Influence of lithosphere and basement properties on the stretching factor and development of extensional faults across the Otway Basin,southeast Australia

The NW-SE striking Otway Basin in southeastern Australia is part of the continental rift system that formed during the separation of Australia from Antarctica. The development of this sedimentary basin occurred in two phases of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous rifting. The evolution of this basin is mainly associated with extensional processes that took place in a pre-existing basement of Archean, Proterozoic to Paleozoic age. In this study, the total amounts of extension and stretching factor (β factor) have been measured for six transects across the entire passive margin of the Otway Basin region. The results show significant variation in extensional stretching along the basin, with the smallest stretching factors in the easternmost (β = 1.73, 1.9) and westernmost part of the basin (β = 2.09), and the largest stretching factors in the central part (β = 2.14 to 2.44). The domain with the lowest β factor is underlain mostly by thicker lithosphere of the Delamerian Orogen and older crustal fragments of the Selwyn Block. In contrast, the region with the largest β factor and amount of extension is related to younger and thinner lithosphere of the Lachlan Orogen. The main basement structures have been mapped throughout eastern South Australia and Victoria to examine the possible relationships between the younger pattern of extensional faults and the older basement fabrics. The pattern of normal faults varies considerably along onshore and offshore components of the Otway Basin from west to east. It appears that the orientation of pre-existing structures in the basement has some control on the geometry of the younger normal faults across the Otway Basin, but only in a limited number of places. In most areas the basement fabric has no control on the younger faulting pattern. Basement structure such as the north-south Coorong Shear Zone seems to affect the geometry of normal faults by changing their strike from E-W to NW-SE and also, in the easternmost part of the basin, the Bambra Fault changes the strike of normal faults from NW-SE to the NE-SW. Our results imply that the properties of the continental lithosphere exert a major influence on the β factor and amount of crustal extension but only a minor influence on the geometry of extensional faults.     

转换大陆边缘盆地构造特征——以西非贝宁盆地为例

立足于大西洋的形成与演化,划分了贝宁盆地构造演化阶段,厘定了裂陷期盆地的边界,分析了盆地结构和构造特征,明确了盆地构造样式。贝宁盆地经历裂陷期、漂移期两个构造演化阶段,不发育盐岩。受早白垩世裂陷期盆地东、西部应力差异控制,盆地形成了东部拉张构造区和西部走滑构造区,盆地裂谷分布具有“东宽西窄”的特征。东部拉张构造区发育近东西向断裂体系,主要为拉张作用形成的铲式正断层,西部走滑作用区发育NE—SW向走滑断裂体系,发育陡直的走滑断裂,主要为走滑作用形成的走滑断层。受早白垩世东、西部应力差异和晚白垩世构造反转、新生代重力滑脱作用的控制,盆地发育拉张、扭张、挤压、重力滑脱4类构造样式,丰富的构造样式为盆地构造圈闭发育提供了有利的条件。     

北黄海盆地东部坳陷中新生代的叠合盆地特征及其成因

以最新的地质-地球物理资料为基础,分析了北黄海盆地东部坳陷的断裂特征及构造样式,总结了研究区的沉积-构造演化阶段。研究表明:东部坳陷断裂发育,F1、F2断层为最重要的控制性断层,其次为F9、F10、F11、F8断层,同时在研究区识别出了伸展、挤压、扭动、反转等构造样式;结合构造研究与沉积发育史,将东部坳陷的沉积-构造演化划分为中侏罗世初始断陷期、晚侏罗世断陷扩展期、早白垩世断拗期、早白垩世晚期-始新世构造反转期、渐新世强烈断陷期、渐新世末-中新世初构造反转期、中新世-第四纪区域沉降期。以上述研究为基础,参考区域地质背景探讨了东部坳陷的成因机制:中侏罗世,研究区的初始断陷与块体逃逸的伸展作用有关;晚侏罗世,板块俯冲导致地壳减薄,东部坳陷持续断陷;早白垩世,由于伊泽奈崎板块运动行为变化使郯庐断裂左行走滑,在区域左旋并伴随热沉降的同时研究区发生断拗;晚白垩世,板块正向俯冲导致东部坳陷挤压反转并持续至始新世;渐新世,因太平洋板块转向、俯冲带后撤及印度-欧亚大陆碰撞,导致郯庐断裂带右旋,研究区在右旋张扭背景中强烈断陷;渐新世末,由于太平洋板块俯冲速率、印度-欧亚板块远程效应的增强及俯冲带抑制作用,研究区再次发生构造反转;中新世-第四纪,东部坳陷因岩石圈热衰减发生区域沉降。     

The evolution of a gravity-driven system accompanied by diapirism under the control of the prograding West Luconia Deltas in the Kangxi Depression,Southern South China Sea

Gravitational collapse structures are commonly observed in shelf-margin deltas underlain by mobile shales. However, these structures are rarely accompanied by mud diapirs. This paper presents an updated study of the gravity-driven system in the West Luconia Deltas, a shelf-margin delta system, in the Kangxi Depression, southern South China Sea. Compared to the classical shale-detachment model, the syn-collapse deformation in the contractional domain in this study is accommodated mainly by thrust faults combined with mud diapirs rather than simply imbricated thrusts. Based on seismic interpretation and structural analysis, this gravity-driven system is divided into three domains, the extensional domain, the contractional domain and the transitional domain. All of these domains are intruded by mud diapirs. The quantitative analysis of the amounts of extension and contraction suggests that these structures mainly resulted from gravitational collapse rather than the tectonic compression. Quantification of the relative contributions of gravity spreading and gliding indicates that the gravitational collapse was mainly driven by gravity spreading. Two episodes of collapse are suggested by the analysis of the progradation of the West Luconia Deltas and the features of the syn-collapse structures. The first episode was minor and not accompanied by diapirism, whereas the second episode was major and accompanied by diapirism. The entire evolution of the GDS is divided into five stages: (1) the first episode of the gravitational collapse, lasted from the earliest Middle Miocene to the earliest Pliocene; (2) the deposition of an interval between the syn-collapse strata and the mobile shale, occurred in the Early Pliocene.; (3) the initiation of the second episode of the gravitational collapse, lasted from the Early Pliocene to the Late Pliocene; (4) the attenuation and basinward migration of the gravity-driven deformation, lasted from the Late Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene; and (5) the ending of the gravitational collapse, lasted from the Early Pleistocene to the present. The last four stages were accompanied by intensive diapirs which pierced the overlying strata and became targets for the hydrocarbon exploration.

     

南海裂陷盆地中斜向伸展及其油气勘探意义

利用海上钻井、地震等资料,重新认识南海珠江口盆地文昌B凹陷控凹边界南断裂构造变形史及动力学机制,探讨油气勘探意义。研究表明,渐新世—中新世,南断裂具有斜向伸展性质,在倾向剖面,断裂带发育挤压褶皱和破碎主位移带的构造样式;在走向剖面,相关地层呈"厚薄相间"分布。平面上,发育雁列式背斜与洼地共生、"马尾状"断裂体系和右阶斜列阶步断裂体系。斜向伸展动力学机制受控于区域伸展构造应力场与先存南断裂走向。南断裂渐新世—中新世斜向伸展变形,控制和影响了油气成藏要素、流体相态。     

The Monagas Fold-Thrust Belt of Eastern Venezuela. Part I: Structural and thermal modeling

The Eastern Venezuelan Basin (EVB) contains one of the largest hydrocarbon accumulations in the world. Main petroleum targets are buried structures of the Monagas Fold-Thrust Belt (MFTB) which forms the northeastern edge of the EVB. The objective of this study is to integrate the seismic and well data that has been acquired over the last 10 years across the MFTB and EVB, to create an updated structural model. Three regional cross sections 60-75 km long are presented across an area of 4000 km².Five structural domains are described: Amarilis, Furrial, Jusepín, Cotoperí and Pirital. They are characterized by thrusts and high-angle reverse faults. Structural style changes along strike are related to variations in depth of detachment levels and to the strike-slip component of the deformation. We have estimated a shortening between 43 and 59 km that increases eastward over a distance of 40 km.The evolution of the MFTB is divided in four episodes based on stratigraphic, structural and thermal maturity evidences: (1) Oligocene-early Miocene initial movement of Pirital thrust. (2) Early Miocene simultaneous movement on Pirital, Furrial and Cotoperí thrusts. (3) Middle Miocene increases in velocity and change in geometry of Pirital thrust, during an out of sequence period of thrusting. (4) Late Miocene to Holocene minor thrust activity. This evolution is consistent with the oblique convergence between the Caribbean and South American plates and the convergence between North and South America that affected Eastern Venezuela during the Cenozoic.By analyzing the along-strike variations in structural style, new exploratory opportunities have been identified. Under the Orocual and Santa Bárbara fields two untested duplex structures are proposed; they were developed during the middle Miocene. Other prospective hydrocarbon traps are associated to oblique transpressive faults that create anticline structures.     

南海北部深水区东西构造差异性及其动力学机制

南海北部深水区位于南海洋陆转换带,构造运动活跃,构造特征复杂。同时,南海北部深水区石油、天然气、天然气水合物等矿产资源丰富。因此,加强南海北部深水盆地构造特征分析,揭示南海北部陆缘构造属性与南海形成演化机制,对于南海深部过程演变研究、油气资源评价与地质灾害防治等具有重要的意义。本论文通过对南海北部深水区陆架-陆坡结构、盆地构造特征与演化规律的分析,指出研究区东西存在明显的构造差异性,并分析了其动力学机制。南海北部深水区东部陆架-陆坡结构为宽洼窄隆型,而西部为窄洼宽隆型。东部珠江口盆地深水凹陷均为半地堑结构,剖面上呈不对称的箕状;西部琼东南盆地除北礁凹陷为南段北超的小型半地堑外,其它凹陷均为地堑结构,为南北双断式沉积体系。在构造演化方面,东部中中新世末结束裂后期进入新构造活动期,白云凹陷构造活动性增强,表现为快速的沉降和显著的晚期断裂作用;而西部晚中新世末才进入新构造活动期,深水区表现为快速沉积作用,断裂活动较弱。     

东海陆架盆地中生界构造样式及其动力学成因探讨

构造样式为盆内各类构造组合的几何形态表达,反映了盆地所处应力场性质变化与构造演化过程。本文基于近5年来针对东海陆架盆地所取得的地震资料解释成果,并综合盆地构造演化特征及其地球动力学背景,对盆地内中生界构造样式进行了系统的分类与总结,详细划分为5类构造样式:伸展构造样式、挤压构造样式、走滑构造样式、反转构造样式和底辟构造样式,并进一步细化为12种构造组合。同时,对东海陆架盆地内西部坳陷、中部低隆起、东部坳陷3个构造单元内的中生界构造样式发育情况分别进行了总结,各类构造样式自西至东具有各异的展布特征。综合盆内中生界构造样式几何学特点与展布特征可见,由于伊佐奈歧板块的俯冲、碰撞作用,区内处于挤压构造环境,进而形成了挤压背斜、断背斜、正反转等构造组合;大洋板块的后退翻卷及板块碰撞、俯冲的远程效应下,区内构造环境以伸展作用为主,形成了一系列NNE向裂陷盆地,发育了丰富的伸展构造组合;走滑-拉分构造的发育较好体现了构造环境的转变,地震剖面上见有花状断裂发育;岩浆底辟构造多发育于拉张环境下,与断裂展布息息相关,多沿NE-NNE向断裂展布。此外,新生代多期构造运动是影响中生界构造样式发育展布的重要因素。     

南海东北部陆缘区新近纪早期反转构造特征及其动力学意义

通过深入分析"九七三"项目所获取的高分辨率多道地震剖面,结合区域钻井资料,探讨了新生代以来南海东北部陆缘所历经的新生代早期张裂、中新世晚期阶段性挤压及上新世以来的稳定热沉降等复杂构造运动;张裂背景下的南海东北部陆缘在中新统中部、下部出现的背斜、逆断层等典型压性反转构造,凸现了南海东北部陆缘在晚中新世发生的阶段性挤压构造运动;分析表明,此构造活动是东沙运动在台西南海域的表现,其动力来源同菲律宾海板块的北西向运动有关。     

Jurassic to Early Cretaceous basin configuration(s) in the Fingerdjupet Subbasin,SW Barents Sea

The Fingerdjupet Subbasin in the southwestern Barents Sea sits in a key tectonic location between deep rifts in the west and more stable platform areas in the east. Its evolution is characterized by extensional reactivation of N-S and NNE-SSW faults with an older history of Late Permian and likely Carboniferous activity superimposed on Caledonian fabrics. Reactivations in the listric NNE-SSW Terningen Fault Complex accommodated a semi-regional rollover structure where the Fingerdjupet Subbasin developed in the hangingwall. In parallel, the Randi Fault Set developed from outer-arc extension and collapse of the rollover anticline.N-S to NNE-SSW faults and the presence of other fault trends indicate changes in the stress regime relating to tectonic activity in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. A latest Triassic to Middle Jurassic extensional faulting event with E-W striking faults is linked to activity in the Hammerfest Basin. Cessation of extensional tectonics before the Late Jurassic in the Fingerdjupet Subbasin, however, suggests rifting became localized to the Hammerfest Basin. The Late Jurassic was a period of tectonic quiescence in the Fingerdjupet Subbasin before latest Jurassic to Hauterivian extensional faulting, which reactivated N-S and NNE-SSW faults. Barremian SE-prograding clinoforms filled the relief generated during this event before reaching the Bjarmeland Platform. High-angle NW-prograding clinoforms on the western Bjarmeland Platform are linked to Early Barremian uplift of the Loppa High. The Terningen Fault Complex and Randi Fault Set were again reactivated in the Aptian along with other major fault complexes in the SW Barents Sea, leading to subaerial exposure of local highs. This activity ceased by early Albian. Post-upper Albian strata were removed by late Cenozoic uplift and erosion, but later tectonic activity has both reactivated E-W and N-S/NNE-SSW faults and also established a NW-SE trend.     

Slope and basin-floor reservoirs from the Miocene and Pliocene of the Veracruz Basin,southeastern Mexico

A regional study of the Veracruz Basin provided an excellent view of long-term deepwater sedimentation patterns from an evolving foreland-type basin. The regional seismic and well-log data set allows for an accurate reconstruction of slope and basin-floor depositional patterns, lithologic compositions, and paleogradients from a continuous succession of bathyal strata that span the Miocene to the lower Pliocene. Variations in Miocene and Pliocene deepwater reservoirs can be linked to prevailing slope characteristics. The Miocene basin had a high-gradient, tectonically generated slope, and the Pliocene basin had a low-gradient constructional slope. The Miocene basin owes its steep margin to the tectonic stacking of early Tertiary, Laramide-age thrust sheets. The Miocene margin shed a mixture of coarse elastic sediments (sands, gravels, and cobbles) and fines (silts and clays) that were transported into the deep basin via turbidity currents and debris flows. Channelized deposits dominate the Miocene slope, and reservoirs occur in long-lasting basement-confined canyons and shorter-lived shallower erosional gulleys. Thick and areally-extensive basin-floor fans exist outboard of the strongly channelized Miocene slope. Fan distribution is strongly controlled by synsedimentary contractional anticlines and synclines. In contrast, the latest Miocene to early Pliocene basin development was dominated by a strongly prograding wedge of shelf and slope deposits that was induced by volcanogenic uplift and increased sediment supply. During this phase, turbidite reservoirs are limited to narrow and sinuous deepwater channels that reside at the toe of the constructional clinoforms and areally limited, thinner basinal fans.     

Superposed deformation straddling the continental-oceanic transition in deep-water Angola

The Angolan margin is the type area for raft tectonics. New seismic data reveal the contractional buffer for this thin-skinned extension. A 200-km-long composite section from the Lower Congo Basin and Kwanza Basin illustrates a complex history of superposed deformation caused by: (1) progradation of the margin; and (2) episodic Tertiary epeirogenic uplift. Late Cretaceous tectonics was driven by a gentle slope created by thermal subsidence; extensional rafting took place updip, contractional thrusting and buckling downdip; some distal folds were possibly unroofed to form massive salt walls. Oligocene deformation was triggered by gentle kinking of the Atlantic Hinge Zone as the shelf and coastal plain rose by 2 or 3 km; relative uplift stripped Paleogene cover off the shelf, provided space for Miocene progradation, and steepened the continental slope, triggering more extension and buckling. In the Neogene, a subsalt half graben was inverted or reactivated, creating keystone faults that may have controlled the Congo Canyon; a thrust duplex of seaward-displaced salt jacked up the former abyssal plain, creating a plateau of salt 3–4 km thick on the present lower slope. The Angola Escarpment may be the toe of the Angola thrust nappe, in which a largely Cretaceous roof of gently buckled strata, was transported seawards above the thickened salt by up to 20 km.     

The link between tectonics and sedimentation in asymmetric extensional basins: Inferences from the study of the Sarajevo-Zenica Basin

The coupled tectonic and depositional history of extensional basins is usually described in terms of stratigraphic sequences linked with the activity of normal faults. This depositional-kinematic interplay is less understood in basins bounded by major extensional detachments or normal fault systems associated with significant exhumation of footwalls. Of particular interest is the link between tectonics and sedimentation during the migration of normal faulting in time and space across the basin. One area where such coupled depositional-kinematic history can be optimally studied is the Late Oligocene - Miocene Sarajevo-Zenica Basin, located in the Dinarides Mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This intra-montane basin recorded Oligocene – Pliocene sedimentation in an endemic and isolated lake environment. We use field kinematic and sedimentological mapping in outcrops correlated with existing local and regional studies to derive a high-resolution evolutionary model of the basin. The novel results demonstrate a close correlation between moments of normal faulting and high-order sedimentological cycles, while the overall extensional basin was filled by a largely uni-directional sediment supply from the neighbouring mountain chain. The migration in time and space of listric NE-dipping normal faults was associated with a gradual shift of the sedimentological environment. Transgressive-regressive cycles reflect sequential displacements on normal faults and their footwall exhumation, defining a new sedimentological model for such basins. This Early - Middle Miocene extension affected the central part of the Dinarides and was associated with the larger opening of the neighbouring Pannonian Basin. The extension was preceded and followed by two phases of contraction. The Oligocene - Early Miocene thrusting took place during the final stages of the Dinarides collision, while the post-Middle Miocene contraction is correlated with the regional indentation of the Adriatic continental unit. This latter phase inverted the extensional basin by reactivating the inherited basal listric detachment.     

法尔维海盆构造特征及演化

法尔维海盆位于西南太平洋海域豪勋爵海丘东侧、新喀里多尼亚岛西侧,是全球油气勘探的前沿地区。但目前对于该海盆的构造演化研究较为薄弱,限制了该海盆油气资源的进一步勘探开发。本文通过从新西兰塔斯曼海数据库搜集到大量地球物理资料,使用2D Move软件,通过平衡剖面技术进行构造演化模拟,结合区域动力学机制将海盆北部和南部的构造演化分为7个阶段:(1)早白垩世至晚白垩世陆内裂谷阶段;(2)晚白垩世断坳过渡阶段;(3)始新世早期坳陷阶段;(4)始新世晚期一次构造反转阶段;(5)始新世至渐新世热沉降阶段;(6)渐新世至中新世二次构造反转阶段;(7)中新世至今海洋沉降阶段。由于海盆中部未发现有明显的二次构造反转阶段,所以将海盆中部的构造演化划分为5个阶段:(1)早白垩世至晚白垩世陆内裂谷阶段;(2)晚白垩世断坳过渡阶段;(3)始新世早期坳陷阶段;(4)始新世晚期构造反转阶段;(5)中新世至今海洋沉降阶段。此阶段海盆整体下坳,逐渐形成现今样貌。法尔维海盆北部受到区域构造活动影响较大,白垩系地层发育较多的断裂构造;海盆中部晚白垩统地层发生较多的底辟构造;海盆南部从形成至今,受到构造活动影响较小,发育地层完...     

琼东南盆地陆架区晚中新世以来断层活动性研究

对琼东南盆地陆架区晚中新世以来的断层活动性进行研究, 有助于理解南海西北部晚中新世以来的构造演化, 也对该区钻井平台的安全性评估、海洋工程勘查以及区域稳定性评价等有重要意义。研究区断层走向主要为NWW向, 多数断层在晚中新世时期停止活动。通过对断层几何形态的统计分析以及使用高分辨率断层落差图法(T-Z图示法)对断层活动性进行量化分析, 结果显示: 断层活动性在晚中新世末期(5.5Ma)发生转变; 研究区南部的断层落差值大于北部; 南部断层停止活动的时间较北部断层稍晚。这些研究成果表明, 晚中新世末期研究区断层受构造应力变化的影响, 在生长发育过程中断层活动性质发生了改变, 由逆断层转为正断层。红河断裂带对琼东南盆地的构造演化起着重要的控制作用, 文章推测研究区断层活动性变化是由红河断裂带的构造反转所导致, 因为红河断裂带在5.5Ma时发生了走滑运动的反转, 与研究区的断层活动性变化在时间和性质上相耦合。     

Refining the model of South China Sea’s tectonic evolution: evidence from Yinggehai-Song Hong and Qiongdongnan Basins

The Cenozoic Yinggehai-Song Hong and Qiongdongnan Basins together form one of the largest Cenozoic sedimentary basins in SE Asia. Detail studying on the newly released regional seismic data, we observed their basin structure and stratigraphy are clearly different. The structure of the NW–SE elongation of the Yinggehai-Song Hong Basin is strongly controlled by the strike–slip faulting of steep Red River Fault. And the basement is covered by heavy sediments from the Red River. However, structures closely related with rifting are imagined on the seismic data from the Qiongdongnan Basin. This rifting and thinning on the northern continental margin of the South China Sea is necessary to be explained by the subduction of a Proto-South China Sea oceanic crust toward the NW Borneo block during the Eocene–Early Miocene. To test how the strike–slip faulting in the Yinggehai-Song Hong Basin and rifting in the Qiongdongnan Basin develop together in the northwest corner of the South China Sea, we reconstructed the tectonics of the northwest corner of the South China Sea and test the model with software of MSC MARC. The numerical model results indicate the South China Sea and its surrounding area can be divided into a collision-extrusion tectonic province and a Proto-South China Sea slab pull tectonic province as suggested in previous works. We suggested that offshore Red River Fault in the Yinggehai-Song Hong Basin is confirmed as a very important tectonic boundary between these two tectonic provinces.     

东海陆架盆地南部中生代断裂系统与盆地结构

以东海陆架盆地南部为研究对象,运用丰富的二维地震资料,在对中生界断裂体系精细刻画的基础上,分析了断裂的展布特征,并就断裂系统对盆地结构的控制作用进行了研究,结果表明：该区域中生界断裂系统十分发育,断层表现出张性或张扭性特征并具有多期活动的特点;根据断裂平面展布及组合特征,可划分出3类构造样式,8种断裂组合;根据断裂发育时间,可将断裂的活动期次划分为燕山期和喜山期;受控于NE和NNE向的断裂系统,中生界盆地构造格局表现为“三凹两凸”结构特征;断裂发育的时间及特点对中生界盆地的构造演化和沉积过程起着重要的控制作用。     

Reprint of: Comparison of modern fluid distribution,pressure and flow in sediments associated with anticlines growing in deepwater (Brunei) and continental environments (Iran)

Differences in fluids origin, creation of overpressure and migration are compared for end member Neogene fold and thrust environments: the deepwater region offshore Brunei (shale detachment), and the onshore, arid Central Basin of Iran (salt detachment). Variations in overpressure mechanism arise from a) the availability of water trapped in pore-space during early burial (deepwater marine environment vs arid, continental environment), and b) the depth/temperature at which mechanical compaction becomes a secondary effect and chemical processes start to dominate overpressure development. Chemical reactions associated with smectite rich mud rocks in Iran occur shallow (∼1900 m, smectite to illite transformation) causing load-transfer related (moderate) overpressures, whereas mechanical compaction and inflationary overpressures dominate smectite poor mud rocks offshore Brunei. The basal detachment in deepwater Brunei generally lies below temperatures of about 150 °C, where chemical processes and metagenesis are inferred to drive overpressure development. Overall the deepwater Brunei system is very water rich, and multiple opportunities for overpressure generation and fluid leakage have occurred throughout the growth of the anticlines. The result is a wide variety of fluid migration pathways and structures from deep to shallow levels (particularly mud dykes, sills, laccoliths, volcanoes and pipes, fluid escape pipes, crestal normal faults, thrust faults) and widespread inflationary-type overpressure. In the Central Basin the near surface environment is water limited. Mechanical and chemical compaction led to moderate overpressure development above the Upper Red Formation evaporites. Only below thick Early Miocene evaporites have near lithostatic overpressures developed in carbonates and marls affected by a wide range of overpressure mechanisms. Fluid leakage episodes across the evaporites have either been very few or absent in most areas. Locations where leakage can episodically occur (e.g. detaching thrusts, deep normal faults, salt welds) are sparse. However, in both Iran and Brunei crestal normal faults play an important role in the transmission of fluids in the upper regions of folds.     

Structural patterns of the Lake Erçek Basin,eastern Anatolia (Turkey): evidence from single-channel seismic interpretation

This study presents an analysis of the single-channel high-resolution shallow seismic reflection data from Lake Erçek, eastern Anatolia, to provide key information on the deformational elements, on the fault patterns and on the overall tectonic structure of the Lake Erçek Basin. High-resolution seismic data reveal major structural and deformational features, including N–S trending normal faults and W–E trending reverse faults bounding the Lake Erçek Basin, basement highs and folded structures along the marginal sections of the lake. The N–S trending normal faults asymmetrically control the steep western margin and the gentle eastern deltaic section, while the W–E trending reverse faults appear at the northern and southern margins. The N–S trending normal faults, half-graben structure, and the gradual thickening of sediments in the Erçek Basin toward the fault scarps strongly suggest an extensional tectonic regime resulting from an N–S compression. The Erçek Basin is an extension-controlled depocenter; it is a relatively undeformed and flat-lying deep Basin, forming a typical example of the half-graben structure. The N–S trending normal faults appear to be currently active and control the lake center and the E-delta section, resulting in subsidence in the lake floor. In the N- and S-margins of the lake, there is evidence of folding, faulting and accompanying block uplifting, suggesting a significant N–S compressional regime that results in the reverse faulting and basement highs along the marginal sections. The folding and faulting caused strong uplift of the basement blocks in the N- and S- margins, subsequently exposing the shelf and slope areas. The exposed areas are evident in the erosional unconformity of the surface of the basement highs and thinned sediments. The tilted basement strata and subsequent erosion over the basement block highs suggest prominent structural inversion, probably long before the formation of the lake. New high-resolution seismic data reveal the fault patterns and structural lineaments of the Lake Erçek and provide strong evidence for an ongoing extension and subsidence. The present study provides new structural insights that will support future tectonic and sedimentary studies and the development of strategies related to active earthquake faults and major seismic events in the region of Lake Erçek.     

珠江口盆地恩平凹陷油气沿断层走向运移模式

勘探思路的转变往往会带来新的勘探突破。通过对珠江口盆地恩平凹陷断层研究发现,在恩平凹陷陡坡带北部凸起区发育1种具备以下4点特征的断层：与控洼断层呈大角度相交;断陷湖盆发育中期开始活动,并形成向湖盆输砂的物源通道;成藏期切开断陷中期沿断层输入的砂体和烃源岩;沿断层走向形成往凸起区方向因地层逐渐抬升而形成的断裂内部输导脊。这种断层在区域厚层泥岩盖层的顶侧封作用下,油气沿断裂内部输导脊发生走向运移。基于此研究, 在传统认为较难运移成藏的恩平凹陷陡坡带北部凸起区获得了勘探突破,并在该区获得一系列勘探发现。珠江口盆地恩平凹陷油气沿断层走向运移模式可供类似地区借鉴。