Seabed morphology and gas venting features in the continental slope region of Krishna–Godavari basin,Bay of Bengal: Implications in gas-hydrate exploration

Increased oil and gas exploration activity has led to a detailed investigation of the continental shelf and adjacent slope regions of Mahanadi, Krishna–Godavari (KG) and Cauvery basins, which are promising petroliferous basins along the eastern continental margin of India. In this paper, we analyze the high resolution sparker, subbottom profiler and multibeam data in KG offshore basin to understand the shallow structures and shallow deposits for gas hydrate exploration. We identified and mapped prominent positive topographic features in the bathymetry data. These mounds show fluid/gas migration features such as acoustic voids, acoustic chimneys, and acoustic turbid layers. It is interesting to note that drilling/coring onboard JOIDES in the vicinity of the mounds show the presence of thick accumulation of subsurface gas hydrate. Further, geological and geochemical study of long sediment cores collected onboard Marion Dufresne in the vicinity of the mounds and sedimentary ridges shows the imprints of paleo-expulsion of methane and sulfidic fluid from the seafloor.     

Shallow gas and fluid migration in the northern Arafura Sea (offshore Northern Australia)

A variety of shallow gas indicators and fluid migration pathways have been interpreted from new sub-bottom profiler, multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar, and echo-sounder data together with geochemical analyses of sampled sediments from the northern Arafura Sea, offshore Northern Australia. This study provides new geological data and a seismic stratigraphy of the youngest units in the Money Shoal Basin, in an area that has not been closely studied in over 30 years. The shallow gas indicators include pockmarks, low frequency enhanced reflectors and acoustic blanking. These indicators are supported by gas within shallow cores. Geochemistry indicates that this gas has a microbial origin but deeper fluid movement is also suggested by the presence of interpreted hydrocarbon slicks based on synthetic aperture radar data. A region of likely hydrocarbon seepage is indicated by the clear coincidence of shallow gas indicators with an area of increased faulting and a zone of poor quality seismic data (recognised on conventional seismic data), together with anomalies (interpreted on remote-sensing data) aligned with mapped deep structures.     

海底浅层地质灾害的高分辨率地震识别技术

将渤海某油田最新采集的二维高分辨率资料处理解释后,结合区域地球物理及地质概况,利用地震相分析、波阻抗反演、井(孔)震标定等深层油气勘探的成熟技术,系统研究了各类海底浅层地质灾害因素的成因、特征、危害及展布规律,总结了一套完整的利用高分辨率地震识别海底浅层地质灾害的技术方法。结果表明,浅层断裂、浅层气和埋藏古河道是研究区海底浅层发育的主要地质灾害因素,通过刻画不同期次地质灾害因素的类型及其分布范围,为今后该油田海上施工提供了可靠的工程地质调查成果。因此,高分辨率地震技术能够很好地应用于海底浅层地质灾害的识别。     

我国近海油气资源基本状况及勘探方向探讨

本文通过对我国近海油气资源的分布特征进行分析 ,指出渤海湾盆地是我国近海石油的主力产区。天然气的主力产区为莺歌海盆地和东海陆架盆地 ,目前勘探的重点应放在渤海湾盆地 ,其次是东海陆架盆地 ,珠江口盆地第三。在加强对新生代盆地勘探的同时 ,应重视对中生代地层的勘探 ;在深化浅水区勘探的同时 ,不失时机地开展深水勘探 ;在加强构造圈闭勘探的同时 ,密切注视非构造圈闭的油气资源的勘探     

Authigenic carbonates from the eastern Black Sea as an archive for shallow gas hydrate dynamics – Results from the combination of CT imaging with mineralogical and stable isotope analyses

Authigenic carbonates associated with cold seeps provide valuable archives of changes in the long-term seepage activity. To investigate the role of shallow-buried hydrates on the seepage strength and fluid composition we analysed methane-derived carbonate precipitates from a high-flux hydrocarbon seepage area (“Batumi seep area”) located on the south-eastern Black Sea slope in ca. 850 m. In a novel approach, we combined computerized X-ray tomography (CT) with mineralogical and isotope geochemical methods to get additional insights into the three-dimensional internal structure of the carbonate build-ups.     

天然气水合物赋存区甲烷渗漏活动的地球化学响应特征

综述了天然气水合物赋存区甲烷渗漏活动的地球化学响应指标的研究进展,分析了应用单一指标识别甲烷渗漏活动各自所存在的问题,包括浅表层沉积物孔隙水中CH_4、SO_4~(2–)、Cl~–等离子浓度随深度的变化;浅层沉积物全岩W_(TOC)(W表示质量分数,TOC表示总有机碳)和W_(TS)(TS表示总硫)之间的相关性及比值;自生碳酸盐岩δ~(13)C和δ~(18)O;自生矿物重晶石、黄铁矿、自生石膏的δ~(34)S;有孔虫壳体和生物标志化合物的δ~(13)C等。结果表明孔隙水中的CH_4、SO4_~(2–)浓度及溶解无机碳的碳同位素组成可以用来识别目前正在发生的甲烷渗漏活动;而沉积物中的WTS、自生矿物的δ~(34)S、钡含量及其异常峰值和生物标志化合物的δ~(13)C等指标的联合使用可以更真实准确地反映地质历史时期天然气水合物赋存区的甲烷渗漏活动。因此,在实际研究过程中,可将孔隙水和沉积物两种介质的多种指标相结合。随着非传统稳定同位素(Fe、Ca、Mg等)和沉积物氧化还原敏感元素(Mo、V、U等)等研究的发展,甲烷渗漏活动地球化学响应指标的研究也将得到拓展,而多种地球化学指标的联合使用将为天然气水合物勘探及其形成分解过程识别研究提供重要的科学依据。     

Establishing hydrocarbon charge to the Ashmore Platform,Bonaparte Basin,Australia: A natural seeps study

To date there is one proven hydrocarbon accumulation on the Ashmore Platform, Bonaparte Basin, Australia, with hydrocarbon charge remaining a key exploration risk. To the south, the neighbouring Browse Basin has proven lateral migration of generated hydrocarbons to the basin bounding highs, as evidenced by seeps located on the Yampi Shelf. This paper describes the findings of a natural seeps study carried out to establish if migrating subsurface hydrocarbons reach the southern flanks of the Ashmore Platform basement high. The integrated study combined remote sensing, geophysical, acoustic, photographic and geochemical techniques and has identified three areas of seepage; one area characteristic of persistent seepage and two areas of interpreted episodic leakage. Geochemical data collected from samples at one of these sites demonstrates the presence of thermogenic liquid hydrocarbons, with isotopic compositions falling within the range of values exhibited by oils sourced by the Lower Cretaceous Echuca Shoals Formation. The identification of active natural seepage along the southern flank of the Ashmore Platform provides evidence that hydrocarbons generated within the Caswell Sub-basin are able to laterally migrate onto the flanks of the Ashmore Platform structural high. As such, these findings reduce charge risk for the Ashmore Platform and regional exploration risks in the northern Browse Basin.     

Palaeo-carbonate seep structures above an oil reservoir, Gryphon Field, Tertiary, North Sea

Petrographic and geochemical analyses performed on a North Sea core from the Gryphon Field reveal the presence of palaeo-degassing features surrounded by injected sandstones in the Eocene interval. The injected sandstones are oil-stained and poorly cemented by carbonate and quartz. ¹⁸O isotope analyses indicate that carbonate cementation occurred during shallow burial (likely less than about 300 m). Depleted ¹³C (around –30 V-PDB) carbonate cement suggests that bicarbonate was derived from the microbial oxidation of oil and gas. Late quartz overgrowths enclose oil present in the injected units. The tubular degassing conduits are composed of zoned cements and have ¹⁸O and ¹³C isotope values similar to the injected sandstones, indicating that oil and gas seepage induced the precipitation of authigenic carbonate in the shallow subsurface. Oil inclusions in inter- and intra-crystal cement sites in both injected sandstones and degassing conduits indicate that oil seepage was an ongoing feature at shallow burial. A proposed model involves oil and gas seepage and the formation of the degassing conduits, followed by a sand injection phase. It seems likely that oil and gas continued to leak towards the seabed by exploiting the network of permeable injected sandstones and the horizons of porous degassing features.     

下刚果盆地北部海域海相碳酸盐岩沉积储层特征

西非下刚果盆地为一典型被动大陆边缘含盐盆地,下刚果盆地北部海域在白垩系海相碳酸盐岩层系获得丰富油气发现。研究区海相碳酸盐岩领域油气勘探面临的核心瓶颈问题,即白垩系碳酸盐岩的沉积模式、演化规律、储层特征以及沉积储层发育控制因素。综合钻井、地震、区域地质等资料,分析认为自下向上相对海平面的上升控制了沉积演化,沉积体系演化模式为浅海碳酸盐岩台地→浅海混积陆棚→半深海-海底扇。下刚果盆地碳酸盐岩储层展布在纵向及平面上均可以划分为内中外3个储层发育带,碳酸盐岩储层最主要发育于下白垩统Albian阶下Sendji组。该时期研究区整体发育浅海碳酸盐岩混积缓坡台地沉积体系,沉积亚相可进一步划分为混积滨岸、后缓坡、浅水缓坡以及深水缓坡4种类型,其中浅水缓坡亚相颗粒滩微相与后缓坡亚相台内浅滩、砂质浅滩微相储层最为发育。碳酸盐岩储层岩性组合主要包括颗粒灰岩、砂岩、砂质灰岩、白云岩4种类型;储层发育主要受沉积相带的控制,并受成岩作用的影响。     

世界主要深水含油气盆地储层特征

世界深水盆地油气资源丰富,良好的储层是形成较大油气藏的必要条件.以大量调研资料为基础,对大西洋区域的墨西哥湾、巴西东部边缘、非洲西海岸、挪威中部陆架及新特提斯区域的澳大利亚西北陆架、中国南海、孟加拉湾、地中海(尼罗河三角洲)8个地区的24个深水含油气盆地储层特征进行了综合分析,归纳总结了这些深水含油气盆地中主力储层的形...     

Characterization of natural hydrocarbon seepage in the South Caspian Sea off Iran using satellite SAR and geological data

Abstract

Two groups of oil slicks have been repeatedly detected in the Southern Caspian Sea, off Cape Sefidrud and close to the Iranian coast of the sea on the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by the Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B satellites in April–June 2018. Analysis of the SAR images together with bathymetry, geological and geophysical data in geographic information system showed that these manifestations (oil slicks) visible on the sea surface have natural origin, related to the bottom seepage phenomenon and are associated with existing hydrocarbon system. Oil slicks are concentrated over the continental slope and related to local geological formations of the sedimentary cover having oil deposits related to paleo-delta of Sefidrud River. Our evidence shows that two seeps in this area are active and repeating. It is concluded that the SAR is an excellent tool for monitoring of seepage phenomenon. Moreover, results indicate that the use of remote methods to identify offshore natural oil seeps related to existing active petroleum system can be considered as a well-accepted approach to support oil and gas exploration in frontier areas such as the South Caspian Basin.     

南海北部天然气渗漏系统地球物理初探

本文主要针对南海北部大陆边缘发育的5个沉积盆地——台西南盆地、珠江口盆地、琼东南盆地、莺歌海盆地和中建南盆地,分析了近年来利用地球物理方法研究南海北部天然气渗漏系统的成果,重点包括3个方面:天然气水合物的储藏、流体运移通道以及海底表面渗漏特征。其中表征天然气水合物存在的似海底反射BSR在台西南和珠江口盆地发育明显,莺歌海盆地发现有大型气田;5个盆地流体运移活跃,其内发现了多样的运移通道:断层、底辟、气烟囱、多边形断层及水道(峡谷)等破裂结构;海底表面渗漏特征也在台西南、珠江口、莺歌海和中建南盆地均有发现。南海北部大陆边缘天然气渗漏系统广泛发育,值得进一步深入研究。     

中国海域及邻区主要含油气盆地与成藏地质条件

中国海域及邻区分布有近５０个沉积盆地,其中大部分发育在大陆边缘,而主要含油气盆地则分布在大陆架部位。盆地的起源,发生,发展受控于大地构造不同时期的构造运动,形成诸如裂谷型断陷盆地,走滑盆地以及非典型前陆盆地等多类型沉积盆地。从区域广度阐述了盆地沉积的有利相带对油气成藏的重要性,尤其是陆架盆地的成藏地质条件所形成的富集油气藏包括已发现的一大批大中型油气田,更具有的开发前景。     

东海新生代沉积盆地的类型和成盆期

东海新生代沉积厚度最大可达10km。分为三个发展时期。第一阶段从晚白垩世至中始新世,由于中国大陆向东濡散和掀斜断块作用,在大陆边缘由陆缘裂谷盆地转化为浅海沉积盆地。第二阶段从晚始新世至中中新世,由于喜马拉雅陆缘造山带的形成和中国大陆边缘的隆升联合作用结果,在大陆边缘由环绕大陆分布的带状地堑转化为前陆盆地。第三阶段从晚中新世至第四纪,由于太平洋板块向西俯冲,形成弧后断陷及弧前坳陷。从横向上看,不同性质和时代的沉积,由西向东,由老到新,依次排列。从盆地性质上看,由老到新,张性盆地和压性盆地交替形成,叠置在一起。因此不同时代和性质的盆地,具有不同的石油地质条件和油气成藏规律。     

Plate tectonic history,basin development and petroleum source rock deposition onshore China

China comprises a mosaic of distinct continental fragments separated by fold belts. These fold belts are suture zones resulting from the accretion of various fragments formerly separated by intervening areas of oceanic crust.The major sedimentary basins onshore China can be classified into four groups. Those in western China are flexural, developing as a result of north-south compression. In contrast, those in the east are extensional and related to development of the Pacific oceanic margin. In central China, basins have a more problematic origin. Those of north central China (Ordos, Sichuan) are flexural basins controlled by eastward directed thrusting along their western margin. In contrast, basins further south (Chuxiong, Shiwandashan) are predominantly extensional and related to major strike-slip movements.By synthesizing basin stratigraphies across China in tectonostratigraphic terms (and in particular comparing the nature and timing of unconformities), it is possible to formulate a coherent model for the palaeoreconstruction of China. We identify five major tectonostratigraphic breaks which equate with the collision of the following continental fragments: Tarim/North China (Carboniferous-Permian), South China Block (Permian-Triassic), Qiantang (Late Triassic-Early Jurassic), Lhasa Block (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) and India (Early Tertiary).Prior to Permian times, the southern margin of Eurasia ran approximately along the northern border of modern China. The Late Carboniferous collision of Tarim/North China with Eurasia resulted in the development of a flexural basin (Junggar) and deposition of non-marine clastics. To the south of the suture, shallow marine deposition continued. In the Late Permian-Early Triassic, the progressive collision from east to west of the South China Block with the North China Block resulted in a change to fluvial/lacutrine sedimentation across the entire North China-Tarim block. Open marine carbonate deposition in the north of the South China Block passed southward into a deeper marine clastic sequence deposited in a backarc basin. Further south, a subduction zone existed along the southeastern margin of the South China Block.In western China, northward subduction throughout the Triassic resulted in the development of the Songban-Ganzi accretionary prism with retroarc thrusting resulting in flexure and the first development of the Tarim basin. Oblique collision of the Qiantang Block in the Late Triassic along the east of the South China Block resulted in east-west directed thrusting which initiated the Suchuan and Ordos basins. Continued strike-slip deformation along the south western margin of the South China Block resulted in the development of basins with a significant extensional component such as Chuxiong.The collision of the Qiantang Block with the southern edge of the Tarim Basin (Early Jurassic) resulted in a renewed clastic influx in both the Tarim and Junggar basins. Along the eastern (Pacific) margin a compressional arc and retroarc basin in the south passed northwards into an extensional arc system. Subduction rollback of the extensional arc initiated rifting in the Late Jurassic in the Eren and Songliao basins.The Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous collision of the Lhasa Block in the west rejuvenated the thrust systems bordering the western basin and resulted in a renewed clastic influx. In the southeast, the compressional arc phase culminated in widespread thrusting and folding of Early Cretaceous age. In the northeast, extension continued with the progressive migration of the rift system southward with time.The arrival of the Indian Block in the Early Tertiary rejuvenated the bounding thrust belts of all the western basins. In the east, the change in convergence of the Pacific plate to a more westerly direction is marked by extension and widespread rifting along the entire length of Eastern China.Throughout most of China, Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposition occurred in predominantly non-marine environments. Source rocks in such settings comprise principally mudstones deposited in lakes (organic-rich mudstones). These can accumulate in both deep and shallow lakes. In order to accumulate substantial volumes, the lake must be significant in space and time.In China, lacustrine ORMs occur in both rift and flexural basins. Lacustrine ORMs deposited under humid climatic conditions are restricted to the period of maximum tectonic subsidence. In the flexural basins of western China, source rock deposition follows basin initiation by 20–30 Ma. In the extensional basins of eastern China, source rock deposition takes place 5–15 Ma after basin initiation. By contrast, semi-arid and arid climate lacustrine ORMs, whilst being best developed during the period of maximum tectonic subsidence, occur at all stages in the basin history.     

Oyster patch reefs as indicators of fossil hydrocarbon seeps induced by synsedimentary faults

The Late Jurassic deposits of the Boulonnais area (N-France) represent the proximal lateral-equivalent of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation; they accumulated on a clastic-dominated ramp subject to synsedimentary faulting as a result of the Atlantic Ocean rifting. In the Gris-Nez Cape area, i.e., close to the northern border fault zone of the Jurassic basin, the Late Jurassic sequence contains small-dimensioned oyster patch reefs (<1 m) that are specifically observed at the base of an abrupt deepening trend in the depositional sequence induced by well-defined pulses of normal fault activity. Petrographic analysis of these patch reefs shows that they are exclusively composed of Nanogyra nana embedded in a microsparitic calcite matrix. ™¹³C measurements, carried out within both the matrix and the shells, display significantly lower values in the matrix compared to the oyster shells which suggests that the carbonate matrix precipitation was involving a carbon source different from marine dissolved inorganic carbon, most probably related to sulfate reduction, which is evidenced by light ™³⁴S in pyrites. Similarities but also differences with lucinid-rich bioconstructions, namely, the Late Jurassic pseudo-bioherms of Beauvoisin (SE-France) suggest that the patch reefs developed at hydrocarbon seeps are related to synsedimentary faults. The extensional block-faulting segmentation of the northern margin of the Boulonnais Basin in Late Jurassic times is thus believed to have induced a sort of small-dimension hydrocarbon seepage field, recorded by the patch reef distribution.     

南沙群岛海域汞量地球化学异常分析

概述在南沙群岛海域开展海上汞量地球化学调查与异常分析的主要成果。从1989至1994年的5个航次中,完成了11655km测线和1790个站的表层海水和海面大气中汞量现场测定。在圈定的19个汞量异常中,推断有9个与下伏油气储层有关,另有7个为断裂带的反映,还有3个可能指示海底存在天然气水合物或深水油气藏。调查结果表明,汞量测量是一种有效的海上油气资源和地质调查手段,能为南沙油气资源远景评价和大型断裂构造调查提供重要的地球化学依据。     

Middle to Late Cenozoic tectonic events in south and central Palawan (Philippines) and their implications to the evolution of the south-eastern margin of South China Sea: Evidence from onshore structural and offshore seismic data

Using recently gathered onland structural and 2D/3D offshore seismic data in south and central Palawan (Philippines), this paper presents a new perspective in unraveling the Cenozoic tectonic history of the southeastern margin of the South China Sea. South and central Palawan are dominated by Mesozoic ophiolites (Palawan Ophiolite), distinct from the primarily continental composition of the north. These ophiolites are emplaced over syn-rift Eocene turbidites (Panas Formation) along thrust structures best preserved in the ophiolite–turbidite contact as well as within the ophiolites. Thrusting is sealed by Early Miocene (∼20 Ma) sediments of the Pagasa Formation (Isugod Formation onland), constraining the younger limit of ophiolite emplacement at end Late Oligocene (∼23 Ma). The onset of ophiolite emplacement at end Eocene is constrained by thrust-related metamorphism of the Eocene turbidites, and post-emplacement underthrusting of Late Oligocene – Early Miocene Nido Limestone. This carbonate underthrusting at end Early Miocene (∼16 Ma) is marked by the deformation of a seismic unit corresponding to the earliest members of the Early – Middle Miocene Pagasa Formation. Within this formation, a tectonic wedge was built within Middle Miocene (from ∼16 Ma to ∼12 Ma), forming a thrust-fold belt called the Pagasa Wedge. Wedge deformation is truncated by the regionally-observed Middle Miocene Unconformity (MMU ∼12 Ma). A localized, post-kinematic extension affects thrust-fold structures, the MMU, and Late Miocene to Early Pliocene carbonates (e.g. Tabon Limestone). This structural set-up suggests a continuous convergent regime affecting the southeastern margin of the South China Sea between end Eocene to end Middle Miocene. The ensuing structures including juxtaposed carbonates, turbidites and shallow marine clastics within thrust-fold belts have become ideal environments for hydrocarbon generation and accumulation. Best developed in the Northwest Borneo Trough area, the intensity of thrust-fold deformation decreases towards the northeast into offshore southwest Palawan.     

南海海域新生代沉积盆地的油气资源

南海新生代经历过大陆张裂与分离、海底扩张和地块碰撞等构造演化历史,南海北部为被动大陆边缘,南部是碰撞挤压边缘,东部为俯冲聚敛边缘,西部是走滑边缘。在这种构造体制下,形成了许多沉积盆地。北部和西部边缘上发育着张性沉积盆地和走滑拉张盆地;在南部边缘上,其北部发育着张性盆地,南部为挤压环境下形成的盆地,如前陆盆地、前孤盆地;东部边缘上发育着前孤盆地。目前油气勘探实践证明,南海南部的油气资源比北部丰富。究其原因,南海北部为被动大陆边缘,张性沉积盆地的烃源岩体积较小,而南部挤压环境下形成的沉积盆地的烃源岩体积大;北部的地热流较南部小,因此地温梯度也较小,故南部边缘烃源岩的成熟度比北部高;由于南部边缘处于挤压构造环境,在沉积盆地中形成了许多挤压构造,而北部边缘一直处于张性构造环境,形成的构造较少且较小;同时,南部边缘沉积盆地中,烃源岩生烃与构造形成在时间上搭配较好。因此,在南海南部边缘沉积盆地中形成了许多大型油气田,而南海北部边缘沉积盆地中,大型油气田较少,中小型油气田较多。     

Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic sedimentary basins of active continental margin of Southeast Russia: paleogeography,tectonics, and coal–oil–gas presence

Various settings took place during the Late Mesozoic: divergent, convergent, collisional, and transform. After mid-Jurassic collision of the Siberian and Chinese cratons, a latitudinal system of post-collision troughs developed along the Mongol-Okhotsk suture (the Uda, Torom basins and others), filled with terrigenous coal-bearing molasse.The dispersion of Pangea, creation of oceans during the Late Jurassic are correlated to the emergence of the East Asian submeridional rift system with volcano-terrigenous coal-bearing deposits (the Amur-Zeya basin). At that time, to the east there existed an Andean-type continental margin. Foreland (Upper Bureya, Partizansk, and Razdolny) and flexural (Sangjiang-Middle Amur) basins were formed along the margin of the rigid massifs during the Late Jurassic to Berriasian.During the Valanginian-mid-Albian an oblique subduction of the Izanagi plate beneath the Asian continent occurred, producing a transform margin type, considerable sinistral strike slip displacements, and formation of pull-apart basins filled with turbidites (the Sangjiang-Middle Amur basin).The Aptian is characterized by plate reorganization and formation of epioceanic island arcs, fore-arc and back-arc basins in Sakhalin and the Sikhote-Alin (the Alchan and Sangjiang-Middle Amur basins), filled with volcanoclastics.During the mid-Albian a series of terranes accreted to the Asian continental margin. By the end of the Albian, the East Asian marginal volcanic belt began to form due to the subduction of the Kula plate beneath the Asian continent. During the Cenomanian–Coniacian shallow marine coarse clastics accumulated in the fore-arc basins, which were followed by continental deposits in the Santonian–Campanian. From the Coniacian to the Maastrichtian, a thermal subsidence started in rift basins, and continental oil-bearing clastics accumulated (the Amur-Zeya basin).Widespread elevation and denudation were dominant during the Maastrichtian. This is evidenced by thick sediments accumulated in the Western Sakhalin fore-arc basin.During the Cenozoic, an extensive rift belt rmade up of a system of grabens, which were filled with lacustrine–alluvial coal–and oil-bearing deposits, developed along the East Asian margin.