REE/trace element characteristics of sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin

1 Introduction The Ordos Basin is the second largest sedimentary basin in China. During the last 10 years, a great progress has been achieved in the aspects of tectonic evolution, dynamics process, inner and outer geological processes during Mesozoic-Cen…     

Geochemical overview and undiscovered gas resources generated from Hamitabat petroleum system in the Thrace Basin,Turkey

Since the first drill in 1957, three oil, 19 gas and condensate fields have been discovered in the Thrace Basin. However, any petroleum system with its essential elements and processes has not been assigned yet. This study consists of two parts, (1) geochemical overview of the previous work in order to get a necessary help to construct a petroleum system and (2) calculation of quantitative undiscovered hydrocarbon resources generated from this system. An extensive overview study showed that the primary reservoir and source rocks in the Thrace Basin are the Middle Eocene Hamitabat sandstones and shales, respectively, hence it appears that the most effective petroleum system of the Thrace Basin becomes the Hamitabat (!) petroleum system. Currently, 18.5 billion m³ of in-place gas, 2.0 million m³ (12.7 million bbl) in-place waxy oil as well as minor amount of associated condensate were discovered from this system. This study showed that the regional distribution of the oil and gas fields almost overlapped with the previously constructed pod of active Hamitabat shales implying that short and up-dip vertical migration pathway of hydrocarbons from the source to trapping side was available. Thermal model demonstrated that hydrocarbon generation from the Hamitabat shales commenced in the Early Miocene. The amount of quantitative gas generation based on the mean-original TOC = 0.94 wt%, mean-original HI = 217 HC/g TOC and the volume of the pod of active source rock = 49 km³ is approximately 110 billion m³ of gaseous hydrocarbons that results in a high generation–accumulation efficiency of 17% when 18.5 billion m³ of already discovered hydrocarbons are considered.     

Evolution of the Bonneville shoreline scarp in west-central Utah: Comparison of scarp-analysis methods and implications for the diffusion model of hillslope evolution

Wave-cut pluvial shoreline scarps are ideal natural experiments in hillslope evolution because the ages of these scarps are often precisely known and because they form with a range of heights, alluvial textures, and microclimates (i.e., orientation). Previous work using midpoint-slope methods on pluvial scarps in the Basin and Range concluded that scarp evolution is nonlinear and microclimatically controlled. The purpose of this study was to further examine the influence of scarp height, texture and microclimate in an attempt to calibrate a nonlinear model of scarp evolution. To do this, over 150 profiles of the Bonneville shoreline in the adjacent Snake and Tule Valleys, west-central Utah were collected and analyzed by fitting the entire scarp profile to diffusion-equation solutions, taking into account uncertainty in the initial scarp angle. In contrast to previous studies, this analysis revealed no evidence for nonlinearity or microclimatic control. To understand the reason for this discrepancy, we undertook a systematic study of the accuracy of each scarp-analysis method. The midpoint-slope-inverse method was found to yield biased results, with systematically higher diffusion ages for young, tall scarps. The slope-offset method is unbiased but has limited resolution because it requires many scarp profiles to yield a single diffusion age. A method that incorporates the full scarp profile and uncertainty in the initial scarp angle was found to be the most accurate technique. The application of the full-scarp method to the Bonneville shoreline supports the use of a linear diffusion model for scarps up to 20 m in height. Scarp orientation had no discernable effect on diffusivity values. Soil texture was found to have a weak but significant inverse relationship with diffusivity values.     

Microbial Biomass and Organic Nutrients in the Deep-Sea Sediments of the Central Indian Ocean Basin

In order to assess the impact of deep-sea mining on the in situ benthic life, we measured the microbial standing stock and concentration of organic nutrients in the deep-sea sediments of the Central Indian Ocean Basin in the Indian pioneer area. Sediments were collected using box core and grab samples during September 1996. The total bacterial numbers ranged from 10 10 -10 11 cells per g -1 dry weight sediment. There was a marginal decrease in the number of bacteria from surface to 30 cm depth, though the subsurface section registered a higher number than did the surface. The highest numbers were encountered at depths of 4-8 cm. The retrievable number of bacteria were two orders less in comparison with the direct total counts of bacteria. An almost homogeneous distribution of bacteria, total organic carbon, living biomass, and lipids throughout the depth of cores indicates active microbial and benthic processes in the deep sea sediments. On the other hand, a uniform distribution of total counts of bacteria, carbohydrates, and total organic carbon in all the cores indicates their stable nature and suggests that they can serve as useful parameters for long-term monitoring of the area after the benthic disturbance. Further studies on temporal variability in this region would not only verify the observed norms of distribution of these variables but would also help to understand restabilization processes after the simulated benthic disturbance.     

准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷百口泉组砾岩储层特征及其主控因素

综合岩心观察、薄片鉴定及场发射扫描电镜、Quemscan软件、X-衍射、阴极发光、图像分析等分析测试手段,并结合测井、录井和物性等资料,从沉积和成岩两方面对准噶尔盆地玛湖西斜坡百口泉组砾岩储层特征与有利储层的主控因素进行了综合研究。研究表明：砾岩储层骨架颗粒的成分、粒度、分选性和砾岩体的厚度主要由物源和沉积环境共同决定,这些因素控制了埋藏期的压实作用和钙质胶结作用的强弱、成岩环境的特征、孔隙流体的性质、钾长石溶蚀作用以及火山碎屑的蚀变对储层性质的影响。相对扇三角洲平原亚相的水上河道和河道间,发育在扇三角洲前缘亚相的水下分流河道微相的储层厚度较大,刚性颗粒含量高、分选好,易发育绿泥石膜,压实作用相对较弱,孔隙较大且连通性较好,孔隙流体流动性较好,因此,钾长石和岩屑等易溶矿物的溶蚀产物如高岭石、伊利石等自生黏土矿物易被带出而不在原地发生沉淀,对储层物性的改善具有十分重要的作用。此外,处于有机质优势运移方向的储层物性较好。     

鄂尔多斯盆地东南部上古生界层序地层格架及含气砂体沉积演化特征*

鄂尔多斯盆地长期存在“南油北气”的固有认识,晚古生代早期砂体不发育与分布规律不清的认识,长期制约了盆地东南部天然气勘探开发的步伐。因此,加强盆地东南部上古生界煤系含气地层地质方面的研究、尤其是层序地层与储集砂体成因研究,对进一步增储上产具有重要理论与实践意义。作者采用Vail经典层序地层理论与方法,对鄂尔多斯盆地东南部上古生界进行层序地层研究: 首先对层序界面进行识别,以岩性、旋回和沉积特征变化作为识别依据,并提出二级层序界面上下岩性组合变化巨大、二级界面之上叠置的低位砂厚度巨大的观点,共将本溪组—石盒子组划分为3个二级层序,11个三级层序;其次根据层序内部砂体堆积、迁移样式对体系域进行了划分。通过大量钻井的层序单元追踪对比与岩心精细描述,重点分析层序格架内主要含气层段本溪组、山西组及盒8段储集砂体的空间叠置关系,结合不同时期基准面旋回变化及其形成机制对其进行探讨,认为优势含气层段储集层中本2段具有障壁迁移、毯式连通,山2段具有低位控砂、面线连通,山1段具有侧向迁移、接触式连通,盒8段具有迁摆叠置、多向连通的特点。     

内蒙古二连盆地西南部第四纪沉积物中粘土矿物特征与古气候指示意义

通过对内蒙古二连盆地西南部第四纪地层剖面进行系统测制,结合古生物化石建立起该区第四纪以来相对完整的地层层序,并对剖面上所采集的粘土矿物样品进行Ⅹ射线衍射分析,以及根据样品中的粘土矿物成分、质量分数对本区古气候演化进行探讨。结果表明: 研究区早更新世-晚更新世中期沉积物中,大量出现高质量分数的伊蒙混层和蒙脱石,反映季节性冷暖、干湿交替的古环境气候; 而晚更新世晚期地层中,伊蒙混层显著减少,伊利石增加,且总体含量高于高岭石,表明该区气候变冷且转为干旱; 全新世地层中,高岭石、伊利石和绿泥石含量均有所增加,该时间段内化学淋滤作用仍然较弱,降雨量继续减少。总体而言,本区的古气候在第四纪经历了由干湿交替到温凉偏干的过程。与岩石地层、地貌特点组合等所反映的古气候特征及其变化较好的吻合。     

南海南部北康盆地中新世碳酸盐台地地震响应及分布特征

以大量高精度2D地震资料分析为基础,对北康盆地碳酸盐台地地震反射特征、演化期次及分布特征开展了系统研究。北康盆地碳酸盐台地自早中新世开始发育,中中新世广泛分布,而从晚中新世开始衰退淹没。中新世碳酸盐台地多为孤立台地,台地边缘常发育断层,台地顶部在地震剖面上多呈现为两条平行和亚平行强反射轴,内部呈杂乱和亚平行空白及弱反射轴,底部则多为一条光滑的平行和亚平行弱反射轴。北康盆地中新世碳酸盐台地发育可以划分为3个期次,第1期台地发育范围大且厚度较薄;第2期台地范围缩小,受到断层控制明显;第3期台地范围进一步缩小直至被淹没。北康盆地中新世碳酸盐台地主要为北东向和北西向,这与周边盆地和现今碳酸盐台地走向一致,其平面分布受到构造隆起和断裂的控制。     

The Mesozoic structural evolution of the Gorgon Platform,North Carnarvon Basin,Australia

The Gorgon Platform is located on the southeastern edge of the Exmouth Plateau in the North Carnarvon Basin, North West Shelf, Australia. A structural analysis using three-dimensional (3D) seismic data has revealed four major sets of extensional faults, namely, (1) the Exmouth Plateau extensional fault system, (2) the basin bounding fault system (Exmouth Plateau–Gorgon Platform Boundary Fault), (3) an intra-rift fault system in the graben between the Exmouth Plateau and the Gorgon Platform and (4) an intra-rift fault system within the graben between the Exmouth Plateau and the Exmouth Sub-basin. Fault throw-length analyses imply that the initial fault segments, which formed the Exmouth Plateau–Gorgon Platform Boundary Fault (EG Boundary Fault), were subsequently connected vertically and laterally by both soft- and hard-linked structures. These major extensional fault systems were controlled by three different extensional events during the Early and Middle Jurassic, Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, and illustrate the strong role of structural inheritance in determining fault orientation and linkage. The Lower and Middle Jurassic and Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous syn-kinematic sequences are separated by unconformities.     

Occurrence and conceptual sedimentary model of Cambrian gypsum-bearing evaporites in the Sichuan Basin,SW China

During the Cambrian, gypsum-bearing evaporites formed in the Sichuan Basin, SW China. These rocks are important for oil and gas sealing, but details of their distribution and origin are not well established. This study examines the regional distribution and origin of the gypsum-bearing evaporites using a comprehensive analysis of drilling data from 34 wells, 5 measured cross-sections in the basin and surrounding area, and 96 maps of area-survey data. Results show that in the stratigraphic succession, the gypsum-bearing evaporites occur mainly in the Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation, the Middle Cambrian Douposi Formation, and the Middle-Upper Cambrian Xixiangchi Group. Geographically, the rocks are found mainly in the southeastern part of the basin, and the distribution of deposits shows an overall SW-NE trend. The sedimentary environments for evaporite formation were evaporative lagoon and inter-platform basin in a platform setting. Gypsum was generated by the underwater concentration of sea water in a strongly evaporative environment. Both an evaporative restricted platform and a mixeddeposition restricted platform model appear to be applicable to the development of gypsum in the Sichuan Basin. The gypsum-bearing evaporites with the best sealing capacity are located mostly in the southeastern part of the basin. These constraints can be applied directly to regional exploration, and have implications for the regional paleogeography and paleoclimate.