Geomorphology and sedimentary sequence evolution during the buried stage of paleo-uplift in the Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation,Junggar Basin,northwestern China: Implications for reservoir lithofacies and hydrocarbon distribution

The evolution of large-scale paleo-uplifts within sedimentary basins controls the sedimentary provenance, depositional systems and hydrocarbon distributions. This study aims to unravel changes in paleo-geomorphology, interpret sedimentary sequence evolution, and investigate favourable reservoir types and the hydrocarbon distribution during the buried stage of a long-term eroded paleo-uplift, taking the Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation (K₁q) in the Junggar Basin as an example. These research topics have rarely been studied or are poorly understood. This study integrates current drilling production data with outcrop and core analyses, drilling well logs, 3D seismic data interpretations, grading data, physical property comparisons and identified hydrocarbon distributions.After more than 20 million years of differential river erosion and weathering in arid conditions, the large-scale Chemo paleo-uplift within the hinterland area of the basin formed a distinctive valley–monadnock paleo-geomorphology prior to the deposition of K₁q. Since the Early Cretaceous, tectonic subsidence and humid conditions have caused the base level (lake level) to rise, leading to backfilling of valleys and burial processes. Two systems tracts in the target strata of K₁q, consisting of distinctive depositional systems, can be identified: (1) a lowstand systems tract (LST), which is confined within incised valleys and is mainly composed of gravelly braided rivers and rarely occurring debris flows and (2) an extensive transgressive systems tract (TST), which developed into an almost flat landform and consists of braided river delta to lacustrine depositional systems. Overall, the physical properties of braided river reservoirs in the LST are better than those of the braided river delta reservoirs in the TST. However, the inhomogeneous distributions of carbonate cements cause differences in the physical properties of conglomerate reservoirs in the LST. However, for sandstones in both the LST and TST, coarser grain sizes and better sorting result in better physical properties. Altogether, four types of reservoir can be identified in the study area: Jurassic inner monadnock reservoirs, K₁q LST stratigraphic onlap reservoirs, LST structural reservoirs and TST structural reservoirs.     

时频分析技术在储层分析中的应用

时频分析是对地震信号进行分解,可以在不同频带上显示不同级别的地质现象。采用连续小渡变换方法,对地震资料进行储层时频分析和分频属性提取,时频主极值频率曲线与伽马曲线有较好对应关系,尤其是其低频趋势线。对A区块周边的两口井井旁道进行了时频分析,揭示出该区15Hz低频数据体与储层及含油气相关性较好。针对这一特征,对该区三维地震体进行了运算及属性提取,描述其储层展布。     

多子波地震道分解技术在平湖油气田的应用

多子波地震道分解是一种新的地震道分解技术,它是以分解算法将地震道分解成不同形状,不同频率的子波。利用多子波地震道分解等技术,对东海平湖油气田花港组油藏地震数据体进行多子波地震道分解与重构、频谱衰减和数据体波形分解等应用研究,找出了与钻井资料吻合,并含有地质意义的属性,勾画出该地区主要油藏的含油气范围和有利目标,取得了较好的应用效果。     

Defining the 3D geometry of thin shale units in the Sleipner reservoir using seismic attributes

Defining the 3D geometry and internal architecture of reservoirs is important for prediction of hydrocarbon volumes, petroleum production and storage potential. Many reservoirs contain thin shale layers that are below seismic resolution, which act as impermeable and semi-permeable layers within a reservoir. Predicting the storage volume of a reservoir with thin shale layers from conventional seismic data is an issue due to limited seismic resolution. Further, gas chimneys indicative of gas migration pathways through thin shale layers, are not easily defined by conventional seismic data. Additional information, such as borehole data, can be used to aid mapping of shale layers, but making lateral predictions from 1D borehole data has high uncertainty. This paper presents an integrated workflow for quantitative seismic interpretation of thin shale layers and gas chimneys in the Utsira Formation of the Sleipner reservoir. The workflow combines the use of attribute and spectral analysis to add resolution to conventional seismic amplitude data. Detailed interpretation of these analyses reveals the reservoirs internal thin shale architecture, and the presence of gas chimneys. The comprehensive interpretation of the reservoirs internal structure is used to calculate a new reservoir storage volume. This is done based on the distribution of sand and interpreted shale layers within the study area, for this active CO₂ storage site.     

Seal rock deformation by polygonal faulting,offshore Uruguay

Due to a lack of borehole data, reservoir and seal rock presence in frontier basins is typically inferred from seismic reflection data. However, analysis of the geometry and kinematic development of polygonal fault systems (PFS), which almost exclusively form within very fine-grained strata, provides another, largely untested method to infer reservoir and seal rock presence. We here use very high-quality 3D seismic reflection data from offshore Uruguay and a range of quantitative GIS-based techniques to document the planform and cross-sectional characteristics of a basin-scale (>6400 km²) PFS, and to investigate the role that stratigraphic variations in the Tertiary deep-water host-rock have on its geometrical variability and kinematic development. We demonstrate that a series of likely sandstone-rich deep-water deposits occur at the base of and within the main PFS tier. The geometric characteristics and throw distribution on individual polygonal faults suggest these sandstone-rich deep-water deposits represent a mechanical barrier to fault propagation, thus influencing fault height and areal density and, in some cases, strike. We argue that in largely unexplored, deep-to ultra-deep water basins, such as those characterizing offshore Uruguay, the distribution and geometric attributes of PFS can be used to delineate sandstone-rich reservoir bodies. Furthermore, these characteristics may help exploration geoscientists better understand seal heterogeneity and quality in data-poor basins.     

溱潼凹陷阜一段层序地层格架及沉积体系研究

溱潼凹陷属走滑伸展型断陷,应用层序地层学原理和方法,建立了阜一段的层序地层格架,并在阜一段识别出湖泊三角洲和湖泊两大沉积体系。同时结合含砂率与地震属性研究,恢复了阜一段低位域、湖扩域和高位域的沉积体系,认为各体系域沉积体系在时空展布上具有一定的继承性和差异性。综合分析认为,研究区阜一段东部的殷庄—广山地区在低位域时发育大型三角洲沉积体系,主要以前缘河口坝及席状砂沉积为主,可作为良好储集层;西部斜坡带华港—北汉庄地区,低位域及高位域均发育三角洲沉积体系且规模较大,主要为平原河道及前缘河口坝沉积,也可作为很好的油气储层。     

地震资料极性判别技术在储层预测中的应用

在储层地震属性预测技术研究方面,过去人们关注的焦点主要集中于地震关键面时窗选取、地震属性选择和地震属性优化及融合等方面,很少注意到地震资料极性对储层预测效果的影响。实际应用表明,地震资料的极性判断错误,可能导致储层地震属性预测失败。针对这些问题,文章在论述如何判别地震极性的基础上,利用地震属性技术对渤海海域某构造储层的横向展布进行预测,取得了较好的效果。     

应用3D谱分解和相干属性刻画深水水道沉积要素，以新西兰塔纳基盆地为例

过去的几十年里,三维地震技术已经成为描述地下地层和沉积体系必不可少的工具。地震地层学和地震地貌学的快速发展大幅度提升了应用3D地震数据解释深水区沉积地层的能力。时间切片和层属性分析等技术能够增强对古地貌的解释,并且当与地层分析手段相结合时,能够对储层和盖层分布进行预测。多属性叠加技术能够进一步突出其常规技术方法容易忽视的地质现象。本文提出将频谱分解的不同组分与相干属性叠加突出深水水道沉积要素的边界和砂体分布,进而精细描述水道结构要素。通过应用该技术在研究区识别出四种沉积要素（1）点坝,（2）迁移的曲流环,（3）侵蚀水道,（4）决口。研究发现深水水道平面上从低弯曲度向高弯曲度变化。这个技术方法有助于解释人员识别复杂的沉积要素并且可以定性预测水道富砂要素,这对于勘探和开发中降低钻井风险是至关重要的。     

MDI地震属性技术在储层预测中的应用

地震资料在油气勘探中发挥着重要的作用。为了充分利用地震资料所提供的信息,需要使用地震属性技术进行储层预测。MDI是俄罗斯PANGEA公司研制的多属性储层预测系统。根据所研究的地震工区和目标的不同,在多种地震属性和岩石物性分析的基础上,运用这一预测系统可以利用多种定性或定量方法,综合多地震属性预测储层及含油气性,在实际工区中取得了一定的效果。     

渤海东部庙北地区沙一段储层特征及控制因素

钻井揭示庙北地区沙一段储层物性较差,该区是否发育优质储层直接影响着下一步的勘探决策。综合利用壁心、薄片、地震、钻井及分析化验等资料,分析储层特征和影响因素,探讨了优质储层分布,分析表明,庙北地区沙一段为低孔、低渗—特低渗储层,储集空间为粒间溶孔和粒内溶孔。碱性水体条件下的碳酸盐矿物强胶结、扇三角洲边缘相带和黏土矿物向伊利石的转化是导致储层物性差的主要因素,溶蚀作用是控制优质储层发育的决定因素。受沉积相带、溶蚀强度及异常高压等条件控制,同沉积断层下降盘的扇三角洲主河道区和水下隆起带上的碳酸盐岩浅滩为优质储层发育的有利区。研究成果对于该区油气勘探具有重要的参考意义。     

Speculative petroleum systems of the southern Pelotas Basin,offshore Uruguay

The Pelotas Basin of Brazil and Uruguay represents a frontier basin with under-explored hydrocarbon potential. Although oil and gas accumulations have yet to be identified, only 21 exploratory wells have been drilled in an area of more than 330,000 km², 20 of which are located in the Brazilian portion of the basin. A detailed study of the petroleum system of offshore Uruguay has strong potential to contribute to a better characterization of the capacity of the basin to generate and accumulate hydrocarbons. Three stages have previously been recognized during the evolution of Pelotas basin: (1) a prerift phase which preserved Paleozoic and Mesozoic units of the Paraná Basin; (2) an Early Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary synrift phase; and (3) a Cretaceous to Cenozoic postrift phase deposited during the passive margin stage. In this study, we use sequence stratigraphy methodology to interpret 2D multichannel seismic sections of the southern segment of the Pelotas Basin in the Uruguayan Atlantic margin. This analysis allows us to identify depositional sequences, systems tracts and the distribution of the main elements of the potential petroleum systems. Following our analysis, we propose six speculative petroleum systems (SPS) in the Pelotas Basin. The first SPS is related to the prerift phase and is represented by a Lower Permian restricted marine source rock and reservoirs related to Permian to Upper Jurassic aeolian and fluvial sandstones. The second SPS corresponds to the synrift phase and is constituted by a Barremian lacustrine source rock with reservoirs of alluvial/fluvial sandstones of the same age. The other four proposed SPS are associated with the postrift phase, represented by marine source rocks related to Aptian-Albian, Cenomanian-Turonian and Paleocene transgressions, all of which are identified in the region and interpreted in seismic lines from Uruguay. These postrift SPS have predominantly siliciclastic reservoirs represented by Early Cretaceous aeolian sandstones and Cretaceous to Cenozoic deltaic sandstones and turbidites.     

南海北部流花碳酸盐岩储层频域属性分析

生物礁碳酸盐岩油气藏储层具有丰度大、产能高的特点,一直以来是油气勘探重点探索的目标。南海北部大部分的油气发现均位于新近系,生物礁油气田也是该区勘探发现最大的亮点。其中东沙隆起区LH11生物礁是我国近年来发现的最大规模的同类型油气田。但其作为复杂的一类岩性油气藏,其非均质性和隐蔽性,使得在常规地震剖面上往往难以识别。本研究从地震频域属性角度出发,通过提取地震剖面频域图谱并结合测井孔隙度数据,分析生物礁储层频域特征,并结合正演模拟加以验证,认为研究区生物礁碳酸盐岩储层总体偏薄,导致了频率和衰减的异常,另外也证实薄层调谐效应方法可以较准确地估计层厚。     

Sequence stratigraphy and depositional architecture of the Pearl River Delta system,northern South China Sea: An interactive response to sea level,tectonics and paleoceanography

Using a combined dataset including 3D seismic volumes, 2D profiles and 127 industrial wells, this study systematically investigated sequence stratigraphy and depositional architecture of the Pearl River Delta system (PRDS) during the Middle Miocene. In total, six stratigraphic sequences (SQ1 to SQ6) were recognized for the Hanjiang Formation, each of which could be further subdivided into a transgressive systems tract (TST) and a regressive systems tract (RST) according to a T-R sequence stratigraphic model. Seismic geomorphologic approaches were then conducted to interpret and map the key depositional elements, including fluvial channel systems, river mouth bars, longshore bars, shelf sand ridges and shelf sand sheets. After a detailed construction of the paleogeography for each of the twelves systems tracts, it was found that the types, geometries and depositional regimes of PRDS significantly altered at ca. 13.8 Ma. Before ca. 13.8 Ma, the PRDS were dominated by well-developed fluvial systems and an overall lobate shape, indicating a fluvial-dominated process. However, after 13.8 Ma, the whole PRDS began to form enormous shoreline-parallel depositional elements such as longshore bars, shelf sand ridges and shelf sand sheets, indicating dominant shore-parallel regimes. Besides, the whole deltaic system displayed obvious southwest deflection in map view after 13.8 Ma.Detailed analysis showed that this sudden change in the evolution of the PRDS could be ascribed to an interactive response to several factors. At ca. 13.8 Ma, the sea level began to rapidly rise and caused the fluvial energy to decrease, which was likely to lead to the diversion of the fluvial systems. Besides, the gradual uplift of the Dongsha Rise resulted in the raised shelf topography in the east region, thus confining the fluvial channels to flow southwestward. What's more, a few key paleoceanographic events, including the reglaciation of the Antarctic ice-sheet and the shoaling of the Pacific-Indian Ocean Seaway, might have contributed to the intensification of the southwesterly flowing paleocurrent along the northern South China Sea, thus triggering the delta asymmetry and deflecton of the PRDS after 13.8 Ma.     

Critical evaluation of an Upper Carboniferous tight gas sandstone reservoir analog: Diagenesis and petrophysical aspects

Upper Carboniferous sandstones are one of the most important tight gas reservoirs in Central Europe. We present data from an outcrop reservoir analog (Piesberg quarry) in the Lower Saxony Basin of Northern Germany. This field-based study focuses on the diagenetic control on spatial reservoir quality distribution.The investigated outcrop consists of fluvial 4^th-order cycles, which originate from a braided river dominated depositional environment. Westphalian C/D stratigraphy, sedimentary thicknesses and exposed fault orientations (NNW-SSE and W-E) reflect tight gas reservoir properties in the region further north. Diagenetic investigations revealed an early loss of primary porosity by pseudomatrix formation. Present day porosity (7% on average) and matrix permeability (0.0003 mD on average) reflect a high-temperature overprint during burial. The entire remaining pore space is occluded with authigenic minerals, predominantly quartz and illite. This reduces reservoir quality and excludes exposed rocks as tight gas targets. The correlation of petrographic and petrophysical data show that expected facies-related reservoir quality trends were overprinted by high-temperature diagenesis. The present day secondary matrix porosity reflects the telogenetic dissolution of mesogenetic ankerite cements and unstable alumosilicates.Faults are associated with both sealed and partially sealed veins near the faults, indicating localized mass transport. Around W-E striking faults, dissolution is higher in leached sandstones with matrix porosities of up to 26.3% and matrix permeabilities of up to 105 mD. The dissolution of ankerite and lithic fragments around the faults indicates focused fluid flow. However, a telogenetic origin cannot be ruled out.The results of this work demonstrate the limits of outcrop analog studies with respect to actual subsurface reservoirs of the greater area. Whereas the investigated outcrop forms a suitable analog with respect to sedimentological, stratigraphic and structural inventory, actual reservoirs at depth generally lack telogenetic influences. These alter absolute reservoir quality values at the surface. However, the temperature overprint and associated diagenetic modification, which caused the unusually low permeability in the studied outcrop, may pose a reservoir risk for tight gas exploration as a consequence of locally higher overburden or similar structural positions.     

渤海海域新近系河流相砂岩储层描述技术

针对海上河流相砂岩油田单砂体厚度薄,井间储层横向变化快,纵向上油气水间互,平面上连通性差等特点,渤海通过十多年的不断探索和实践,发展完善了定量描述砂体展布的储层描述技术.该技术很大程度上解决了在海上探井井距大,井控程度低,取心资料较少等情况下的储层横向展布问题,并基于已钻井资料,总结出如何在探井之间寻找潜力砂体的经验.随着渤海越来越多的河流相油田投入开发,储层描述技术的可靠性也得到证实.大量实例证明,该技术是渤海油田新近系河流相砂岩储层预测与描述的有效技术手段,其思路和方法也可借鉴到类似地质背景下的河流相岩性油气藏评价.     

Sequence stratigraphy,sedimentary facies and reservoir quality of Es4s,southern slope of Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Thin-bedded beach-bar sandstone reservoirs are common in the Eocene Shahejie Formation (Es4s) of Niuzhuang Sag, along the southern gentle slope of the Dongying Depression. Here we report on the link between sequence stratigraphy, sedimentary facies and diagenetic effects on reservoir quality. Seismic data, wireline logs, core observations and analyses are used to interpret depositional settings and sequence stratigraphic framework. Petrographic study based on microscopic observation of optical, cathodoluminescence (CL), confocal laser scanning (LSCM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used to describe the fabric, texture, allogenic and authigenic mineralogy of these highly heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs. The Es4s interval is interpreted as third-order sequence, composed of a lowstand systems tract (LST), a transgressive systems tract (TST) and a highstand systems tract (HST). On the fourth order, twenty-nine parasequences and seven parasequence sets have been identified. Sand bodies were deposited mainly in the shoreface shallow lake beach-bar (clastic beach-bar), semi-deep lake (carbonate beach-bar) and the fluvial channels. The depositional and diagenetic heterogeneities were mainly due to the following factors: (1) fine grain size, poor sorting, and continuous thin inter-bedded mud layers with siltstone/fine-sandstone having argillaceous layers in regular intervals, (2) immature sediment composition, and (3) even with the dissolution of grains and several fractures, destruction of porosity by cementation and compaction. Secondary pores from feldspar dissolution are better developed in sandstones with increased cementation. Grain coating smectite clays preserved the primary porosity at places while dominating pore filling authigenic illite and illite/smectite clays reduced permeability with little impact on porosity. Due to the high degree of heterogeneity in the Es4s beach-bar interval, it is recognized as middle to low permeable reservoir. The aforementioned study reflects significant insight into the understanding of the properties of the beach-bar sands and valuable for the comprehensive reservoir characterization and overall reservoir bed quality.     

Late quaternary seismic stratigraphy and active faults of the Gulf of İzmit (NE Marmara Sea)

The Upper Quaternary seismic stratigraphy and active faults of the Gulf of İzmit were investigated by means of high-resolution shallow seismic profiling data in the source region of 1999 İzmit earthquake. High-resolution seismic reflection data correlated with borehole data indicate that the stratigraphy of İzmit Bay consists of three distinct depositional sequences formed in response to middle Pleistocene-Holocene sea-level changes. Reflector R, separating the pre-Holocene sequences (1 and 2) from the Holocene sequence (3), represents an erosional unconformity produced by the subaerial fluvial erosion of the continental shelves at the time of the last glacial maximum. Occasional, anomalous reflections (acoustic turbidity) observed within the Holocene sequence are interpreted as gas accumulations. The maximum thickness of the Holocene sediments is found to be about 25 m. The isopach map of Holocene sediment implies that the thickness of the Holocene decreases from the east towards the central and western basins of İzmit Bay. Two distinct fault systems are interpreted in İzmit Bay. The main fault system extending roughly in an E-W direction along the Gulf of İzmit is an active right lateral strike slip fault with a normal component. The secondary faults are normal faults striking in different directions and these are identified as being both active and inactive. In addition, prominent compressive features are identified in the seismic cross-sections of some profiles acquired to the east of Hersek Peninsula where the focal mechanisms of the aftershocks of the 1999 İzmit earthquake also reveal predominantly reverse faulting mechanisms, as identified by a local dense seismic network.     

Depositional elements associated with a basin floor channel-levee system: case study from the Gulf of Mexico

The seismic geomorphology and seismic stratigraphy of a deep-marine channel-levee system is described. A moderate to high-sinuosity channel trending southeastward across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico basin floor, and associated depositional elements are well imaged using conventional 3D multi-channel seismic reflection data. Depositional elements described include channels, associated levees, a channel belt, avulsion channels, levee crevasses, frontal splays, sediment waves, and mass transport complexes. Distinguishing morphologic and stratigraphic characteristics of each depositional element are discussed. These deposits are presumed to be associated with repeated deep-marine turbidity flows and other mass transport processes.     

Facies heterogeneity at interwell-scale in a carbonate ramp,Upper Jurassic,NE Spain

The well-exposed upper Kimmeridgian carbonate ramp near Arroyo Cerezo, Iberian Basin, Eastern Spain, provides an excellent analog to stratigraphically equivalent subsurface reservoirs, such as the carbonate ramps of the Arab-D of the Middle East and the Smackover of the Gulf of Mexico. Critical questions regarding interwell-scale heterogeneity and correlation motifs for low-angle ramp systems can be addressed using continuous exposures that encompass a full range of inner to outer ramp facies. Outcrops in this area provide a complete exposure of the ramp succession in depositional dip direction.At Arroyo Cerezo, a 40-m thick and 1.3-km long, dip-oriented, continuous outcrop has been studied. Lithofacies and bounding surfaces have been mapped on a continuous photomosaic to build a detailed 2D cross-section, complemented by five stratigraphic sections (∼300 m apart) and petrographic analysis. The reconstructed section shows the facies transition from relative proximal- to distal carbonate ramp settings. Carbonate facies associations are grouped according to the dominant carbonate types: buildup-dominated systems and coated-grain dominated systems. Detailed mapping of facies and bounding surfaces documents distinct ramp depositional units with downdip facies changes occurring within the 1.3 km length of the outcrop. The Arroyo Cerezo outcrop indicates that the ramp-facies continuity, when based on a 5–10 km distance well-log correlation, is mostly apparent. Use of detailed spatial and temporal analysis of high-quality outcrop analogs promotes more realistic models for understanding the interwell, meter-scale heterogeneity. And the scale of these depositional heterogeneities, although being below resolution of subsurface tools, governs in fact (along with diagenetic modifications) the fluid flows within a reservoir. The scale of these stratigraphic heterogeneities needs to be considered in order to optimize and enhance hydrocarbon production and last recovery.     

三维AVO分析及在黄骅坳陷港186井区的应用

利用Hampson-Russell／Geoview／AVO软件研究含气砂岩的地震反射振幅随炮检距的变化关系及AVO属性的特征。并将AVO技术应用于大港油田黄骅坳陷港186井区的天然气藏研究。结果表明,在地质条件复杂的地区,三维AVO分析可区分真假天然气响应,准确确定已知气藏及异常区的空间展布范围。