Late Miocene–early Pliocene planktonic foraminifer event-stratigraphy of the Bajo Segura basin: A complete record of the western Mediterranean

The Bajo Segura basin (eastern Betic Cordillera) has one of the most complete late Miocene–early Pliocene marine records of the western Mediterranean. An updated planktonic foraminifer zonal scheme based on recent astronomically tuned biozones is presented for this interval, documenting a complete succession of biostratigraphic markers, from biozone MMi9 (earliest Tortonian) to MPl3 (latest early Pliocene), of likely significance for regional-scale correlation throughout the Mediterranean. The findings reveal a series of intrazonal events (some unreported until now in the Mediterranean Neogene basin), including the particularly interesting two influxes of the Globorotalia miotumida group during the Tortonian. These biostratigraphic findings are the basis for a framework of the major allostratigraphic units in the basin based on planktonic foraminifer event-stratigraphy: synthems Tortonian I, Tortonian II, Tortonian-Messinian I, Messinian II, and Pliocene. In addition, the timing of the main tectono-sedimentary and palaeogeographic events throughout the basin's evolution has been further constrained. Our results suggest that, at least in the Bajo Segura basin, the late-Messinian barren interval (non-distinctive zone) can be considered an ecobiostratigraphic zone (cenozone) characterized by dwarf fauna of planktonic foraminifera. Consequently, the Bajo Segura composite section can be regarded as a biostratigraphic reference section for Neogene basins in the Betic Cordillera and hence also in the Western Mediterranean.     

Evaluating the mechanical compaction of quartzarenites: The importance of sorting (Llanos foreland basin,Colombia)

Mechanical compaction is the main porosity-reducing process in sandstones, including high-reservoir-quality rigid-grain sandstones. For such sandstones, the extrapolation of theoretical or experimental compaction algorithms needs calibration with rocks having well constrained burial histories. Evaluating the compaction of these rocks is achieved by comparing current intergranular volume (IGV) with depositional IGV, which is strongly dependent on sorting. However, because sandstone sorting is difficult to measure accurately, its impact on depositional porosity and compaction state is largely underestimated. We use the quartzarenites of the Oligocene Carbonera Formation in the subsurface of the hydrostatically-pressured Llanos basin to illustrate the importance of sorting when evaluating the compaction of rigid-grain sandstones. IGV and sorting were measured in core samples using a combination of transmitted-light and cathodoluminescence images, resulting in improved accuracy over standard procedures. The compaction state of clean quartzarenites at given depths is best described using IGV-versus-sorting plots, which are used to derive compaction curves for specified sorting values. The IGV-versus-sorting trends are displaced to lower IGV values with increasing burial depth. The differences in IGV caused by differences in sorting exceed the differences in IGV resulting from 1000 m of burial, illustrating the high impact of sorting when evaluating compaction. Contrasting with published experimental results, the compaction of the Llanos basin ductile-grain-poor quartzarenites is independent of grain size, and grain rearrangement is the main compaction mechanism during the first ∼1.6 km of burial. Based on the Llanos data, we have generated IGV-versus-depth curves for clean pure quartzarenites of specific sorting, which can be used to predict their maximum primary porosity up to moderate burial depths. Differences with other published burial curves are probably related to unaccounted variations in sorting, ductile-grain content and framework-strengthening cements. However, the Llanos basin quartzarenites contain virtually no cements, explaining their high degree of compaction relative to other rigid-grain sandstones, and making them ideal to isolate the effects of compaction on the IGV of quartzarenites. The Llanos basin data suggest that, below ∼2.5 km of depth, clean well- to moderately well sorted quartzarenites continue reducing their IGV by mechanical compaction below the 26% limit, which should apply only to extremely well sorted, rigid grain, uncemented sandstones.     

New style of honeycomb structures revealed on 3D seismic data indicate widespread diagenesis offshore Great South Basin,New Zealand

In the Great South Basin, within the Eocene section, at time-depths around 700–900 ms two way time below the seafloor, unusual features are observed on 3D seismic data closely associated with polygonal faults. The features, referred to as honeycomb structures (HS), cover an area of ∼600 km², are packed circular, oval, to polygonal depressions 150–400 m across in plan view and several to 10 + m in amplitude. Polygonal faults rapidly die out at the Marshall Paraconformity, which is overlain by the Oligocene Penrod Formation. Hence the polygonal faults are inferred to have formed prior to the Marshall Paraconformity, and they cross-cut HS features. Consequently the top of the HS probably formed at burial depths of around 375–500 m, which is their decompacted depth below the paraconformity. The interval containing HS is about 125 m vertical thick. There are several possible origins for the HS. The most probable is related to bulk contraction of the sediment volume accompanied by fluid expulsion, which suggests a diagenetic origin, in particular the opal-A/CT transition. There are actually two polygonal fault systems (PFS) present in the area. The Southern Tier 1 PFS lies laterally to the HS and overlaps with it. The Northern PFS (Tier 2) lies above the HS, appears to be independent of the HS, and formed in the upper 200–300 m of the sediment column. The Tier 1 PFS probably formed by shear failure related to the same diagenetic effects that caused the HS.     

New insights into the carbonate karstic fault system and reservoir formation in the Southern Tahe area of the Tarim Basin

As worldwide hydrocarbon exploration has extended from shallowly to deeply buried strata, reservoir quality has attracted substantial and persistent interest in petroleum geology. In particular, deeply buried strata (>5500 m) in the Tarim Basin have attracted considerable attention because carbonate reservoirs that have experienced fracture or dissolution have also been shown to demonstrate considerable hydrocarbon potential. Therefore, it is necessary to determine how these reservoirs are developed and distributed in detail from both scientific and practical standpoints.In this paper, we address this issue using a case study in the southern Tahe area, which is contained within the largest Palaeozoic marine oilfield in China. In the northern Tahe area, mega-paleokarst systems developed in the Ordovician strata; however, the reservoir quality in the southern part of the Tahe area is relatively poor because it is covered by insoluble formations during karstification. Observations of cores and analyses of images of well logging demonstrate that these reservoirs are dominated by caves, vugs and fractures that have developed near faults. We speculate that the faults penetrating insoluble formations represent the main dissolution passages that originally developed these karstic fault systems. Additionally, we analyse a series of outcrops, seismic data, and structures to characterize the spatial geometry of these major faults and their surrounding fractures in detail. Most of these are strike-slip faults, and their subsequent reservoirs can be divided into three categories based on their development, including dendritic, sandwich and slab reservoirs. Recent studies demonstrate that karstic fault reservoirs are most common traps in the study area. Although various types of carbonate karstic fault reservoirs are represented in this region, the dendritic karstic fault reservoir is the most hydrocarbon-rich.Guided by these initial results, 108 wells were drilled from 2013 to 2014, producing 485 thousand tons of oil and yielding success ratios greater than 89%. The average production of dendritic reservoirs is 37.4 tons per day (t/d), while those of sandwich and slab types are 20.2 t/d and 14.0 t/d, respectively. These results represent significant references for future hydrocarbon exploration and the development of similar deeply buried karstic fault reservoirs in the Tarim Basin and elsewhere.     

莺歌海盆地中新统轴向重力流沉积特征及勘探潜力

轴向重力流沉积是一种重要的深水储层,其形成的岩性油气藏也是目前莺歌海盆地重点勘探领域。通过钻井、测井、地震和区域地质等资料的综合研究,分析莺歌海盆地中新统轴向重力流沉积特征和演化规律,探讨轴向重力流岩性油气藏的成藏条件和控制因素。结果表明,中新统储层为重力流沉积成因的厚层细砂岩,主水道和朵叶复合体是重力流沉积有利的沉积微相;中新世海南物源供给充足、断裂坡折带发育以及盆地轴向负向地形是该区形成轴向重力流沉积的宏观地质条件,在中新世各个时期形成了一系列沿盆地轴向分布、具有前积反射结构特征的轴向重力流沉积。研究区中新统轴向重力流储层厚度大、沉积规模广、临近烃源岩、构造脊微裂隙发育、圈闭保存好,具备优越的岩性油气藏成藏条件,是盆地下一步勘探的重要领域。     

Lacustrine basin unconventional resource plays: Key differences

There has been a revival in hydrocarbon source rock characterization and development associated with growing interest in unconventional resources, where these fine-grained organic-rich rocks act as both source and reservoir. To-date, the exploration focus on shale reservoirs has been largely on marine systems. Lacustrine source rocks for conventional resources are geographically important, dominating regions such as China, Indonesia, and Brazil's resource-base. However, they have been generally untested for unconventional resources.There are a number of key differences in the nature of these hydrocarbon systems that should be considered when assessing whether lacustrine systems may represent future unconventional opportunities in areas where the conventional resource-base is dominated by lacustrine-sourced oil. Among the key differences between these depositional systems is the greater sensitivity to high frequency climatic variability within lacustrine systems. Lacustrine systems are highly sensitive to changes in the balance between precipitation and evaporation, which may lead to rapid changes in lake level, potentially exceeding 600 m. These changes in depositional conditions are geologically rapid and may occur over periods of thousands of years. Such changes can reduce the areal extent of potentially thick source rock intervals to only those portions of a basin where a permanent deep lake was present. Thus the core unconventional target area may be geographically limited compared with their marine counterpart. Although potentially areally limited, a review of many lacustrine source rocks suggests that their thicknesses are often significantly greater than marine source rocks. An examination of the more distal portions of lacustrine systems, where better source rock potential is present reveals that there is generally limited connectivity between source and conventional reservoir. In these settings, such as the Wind River basin (Waltman Shale), the hydrocarbons remain trapped within the shales, potentially leading to over-pressured hydrocarbon charged systems. Such conditions suggest that although areally limited, viable unconventional targets may exist, if suitable reservoir conditions are present. Finally, the character of the oils produced is different in these settings, with lacustrine oils being waxy and displaying different hydrocarbon generation and cracking kinetics. High wax oils display distinct flow characteristics, being more viscous, and may offer different production challenges than their non-waxy marine equivalents. Additionally, differences in their cracking kinetics may indicate that the timing of gas generation for shale gas plays may differ significantly from marine systems.     

The behavior of specific sediment yield in different grain size fractions in the tributaries of the middle Yellow River as influenced by eolian and fluvial processes

Based on data from 35 stations on the tributaries of the Yellow River, annual specific sediment yield (Y_s) in eight grain size fractions has been related to basin‐averaged annual sand–dust storm days (D_ss) and annual precipitation (P_m) to reveal the influence of eolian and fluvial processes on specific sediment yield in different grain size fractions. The results show that Y_s in fine grain size fractions has the highest values in the areas dominated by the coupled wind–water process. From these areas to those dominated by the eolian process or to those dominated by the fluvial process, Y_s tends to decrease. For relatively coarse grain size fractions, Y_s has monotonic variation, i.e. with the increase in D_ss or the decrease in P_m, Y_s increases. This indicates that the sediment producing behavior for fine sediments is different from that for relatively coarse sediments. The results all show that Y_s for relatively coarse sediments depends on the eolian process more than on the fluvial process, and the coarser the sediment fractions the stronger the dependence of the Y_s on the eolian process. The Y_s–D_ss and Y_s–P_m curves for fine grain size fractions show some peaks and the fitted straight lines for Y_s–D_ss and Y_s–P_m relationships for relatively coarse grain size fractions show some breaks. Almost all these break points may be regarded as thresholds. These thresholds are all located in the areas dominated by the coupled wind–water process, indicating that these areas are sensitive for erosion and sediment production, to which more attention should be given for the purpose of erosion and sediment control. A number of regression equations were established, based which the effect of rainfall, sand–dust storms and surface material grain size on specific sediment yield can be assessed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于多源遥感数据的玛纳斯河流域荒漠化监测

利用遥感手段对玛纳斯河流域绿洲-荒漠带的荒漠化状况进行监测。利用不同时期TM数据,在小尺度上分析该区域2000~2008年荒漠化土地的分布特征;基于MODIS陆地遥感产品(NDVI、Albedo及LST),利用多源信息复合法计算荒漠化程度指数;基于TM荒漠化监测结果对该指数进行分级处理,初步建立并验证基于MODIS数据的荒漠化监测评价模型。结果表明:近10 a来,绿洲外围荒漠化土地变化较小,大部分变化发生在绿洲内部,主要为局部荒漠化被开发或因盐碱化过重导致的撂荒;荒漠化监测评价模型对研究区荒漠化程度定量评价精度可达91.25%。     

南海北部深水盆地沉积-构造的差异性及其油气意义

南海北部深水区自西向东依次分布着琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地、台西南盆地等新生代被动陆缘盆地,这些盆地经历了大致相当的从裂陷到坳陷的构造演化史,但在张裂活动过程中存在着明显的沉积-构造的差异性。构造沉降特征分析显示:在同一构造带上自西向东有盆地主要构造沉降发生的时段逐步变晚的趋势;在不同构造带上自北向南有盆地主要构造沉降发生的时段逐步变晚的趋势。这种沉积-构造的差异性对烃源岩的发育类型、分布及生储盖组合等方面有明显的控制作用,表现为:裂谷期构造沉降幅度大的盆地,陆相烃源岩发育,以陆生陆储陆盖型成藏组合为主;裂后期构造沉降幅度大的盆地,海相烃源岩发育规模较大,海生海储海盖型成藏组合及混生海储海盖型生储盖组合所占分量逐渐增多。推测渐新统湖相-湖沼相及海陆过渡相源岩和中新统海相烃源岩应是南海北部深水区油气的主要来源,陆生海储海盖型、海生海储海盖型及混生海储海盖型生储盖组合应是深水区基本生储盖组合类型。