南海北部珠江口盆地深水区碳酸盐岩发育特征及地震识别

由于南海的多次扩张、拉伸、消减运动,在珠江口盆地白云深水区发生了陆架裂陷和海水入侵等地质现象,形成了海相碳酸盐岩生长发育的基础地质条件。对珠江口盆地深水区碳酸盐岩的发育地质背景、地质特征、发育规律、地震响应特征以及深水区灰岩发育的主控因素进行了探讨,结果表明白云深水区主要发育两种类型的碳酸盐台地;古隆起镶边台地以及火山建隆孤立台地。台地沉积主要发育在古隆起周缘、构造高部位、火山隆起周缘,并被钻井所证实。在白云深水区东沙隆起西南缘、云荔低凸起、荔湾凹陷北缘、荔湾凹陷南缘及顺鹤隆起发育典型的生物礁,钻井证实有珊瑚、红藻、苔藓虫等造礁生物。生物礁地震特征具有强的连续反射顶、底界面,丘状反射外形,内部结构或空白、或杂乱,具有前积、加积、退积等层序结构。     

Geochemistry,origin, and accumulation of petroleum in the Eocene Wenchang Formation reservoirs in Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea: A case study of HZ25-7 oil field

The Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea has accumulated >2 km of Eocene sediments in its deep basin, and has become the exploration focus due to the recent discoveries of the HZ25-7 oil field in the Eocene Wenchang (E₂w) Formation. In this study, the geochemical characteristics of potential source rocks and petroleum in the HZ25-7 oil field are investigated and the possible origins and accumulation models developed. The analytical results reveal two sets of potential source rocks, E₂w and Enping (E₂e) formations developed in the study area. The semi-deep-to-deep lacustrine E₂w source rocks are characterized by relatively low C₂₉ steranes, low C₁₉/C₂₃ tricyclic terpane (<0.6), low C₂₄ tetracyclic terpane/C₃₀ hopane (<0.1), low trans-trans-trans-bicadinane (T)/C₃₀ hopane (most <2.0), and high C₃₀ 4-methyl sterane/ΣC₂₉ sterane (>0.2) ratios. In contrast, the shallow lacustrine and deltaic swamp-plain E₂e source rocks are characterized by relatively high C₂₉ steranes, high C₁₉/C₂₃ tricyclic terpane (>0.6), high C₂₄ tetracyclic terpane/C₃₀ hopane (>0.1), variable yet overall high T/C₃₀ hopane, and low C₃₀ 4-methyl sterane/ΣC₂₉ sterane (<0.2) ratios. The relatively low C₁₉/C₂₃ tricyclic terpane ratios (mean value: 0.39), low C₂₄ tetracyclic terpane/C₃₀ hopane ratios (mean value: 0.07), high C₃₀ 4-methyl sterane/ΣC₂₉ sterane ratios (mean value: 1.14), and relatively high C₂₇ regular sterane content of petroleum in the HZ25-7 oil field indicate that the petroleum most likely originated from the E₂w Formation mudstone in the Huizhou Depression. One stage of continuous charging is identified in the HZ25-7 oil field; oil injection is from 16 Ma to present and peak filling occurs after 12 Ma. Thin sandstone beds with relatively good connectivity and physical properties (porosity and permeability) in the E₂w Formation are favorable conduits for the lateral migration of petroleum. This petroleum accumulation pattern implies that the E₂w Formation on the western and southern margins of the Huizhou Depression are favorable for petroleum accumulation because they are located in a migration pathway. Thus exploration should focus in these areas in the future.     

Tracing of deeply-buried source rock: A case study of the WC9-2 petroleum pool in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

The identification of a deeply-buried petroleum-source rock, owing to the difficulty in sample collection, has become a difficult task for establishing its relationship with discovered petroleum pools and evaluating its exploration potential in a petroleum-bearing basin. This paper proposes an approach to trace a deeply-buried source rock. The essential points include: determination of the petroleum-charging time of a reservoir, reconstruction of the petroleum generation history of its possible source rocks, establishment of the spatial connection between the source rocks and the reservoir over its geological history, identification of its effective source rock and the petroleum system from source to trap, and evaluation of petroleum potential from the deeply-buried source rock. A case study of the W9-2 petroleum pool in the Wenchang A sag of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea was conducted using this approach. The W9-2 reservoir produces condensate oil and gas, sourced from deeply-buried source rocks. The reservoir consists of a few sets of sandstone in the Zhuhai Formation, and the possible source rocks include an early Oligocene Enping Formation mudstone and a late Eocene Wenchang Formation mudstone, with a current burial depth from 5000 to 9000 m. The fluid inclusion data from the reservoir rock indicate the oil and the gas charged the reservoir about 18–3.5 Ma and after 4.5 Ma, respectively. The kinetic modeling results show that the main stages of oil generation of the Wenchang mudstone and the Enping mudstone occurred during 28–20 Ma and 20–12 Ma, respectively, and that the δ¹³C₁ value of the gas generated from the Enping mudstone has a better match with that of the reservoir gas than the gas from the Wenchang mudstone. Results from a 2D basin modeling further indicate that the petroleum from the Enping mudstone migrated upward along the well-developed syn-sedimentary faults in the central area of the sag into the reservoir, but that the petroleum from the Wenchang mudstone migrated laterally first toward the marginal faults of the sag and then migrated upward along the faults into shallow strata. The present results suggest that the trap structure in the central area of the sag is a favorable place for the accumulation of the Enping mudstone-derived petroleum, and that the Wenchang mudstone-derived petroleum would have a contribution to the structures along the deep faults as well as in the uplifted area around the sag.     

南海珠江口盆地深部烃类微渗漏的分子地球化学揭示

对南海珠江口盆地Site4B站位柱状沉积物可溶有机质中正构烷烃进行详细分析,结果显示海底以下65~70cm、80~85cm和85~90cm存在明显的似成熟烃类分布。在气相色谱质谱图上(GCMS),该处存在明显的UCM分布;在烃类分布上,该处以可溶有机质中高碳数正构烷烃奇偶优势趋于消失为特征,CPI为1.15~1.45。同时,整个剖面其他层段沉积有机质中可溶烃类仍以典型的近/现代沉积有机质输入为标志。结合区域地质背景,以及该区域天然气水合物的勘探发现事实,推断Site4B站位海底以下65~70cm、80~85cm和85~90cm烃类异常可能系深部烃类微渗漏所致。     

珠江口盆地第三纪古地理及沉积演化

珠江口盆地第三纪以来经历了断陷、拗陷两个构造演化阶段,具有“南北分带”、“东西分块”的构造格局和先陆后海的沉积特征。本文根据前人资料进行综合整理,编制了珠江口盆地古近纪神狐组、文昌组、恩平组、珠海组地层和新近纪珠江组地层的岩相古地理图。神狐组发育有冲积扇和河湖相,主要分布在珠三坳陷南断裂的狭长地带。文昌组沉积半深湖—深湖相,恩平组水深变浅,河沼相广泛分布。珠海组岩相古地理发生了较大的变化,为海陆过渡相沉积。随后海平面振荡上升,珠江口盆地处于陆架—陆坡环境,发育浅海—半深海沉积。对整个珠江口盆地岩相古地理图的编制为详细研究盆地内各区块的岩相古地理演变提供了区域背景,也为区域构造演化和油气地质条件的研究提供了基础依据。     

Seismic geomorphology,architecture and genesis of Miocene shelf sand ridges in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Multiple stages of large-scale shelf sand ridges, including the shoreface-attached and the offshore types, have developed in the Miocene successions on the mid-shelf region of the Pear River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. Utilizing a high-quality 3D seismic data set, accompanying 2D seismic profiles and well logs, the morphology, architecture and genesis of these shelf sand ridges have been systematically investigated in this study. The ridges are of very large scale, with the largest one having a maximum height of 64 m, a width of more than 20 km and a length of 37 km within the 3D survey area. Being mound-shaped, they also display obvious asymmetry character, with the ridge crest preferentially located on the SE side. Three main internal components, including the ridge front, central ridge and the ridge tail, have been recognized through careful anatomy analysis of the two most well-imaged ridges, each displaying distinct expressions on seismic amplitudes and geometries. In the plan view, most of the shelf sand ridges are generally NE–SW oriented and widening to the SW direction. Scouring features can also be clearly observed along the SW direction, including scour depressions and linear sandy remnants. On well logs, the shelf sand ridges are represented by an overall coarsening-upward pattern. Intervals with blocky sandstones are preferentially present on higher locations due to a differential winnowing process controlled by shelf topography.Plenty of evidence indicates that these ridges were primarily formed by the reworking of forced regressive or lowstand deltaic deposits under a persistent southwesterly flowing current during the subsequent transgression. This very current is a composite one, which is speculated to consist of winter oceanic current, SCSBK (South China Sea Branch of Kuroshio) intrusion onto the shelf and internal waves propagating from the Luzon Strait. Tidal currents might have contributed to the SE growth of the ridge. In response to the reglaciation of Antarctic ice-sheet and the closure of Pacific-Indian ocean seaway in the middle Miocene, the intensification of the North Pacific western boundary current was considered to have potential links to the initiation of the shelf sand ridges at ∼12 Ma. The development of shelf ridges was terminated and replaced by rapid deltaic progradation at ∼5.5 Ma.     

珠江口盆地陆丰15披覆构造带油藏地球化学特征及油源对比

珠江口盆地陆丰15披覆构造带南、北部分别与陆丰22洼、陆丰15洼毗邻,常规的油源对比指标无法确定构造带上S2-1和S5-1油藏的油源,2个洼陷都有可能向其供烃。为揭示原油的成因来源,对该地区原油及烃源岩开展了生物标志物、碳同位素及含氮化合物等特征的精细对比。在研究区原油及源岩中新检测出4个C24四环萜烷：脱-A-奥利烷、脱-A-羽扇烷、新C24四环萜烷及C24 17,21-开环藿烷。研究对比发现,S2-1和S5-1油藏原油中C24四环萜烷分布特征与陆丰22洼文昌组烃源岩更加吻合,具有更强的亲缘关系。此外,全油碳同位素和正构烷烃单体烃碳同位素指示S2-1和S5-1油藏明显区别于陆丰15洼生成的原油,预示着其原油具有陆丰22洼烃源岩的贡献。含氮化合物示踪参数指示S2-1油藏具有近源充注特征,进一步验证了陆丰22洼烃源岩对S2-1和S5-1油藏的重要贡献。     

南海珠江口盆地深水区混合沉积类型及其形成机制

珠江口盆地是研究深水沉积过程和南海油气勘探的热点区域。利用地震、测井和钻井岩屑等资料,发现珠江口盆地深水区晚渐新世至中中新世期间,发育混合沉积体系。该混合沉积体系岩相主要表现为碳酸盐岩与硅质碎屑以不同比例的混合堆积,垂向岩相变化存在突变式、渐变式和交互式三种递变类型。根据地震反射以及岩相特征,混合沉积体系可划分为4个沉积阶段：第1阶段主要为原位混合沉积,形成渐变式或突变式混合沉积;第2阶段为相缘混合,产生渐变式混合沉积层系;第3、4阶段为间断混合,形成交互式混合沉积。在硅质碎屑沉积为主的背景下,混合沉积由于碳酸盐碎屑的加入,可能会形成潜在的油气储层,对今后深水油气勘探有一定的启示意义。     

珠江口盆地东部珠一坳陷古近系不同类型烃源岩和原油热裂解生气特征

HZ26-6凝析气田为珠江口盆地东部珠一坳陷首次获得重大发现的凝析气藏,打破了近40年来珠一坳陷围绕原油展开勘探的传统局面,揭示了该区富油洼陷巨大的天然气勘探潜力。然而,对于珠一坳陷文昌组中深湖相泥岩这一主力油源岩的生气潜力以及生气特征,以及恩平组河沼相煤系烃源岩供气能力的认识则较为模糊,缺乏系统的生气机制研究。此类问题则可直接确定珠一坳陷天然气成因归属及勘探潜力。针对该问题,采用黄金管-高压釜封闭体系热模拟实验,对珠一凹陷典型文昌组和恩平组不同类型烃源岩和原油热裂解生成天然气过程及天然气碳同位素演化特征进行系统分析,并探讨惠州凹陷HZ26-6凝析气田天然气成因及主力气源岩。研究认为,珠一坳陷恩平组湖沼相煤系泥岩最大累积烃类气体产率为230.8 mL/g.TOC,甲烷产气率在Ro为1.1%之后呈指数增长,呈现出持续生气特征,且以干酪根裂解气为主;文昌组中深湖相泥岩最大累积烃类气体产率达428.30 mL/g.TOC,在～1.6% Ro阶段后开始大量产气,且高产气率实际上主要由油的二次裂解贡献为主;原油裂解气最大产率达693.6 mL/g.TOC,远高于文昌组及恩平组泥岩最大产气率,不同类型烃源岩及原油样品生成天然气组分碳同位素演化特征差异性明显;珠一坳陷文昌组偏腐泥型泥岩在1.3%～1.6% Ro阶段所生天然气甲烷及乙烷碳同位素组成与HZ26-6凝析气藏天然气具有较好的匹配性,为HZ26-6凝析气藏天然气的主力气源岩,恩平组湖沼相煤系泥岩及原油裂解气对该气藏未见明显成藏贡献。     

Characteristics and origin of carbon isotopes of n-alkanes in crude oils from the western Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China sea

The quantitative characterization of carbon isotopes of n-alkanes is commonly carried out in organic geochemical studies. Possible controls on carbon isotopes include source organic matter, maturity, fractionation during oil expulsion and migration, and the mixing of different oils. In this study of the origin of crude oils in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin, the influences of all of these factors have been considered in reaching a conclusion. Carbon isotopes of n-alkanes in the crude oils, and the extracts of the two effective source rocks (the Wenchang and Enping formations) in the basin, exhibit clear differences. The Wenchang source rocks have heavy δ¹³C values that remain almost constant or become slightly heavier with increasing carbon number. The Enping source rocks have light δ¹³C values that become lighter with increasing carbon number. Two groups of oils in this area were identified based on the carbon isotopes of the n-alkanes; groupIoils are similar to extracts of the Wenchang source rocks. However, the groupIIoils are different from both the Wenchang and Enping source rocks and the carbon isotopic profiles of their n-alkanes exhibit a “V” feature with increasing carbon number. The results of artificial thermal maturation experiments indicate that, from the early stage to the peak stage of oil generation (with EasyRo between 0.64% and 1.02%), the δ¹³C values of n-alkanes in the pyrolysis oils become heavier by about 3‰ with increasing thermal maturity, but the shape of the carbon isotopic profiles are not significantly changed. Calculated δ¹³C values of n-alkanes in “mixed” artificial pyrolysis oils indicate that the mixture of oils generated from the same source rocks with different maturities could not change the carbon isotopic profile of the n-alkanes, however, a mixing of the Wenchang and Enping oils could give the “V” feature in the profiles, similar to the groupIIoils in this area. The groupIIoils appear to be mixed Wenchang and Enping oils, the latter being the dominant component in the mixture. We conclude that the source organic matter and the degree of mixing are the main factors controlling the carbon isotopic characteristics of n-alkanes in crude oils in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin.     

Applying seismic geomorphology to delineate switched sequence stratigraphic architecture in lacustrine rift basins: An example from the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Switched sequence stratigraphic architectural units were developed in the Eocene Wenchang Formation stratigraphic section of the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), northern South China Sea. Utilizing a high-quality 3D seismic data set, well logs and restored paleogeomorphology, the architecture and genesis of switched sequence stratigraphic units have been systematically investigated. The Wenchang Formation, a second-order sequence, can be subdivided into seven third-order sequences (from base to top: SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4, SQ5, SQ6, and SQ7). The sequence stratigraphic architecture of the Wenchang Formation is characterized by continuous lateral stacking patterns from sequences SQ1 to SQ7. Sequences SQ1–SQ4 mainly developed in the HZ26 sag, whereas sequences SQ5–SQ7 mainly developed in the XJ24 sag. The depositional centres of the Wenchang Formation appear to have migrated from the HZ26 sag to the XJ24 sag-along the northwest direction from sequences SQ1 to SQ7. Multiple tectonic activation episodes or alternating tectonic subsidence of the HZ26 and XJ24 sags resulted in the distinctive geomorphological features that effected the development of the switched sequence stratigraphic architecture in the study area. The switched sequence stratigraphic architecture presented in this study may provide new insights into a better understanding of sequence stratigraphic stacking patterns in continental lacustrine rift basins.     

南海北部陆坡珠江口盆地东南海域GMGS2-09井孔隙水地球化学特征及其对天然气水合物的指示意义

沉积物孔隙水地球化学是天然气水合物勘探与研究的重要手段。为了探究珠江口盆地东南海域GMGS2-09钻孔的沉积物孔隙水地球化学特征及其对埋藏的天然气水合物的指示意义,我们在前人的研究和认知基础上,通过测试该钻孔沉积物孔隙水的氯离子含量、氢氧同位素和阳离子组成来识别天然气水合物的赋存层位。结果表明GMGS2-09钻孔在9~17、47以及100m处存在氯离子浓度的负异常耦合氧同位素的正异常,指示相应的天然气水合物赋存,其中9~17m层位指示结果与实际取样情况完全一致。此外,采用基于水合物晶格的排盐机理推导的经验公式计算显示水合物饱和度在浅表层(17m)最高约为50%,中间以及底层约为20%。     

“Uniform geothermal gradient” and heat flow in the Qiongdongnan and Pearl River Mouth Basins of the South China Sea

The Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB) and Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB) are oil and gas bearing basins in the northern margin of the South China Sea (SCS). Geothermal survey is an important tool in petroleum exploration. A large data set comprised of 199 thermal conductivities, 40 radioactive heat productions, 543 measured geothermal gradient values, and 224 heat flow values has been obtained from the two basins. However, the measured geothermal gradient data originated from diverse depth range make spatial comparison a challenging task. Taking into account the variation of conductivity and heat production of rocks, we use a “uniform geothermal gradient” to characterize the geothermal gradient distribution of the PRMB and QDNB. Results show that, in the depth interval of 0–5 km, the “uniform geothermal gradient” in the PRMB varies from 17.8 °C/km to 50.2 °C/km, with an average of 32.1 ± 6.0 °C/km. In comparison, the QDNB has an average “uniform geothermal gradient” of 31.9 ± 5.6 °C/km and a range between 19.7 °C/km and 39.5 °C/km. Heat flows in the PRMB and QDNB are 71.3 ± 13.5 mW/m² and 72.9 ± 14.2 mW/m², respectively. The heat flow and geothermal gradient of the PRMB and QDNB tend to increase from the continental shelf to continental slope owing to the lithosphereic/crustal thinning in the Cenozoic.     

珠江口盆地恩平凹陷中新统沉积特征及河道型岩性圈闭潜力

珠江口盆地恩平凹陷中浅层近年来相继有商业油气发现,虽目前仍然以构造圈闭为主,但古珠江三角洲相关岩性目标的评价亟待展开。基于高品质井、震资料,本次研究以恩平凹陷中新统珠江组上段—韩江组下段（T50—T35）为主要目的层,以三级层序界面和最大海泛面为界,建立了恩平凹陷T50—T35间的四级层序格架。在高精度层序地层格架的约束下,进一步采用地震沉积学手段揭示了恩平凹陷以分流河道为主的沉积特征,并建立了不同海平面背景下的河道沉积模式：海侵早期和高位末期河道规模较大,延伸距离较远,平面上常连片发育;海侵晚期和高位早期的河道规模适中,平面上孤立性较强,且前缘常被波浪改造。研究发现,不同类型的河道砂体与特定的构造背景结合可发育“河道切割型”岩性圈闭,并且最大海泛面上下更适合于相关圈闭的发育。据此,研究锁定了恩平A油田西侧斜坡带、E油田东侧斜坡带和G油田西侧披覆构造带等3个岩性圈闭有利区及2个有利勘探目标,为盆地岩性油气藏勘探提供了新思路。     

南海北部陆缘超深水区珠四坳陷地质结构及其对烃源岩发育的控制

珠江口盆地珠四坳陷整体水深超过1 500 m,属极低勘探程度区域,钻井发现的油气显示证实了该区存在烃源岩。地震资料揭示古近系是主力烃源岩发育层系,沉积厚度及面积均较大。珠四坳陷作为南海北部向超深水迈进的油气勘探新区,其各凹陷的石油地质条件亟待剖析。在珠江口盆地6种断陷形成机制认识的基础上,通过对新采集地震资料的系统分析,将珠四坳陷划分大西洋贫岩浆型大陆边缘的壳间韧性流变型、大西洋富岩浆型大陆边缘的壳上岩浆底侵型、大西洋贫岩浆型大陆边缘的壳上先存拼合型3类断陷结构。运用2Dmove软件及去压实技术恢复各个洼陷沉降速率和伸展速率,结合大量地震剖面深入研究了珠四坳陷地质结构及其对烃源岩发育的影响,明确了不同断陷结构下烃源岩发育背景的差异,以此认为荔湾、鹤山凹陷烃源岩发育条件优越,可作为南海北部超深水地区的重要勘探突破点。     

New perspective of Miocene marine hydrocarbon source rocks in deep-water area in Qiongdongnan Basin of northern South China Sea

Drilling wells reveal that the organic matter abundance of Miocene marine source rocks in shallow water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin is relatively low with poor hydrocarbon generation poten- tial. However, in some drilling wells of deep water area close to the central depression belt, Miocene marine source rocks with better organic matter abundance and hydrocarbon generation have been found, which have achieved better source rock standard based on the analysis of geochemical charac- teristics. Although there are no exploratory wells in deep water area of the research region, through the comparative analysis of geochemical data of several typical exploratory wells respectively from shallow water area in the basin, central depression belt margin in deep-water area of the basin and Site 1148 of deep sea drilling in the South China Sea Basin, it reveals that the tendency of the quality of source rocks becomes positive gradually from delta to bathyal environment, which then becomes negative as in deep oceanic environment. Owing to the lack of terrestrial organic matter input, the important controlling factors of Miocene marine source rocks in the Qiongdongnan Basin are ocean productivity and preservation conditions of organic matter. The element geochemistry data indicate that the tendency of the paleoproductivity and the preservation conditions of organic matter become positive as water depth increase from shallow area to bathyal area close to central depression belt. So it is speculated that there must exist high quality source rocks in the central depression area where the preservation conditions of organic matter are much better. Besides, in theory, in oxygen-poor zone of oceanic environment at the water depth 400-1 000 m, the preservation conditions of organic matter are well thus forming high-quality marine source rocks. The result- ing speculation, it is reasonable to consider that there are high hydrocarbon generation potential source rocks in bathyal environment of the Qiongdongnan Basin, especially at the water depth 400- 1 000 m.     

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.     

Characteristics of migrating submarine canyons from the middle Miocene to present: Implications for paleoceanographic circulation,northern South China Sea

Previously undocumented, migrating submarine canyons have developed in the Pearl River Mouth Basin along the northern continental margin of the South China Sea from the middle Miocene to present. A grid of high-resolution, 2-D multi-channel seismic profiles calibrated by borehole information permits documentation of these northeastward migrating submarine canyons, as the result of the interplay of gravity flows and bottom currents. The modern canyons have lengths of 30–60 km, widths of 1–5.7 km, and relief of 50–300 m in water depths of 450–1500 m. Buried ancient submarine canyon successions were originally eroded by basal erosional discontinuities and partially filled by canyon thalweg deposits. These are overlain by lateral inclined packages and hemipelagic drape deposits. Basal erosional discontinuities and thalweg deposits are probably created principally by turbidity currents and filled with turbidites. Lateral inclined packages likely were formed by along-slope bottom currents. The evolution of these migrating submarine canyons reveals that northeastward bottom currents have consistently occurred at least from the middle Miocene to present in the study area. It might further imply that thermohaline intermediate water circulation of the South China Sea has been anti-cyclonic from the middle Miocene to present. The initiation of migrating submarine canyons possibly signals commencement of strong bottom currents after the middle Miocene in the South China Sea. The intensification of bottom currents also possibly may reflect shoaling of the major ocean seaways and increased vigor in oceanic circulation forced by global cooling after the middle Miocene.     

南海西部深水区崖城组煤系烃源岩的识别方法

琼东南盆地古近系崖城组海陆过渡相煤系烃源岩已被证实是该盆地的主要气源岩,但由于崖城组煤层具有层数多、单层薄、横向变化快的特点,而难以被识别和预测,尤其是勘探程度较低的深水区.本文利用综合种地质与地球物理法对煤系烃源岩进行更加准确的预测.首先,煤层可通过“三高,三低,一扩”的测井响应特征识别,而炭质泥岩可通过“四高,一低”的特征识别.基于该测井逻辑判断,煤系地层可通过测井曲线的聚类分析进行垂向的自动识别.在井震标的的约束下,煤层组可通过地震数据的“负相位,高吸收因子,低波阻抗和低频”等综合特征进行横向识别.然而,地球物理方法识别的煤系烃源岩分布范围不一定符合成煤的地质规律,因此本文从构造、层序和沉积的角度研究了煤系发育的主控因素约束其分布范围:①古地形及构造沉降控制了海陆过渡相煤系烃源岩在凹陷中的平面发育部位;②相对海平面变化通过控制可容空间变化以及海岸线迁移,从而控制烃源岩的发育规模以及垂向分布——具体的说,可容纳空间的增长速率和泥炭堆积速率的关系是控制煤层形成的最根本因素,在其平衡位置,煤层发育最厚、延伸最大;③原地碎屑的供应和沉积场所与古物源的距离,是制约高丰度烃源岩发育的关键因素,即距离古隆起海岸较近的沉积环境中陆源有机质较为丰富,便可形成高丰度煤系烃源岩.通过上述地质与地球物理联合识别方法,提高了煤系烃源岩发育的预测精度和可信度,为南海西部深水区的早期勘探提供了重要的参考依据.     

Charging of oil fields surrounding the Shaleitian uplift from multiple source rock intervals and generative kitchens,Bohai Bay basin,China

This paper discusses origin and charging directions of oil fields on the Shaleitian Uplift, Bohai Bay basin. The Shaleitian Uplift is a footwall uplift surrounded by three sags containing mature source rocks. The origins of the four oil fields on the Shaleitian Uplift, both in terms of source rock intervals and in terms of generative kitchens, were studied using biomarker distributions for 61 source rock samples and 27 oil samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis using 12 parameters known to be effective indicators of organic matter input and/or depositional conditions allowed the identification of six oil types or classes. These six oil classes could then be linked to three distinct source rock intervals ranging in age from 43.0 Ma to 30.3 Ma. The third member (43.0–38.0 Ma in age) and first member (35.8–32.8 Ma) of the Eocene Shahejie Formation, and the third member of the Oligocene Dongying Formation (32.8–30.3 Ma) each sourced one class of oil. The other three classes represent mixtures of oil generated from multiple source rock intervals. Traps on the Shaleitian Uplift were charged in the east by oil generated from the Eocene Shahejie Formation in the Bozhong Sag, in the southeast by oil generated from the Eocene Shahejie and then Oligocene Dongying formations in the southwestern part of the Bozhong Sag and/or in the eastern part of the Shanan Sag, and in the southwest by oil generated from the Eocene Shahejie Formation in the western part of the Shanan Sag. The estimated migration distances range from less than 5 km to about 20 km. The compositional heterogeneity within fields and multiple-parameter comparisons between oils from nearby wells in different fields have proven to be a powerful tool to determine the in-filling histories of oil fields in cases where multiple source rock intervals and multiple generative kitchens exist.