Tectono-sedimentary control on modern sand deposition on the forebulge of the Western Taiwan Foreland Basin

Whether the formation of the isolated sand body deposition in the forebulge area of a foreland basin system is structure- or deposition-controlled has puzzled geologists for decades, although sand body deposition is generally believed to be indicative of the position of the flexural forebulge in a foreland basin. The formation of a modern sand body in the forebulge area is thus examined by multi-scale geophysical observations based on combined reflection seismic profiles and compressed high-intensity radar pulse (CHIRP) profiles across the sand deposition along the forebulge of the Western Taiwan Foreland Basin (WTFB), which is a Late Miocene-present foreland basin in the overfilled stage. These profiles suggest that the accumulation of the sand deposits along the forebulge of the WTFB is not directly associated with forebulge faultings. The relief map of the forebulge deposit substratum shows a northwestward tilting slope, and the isopach of the forebulge sand body indicates that a large part of the sand body accumulated along the axis of the Taiwan Strait and the subdued forebulge of the WTFB. The difference between the prevailing directions of tidal currents between the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea reflects the probable sedimentary influence of the cratonward migrating fold-thrust belt within a foreland shelf. We suggest that the formation and distribution of the sand deposits along the forebulge of the WTFB are generally controlled not only by the transverse downslope sedimentation but also longitudinal hydrodynamic processes at distal parts of the foreland basin. Our explanation provides a plausible tectono-sedimentary cause of the sand body deposition in the forebulge area in an overfilled foreland basin. The sedimentary dynamics of the sand body in the Taiwan Strait may be applicable for understanding the formation of isolated sand bodies in the distal part of the Cretaceous Western Interior Foreland Basin.     

Rare earth element characteristics of the carboniferous Huanglong Formation dolomites in eastern Sichuan Basin,southwest China: Implications for origins of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids

Marine dolostones of Carboniferous Huanglong Formation constitute major gas reservoir rocks in eastern Sichuan Basin. However, the investigation with respect to sources of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids is relatively underexplored. The current study attempts to investigate the REE characteristics of dolomites using seawater normalization standard, and therefore discusses the origins of dolomitizing and diagenetic fluids, on the basis of continuous 47.33-m-long core samples from the second member of Huanglong Formation (C₂h₂) in eastern Sichuan Basin. Low Th, Sc, and Hf concentrations (0.791 × 10⁻⁶, 4.751 × 10⁻⁶, and 0.214 × 10⁻⁶, respectively), random correlation between total REE concentration (ΣREE) and Fe or Mn abundance, and seawater-like Y/Ho ratios (mean value of 45.612) indicate that the carbonate samples are valid for REE analysis. Based on petrographic characteristics, four dolomite types are identified, including micritic-sized dolomite (type Dol-1), fine-to medium-sized dolomite (type Dol-2), medium-to coarse-sized dolomite (type Dol-3), and coarse-to giant-sized saddle dolomite (type Dol-4). Dol-1 dolomites, characterized by positive Ce anomaly (mean value of 6.398), light REE (LREE) enrichment, and heavy REE (HREE) depletion with mean LREE/HREE ratio of 12.657, show micritic calcite-like REE patterns, indicating seawater origin of their dolomitizing fluids. Dol-1 dolomites were formed in sabkha environment whereas the dolomitizing fluids originated from evaporative brine water due to their micritic crystal sizes and tight lithology. Dol-2 dolomites, particularly subtype Dol-2a barely developing vuggy porosity, also show micritic calcite-like REE patterns, suggesting their dolomitizing fluids were seawater or seawater-derived fluids. This inference is confirmed by low Fe and Mn concentrations, which range from 651 μg/g to 1018 μg/g (mean value of 863 μg/g) and 65 μg/g to 167 μg/g (mean value of 105 μg/g), respectively, whereas homogenization temperatures (T_h, mean value of 103 °C) indicate that Dol-2 dolomites were formed under burial environment. Dol-3 dolomites, in form of cements of Dol-2 dolomites, show similar REE patterns to their host minerals (i.e., Dol-2 dolomites), indicating their parent source was possibly derived from Dol-2 dolomites. Dol-3 dolomites have high Fe and Mn concentrations with mean values of 3346 μg/g (ranging from 2897 μg/g to 3856 μg/g) and 236 μg/g (ranging from 178 μg/g to 287 μg/g), respectively, indicating the involvement of meteoric water. Meanwhile, it confirms that the dissolution in Dol-2 dolomites was caused by meteoric water leaching. Positive Eu anomalies (mean value of 1.406) in Dol-4 dolomites, coupled with high homogenization temperatures (mean value of 314 °C), suggest that Dol-4 dolomites precipitated from hydrothermal fluids. High Fe and Mn concentrations (mean values of 2521 μg/g and 193 μg/g, respectively) in Dol-4 dolomites likely results from interactions of hydrothermal fluids with deep burial clastic rocks.     

Reservoir origin and characterization of gas pools in intrusive rocks of the Yingcheng Formation,Songliao Basin,NE China

In 2013, the first discovery of gas pools in well LS 208 in intrusive rocks of the Songliao Basin (SB), NE China was made in the 2nd member of the Yingcheng Formation in the Yingtai rift depression, proving that intrusive rocks of the SB have the potential for gas exploration. However, the mechanisms behind the origin of reservoirs in intrusive rocks need to be identified for effective gas exploration. The gas pool in intrusive rocks can be characterized as a low-abundance, high-temperature, normal-pressure, methane-rich, and lithologic pool based on integrated coring, logging, seismic, and oil test methods. The intrusive rocks show primary and secondary porosities, such as shrinkage fractures (SF), spongy pores (SP), secondary sieve pores (SSP), and tectonic fractures (TF). The reservoir is of the fracture–pore type with low porosity and permeability. A capillary pressure curve for mercury intrusion indicates small pore-throat size, negative skewness, medium–high displacement pressure, and middle–low mercury saturation. The development of fractures was found to be related to the quenching effects of emplacement and tectonic inversion during the middle–late Campanian. SP and SSP formed during two phases. The first phase occurred during emplacement of the intrusive rock in the late Albian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by organic acids. The second phase occurred between the early Cenomanian and middle Campanian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by carbonic acid. The SF formed prior to oil charging, the SSP + SP formed during oil charging, and the TF formed during the middle–late Campanian and promoted the distribution of gas pools throughout the reservoir. The intrusive rocks in the SB and the adjacent basins were emplaced in the mudstone and coal units, and have great potential for gas exploration.     

Kilometer-scale fault-related thermal anomalies in tight gas sandstones

Upper Carboniferous sandstones make one of the most important tight gas reservoirs in Central Europe. This study integrates a variety of geothermometers (chlorite thermometry, fluid inclusion microthermometry and vitrinite reflection measurements) to characterize a thermal anomaly in a reservoir outcrop analog (Piesberg quarry, Lower Saxony Basin), which is assumed responsible for high temperatures of circa 300 °C, deteriorating reservoir quality entirely. The tight gas siliciclastics were overprinted with temperatures approximately 90–120 °C higher compared to outcropping rocks of a similar stratigraphic position some 15 km to the west. The local temperature increase can be explained by circulating hydrothermal fluids along the fault damage zone of a large NNW-SSE striking fault with a displacement of up to 600 m in the east of the quarry, laterally heating up the entire exposed tight gas sandstones. The km-scale lateral extent of this fault-bound thermal anomaly is evidenced by vitrinite reflectance measurements of meta-anthracite coals (VR_rot ∼ 4.66) and the temperature-related diagenetic overprint. Data suggest that this thermal event and the associated highest coalification was reached prior to peak subsidence during Late Jurassic rifting (162 Ma) based on K-Ar dating of the <2 μm fraction of the tight gas sandstones. Associated stable isotope data from fluid inclusions, hosted in a first fracture filling quartz generation (T ∼ 250 °C) close to lithostatic fluid pressure (P ∼ 1000 bars), together with authigenic chlorite growth in mineralized extension fractures, demonstrate that coalification was not subject to significant changes during ongoing burial. This is further evidenced by the biaxial reflectance anisotropy of meta-anthracite coals. A second event of quartz vein formation occurred at lower temperatures (T ∼ 180 °C) and lower (hydrostatic) pressure conditions (P ∼ 400 bars) and can be related to basin inversion. This second quartz generation might be associated with a second event of illite growth and K-Ar ages of 96.5–106.7 Ma derived from the <0.2 μm fraction of the tight gas sandstones.This study demonstrates the exploration risk of fault-bound thermal anomalies by deteriorating entirely the reservoir quality of tight gas sandstones with respect to porosity and permeability due to the cementation with temperature-related authigenic cements. It documents that peak temperatures are not necessarily associated with peak subsidence. Consequently, these phenomena need to be considered in petroleum system models to avoid, for example, overestimates of burial depth and reservoir quality.     

Diagenesis and origin of calcite cement in the Flemish Pass Basin sandstone reservoir (Upper Jurassic): Implications for porosity development

The Flemish Pass Basin is a deep-water basin located offshore on the continental passive margin of the Grand Banks, eastern Newfoundland, which is currently a hydrocarbon exploration target. The current study investigates the petrographic characteristics and origin of carbonate cements in the Ti-3 Member, a primary clastic reservoir interval of the Bodhrán Formation (Upper Jurassic) in the Flemish Pass Basin.The Ti-3 sandstones with average Q_86.0F_3.1R_10.9 contain various diagenetic minerals, including calcite, pyrite, quartz overgrowth, dolomite and siderite. Based on the volume of calcite cement, the investigated sandstones can be classified into (1) calcite-cemented intervals (>20% calcite), and (2) poorly calcite-cemented intervals (porous). Petrographic analysis shows that the dominant cement is intergranular poikilotopic (300–500 μm) calcite, which stared to form extensively at early diagenesis. The precipitation of calcite occured after feldspar leaching and was followed by corrosion of quartz grains. Intergranular calcite cement hosts all-liquid inclusions mainly in the crystal core, but rare primary two-phase (liquid and vapor) fluid inclusions in the rims ((with mean homogenization temperature (T_h) of 70.2 ± 4.9 °C and salinity estimates of 8.8 ± 1.2 eq. wt.% NaCl). The mean δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C isotopic compositions of the intergranular calcite are −8.3 ± 1.2‰, VPDB and −3.0 ± 1.3‰, VPDB, respectively; whereas, fracture-filling calcite has more depleted δ¹⁸O but similar δ¹³C values. The shale normalized rare earth element (REE_SN) patterns of calcite are generally parallel and exhibit slightly negative Ce anomalies and positive Eu anomalies. Fluid-inclusion gas ratios (CO₂/CH₄ and N₂/Ar) of calcite cement further confirms that diagenetic fluids originated from modified seawater. Combined evidence from petrographic, microthermometric and geochemical analyses suggest that (1) the intergranular calcite cement precipitated from diagenetic fluids of mixed marine and meteoric (riverine) waters in suboxic conditions; (2)the cement was sourced from the oxidation of organic matters and the dissolution of biogenic marine carbonates within sandstone beds or adjacent silty mudstones; and (3) the late phases of the intergranular and fracture-filling calcite cements were deposited from hot circulated basinal fluids.Calcite cementation acts as a main controlling factor on the reservoir quality in the Flemish Pass reservoir sandstones. Over 75% of initial porosity was lost due to the early calcite cementation. The development of secondary porosity (mostly enlarged, moldic pores) and throats by later calcite dissolution due to maturation of organic matters (e.g., hydrocarbon and coals), was the key process in improving the reservoir quality.     

Mesozoic rift to post-rift tectonostratigraphy of the Sverdrup Basin,Canadian Arctic

Jurassic-Cretaceous rift successions and basin geometries of the Sverdrup Basin are reconstructed from a review and integration of stratigraphy, igneous records, outcrop maps, and subsurface data. The rift onset unconformity is in the Lower Jurassic portion of the Heiberg Group (approximately 200–190 Ma). Facies transgress from early syn-rift sandstones of the King Christian Formation to marine mudstones of the Jameson Bay Formation. The syn-rift succession of marine mudstones in the basin centre, Jameson Bay to Deer Bay formations, ranges from Early Jurassic (Pleinsbachian) to Early Cretaceous (Valanginian). Early post-rift deposits of the lower Isachsen Formation are truncated by the sub-Hauterivian unconformity, which is interpreted as a break up unconformity at approximately 135–130 Ma. Cessation of rift subsidence allowed for late post-rift sandstone deposits of the Isachsen Formation to be distributed across the entire basin. Marine deposition to form mudstone of the Christopher Formation throughout the Canadian Arctic Islands and outside of the rift basin records establishment of a broad marine shelf during post-rift thermal subsidence at the start of a passive margin stage. The onset of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province at approximately 130 Ma appears to coincide with the breakup unconformity, and it is quite typical that magma-poor rifted margins have mainly post-rift igneous rocks. We extend the magma-poor characterization where rifting is driven by lithospheric extension, to speculatively consider that the records from Sverdrup Basin are consistent with tectonic models of retro-arc extension and intra-continental rifting that have previously been proposed for the Amerasia Basin under the Arctic Ocean.     

南黄海盆地二叠系地震地层特征与识别

南黄海盆地钻遇二叠系的井仅有4口,对大面积无井区(如崂山隆起)的地层特征认识不统一。从二叠系岩性特征和海陆钻井地层对比为出发点,结合二叠系内部及其上下地层的地震波组和速度特征,认为南黄海盆地二叠系分上下2段。上段为大隆—龙潭组含煤碎屑岩地层,煤系地层较薄且分布不稳定,存在相变特征,使得该组地层在地震反射特征上的规律性变差,地震上表现为较连续、中—高频反射和低速特征;下段为栖霞组灰岩夹泥页岩地层,地震上表现为较连续、中—低频反射和高速特征。在无井区识别二叠系时,抓住二叠系地层界面极性为"2负+1正"的强反射特征。下二叠统—中、上石炭统地震波组特征相似,由4~5个同相轴组成,厚度稳定(时间约为200 ms),地震波极性表现为"上正下负"的地层界面反射特征,可作为全区追踪的标准层。     

东格陵兰盆地油气资源评价

东格陵兰盆地陆上和近海地区是目前北极与深水油气勘探的热点地区,但油气勘探程度和资源认识程度低。美国地质调查局(2000、2007年)油气资源评价结果表明该区具有很大的油气资源潜力,同时油气勘探具有高风险和不确定性。通过收集整理东格陵兰盆地、北海盆地油气地质资料及油气田勘探开发数据,从区域上对两个地区的油气成藏条件进行了对比,并采用地球化学方法与类比法,评价了东格陵兰盆地的油气资源潜力。东格陵兰盆地属于晚古生代—中生代的裂谷盆地,呈现两坳一隆的构造格局,与挪威陆架盆地在进入被动陆缘阶段之前具有相同的地质发育过程,沉积环境类似,共同经历古生代和中生代裂谷及裂后的热沉降。东格陵兰盆地发育晚古生代湖相烃源岩、上侏罗统海相烃源岩,储层主要为中侏罗统浅海相砂岩和白垩系深海浊积砂岩,圈闭类型主要为伸展构造圈闭、地垒断块圈闭、盐构造圈闭以及地层圈闭等。东格陵兰盆地油气成藏条件优越,油气资源潜力较大,具有较好的勘探前景。在影响东格陵兰盆地油气资源认识的诸多地质因素中,有利圈闭类型、必要数量的烃源岩以及油气生成条件和适当埋藏史还待进一步证实。     

崂山隆起寒武系油气勘探前景预测——对比四川盆地和苏北盆地

南黄海盆地是下扬子克拉通板块的主体,也是我国唯一尚未获得油气突破的海区。尤其是崂山隆起,目前只有1口钻井,勘探程度极低,制约了油气勘探的进程。然而,南黄海盆地的烃源岩、储层、盖层和成藏条件与四川盆地和苏北盆地存在着相似的地方。对比分析四川盆地和苏北盆地寒武系可以发现：2个盆地的烃源岩丰度高,厚度大,TOC平均含量分别达4%和3.32%,都是较好的烃源岩;储层以震旦系和寒武系白云岩为主,裂隙发育使储层具有较高的孔隙度和渗透率;成藏模式包括新生古储、古生新储和自生自储。在缺少资料的情况下,通过类比四川盆地和苏北盆地来推测南黄海崂山隆起寒武系的油气地质特征和油气勘探前景。对比分析认为,崂山隆起寒武系具有较大的油气勘探前景,应加快勘探进程。     

陆丰凹陷韩江组旋回地层学分析及天文年代标尺的建立

珠江口盆地为新生代典型的海相盆地,也是我国重要的海上油气生产基地。前期已有很多学者对珠江口盆地的地层划分与对比开展了研究,但研究的精度不够。为了提高珠江口盆地陆丰凹陷韩江组地层划分与对比的精度,选择珠江口盆地陆丰凹陷A、B井韩江组的自然伽马数据序列作为古气候替代性指标,使用频谱分析、滤波等方法进行旋回地层学分析。通过深度域频谱分析和小波分析认为,该套地层中保存了米兰科维奇旋回信号,且主要受405 ka长偏心率周期的影响。利用稳定的405 ka长偏心率周期进行天文调谐,结合古生物地层年代框架,建立起陆丰凹陷“绝对”天文年代标尺;结合碳氧同位素变化曲线,估算出2次碳同位素负漂移和1次碳同位素正向偏移事件的持续时间;利用天文旋回周期计算出陆丰凹陷韩江组的沉积速率,发现沉积速率的变化与海平面变化具有相关性。