程,为“源-渠-汇”的研究构建了一个完美的范例。本文以珠江海谷-西北次海盆第四纪深水浊积扇沉积体系为例,完整地揭示了水道-扇体的组构和特征,清晰呈现了陆坡-海盆砂体展布的规律,可为建立南海北部新近纪早期深水扇形成模式提供参考,有助于指导南海深水油气勘探工作。     

国内外深水区油气勘探新进展

深水区油气资源丰富，近年来深水油气勘探不断升温。在全球6大洲18个深水盆地中已发现约580亿桶油当量的油气资源。目前，巴西、美国墨西哥湾的深水油气田已经投入生产，而且产量不断增加，西非地区也已进入开发阶段，西北欧、地中海以及亚太地区的许多国家也都在积极开展深水油气勘探或开发。海上油气钻探不断向深水区和超深水区发展，探井数目也在继续增加，投资力度不断加强，储量每年也有很大的增长。深水油气勘探成功率平均达到30％，其中，西非的勘探成功率最高。深水区烃源岩生烃潜力较好，最好的烃源岩主要分布于侏罗系、白垩系和第三系的地层中，储层以浊积岩储层为主，盖层通常比较发育，大多数圈闭都与地层因素有关。我国南海北部陆坡深水区盆地属准被动边缘盆地，从烃源岩、储层、盖层、圈闭到运聚条件等都具备了形成大型油气田的基本地质条件，具有丰富的资源前景。     

琼东南盆地第四纪块体搬运体系的地震特征

第四纪以来,琼东南盆地的陆坡区域广泛发育深水块体搬运体系。深水块体搬运体系是广泛发生在外陆架/上陆坡的一种沉积物搬运机制,包括滑动、滑塌和碎屑流等重力流作用过程。利用深水3D地震资料,提取振幅和相干数据,通过地震剖面、构造图和时间切片分析,揭示块体搬运体系具有丘状外形、波状反射结构、弱振幅和连续性差的地震特征,内部整体比较杂乱,主体发育褶皱,趾部发育逆冲断层,具有塑性流体特征。结合南海构造背景分析,认为研究区第四纪沉积速率高并位于地震多发带,构成了块体搬运体系的形成条件和触发机制。     

Structural controls on Quaternary deepwater sedimentation, mud diapirism, and hydrocarbon distribution within the actively evolving Columbus foreland basin, eastern offshore Trinidad

Eastward migration of the Caribbean plate relative to the South American plate has caused lithospheric loading along the northern margin of South America, which is recorded by an 1100-km-long foreland basin which is oldest in the west (Maracaibo basin, 65-55 Ma) and youngest in the east (Columbus basin, eastern offshore Trinidad, 15-0 Ma). The Orinoco River has been the primary source of sediment for the basin since early Miocene. We have integrated approximately 775 km of deep-penetration 2D seismic lines acquired in the area of eastern offshore Trinidad as part of the 2004 “Broadband Ocean-Land Investigations of Venezuela and the Antilles arc Region” (BOLIVAR) project, 8000 km² of shallow industry 3D seismic data, and published industry well data from offshore eastern Trinidad. Active mud diapirism in the Columbus basin is widespread and is related to overthrusting and tectono-sedimentary loading of upper Miocene-lower Pliocene age mud. Analysis of the shallow 3D seismic data reveals the presence of extensive gravity-flow depositional elements on the Columbus basin slope and the deepwater area. These stacked gravity-flow deposits are characterized by mass-transport deposits at the base, turbidite frontal-splay deposits, leveed-channel deposits, and capped by fine-grained condensed-section deposits. Exploration targets in the deepwater area are located towards the center of the Columbus basin, where northeast-trending fault-propagation folds are important Plio-Pleistocene trap-forming elements. Deep basin wells drilled in recent years have proven that turbidites were transported into the deepwater Columbus basin during the Plio-Pleistocene. Analysis of these well results suggests that a deeper oil charge is present within the deepwater Columbus basin area. The primary uncertainty for this variable hydrocarbon system is whether fault or diapiric pathways connect or divert the petroleum charge at depth with shallower reservoir rocks.     

Large-scale seafloor stability evaluation of the northern continental slope of South China Sea

Abstract

With the continuous expansion of energy demand, the deep-water continental slope in the northern South China Sea has become one of the significant offshore oil and gas exploration regions. The frequent occurrence of marine geological hazards in this region, especially submarine landslides, can cause serious damage to engineering facilities. However, there have been few studies on the stability of the northern continental slope of the South China Sea; these studies mainly focused on a specific submarine slope or small-range evaluation, resulting in a lack of large-scale and quantitative understanding. Hence, considering the variation in the physical and mechanical properties of marine soils with depth, formulas for calculating the safety factor of submarine slopes by an infinite sliding model are established, and the factors affecting slope stability such as soil properties, slope gradient and horizontal seismic action are systematically investigated. Using GIS techniques, the terrain slope gradients and a historical seismic database of the northern South China Sea are obtained. Combined with soil mechanical parameters, a regional stability evaluation of the northern continental slope is carried out. Furthermore, the distribution of risk zones is given. On the whole, under strong seismic action, large-scale submarine slope instability occurs and must be highly considered when assessing risk. This achievement is of great significance to engineering sites, route selection and engineering risk assessment.     

Depositional characteristics and spatial distribution of deep-water sedimentary systems on the northwestern middle-lower slope of the Northwest Sub-Basin, South China Sea

Based upon 2D seismic data, this study confirms the presence of a complex deep-water sedimentary system within the Pliocene-Quaternary strata on the northwestern lower slope of the Northwest Sub-Basin, South China Sea. It consists of submarine canyons, mass-wasting deposits, contourite channels and sheeted drifts. Alongslope aligned erosive features are observed on the eastern upper gentle slopes (<1.2° above 1,500 m), where a V-shaped downslope canyon presents an apparent ENE migration, indicating a related bottom current within the eastward South China Sea Intermediate Water Circulation. Contourite sheeted drifts are also generated on the eastern gentle slopes (~1.5° in average), below 2,100 m water depth though, referring to a wide unfocused bottom current, which might be related to the South China Sea Deep Water Circulation. Mass wasting deposits (predominantly slides and slumps) and submarine canyons developed on steeper slopes (>2°), where weaker alongslope currents are probably dominated by downslope depositional processes on these unstable slopes. The NNW–SSE oriented slope morphology changes from a three-stepped terraced outline (I–II–III) east of the investigated area, into a two-stepped terraced (I–II) outline in the middle, and into a unitary steep slope (II) in the west, which is consistent with the slope steepening towards the west. Such morphological changes may have possibly led to a westward simplification of composite deep-water sedimentary systems, from a depositional complex of contourite depositional systems, mass-wasting deposits and canyons, on the one hand, to only sliding and canyon deposits on the other hand.     

Seismic characteristics of a reef carbonate reservoir and implications for hydrocarbon exploration in deepwater of the Qiongdongnan Basin,northern South China Sea

Our analysis of approximately 40,000 km of multichannel 2-D seismic data, reef oil-field seismic data, and data from several boreholes led to the identification of two areas of reef carbonate reservoirs in deepwater areas (water depth ≥ 500 m) of the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB), northern South China Sea. High-resolution sequence stratigraphic analysis revealed that the transgressive and highstand system tracts of the mid-Miocene Meishan Formation in the Beijiao and Ledong–Lingshui Depressions developed reef carbonates. The seismic features of the reef carbonates in these two areas include chaotic bedding, intermittent internal reflections, chaotic or blank reflections, mounded reflections, and apparent amplitude anomalies, similar to the seismic characteristics of the LH11-1 reef reservoir in the Dongsha Uplift and Island Reef of the Salawati Basin, Indonesia, which house large oil fields. The impedance values of reefs in the Beijiao and Ledong–Lingshui Depressions are 8000–9000 g/cc × m/s. Impedance sections reveal that the impedance of the LH11-1 reef reservoir in the northern South China Sea is 8000–10000 g/cc × m/s, whereas that of pure limestone in BD23-1-1 is >10000 g/cc × m/s. The mid-Miocene paleogeography of the Beijiao Depression was dominated by offshore and neritic environments, with only part of the southern Beijiao uplift emergent at that time. The input of terrigenous sediments was relatively minor in this area, meaning that terrigenous source areas were insignificant in terms of the Beijiao Depression; reef carbonates were probably widely distributed throughout the depression, as with the Ledong–Lingshui Depression. The combined geological and geophysical data indicate that shelf margin atolls were well developed in the Beijiao Depression, as in the Ledong–Lingshui Depression where small-scale patch or pinnacle reefs developed. These reef carbonates are promising reservoirs, representing important targets for deepwater hydrocarbon exploration.     

南海北部陆坡的地貌形态及其控制因素

利用精细地貌图、高分辨率多道地震剖面等资料研究南海北部大陆边缘深水陆坡的地貌形态及控制因素。莺琼陆坡具有不同于其他部分的特殊性,红河物源是造成它的地貌形态的主控因素,南海北部陆坡的其他部分的地貌形态依然受控于古新世—渐新世的断陷期所形成的凹凸格局,其空间分布状况决定了陆坡地貌的形态和演变;物源类型和供给数量是陆坡地貌形态的次级因素,决定着陆坡地貌在总体框架下的局部特征,地震和海流等外动力因素则在一定程度上决定了陆坡沉积类型和微地貌形态。南海北部的这种特点与大西洋两岸的大部地区有显著区别,后者在晚侏罗—早第三纪的断陷期所形成的构造格局对陆坡地貌的影响已次于物源状况和向深水的物质分散体系。南海北部陆坡可自西而东依次划分为五段:莺琼陆坡段、神狐陆坡段、珠江海谷段陆坡、东沙陆坡段和台湾浅滩陆坡段;各陆坡段的地貌形态和走向上的差异全面反映了以上三个因素,尤其反映了断陷期构造格局分布状况的效应。     

南海北部陆坡区海底峡谷地貌、沉积特征及控制因素

南海北部陆坡发育众多海底峡谷,其形成、发育、演化过程都存在较大差异。本文选取南海北部陆坡典型的珠江口外海底峡谷群、东沙海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和澎湖海底峡谷进行研究,通过高分辨率多道地震数据和多波束测深数据,结合前人研究成果,对4条典型海底峡谷的形态特征、沉积充填特征及结构、形成发育过程及控制因素进行研究。结果表明,南海北部陆缘各个海底峡谷的形成受多个控制因素的影响,其影响程度及方式都有差别。构造活动、海平面变化及沉积物重力流与海底峡谷的演化密切相关,而陆地河流和局部构造因素也以不同方式影响着海底峡谷的发育。对于发育在主动大陆边缘的台湾岛东南侧的澎湖海底峡谷,其板块运动和岩浆活动活跃,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以内营力地质作用为主。而具有被动大陆边缘属性的其他3条峡谷,由于构造运动较少或停止,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以外营力地质作用为主。     

Low-amplitude BSRs and gas hydrate concentration on the northern margin of the South China Sea

The passive northern continental margin of the South China Sea is rich in gas hydrates, as inferred from the occurrence of bottom-simulating reflectors (BSR) and from well logging data at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) drill sites. Nonetheless, BSRs on new 2D multichannel seismic reflection data from the area around the Dongsha Islands (the Dongsha Rise) are not ubiquitous. They are confined to complex diapiric structures and active fault zones located between the Dongsha Rise and the surrounding depressions, implying that gas hydrate occurrence is likewise limited to these areas. Most of the BSRs have low amplitude and are therefore not clearly recognizable. Acoustic impedance provides information on rock properties and has been used to estimate gas hydrate concentration. Gas hydrate-bearing sediments have acoustic impedance that is higher than that of the surrounding sediments devoid of hydrates. Based on well logging data, the relationship between acoustic impedance and porosity can be obtained by a linear regression, and the degree of gas hydrate saturation can be determined using Archie’s equation. By applying these methods to multichannel seismic data and well logging data from the northern South China Sea, the gas hydrate concentration is found to be 3–25% of the pore space at ODP Site 1148 depending on sub-surface depth, and is estimated to be less than values of 5% estimated along seismic profile 0101. Our results suggest that saturation of gas hydrate in the northern South China Sea is higher than that estimated from well resistivity log data in the gas hydrate stability zone, but that free gas is scarce beneath this zone. It is probably the scarcity of free gas that is responsible for the low amplitudes of the BSRs.     

琼东南盆地深水区生物礁生长环境及分布特征分析

生物礁储层是一种典型的油气储层,具有非常大的油气勘探潜力.位于南海北部大陆边缘的琼东南盆地,在形成演化过程中出现了有利于生物礁发育的环境.盆地南部深水区远离物源,在构造演化过程中产生了较多的构造隆起,在这些构造隆起的周缘适合生物礁的发育.通过地震资料解释认为,琼东南盆地南部深水区发育有规模大小不等的生物礁,而且这些生物礁的发育与构造演化的阶段可以对应起来,应具有较好的油气勘探潜力.     

Controls on the development of valleys,canyons, and unconfined channel–levee complexes on the Pleistocene Slope of East Kalimantan,Indonesia

Shallow 3D seismic data show contrasting depositional patterns in Pleistocene deepwater slopes of offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The northern East Kalimantan slope is dominated by valleys and canyons, while the central slope is dominated by unconfined channel–levee complexes. The Mahakam delta is immediately landward of the central slope and provided large amounts of sediments to the central slope during Pleistocene lowstands of sea level. In the central area, the upper slope contains relatively straight and deep channels. Sinuous channel–levee complexes occur on the middle and lower slope, where channels migrated laterally, then aggraded and avulsed. Younger channel–levee complexes avoided bathymetric highs created by previous channel–levee complexes. Levees decrease in thickness down slope. Relief between channels and levees also decreases down slope.North of the Mahakam delta, siliciclastic sediment supply was limited during the Pleistocene, and the slope is dominated by valleys and canyons. Late Pleistocene rivers and deltas were generally not present on the northern outer shelf. Only one lowstand delta was present on the northern shelf margin during the upper Pleistocene, and sediments from that lowstand delta filled a pre-existing slope valley complex and formed a basin-floor fan. Except for that basin-floor fan, the northern basin floor shows no evidence of sand-rich channels or fans, but contains broad areas with chaotic reflectors interpreted as mass transport complexes. This suggests that slope valleys and canyons formed by slope failures, not by erosion associated with turbidite sands from rivers or deltas. In summary, amount of sediment coming onto the slope determines slope morphology. Large, relatively steady input of sediment from the Pleistocene paleo-Mahakam delta apparently prevented large valleys and canyons from developing on the central slope. In contrast, deep valleys and canyons developed on the northern slope that was relatively “starved” for siliciclastic sediment.     

The morphologies and genesis of mega-pockmarks near the Xisha Uplift, South China Sea

Pockmarks are normally regarded to be manifestations of fluids escape through the seabed. Kilometer-wide depressions, here called mega-pockmarks occur as widespread features near the Xisha Uplift, northern South China Sea. Most of the pockmarks observed in this area are multi-kilometers and much larger than normal-pockmarks reported worldwide. The maximum diameter observed is 3210 m and the maximum depth observed is 165.2 m based on multibeam data and 2D seismic data. The pockmarks are circular, elliptical and crescentic in plan view. Seismic profiles show that the genesis of pockmarks is related to fluid (gas and/or pore water) escape. According to the fluids pathways, the pockmarks fall into four types: (1) gas chimney-related; (2) depositional boundary-related; (3) gas chimney and inclined structure (fault)-related; (4) inclined structure-related. Bottom currents are strong and complex in the study area. The multibeam data and seismic profiles indicate that they may play an important role on extension, maintenance and shaping of pockmarks. The research of the study area is in its initial stage, and the identification of these features as indicators of fluid flow is probably useful for hydrocarbon exploration.     

南海天然气水合物的成矿远景

通过对南海的中新生代区域构造、中上新世纪沉积、近－现代地貌及地温条件的分析，结合ODP184航次钻探成果和水合物最新调查资料，探讨了南海水合物的成矿条件，认为具有良好的成矿地质构造环境；通过对南海陆坡深水区现有大量多道地震调查资料的重新判读，发现南海地区存在多处水合物的地震标志－BSR，以活动边缘笔架增生楔和非活动边缘西沙－东沙为例，重点解剖水合物的地震特征，建立其成藏模式，总结其成矿规律，预测水合物资源远景，为今后在该海域寻找水合物矿床、预测水合物资源远景起到抛砖引玉作用。     

应用合成地震记录确定南黄海北部盆地中生代地层的分布

黄海海域是我国近海目前唯一尚未获得商业性油气发现的海域,海域内发育了3个中新生代含油气盆地,目前已在北部盆地中生代泰州组地层中发现了油气显示。过去由于受资料所限,对盆地的油气资源评价,多关注于第三纪盆地,忽视了中生代盆地的油气资源远景。作者通过对南黄海北部盆地已钻遇中生代泰州组地层的钻井和过井数字地震剖面的追踪对比,结合4km×8km地震测网和重、磁资料综合解释,认为中生代盆地同样具有良好的含油气远景,特别是盆地的东北凹,中生代地层沉积厚度大,分布范围广,具有较好的油气资源远景。     

中国海域固体矿产资源分布及其区划——砂矿资源和铁锰(微)结核-结壳

综述和研究了我国海域砂矿资源和(微)结核—结壳的分布及其区划。我国的滨海砂矿广泛分布于渤海、黄海、东海和南海,但各省区的砂矿资源分布不同。近年来在我国海域新发现和圈定了多处砂矿品位异常区和矿物高含量区,可分为3个成矿带和24个成矿远景区,资源储量可观。在黄海、东海仅分布铁锰结核,没有发现铁锰结壳,但它们的金属元素含量低,没有潜在资源意义。南海东北陆坡、中央海盆西部和中部是(微)结核、结壳分布较多的区域。南海东北陆坡、海山及其周缘坡脚处的(微)结核、结壳其稀土元素含量较高,可能具有一定的潜在经济价值,今后调查中应引起重视。     

2015年6月南海北部陆坡气旋-反气旋涡对陆坡水文和环流影响的观测

利用2015年6月南海北部现场观测的水文数据,结合卫星高度计资料,分析了2015年6月13日—28日南海北部陆坡在气旋涡-反气旋涡的双涡结构影响下的水文和环流特征。结果表明,2015年6月南海北部陆坡调查海区表层50 m以浅盐度存在NE—SW向低盐区,表层盐度最小值低于32,这表明南海北部陆坡存在跨陆架海水输送。在观测期间,南海北部陆坡调查海区受气旋涡和反气旋涡双涡结构影响,使得南海北部陆坡表层100 m以浅存在跨陆坡流,流速最大值出现在两涡交汇区域。此外,通过潜标连续海流资料,发现南海北部陆坡环流呈现了“深入浅出”(100 m以深层为向岸的入侵、以浅层为离岸的出流)的“两层结构”。     

Morphotectonics and evolutionary controls on the Pearl River Canyon system, South China Sea

The Pearl River Canyon system is a typical canyon system on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea, which has significant implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Through swath bathymetry in the canyon area combined with different types of seismic data, we have studied the morphotectonics and controlling factors of the canyon by analyzing its morphology and sedimentary structure, as well as the main features of the continental slope around the canyon. Results show that the Pearl River Canyon can be separated into three segments with different orientations. The upper reach is NW-oriented with a shallowly incised course, whereas the middle and lower reaches, that are located mainly in the Baiyun Sag, have a broad U-shape and have experienced consistent deposition. Seventeen deeply-cut canyons have developed in the slope north of the Baiyun Sag, playing an important role in the sedimentary processes of the middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River Canyon. These canyons display both asymmetrical V- and U-shapes along their lengths. Numerous buried channels can be identified below the modern canyons with unidirectionally migrating stacking patterns, suggesting that the canyons have experienced a cyclic evolution with several cut and fill phases of varying magnitude. These long established canyons, rather than the upper reach of the Pearl River Canyon, are the main conduits for the transport of terrigenous materials to the lower slope and abyssal basin during lowstand stage, and have contributed to the formation of vertically stacked deep-water fans in the middle reach. Canyon morphology is interpreted as a result of erosive sediment flows. The Pearl River Canyon and the 17 canyons in the slope area north of the Baiyun Sag probably have developed since the Miocene. Cenozoic tectonics, sea level change and sediment supply jointly control the morphology and sedimentary structure. The middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River Canyon developed on the paleo-terrain of the Baiyun Sag, which has been a persistently rapid depositional environment, receiving most of the materials transported via the canyons.