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Volume 20 Issue 1
Feb 2009
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Article Contents
Qiliang Sun, Shiguo Wu, Genshun Yao, Fuliang Lü. Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Polygonal Faults in Qiongdongnan Basin, Northern South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 2009, 20(1): 180-192. doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0018-z
Citation: Qiliang Sun, Shiguo Wu, Genshun Yao, Fuliang Lü. Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Polygonal Faults in Qiongdongnan Basin, Northern South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 2009, 20(1): 180-192. doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0018-z

Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Polygonal Faults in Qiongdongnan Basin, Northern South China Sea

doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0018-z
Funds:

the Formation Mechanism and Study on Geophysical Recognition Technology of Shallow Water Flow 2006AA09Z349

the CAS Knowledge Innovation Program KZCX2-YW-203

the National Basic Research Program of China 2007CB411703

the MLR National Petroleum Resource Strategic Target Survey and Evaluation Program 

the Taishan Scholarship Program of Shandong Province 

More Information
  • Corresponding author: Wu Shiguo, swu@ms.qdio.ac.cn
  • Received Date: 28 Oct 2008
  • Accepted Date: 01 Dec 2008
  • Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data, we document the polygonal faults within the Miocene Meishan (梅山) Formation and Huangliu (黄流) Formation of the Qiongdongnan (琼东南) basin, northern South China Sea. Within the seismic section and time coherent slice, densely distributed extensional faults with small throw and polygonal shape were identified in map view. The orientation of the polygonal faults is almost isotropic, indicating a non-tectonic origin. The deformation is clearly layer-bounded, with horizontal extension of 11.2% to 16%, and 13.2% on average. The distribution of polygonal faults shows a negative correlation with that of gas chimneys. The development of polygonal faults may be triggered by over-pressure pore fluid which is restricted in the fine-grained sediments of bathyal facies when the sediments is compacted by the burden above. The polygonal faults developed to balance the volumetric contraction and restricted extension. The product of hydrocarbon in the Meishan Formation may have contributed to the development of the polygonal faults. In the study area, it was thought that the petroleum system of the Neogene post-rift sequence is disadvantageous because of poor migration pathway. However, the discovery of polygonal faults in the Miocene strata, which may play an important role on the fluid migration, may change this view. A new model of the petroleum system for the study area is proposed.

     

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