Tectonic Fractures in Tight Gas Sandstones of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Western Sichuan Basin,China

<正>The western Sichuan Basin,which is located at the front of the Longmen Mountains in the west of Sichuan Province,China,is a foreland basin formed in the Late Triassic.The Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation is a tight gas sandstone reservoir with low porosity and ultra-low permeability, whose gas accumulation and production are controlled by well-developed fracture zones.There are mainly three types of fractures developed in the Upper Triassic tight gas sandstones,namely tectonic fractures,diagenetic fractures and overpressure-related fractures,of which high-angle tectonic fractures are the most important.The tectonic fractures can be classified into four sets,i.e.,N-S-,NE-, E-W- and NW-striking fractures.In addition,there are a number of approximately horizontal shear fractures in some of the medium-grained sandstones and grit stones nearby the thrusts or slip layers. Tectonic fractures were mainly formed at the end of the Triassic,the end of the Cretaceous and the end of the Neogene-Early Pleistocene.The development degree of tectonic fractures was controlled by lithology,thickness,structure,stress and fluid pressure.Overpressure makes not only the rock shear strength decrease,but also the stress state change from compression to tension.Thus,tensional fractures can be formed in fold-thrust belts.Tectonic fractures are mainly developed along the NE- and N-S-striking structural belts,and are the important storage space and the principal flow channels in the tight gas sandstone.The porosity of fractures here is 28.4%of the gross reservoir porosity,and the permeability of fractures being two or three grades higher than that of the matrix pores.Four sets of high-angle tectonic fractures and horizontal shear fractures formed a good network system and controlled the distribution and production of gas in the tight sandstones.     

Fracture Characteristics and Heat Accumulation of Jixianian Carbonate Reservoirs in the Rongcheng Geothermal Field, Xiong’an New Area

Geothermal energy plays an important role in urban construction of the Xiong’an New Area. Geothermal reservoir fracture distribution of the Mesoproterozoic Jixianian Wumishan Formation (Fm.) carbonate reservoir in the Rongcheng geothermal field are evaluated based on FMI log from Wells D19 and D21. The results show carbonate reservoir fracture density of Well D19 is 15.2/100 m, greater than that of Well D21 with a value of 9.2/100 m. Reservoir porosity and permeability of Well D19 are better than that of Well D21, and the water saturation is bimodally distributed. The movable fluid volume ratio (BVM) of Well D19 is 2% to 8% with some zones exceeding 20%, while the value of Well D21 is less than 4%. Therefore, reservoir fractures in Well D19 are more conducive to fluid flow. Reservoir fractures have a similar occurrence to normal faults, indicating that the tensile stress field controlled the formation of such fractures. Developed reservoir fractures provide a good channel for groundwater convection. The circulation of regional groundwater and the heat exchange between water and rock and the multiple heat accumulation patterns form a stable and high potential heat reservoir in the Rongcheng geothermal field.     

Tensile Fractures and in situ Stress Measurement Data Constraints on Cretaceous–Present Tectonic Stress Field Evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Shandong Province, North China Craton

Tectonic stress fields are the key drivers of tectonic events and the evolution of regional structures. The tectonic stress field evolution of the Tanlu fault zone in Shandong Province, located in the east of the North China Craton (NCC), may have preserved records of the NCC’s tectonic history. Borehole television survey and hydraulic fracturing were conducted to analyze the paleo and present tectonic stress fields. Three groups of tensile fractures were identified via borehole television, their azimuths being NNW–SSE, NW–SE and NE–SW, representing multiple stages of tectonic events. Hydraulic fracturing data indicates that the study region is experiencing NEE–SWW-oriented compression and nearly-N–S-oriented extension, in accordance with strike-slip and compression. Since the Cretaceous, the orientation of the extensional stress has evolved counterclockwise and sequentially from nearly-NW–SE-oriented to NE–SW-oriented and even nearly N–S-oriented, the stress state having transitioned from strike-slip-extension to strike-slip-compression, in association with the rotating and oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the NCC, with the participation of the Indian Plate.     

Development Phases and Mechanisms of Tectonic Fractures in the Longmaxi Formation Shale of the Dingshan Area in Southeast Sichuan Basin, China

Shale gas has currently attracted much attention during oil and gas exploration and development. Fractures in shale have an important influence on the enrichment and preservation of shale gas. This work studied the developmental period and formation mechanism of tectonic fractures in the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dingshan area of ??southeastern Sichuan Basin based on extensive observations of outcrops and cores, rock acoustic emission (Kaiser) experiments, homogenization temperature of fracture fill inclusions, apatite fission track, thermal burial history. The research shows that the fracture types of the Longmaxi Formation include tectonic fractures, diagenetic fractures and horizontal slip fractures. The main types are tectonic high-angle shear and horizontal slip fractures, with small openings, large spacing, low densities, and high degrees of filling. Six dominant directions of the fractures after correction by plane included NWW, nearly SN, NNW, NEE, nearly EW and NW. The analysis of field fracture stage and fracture system of the borehole suggests that the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation could be paired with two sets of plane X-shaped conjugate shear fractures, i.e., profile X-shaped conjugate shear fractures and extension fractures. The combination of qualitative geological analysis and quantitative experimental testing techniques indicates that the tectonic fractures in the Longmaxi Formation have undergone three periods of tectonic movement, namely mid-late Yanshanian movement (82–71.1 Ma), late Yanshanian and middle Himalaya movements (71.1–22.3 Ma), and the late Himalayan movement (22.3–0 Ma). The middle-late period of the Yanshanian movement and end of the Yanshanian movement-middle period of the Himalayan movement were the main fracture-forming periods. The fractures were mostly filled with minerals, such as calcite and siliceous. The homogenization temperature of fracture fill inclusions was high, and the paleo-stress value was large; the tectonic movement from the late to present period was mainly a slight transformation and superposition of existing fractures and tectonic systems. Based on the principle of tectonic analysis and theory of geomechanics, we clarified the mechanism of the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation, and established the genetic model of the Longmaxi Formation. The research on the qualitative and quantitative techniques of the fracture-phase study could be effectively used to analyze the causes of the marine shale gas fractures in the Sichuan Basin. The research findings and results provide important references and technical support for further exploration and development of marine shale gas in South China.     

Structural geochemistry of gold mineralization in the Linglong-Jiaojia district, Shandong Province, China

The Linglong-Jiaojia district is one of the most important regions containing gold deposits in China. These gold deposits can be divided into: a) the pyrite-gold-quartz vein type (Linglong type), which is controlled by brittle-ductile to ductile deformation structures, and b) the alteration-zone type (Jiaojia type), characterized by small veinlets, or the disseminated type recognized in brittle shear zones. Lode gold deposits in the Jiaojia area occur in NE brittle fracture zones, formed in a dominantly simple shear deformation regime, mainly in thrust attitude with a minor sinistral strike slip component. In the Linglong area, the lode gold deposits are located at the intersection of three types of structures: NNE and NE brittle-ductile fault zones and the ENE ductile reverse shear zone in the south of the area. The structural characteristics of these brittle shear zones are consistent with a tectonic NNW-SSE principal stress field orientation. Similar stresses explain the ENE Qixia fold axes, the Potouqing and several other ENE reverse ductile shear zones elsewhere in the region, the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone and its subsidiaries in the vicinity of the Linglong-Jiaojia district, as well as the southern ENE suture zone north of Qingdao. Therefore these structural systems occurred as part of different major tectonic events under NNW-SSE compression principal stress fields in the area. Gold deposits are hosted in smaller-scale structures within the brittle fault zones and brittle-ductile shear zones. Although ore bodies and, on a smaller scale, quartz ore veins often seem to be randomly oriented, it is possible to explain their distribution and orientation in terms of the simple shear deformation process under which they were developed. The progressive simple shear failure is characterized by various fracture modes (tension and shear) that intervene in sequence. The tension and shear fractures are influenced by the stress level (depth of burial beneath the paleosurface) in their structural behavior, show variable dilatancy (void openings) and extend on all scales. By making use of these characteristics, a progressive failure analysis can be applied to predicting the shape and extent of ore bodies as well as the styles of mineralization at any given location.     

Interpreting Dual Laterolog Fracture Data in Fractured Carbonate Formation

The estimation of fractures is key to evaluating fractured carbonate reservoirs. It is difficult to evaluate this kind of reservoir because of its heterogeneously distributed fractures and anisotropy, A three-dimensional numerical model was used to simulate the responses of the dual laterolog （DLL） in a fractured formation based on a macro-isotropic anisotropic model, Accordingly, a fast fracture computing method was developed. First, the apparent conductivity of the DLL is linearly related to the porosity of the fracture and the conductivity of pore fluid. Second, the amplitude difference of the deep and shallow apparent resistivity logs is mainly dependent on the dip angle of the fracture. Then the response of the DLL to a formation with dip angle fractures is approximately depicted as a function of the bulk resistivity of the rock, the porosity of the fractures and the conductivity of fracture fluid. This function can be used to compute the porosity of fracture quickly. The actual data show that the fracture parameters determined by the DLL closely coincide with the formation micro imager log.     

Types and Ore-forming Conditions of Gold Deposits in the Jinsha River-Lancang River-Nujiang River Area

The Jinsha River-Lancang River-Nujiang River area is one of the important prospect areas for noble metal and nonferous metal deposits of China. Of a great variety of gold deposits present in this area, the following types seem to be economically most valuable and promising: tectonic alteration type in ophiolitic melange; polymetallic quartz vein type related to intermediate-acid intrusions; finely disseminated type in fracture zones; mixed hydrothermal type in tectonic fractures of carbonate rocks; hydrothermal type related to subvolcanic rocks; volcanic-hot spring type; submarine volcano exhalation-sedimentary-hydrothermal reformation type. Metallogenic epochs are exclusively Mesozoic and Cenozoic, and ore deposits and orebodies are controlled by linear structures. Magmatic activity has affected gold mineralization in varying degrees, and gold deposits are basically of mesothermal-epithermal type with ubiquitous and intense alterations. Ore-forming materials and hydrothermal solutions show multi-source character.     

Hydrocarbon Accumulation Conditions of Ordovician Carbonate in Tarim Basin

<正>Based on comprehensive analysis of reservoir-forming conditions,the diversity of reservoir and the difference of multistage hydrocarbon charge are the key factors for the carbonate hydrocarbon accumulation of the Ordovician in the Tarim Basin.Undergone four major deposition-tectonic cycles, the Ordovician carbonate formed a stable structural framework with huge uplifts,in which are developed reservoirs of the reef-bank type and unconformity type,and resulted in multistage hydrocarbon charge and accumulation during the Caledonian,Late Hercynian and Late Himalayan. With low matrix porosity and permeability of the Ordovician carbonate,the secondary solution pores and caverns serve as the main reservoir space.The polyphase tectonic movements formed unconformity reservoirs widely distributed around the paleo-uplifts;and the reef-bank reservoir is controlled by two kinds of sedimentary facies belts,namely the steep slope and gentle slope.The unconventional carbonate pool is characterized by extensive distribution,no obvious edge water or bottom water,complicated oil/gas/water relations and severe heterogeneity controlled by reservoirs. The low porosity and low permeability reservoir together with multi-period hydrocarbon accumulation resulted in the difference and complex of the distribution and production of oil/gas/water.The distribution of hydrocarbon is controlled by the temporal-spatial relation between revolution of source rocks and paleo-uplifts.The heterogenetic carbonate reservoir and late-stage gas charge are the main factors making the oil/ gas phase complicated.The slope areas of the paleo-uplifts formed in the Paleozoic are the main carbonate exploration directions based on comprehensive evaluation.The Ordovician of the northern slope of the Tazhong uplift,Lunnan and its periphery areas are practical exploration fields.The Yengimahalla-Hanikatam and Markit slopes are the important replacement targets for carbonate exploration.Gucheng,Tadong,the deep layers of Cambrian dolomite in the Lunnan and Tazhong-Bachu areas are favorable directions for research and risk exploration.     

Simulation of Paleotectonic Stress Fields and Distribution Prediction of Tectonic Fractures at the Hudi Coal Mine, Qinshui Basin

Study on tectonic fractures based on the inversion of tectonic stress fields is an effective method. In this study, a geological model was set up based on geological data from the Hudi Coal Mine, Qinshui Basin, a mechanical model was established under the condition of rock mechanics and geostress, and the finite element method was used to simulate the paleotectonic stress field. Based on the Griffith and Mohr-Coulomb criterion, the distribution of tectonic fractures in the Shanxi Formation during the Indosinian, Yanshanian, and Himalayan period can be predicted with the index of comprehensive rupture rate. The results show that the acting force of the Pacific Plate and the India Plate to the North China Plate formed the direction of principal stress is N-S, NW-SE, and NE-SW, respectively, in different periods in the study area. Changes in the direction and strength of the acting force led to the regional gradients of tectonic stress magnitude, which resulted in an asymmetrical distribution state of the stress conditions in different periods. It is suggested that the low-stress areas are mainly located in the fault zones and extend along the direction of the fault zones. Furthermore, the high-stress areas are located in the junction of fold belts and the binding site of multiple folds. The development of tectonic fractures was affected by the distribution of stress intensity and the tectonic position of folds and faults, which resulted in some developed areas with level Ⅰ and Ⅱ. There are obvious differences in the development of tectonic fractures in the fold and fault zones and the anticline and syncline structure at the same fold zones. The tectonic fractures of the Shanxi Formation during the Himalayan period are more developed than those during the Indosinian and Yanshanian period due to the superposition of the late tectonic movement to the early tectonic movement and the differences in the magnitude and direction of stress intensity.     

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field,and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic,it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N,NE-SW,E-W,and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic,under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field,for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW-SE,the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults,because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous,in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction,the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults,thus,fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene,under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction,stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places,especially at the end of the NE-SE faults,the cross positions of NE-SW,and S-N faults. Therefore,fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults,the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction,the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state,the best connectivity,the widest aperture,the highest permeability,and the minimum opening pressure.     

Origin and Distribution of Grain Dolostone Reservoirs in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation, Sichuan Basin, China

Dolostones in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation have become one of the most significant gas exploration domains in China. Over a trillion cubic meters of gas reservoirs have been discovered in the Gaoshiti-Moxi area; however, the origins and distribution of the dolostone reservoirs are not well understood. This work discussed the geology and geochemistry of the dolostone reservoirs in the Longwangmiao Formation to determine their origin and distribution. Two understandings are acquired: firstly, a carbonate ramp provided excellent conditions for grain beach deposition, while the presence of a hypersaline lake was favorable for the contemporaneous dolomitization of grain beach deposits. Petrographic and geochemical evidence further confirm that the Longwangmiao dolostone was formed during the contemporaneous stage. Secondly, the reservoir characteristics indicate that the grain beach sediments provide material basis for the development of the Longwangmiao dolostone reservoirs. Reservoir dissolution simulation experiments show that the porosity of the reservoirs was formed by dissolution during contemporaneous and burial stages. The dissolution pores formed during the contemporaneous stage were controlled by sequence interfaces. The large scale dissolution vugs formed during the burial stage subsequently spread along the pre-existing porosity and fracture zones. This study therefore identified that the development of grain dolostone reservoirs in a shallow water ramp under arid climatic conditions generally met the following conditions: (1) reefal beach deposits lay a foundation for reservoir development; (2) superficial conditions are an important determining factor for reservoir porosity; and (3) burial conditions provide environment for porosity preservation and modification.     

Jurassic Tectonic Revolution in China and New Interpretation of the “Yanshan Movement”

With acquisition and accumulation of new data of structural geological investigations and high-resolution isotopic dating data, we have greatly improved our understanding of the tectonic events occurring in eastern China during the period from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and may give a new interpretation of the nature, timing and geodynamic settings of the “Yanshan Movement”. During the Mid-Late Jurassic （165±5 Ma）, great readjustment of plate amalgamation kinematics took place in East Asia and the tectonic regime underwent great transformation, thus initiating a new tectonic regime in which the North China Block was the center and different plates converged toward it from the north, east and southwest and forming the “East Asia convergent” tectonic system characterized by intracontinental subduction and orogeny. As a consequence, the crustal lithosphere of the East Asian continent thickened considerably during the Late Jurassic, followed immediately by Early Cretaceous substantial lithospheric thinning and craton destruction featured by drastic lithospheric extension and widespread volcano-magmatic activities, resulting in a major biotic turnover from the Yanliao biota to Jehol Biota. Such a tremendous tectonic event that took place in the continent of China and East Asia is the basic connotation of the “Yanshan Movement”. In the paper, according to the deformation patterns, geodynamic settings and deep processes, the “Yanshan Movement” is redefined as the Late Jurassic East Asian multi-directional plate convergent tectonic regime and its associated extensive intracontinental orogeny and great tectonic change that started at -165±5 Ma. The substantial lithospheric attenuation in East China is considered the post-effect of the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny and deformation.     

Diagenesis of the Triassic Yanchang Formation Tight Sandstone Reservoir in the Xifeng–Ansai Area of Ordos Basin and its Porosity Evolution

This work aims to reveal the evolution of the porosity in the Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstone reservoir of the Xifeng–Ansai area of Ordos Basin. Based on destructive diagenesis(compaction and cementation) and constructive diagenesis(dissolution) of sandstone reservoirs, this study analyzed the diagenesis characteristics of the tight sandstone reservoirs in this area, and discussed the relationship between sandstone diagenesis and porosity evolution in combination with present porosity profile characteristics of sandstone reservoir. The effect simulation principle was employed for the mathematical derivation and simulation of the evolution of porosity in the Yanchang Formation tight sandstone reservoirs. The result shows that compaction always occurs in tight sandstone reservoirs in the Yanchang Formation, and cementation occurs when the burial depth increases to a certain value and remains ever since. Dissolution occurs only at a certain stage of the evolution with window features. In the corresponding present porosity profile, diagenesis is characterized by segmentation. From the shallow to the deep, compaction, compaction, cementation and dissolution, compaction and cementation occur successively. Therefore, the evolution of sandstone porosity can be divided into normal compaction section, acidification and incremental porosity section, and normal compaction section after dissolution. The results show that the evolution of sandstone porosity can be decomposed into porosity reduction model and porosity increase model. The superposition of the two models at the same depth in the three stages or in the same geological time can constitute the evolution simulation of the total porosity in sandstone reservoirs. By simulating the evolution of sandstone reservoir porosity of the eighth member in Xifeng area and the sixth member in Ansai area, it shows that they are similar in the evolution process and trend. The difference is caused by the regional uplift or subsidence and burial depth.     

Tight Carbonate Microstructure and its Controls: A Case Study of Lower Jurassic Da'anzhai Member,Central Sichuan Basin

Cast thin section observation, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), high-pressure mercury injection(HPMI), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) were used to examine the microstructure of tight carbonate reservoirs in the Lower Jurassic Da’anzhai Member, the central Sichuan Basin. The pore space in the Da’anzhai Member is classified into 2 types and 17 subtypes, with nano-scale pore throats of ‘O’, ‘S’, ‘Z’, and ‘I’ shapes. Poorly sorted pore throats vary greatly in diameter;thus, it is difficult for fluid flow to pass through these pore throats. There are three classes of pore throats in carbonate reservoirs, i.e. isolated pores, pores coexisting with fractures, and large pores and fractures. Isolated pores may provide some pore space, but the permeability is low. Pores and fractures coexisting in the reservoir may have a great impact on porosity and permeability;they are the major pore space in the reservoir. Large pores and fractures have a great impact on reservoir properties, but they only account for a limited proportion of total pore space. The microstructure of Da’anzhai reservoirs, which dominates fluid mobility, is dependent on sedimentary environment, diagenesis, and tectonic process. Pore structure is related to sedimentary environment. The occurrence of microfractures, which may improve reservoir properties, is dependent on tectonic process. Diageneses are of utmost importance to pore evolution, cementation and growth of minerals have played an important role in destroying reservoir microstructure.     

Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tectonics of the Yellow Sea and Oil-Gas Exploration

The purpose of the present study was to study the tectonics of the Yellow Sea. Although oil- gas exploration has been undertaken for more than 30 years in the southern Yellow Sea, the exploration progress has achieved little. There are three tectonic periods with near N–S trending shortening and compression (260–200 Ma, 135–52 Ma and 23–0.78 Ma) and three tectonic periods with near E–W trending shortening and compression (200–135 Ma, 52–23 Ma and 0.78 Ma) at the Yellow Sea and adjacent areas during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The Indosinian tectonic period is the collision period between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze Plates, which formed the basic tectonic framework for the Yellow Sea area. There were strong intraplate deformations during the Yanshanian (200–135 Ma) and Sichuanian (135–52 Ma) periods with different tectonic models, which are also the main formation periods for endogenic metallic mineral deposits around the Yellow Sea. The three tectonic periods during the Cenozoic affect important influences for forming oil-gas reservoirs. The Eocene–Oligocene (52–23 Ma) is the main forming period for oil-gas sources. The Miocene–Early Pleistocene (23–0.78 Ma) was a period of favorable passage for oil-gas migration along NNE trending faults. Since the Middle Pleistocene (0.78 Ma) the NNE trending faults are closed and make good conditions for the reservation of oil-gas. The authors suggest that we pay more attention to the oil-gas exploration at the intersections between the NNE trending existing faults and Paleogene– Neogene systems in the southern Yellow Sea area.     

Chronological and Geochemical Characterisitics of Volcanic Rocks of the Yingcheng Formation in the Southern Songliao Basin: Constraints on the Early Cretaceous Evolution of the Songliao Basin

The discoveries of oil and gas reservoirs in the volcanic rocks of the Songliao Basin(SB) have attracted the attention of many researchers. However, the lack of studies on the genesis of the volcanic rocks has led to different opinions being presented for the genesis of the SB. In order to solve this problem, this study selected the volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation in the Southern Songliao Basin(SSB) as the research object, and determined the genesis and tectonic setting of the volcanic rocks by using LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and a geochemical analysis method(major elements, trace elements, and Hf isotopes). The volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation are mainly composed of rhyolites with minor dacites and pyroclastic rocks. Our new zircon U-Pb dating results show that these volcanic rocks were erupted in the Early Cretaceous(113–118 Ma). The primary zircons from the rhyolites have εHf(t) values of +4.70 to +12.46 and twostage model age(TDM2) of 876–374 Ma. The geochemical data presented in this study allow these rhyolites to be divided into I-type rhyolites and A-type rhyolites, both of which were formed by the partial melting of the crust. They have SiO2 contents of 71.62 wt.%–75.76 wt.% and Al2 O3 contentsof 10.88 wt.% to 12.92 wt.%. The rhyolites have distinctively higher REE contents than those of ordinary granites, with obvious negative Eu anomalies. The light to heavy REE fractionation is not obvious, and the LaN/YbN(average value = 9.78) is less than 10. The A-type rhyolites depleted in Ba, Sr, P, and Ti, with relatively low Nb/Ta, indicating that the rocks belong A2 subtype granites formed in an extensional environment. The adakitic dacites are characterized by high Sr contents(624 to 1,082 ppm), low Y contents(10.6 to 12.6 ppm), high Sr/Y and Sr/Yb ratios, and low Mg# values(14.77 to 36.46), indicating that they belong to "C" type adakites. The adakitic dacite with high Sr and low Yb were likely generated by partial melting of the lower crust under high pressure conditions at least 40 km depth. The I-type rhyolites with low Sr and high Yb, and the A-type rhyolites with very low Sr and high Yb, were formed in the middle and upper crust under low pressure conditions, respectively. In addition, the formation depths of the former were approximately 30 km, whereas those of the latter were less than 30 km. The geochemical characteristics reveal that the volcanic rocks of Yingcheng Formation were formed in an extensional environment which was related to the retreat of subducted Paleo-Pacific Plate. At the late Early Cretaceous Period, the upwelling of the asthenosphere mantle and the lithosphere delamination caused by the retreat of the subducted Paleo-Pacific Plate, had resulted in lithosheric extension in the eastern part of China. Subsequently, a large area of volcanic rocks had formed. The SB has also been confirmed to be a product of the tectonic stress field in that region.     

Characteristics and Genetic Analysis of the Deep-buried Weathered-crust Karst Hydrocarbon Reservoirs of the Lower Paleozoic Group in the Tarim Basin

The genetic analysis of the deep-buried reservoirs of the Lower Paleozoic carbonate rocks in the Tarim basin is a difficult task involving many factors. Firstly, the object of study is carbonate rocks, which have undergone a long term of modification. Secondly, the rocks are deeply buried with depths of 3800-7000 m in the Tarim basin. The primary reservoir properties formed in the deposition have been strongly modified during the deep burial process. Concurrently, the different burial depths in different areas result in diversities of burial temperature, pressure, underground water, hydrochemistry and various physicochemical changes, which further lead to differences in the diagenetic type, diagenetic property, diagenetic degree and their impacts on the reservoir properties. The Lower Paleozoic Cambrian and Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim basin can be grouped into four types, i.e., paleo-weathered-crust reservoirs, reef reservoirs, buried karst reservoirs and dolomite reservoirs. This paper     

Miocene Tectonic Evolution from Dextral-Slip Thrusting to Extension in the Nyainqentanglha Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Dextral-slip in the Nyainqentangiha region of Tibet resulted in oblique underthrusting and granite generation in the Early to Middle Miocene, but by the end of the epoch uplift and extensional faulting dominated. The east-west dextral-slip Gangdise fault system merges eastward into the northeast-trending, southeast-dipping Nyainqentangiha thrust system that swings eastward farther north into the dextral-slip North Damxung shear zone and Jiali faults. These faults were took shape by the Early Miocene, and the large Nyainqentangiha granitic batholith formed along the thrust system in 18.3-11.0 Ma as the western block drove under the eastern one. The dextral-slip movement ended at -11 Ma and the batholith rose, as marked by gravitational shearing at 8.6-8.3 Ma, and a new fault system developed. Northwest-trending dextral-slip faults formed to the northwest of the raisen batholith, whereas the northeast-trending South Damxung thrust faults with some sinistral-slip formed to the southeast. The latter are replaced farther to the east by the west-northwest-trending Lhunzhub thrust faults with dextral-slip. This relatively local uplift that left adjacent Eocene and Miocene deposits preserved was followed by a regional uplift and the initiation of a system of generally north-south grabens in the Late Miocene at -6.5 Ma. The regional uplift of the southern Tibetan Plateau thus appears to have occurred between 8.3 Ma and 6.5 Ma. The Gulu, Damxung-Yangbajain and Angan graben systems that pass east of the Nyainqentangiha Mountains are locally controlled by the earlier northeast-trending faults. These grabens dominate the subsequent tectonic movement and are still very active as northwest-trending dextral-slip faults northwest of the mountains. The Miocene is a time of great tectonic change that ushered in the modern tectonic regime.     

Tectonic Evolution of the Tianhuan Depression and the Western Margin of the Late Triassic Ordos

Abstract: The Ordos Basin is one of the most important oil and gas basins in China. Based on surface outcrop, key exploratory wells and seismic reflection data and by using the technology of “prototype basin recovery”, seismic profile “layer flattening” and “restoration of balanced section”,and other methods, the sedimentary boundary, structure and the evolution history of the Tianhuan depression on the western margin of the Ordos Basin are reestablished. The following results have been obtained. (1) The west boundary of the Late Triassic Ordos Basin was far beyond the scope of the current basin. The basin is connected with the Late Triassic Hexi Corridor Basin, and its western margin did not have tectonic characteristics of a foreland basin. (2) The Tianhuan depression was first formed in the Late Jurassic. At the late stage it was impacted by the late Yanshanian and Himalayan tectonic movement and the depression axis gradually moved eastwards to the present location with a cumulative migration distance of ~30 km. (3) Eastward migration of the depression axis caused adjustment and even destruction of the originally formed oil and gas reservoirs, so that oil and gas remigrated and aggregated, resulting in secondary structural reservoirs formed at high positions on the western flank of the depression.     

Characteristics of the Reservoir of the Rehai Geothermal Field in Tengchong, Yunnan Province, China

The Rehai geothermal field in Tengchong County, Yunnan Province is a significant high-temperaturehydrothermal convective system. The geothermal reservoir is composed of granite. Various geothermometersare used to evaluate the reservoir temperature. The most likely temperature of the reservoir as representedby T_(Na-K-Ca) is about 230℃. The chemical and isotopic compositions of fluids before boiling within the reser-voir are estimated. The mixing and dilution of cold and warm waters are discussed. The Rehai geothermal fieldis a high-temperature (hot) water system with the subsurface boiling zone close to the surface. The reservoirpressure at different depths is calculated. And finally the water-rock equilibration is inferred.