黄海海域地质构造特征及其油气资源潜力

综合前人的研究成果,利用2000年以来在黄海采集的综合地球物理资料,结合我国及邻国在该海域的钻井成果,分析和讨论了黄海地区从古生代至新生代的构造演化历史;对南、北黄海沉积盆地形成的构造背景和盆地的构造类型进行了研究,认为在古生代它们是台地相沉积,中生代和新生代是张裂盆地;通过对我们采集的地震剖面之分析和研究,认为盆地中的中生界和古近系发育了良好的烃源岩,新近系发育了良好的区域盖层,储层在盆地中普遍发育。因此,在南、北黄海沉积盆地中可以找到中、小型油气田。另外,对盆地中的古生界应加强研究,在保存较好并且中新生代沉积较薄的地方做探查工作,应该有一定的油气前景。     

The influence of the Sabatayn Evaporites on the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Eastern Shabwa Basin, Onshore Yemen

The Shabwa Basin is the northeastern extension of the Marib-Al Jawf-Shabwa system of Mesozoic grabens, located onshore in the Republic of Yemen. An evaporitic sequence with an estimated maximum depositional thickness of 300 metres was deposited during the Tithonian. It is designated the Sabatayn Formation and exerts significant control on most of the play elements in the principal hydrocarbon play systems anticipated in the northeastern part of the basin. Migration of hydrocarbons from pre-salt source rocks into intra-and post-salt reservoirs is restricted by the evaporites. Localised heat flow perturbations introduced by the salt, increase the maturity of post-salt source rocks. Post and intra-salt reservoirs are structured by listric faulting on a salt detachment, salt pillowing due to post-depositional loading, by local salt dissolution and by late folding due to gravity sliding of the post-salt section on a salt detachment. Early dissolution and reprecipitation of salt is responsible for occlusion of porosity in intra-salt clastic reservoirs.     

南沙海域礼乐盆地中生界油气资源潜力

位于南沙东部海域的礼乐盆地是一大型的中、新生代叠置盆地,其特有的地质背景及巨厚的中生代地层显示了其与南沙海域其他新生代沉积盆地的差异。盆地内发育的厚度超过4 000 m的中生代海相地层,主要包括了上侏罗统—下白垩统的滨—浅海相含煤碎屑岩或半深海相页岩、上三叠统—下侏罗统三角洲—浅海相砂泥岩和中三叠统深海硅质页岩等3套地层,展示出盆地具有良好的油气生成潜力。而早期位于华南陆缘、现今位于南沙东部海域的礼乐盆地中生界,完全具备了形成油气藏的基本石油地质条件,具有较为良好的油气资源潜力,其中生界油气资源勘探具有非常重要的意义,将成为我国海域油气勘探的一个重要新领域。     

我国东部沿海油气勘探的新方向——多幕次叠合复式含油气盆地

以我国东部沿海中、新生代含油气盆地中的古潜山为窗口，分析了从震旦纪以来这里发育这一系列含油气原型盆地和烃源岩，形成了相互叠置的多幕次叠合复式含油气盆地和各种油气藏，这一认识将拓展东部沿海油气勘探的时空领域，是今后油气勘探的新方向。     

Structural imaging of Mesozoic sediments of Kachchh,India, and their hydrocarbon prospects

Travel-time modelling of first and second arrivals has been used to produce P-wave velocity models of the shallow sub-surface structure of Kachchh, India, using new wide-angle reflection/refraction profiles. Results obtained from the 2-D tomographic modelling have also been corroborated with magnetotelluric and borehole data within the proximity of these profiles. Based on multiple geophysical data, a composite sub-surface model is presented in this article. The prominent features of the model include the presence of more than 3 km thick Mesozoic sediments residing above the Precambrian basement. Its correlation with available lithological knowledge shows that the Mesozoic rocks have been deposited from early Triassic to late Cretaceous until the eruption of the Deccan Flood basalts at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. The new results suggest that the Mesozoic rocks of Kachchh can be sub-divided in two major parts which correspond to late and early Mesozoic deposits respectively. The sub-surface models successfully demarcate the regional variations in the basaltic layer across the region and show maximum thickness of 1.2 km. The modelling results also exhibit that the Precambrian basement in this region varies between 4 and 6 km depth. The new data provide a much clearer picture than was hitherto available of the entire sedimentary succession in the basins that underlie the Kachchh region. They show a significant variability in thickness of the various sedimentary layers, and in particular illustrate a marked topographic irregularity at the base of the sedimentary succession.     

塔里木盆地寒武－奥陶系生油岩成油期─－兼谈喜山晚期“二次生油”

寒武－奥陶系生油岩是塔里木盆地主力油源，尤以满加尔坳陷发育最佳。本文以基础数据为依据，主要论述该套烃源岩的成油期问题，认为寒武系生油岩主成油期为古生代，并在中新生代具二次生油特点；奥陶系生油岩主成油期为海西晚期（满加尔坳陷）和中新生代。塔北、塔中诸多高产油气田中的油气主要为中新生代所形成。     

Integrated gravity and magnetic study on patterns of petroleum basin occurrence in the China seas and adjacent areas

The China seas and adjacent areas contain numerous petroleum basins. One of the main challenges for future oil and gas exploration is to identify the inherent patterns of petroleum basin distribution. The formation and evolution of petroleum basins along with the migration and accumulation of oil and gas are often closely related to the tectonic environment. The gravity and magnetic fields with high lateral resolution and wide coverage provide important data for regional tectonic research. Based on the gravity data in the Global Satellite Gravity Anomaly Database (V31.1) and magnetic data from the Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid (2-arc-minute resolution) (V2), this study uses integrated gravity and magnetic field technique to obtain integrated gravity and magnetic field result for the China seas and adjacent areas, and then adopts the normalized vertical derivative of the total horizontal derivative technique to conduct partition. Finally, it identifies the relationship between the partition characteristics and tectonics as well as the patterns of petroleum basin occurrence. The research shows that the partition of gravity and magnetic field integrated result has a good correlation with the Neo-Cathaysian tectonic system and tectonic units. The petroleum basins are characterized according to three blocks arranged from north to south and four zones arranged from east to west. The north?south block structure causes the uneven distribution of oil and gas resources in the mainland area and the differences in the hydrocarbon-bearing strata. Petroleum basins are more abundant in the north than in the south. The ages of the main oil- and gas-bearing strata are “Paleozoic–Mesozoic, Paleozoic–Mesozoic–Cenozoic, and Paleozoic–Mesozoic”, in order from north to south. The difference in the overall type of oil and gas resources in all basins is controlled by the east–west zonation. From east to west, the oil and gas resource type exhibits a wave-like pattern of “oil and gas, gas, oil and gas, gas”. The vertical distribution is characterized by an upper oil (Mesozoic–Cenozoic) and lower gas (Mesozoic–Paleozoic) structure. Within the study area, the Paleozoic marine strata should be the main strata of future natural gas exploration.     

Provenance identification and sedimentary analysis of the beach and bar systems in the Palaeogene of the Enping Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

During deposition in the Palaeogene, the Pearl River Mouth Basin (Enping Sag) was filled by sediments derived from northern and southern source regions. The northern sources are the fold belt Caledonian and Hercynian metamorphic rocks that are widely exposed along the South China block and stacked with Mesozoic igneous rocks, and the southern sources are Mesozoic igneous rocks from the southern Panyu lower uplift. We analysed the characteristics of the provenance and sediment-dispersal patterns of the beach and bar systems in the Palaeogene third-order sequence framework on the basis of detritus, thin section, zircon and the geophysical response test data. The source and deposition areas were distinguished based on their palaeogeomorphology. The sedimentary material composition of the deposition area was determined based on the characteristics of the detrital assemblage and cathode luminescence, and the characteristics of the age distribution were determined in detail using detrital zircon U–Pb dating. This study suggests that the provenance system in the Palaeogene mainly consisted of Palaeozoic metamorphic rocks and Mesozoic igneous rocks, with a supplement of Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. The transport capacity of three large fault troughs that delivered the northern provenances gradually increased from the Wenchang Formation (E₂w) to the Enping Formation (E₃e), whereas the southern provenances were transported by four or five incised valleys in E₂w and then submerged in E₃e. In the 3D seismic area, the features of the beach and bar sedimentary systems were described and interpreted based an analysis of the well-based sedimentary facies, seismic reflection characteristics and multiple attribute clustering. The results show that the beach and bar systems by the short-axis braided deltas mainly developed in the upper member of E₂w and that the beach and bar systems on the subaqueous high in E₃e developed during the Palaeogene. In addition, the bedrock-beach bar sedimentary system in the lower member (E₃e^L) was transferred to the braided delta–beach bar sedimentary system in the upper member (E₃e^U).     

Hydrocarbon systems of Northeastern Venezuela: plate through molecular scale-analysis of the genesis and evolution of the Eastern Venezuela Basin

The prolific, oil-bearing basins of eastern Venezuela developed through an unusual confluence of Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific plate tectonic events. Mesozoic rifting and passive margin development created ideal conditions for the deposition of world-class hydrocarbon source rocks. In the Cenozoic, transpressive, west-to-east movement of the Caribbean plate along the northern margin of Venezuela led to the maturation of those source rocks in several extended pulses, directly attributable to regional tectonic events. The combination of these elements with well-developed structural and stratigraphic fairways resulted in remarkably efficient migration of large volumes of oil and gas, which accumulated along the flanks of thick sedimentary depocenters.At least four proven and potential hydrocarbon source rocks contribute to oil and gas accumulations. Cretaceous oil-prone, marine source rocks, and Miocene oil- and gas-prone, paralic source rocks are well documented. We used reservoired oils, seeps, organic-rich rocks, and fluid inclusions to identify probable Jurassic hypersaline-lacustrine, and Albian carbonate source rocks. Hydrocarbon maturation began during the Early Miocene in the present-day Serrania del Interior, as the Caribbean plate moved eastward relative to South America. Large volumes of hydrocarbons expelled during this period were lost due to lack of effective traps and seals. By the Middle Miocene, however, when source rocks from the more recent foredeeps began to mature, reservoir, migration pathways, and topseal were in place. Rapid, tectonically driven burial created the opportunity for unusually efficient migration and trapping of these later-expelled hydrocarbons. The generally eastward migration of broad depocenters across Venezuela was supplemented by local, tectonically induced subsidence. These subsidence patterns and later migration resulted in the mixing of hydrocarbons from different source rocks, and in a complex map pattern of variable oil quality that was further modified by biodegradation, late gas migration, water washing, and subsequent burial.The integration of plate tectonic reconstructions with the history of source rock deposition and maturation provides significant insights into the genesis, evolution, alteration, and demise of Eastern Venezuela hydrocarbon systems. We used this analysis to identify additional play potential associated with probable Jurassic and Albian hydrocarbon source rocks, often overlooked in discussions of Venezuela. The results suggest that oils associated with likely Jurassic source rocks originated in restricted, rift-controlled depressions lying at high angles to the eventual margins of the South Atlantic, and that Albian oils are likely related to carbonate deposition along these margins, post-continental break up. In terms of tectonic history, the inferred Mesozoic rift system is the eastern continuation of the Espino Graben, whose remnant structures underlie both the Serrania del Interior and the Gulf of Paria, where thick evaporite sections have been penetrated. The pattern of basin structure and associated Mesozoic deposition as depicted in the model has important implications for the Mesozoic paleogeography of northern South America and Africa, Cuba and the Yucatan and associated new play potential.     

Stress state in the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son basins, offshore Vietnam

The results presented in this paper are the first published estimates of the complete stress tensor in the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son basins, offshore Vietnam. We analysed in situ stress and pore pressure fields in the sedimentary formations using data from petroleum exploration and production wells to evaluate the stress state in these basins. The data were obtained from the seafloor to 4300 m burial depth and include both hydrostatic and overpressured sections. Minimum horizontal stresses were obtained from extended leak-off tests and mini-fracture tests. Maximum horizontal stresses were estimated from drilling-induced fracture parameters and borehole breakout widths in twelve wells using rock properties measured in the laboratory or estimated empirically from wireline logs. Seven data points are located in sediments, and seventeen data points in igneous basement rocks at depths greater than 3000 m.The estimated magnitudes of σ_H are 70-110% of the σ_v magnitudes. Considering the errors in the stress magnitude estimates, their relative magnitudes suggest that a borderline normal/strike-slip stress regime presently exists in normally pressured sequences of the Nam Con Son and Cuu Long basins. Of the twenty-four data points, twenty have effective stress ratios at a critical stress state for faulting on the assumption that there are faults present that are optimally oriented for failure with friction coefficients of ∼0.5. The results suggest that the stress state in these basins is generally critical.     

Characteristics and petroleum origin of the Carboniferous volcanic rock reservoirs in the Shixi Bulge of Junggar Basin,western China

Shixi Bulge of the central Junggar Basin in western China is a unique region that provides insight into the geological and geochemical characteristics of large-scale petroleum reservoirs in volcanic rocks of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Shixi Bulge mainly consist of striped lava and agglomerate, as well as breccia lava and tight tuff. Volcanic rocks differ in porosity and permeability. Striped lava exhibits the highest porosity (average: 14.2%) but the lowest permeability (average: 0.67 × 10⁻¹⁵ m) among the rock types. Primary gas pores are widely developed and mostly filled. Secondary dissolution pores and fractures are two major reservoir storage spaces. Capillary pressure curves suggest the existence of four pore structure types of reservoir rocks. Several factors, namely, lithology, pore structure, and various diagenesis, govern the physical properties of volcanic rocks. The oil is characterized by a high concentration of tricyclic terpane, a terpane distribution of C₂₃ < C₂₁ > C₂₀, and sterane distributions of C₂₇ < C₂₈ < C₂₉ and C₂₇ > C₂₈ < C₂₉. Oil and gas geochemistry revealed that the oil is a mixture derived primarily from P₂w source rock and secondarily from P₁j source rock in the sag west of Pen-1 Well. The gases are likely gas mixtures of humic and sapropelic organic origins, with the sapropelic gas type dominant in the mixture. The gas mixture is most likely cracked from kerogen rather than oils. The Carboniferous volcanic reservoirs in Shixi Bulge share some unique characteristics that may provide useful insights into the various roles of different volcanic reservoir types in old volcanic provinces. The presence of these reservoirs will undoubtedly encourage future petroleum exploration in volcanic rocks up to the deep parts of sedimentary basins.     

中国油气盆地基本地质特征

本文阐述了中国含油气盆地所处的中国大陆板块位置和中国地壳多阶段的发展,强烈的后期活动和改造,以及中新生界以河湖相为主大陆内部沉积。并总结中国油气盆地一系列特征。指出不能简单认为大盆地就一定有大油田,油气在盆地分配不均一性,与其生成、运移、聚集和保存等因素有关,特别是与这些因素的有效组合有关。盆地的类型、风格、领域与此有关的盆地分析,是油气资源估价和选区的地质基础。     

南海北缘新生代盆地沉积与构造演化及地球动力学背景

南海北缘新生代沉积盆地是全面揭示南海北缘形成演化及与邻区大地构造单元相互作用的重要窗口。通过对盆地沉积-构造特征分析,南海北缘新生代裂陷过程显示出明显的多幕性和旋转性的特点。在从北向南逐渐迁移的趋势下,东、西段裂陷过程也具有一定的差异,西部裂陷活动及海侵时间明显早于东部,裂陷中心由西向东呈雁列式扩展。晚白垩世-早始新世裂陷活动应是东亚陆缘中生代构造-岩浆演化的延续,始新世中、晚期太平洋板块俯冲方向改变导致裂陷中心南移,印度欧亚板块碰撞效应是南海中央海盆扩张方向顺时针旋转的主要原因。     

Oil migration through preferential petroleum migration pathway (PPMP) and polycyclic faults: A case study from the Shijiutuo Uplift,Bohai Bay basin,China

The Shijiutuo uplift is an oil enriched uplift in the offshore Bohai Bay Basin. Petroleum migration is a key factor for oil enrichment in Neogene reservoirs far away from the hydrocarbon kitchen. In this article, an integration of geological, geophysical and geochemical analyses are employed to investigate the petroleum migration and accumulation on the Shijiutuo uplift. Hydrocarbons in the QHD32-6 and QHD33 oilfields are mainly originated from the third (E₂s₃) and first (E₂s₁) member of the Shahejie Formation. The shallow traps have significant contributions of late-stage E₂s₁-derived oil. Lateral petroleum migration is a major mechanism forming large oilfields on the Shijiutuo uplift. The large oilfields have multiple hydrocarbon kitchens, multiple source rocks, and numerous preferential petroleum migration pathways (PPMPs). Once petroleum arrives at the structural highs on the Shijiutuo uplift through the Guantao Formation (N₁g) carrier-beds, neotectonic faults cutting through Guantao (N₁g) and Minghuazhen (N₁m^L) formations could serve as effective conduits for vertical petroleum migration. Neotectonic faults have experienced polycyclic fault activities. Fluid inclusions indicate episodic hydrocarbon charging. Crude oils display duplex properties of biodegradation and non-biodegradation, which is strong evidence for multiple and episodic oil charging on the Shijiutuo uplift. Finally, episodic petroleum charging along polycyclic neotectonic faults causes the late-stage E₂s₁-derived oils to occur in the shallow reservoirs.     

北黄海盆地中生代地层的地质特征和油气潜力(英文)

位于山东半岛东北部的北黄海盆地沿东北方向可以延伸到朝鲜的西朝鲜湾盆地和安州盆地 ,而沿西南方向可以延伸到中国的胶莱盆地。长期以来该盆地的找油重点为第三系 ,结果收效甚微。2 0世纪 80年代末朝鲜在西朝鲜湾靠北黄海盆地一侧钻井数口且在中生代地层中发现了商业性油气流 ,自此中生代地层替代新生代第三纪地层成为人们关注的焦点 ,人们希望在北黄海盆地的中生代地层中也能找出商业性油气流。本文以李四光 ( 1 979)划分的新华夏系第二隆起带理论为指导 ,将胶莱盆地、北黄海盆地、西朝鲜湾盆地和安州盆地作为一个整体进行考虑 ,在详细分析了安州盆地、西朝鲜湾盆地和胶莱盆地的中生代地层分布、油气潜力及其类比关系后认为 ,北黄海盆地在基底结构及其上覆盖层的沉积特征上应具有与安州盆地、西朝鲜湾盆地和胶莱盆地相似的特征。目前 ,西朝鲜湾盆地和胶莱盆地在中生代地层中已取得重要的油气发现和油气显示 ,而它们主要是由下白垩统和上侏罗统组成。因此 ,我们有理由相信 ,北黄海盆地的中生代地层很可能成为有远景的勘探靶区。     

应用合成地震记录确定南黄海北部盆地中生代地层的分布

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

Lower Cretaceous lacustrine successions,North Yellow Sea Basin,eastern China: Rift basin sequence stratigraphy and stacking patterns in response to magmatic activity

A series of Mesozoic rift basins formed in eastern China were associated with magmatic activity and subduction along the Eurasia, Izanagi and Pacific plate margins. The impact of magmatic activity on lacustrine sequence development was documented with well-log and 3-D seismic data from the Jupiter Depression in the North Yellow Sea Basin. We identified key surfaces, retrogradational and progradational parasequence sets, and defined the characteristics of systems tracts and the internal sequence components for the Lower Cretaceous (K₁SQ1). A 2-D SEDPAK numerical stratigraphic forward modeling was used to further constrain sequence development in the Jupiter Depression by considering different modeling parameters and the spatial-temporal characteristics of magmatic activity. Modeling results were compared and matched with the sequence architecture observed from seismic and well interpretations. Magmatic activity impacts on the development of the K₁SQ1 sequence in the North Yellow Sea Basin include topographic variation, lake level fluctuation, and sediment supply ratios. Results suggest that magmatic upwelling uplifted the northwestern area of the Jupiter Depression and formed its slope break during the late Jurassic or early Cretaceous. Along with uplifting, relative lake level dropped sharply and lake accommodation was reduced, but with increased sediment supply. Therefore, sediment accumulated along the slope break as a lowstand systems tract. Later on, as lake level continuously rose, transgressive and highstand systems tracts were developed. The proposed stacking pattern provides an analog, and a useful model, for lacustrine sequence development in response to magmatic activities in eastern China and other rift basins of similar tectonic setting.     

Peculiarities of the rare-earth element distribution in the modern bottom sediments of the White Sea and the lower reaches of the Severnaya Dvina River

The study of the rare-earth element (REE) systematics in the modern bottom sediments of the White Sea and the lower reaches of the Severnaya Dvina River showed that they were derived by the simple mixing of the detrital material from two geochemically contrasting provenances: the Kola-Karelian geoblock almost completely consisting of Archean rocks and the northwestern Mezen syneclise made up of the Upper Vendian, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic rocks. This is best manifested by the changes in ?_Nd(0). In terms of the Gd_N/Yb_N and Eu/Eu*, most of the studied samples are comparable with the Post-Archean craton complexes, some of which resemble the average composition of the Archean mudstone. Based on the ΣREE and La_N/Yb_N, the modern bottom sediments are subdivided into two groups: (1) those close to basalts and granites and (2) those approximating common sedimentary rocks. From the lower reaches of the Pinega River to the Tersky coast, the maximal average (La/Yb)_RPSC, (Gd/Yb)_RPSC, La_N/Yb_N, and Gd_N/Yb_N ratios were determined in the samples taken at the boundary of Dvina Bay with the Basin, i.e., in the sediments with the highest content of the pelitic component. In general, the geochemical composition of the modern bottom sediments of almost the entire White Sea area was defined by input of the eroded products of the mature continental crust with the Severnaya Dvina River, the main river of the region. Such a setting, when the formation of the sediments in a peri- or intracontinental marine basin is controlled by one large river system, presumably may be propagated to the sedimentation in the Laptev Sea, the eastern Kara Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and other basins.     

Regional geology and petroleum systems of the Illizi–Berkine area of the Algerian Saharan Platform: An overview

The Berkine and Illizi basins are Palaeozoic–Mesozoic intraplate depressions that preserve an over 7000 m thick sedimentary rock record and contain world-class petroleum systems with over 39 BBOE EUR hydrocarbon reserves. Regional seismic transects and a wealth of well data are used to review the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the area. The Gondwana (Palaeozoic) and Tethys (Mesozoic) supercycles make up the bulk of the Phanerozoic succession. These 1st order cycles record extensional basin formation, followed by a protracted period of overall net subsidence, and conclude with basin inversion and regional uplift during the Hercynian and Alpine orogenies respectively. Structural styles were dictated by transpressional or transtensional reactivation of mostly NNE oriented basement structural grain of Late Proterozoic–Ea.Cambrian (Pan-African) age and vertical movement of long wavelength regional highs and lows. Local tectonism is considered to be the far-field effect of plate-tectonic processes that affected the North African plate-boundaries, such as the Caledonian and Hercynian Orogenies, the opening of the Tethys and Atlantic oceans, and the Alpine Orogeny. These were accompanied by localised thermal mantle processes.     

Mechanisms for permeability modification in the damage zone of a normal fault,northern Perth Basin,Western Australia

Faults and their associated damage zones in sedimentary basins can be sealing, impeding fluid flow and creating permeability barriers, or open, creating fluid pathways. This impacts the reservoir potential of rocks in fault damage zones. Stylolitization and fracturing severely impacted permeability through compartmentalization and cementation of Apium-1, an exploration hole drilled in the northern Perth Basin, Western Australia. Apium-1 is located 1 km into the hanging wall block damage zone of a major NNW-trending normal fault. The drill core consists of fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite overlain by a coarse-grained lag and capped by impermeable shale. It was quantitatively characterized by sedimentary and structural logging, and microstructural and porosity-permeability analysis. Fractures and stylolites in the damage zone of the major fault are shown to have been sealed. Extensional cracks have been sealed by quartz precipitation; shear fractures that locally preserve brecciation are always quartz and siderite cemented; stylolites are common and contain halos of quartz cementation. In each case, porosity was reduced to approximately 1%, with concomitant reduction of permeability to <<0.01 mD. These structures are observed to be interconnected in the core and are likely to form a larger-scale 3D network of steeply-dipping fractures and shallowly-dipping stylolites. The bulk permeability of the damage zone would reflect the permeability of the fractures and stylolites, compartmentalizing the Mesozoic rocks in the northern Perth Basin into elongate NW-SE trending blocks if the magnitude of stress does not exceed the cemented rock strength.