Citation: | Junfeng Yu, Jianxiang Pei, Jing Xu. New Insight into Oil and Gas Exploration in Miocene and Late Oligocene Strata in Qiongdongnan Basin. Journal of Earth Science, 2009, 20(5): 811-823. doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0055-7 |
Oil and gas exploration prospect for the Miocene and Late Oligocene strata in Qiongdongnan (琼东南) basin are evaluated. The structural-sedimentary and reservoir characteristics are discussed and helpful conclusions are drawn. It was proved that there are mainly two reservoir and capping assemblages in Qiongdongnan basin by drilled wells, i.e., one assemblage of the second and the third members of Lingshui (陵水) Formation, upper Sanya (三亚) and Meishan (梅山) formations. According to hydrocarbon evaluation from burial history and well data, all source rocks in Yacheng (崖城) and Lingshui formations have reached the mature-overmature stage. High temperature and overpressure provide dynamic conditions for oil and gas migration, while the long-term activity of basin controlling faults is adverse to their accumulation in upheaved areas. However, because the secondary faults in the basin ceased their activities at the end of the Sanya Period, and the Sanya Formation was later covered by the regional overlying layer of the Meishan Formation, the blocks and low uplifts near the secondary faults were favorable for oil and gas accumulation. Furthermore, as another important pointed area for gas migration, the highest position of a structural ridge should reasonably be a range that is covered by marine mudstone or sandy mudstone during the whole subsiding period, and therefore, the reservoir bed should not be in that position but at its inferior eminence or adjacent slope zone. Therefore, we can draw a conclusion that the inferior low uplifts and structural ridges rather than the upheavals or the top of a structural ridge, probably, have huge reservoirs, and should be chief exploration targets in the Qiongdongnan basin.
Chen, H. H., Fu, X. M., Yang, J. M., 1997. Natural Gases Replenishment in Ya13-1 Gas Field in Ying-Qiong Basins, South China Sea. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 18(4): 32–37 (in Chinese with English Abstract) http://www.researchgate.net/publication/285716543_Natural_gases_replenishment_in_Ya_13-1_gas_field_in_Ying-Qiong_Basins_South_China_Sea |
Fu, J., 1995. Studies on Tertiary Source Rocks in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan Basins, South China Sea. China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Report (in Chinese) |
Hao, F., Li, S. T., Sun, Y. C., et al., 1996. Characteristics and Origin of the Gas Condensate in the Yinggehai Basin, Offshore South China Sea: Evidence for Effects of Overpressure on Petroleum Generation and Migration. Organic Geochemistry, 24: 363–375 doi: 10.1016/0146-6380(96)00009-5 |
Hao, F., Li, S. T., Sun, Y. C., et al., 1998. Geology, Compositional Heterogeneities and Geochemical Origin of the Yacheng Gas Field in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea. Bulletin of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 82: 1372–1384 |
Hayes, D. E., Nissen, S. S., 2005. The South China Sea Margins: Implications for Rifting Contrasts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 237: 601–616 doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.06.017 |
He, J. X., Xia, B., Sun, D. S., et al., 2006. Hydrocarbon Accumulation, Migration and Play Targets in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 33(1): 53–58 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Hu, Z. L., Xiao, X. M., Huang, B. J., et al., 2005. Source Area Determination and Gas Pool Formation Model of the Ya13-1 Gasfield from the Qiongdongnan Basin. Geochimica, 34(1): 66–72 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Huang, B. J., 1998. Geochemistry and Gas-Generating Potential of Tertiary Marine Source Rocks in Yinggehai-Qiongdongnan Basins, South China Sea. CNOOC Research Report (in Chinese) |
Huang, B. J., 1999. Gas Potential and Favorable Exploration Areas in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea. Natural Gas Industry, 19(1): 34–38 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Huang, B. J., Xiao, X. M., Li, X. X., 2003. Geochemistry and Origins of Natural Gases on the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan Basins, Offshore South China Sea. Organic Geochemistry, 34: 1009–1025 doi: 10.1016/S0146-6380(03)00036-6 |
Hutchison, C. S., 2004. Marginal Basin Evolution: The Southern South China Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 21: 1129–1148 doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2004.07.002 |
Li, M. B., Jin, X. L., 2006. Review of Research on the Formation, Evolution and Dynamic Mechanism of South China Sea. Bulletin of Science and Technology, 22(1): 16–20 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Li, Q. Y., Wang, P. X., Zhao, Q. H., et al., 2006. A 33 Ma Lithostratigraphic Record of Tectonic and Paleoceanographic Evolution of the South China Sea. Marine Geology, 230: 217–235 doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2006.05.006 |
Li, S. T., Lin, C. S., Zhang, Q. M., et al., 1998. The Episodic Splitting Dynamic Process and Tectonic Incidents since 10 Ma at the Northern Continent Margin of South China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 43(8): 797–810 (in Chinese) doi: 10.1360/csb1998-43-8-797 |
Li, X. S., Ou, B. T., Li, Q., et al., 2005. 3D Geopressure Field and Hydrocarbon Migration in Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan Basins. Geological Science and Technology Information, 24(3): 70–74 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Li, X. X., Li, W. X., Zhang, Z. M., et al., 2006. Gas Accumulation Characteristics and Seismic Identification Techniques in Qiongdongnan Basin. China Offshore Oil and Gas, 18(2): 79–86 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Liu, H. L., Yan, P., Zhang, B. Y., et al., 2004. Pre-Tertiary Basements of the South China Sea and Eastern Tethyan Realm. Geology and Quaternary Geology, 1(1): 15–28 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Qiu, X. L., Ye, S. Y., Wu, S. M., et al., 2001. Crustal Structure across the Xisha Trough, Northwestern South China Sea. Tectonophysics, 341: 179–193 doi: 10.1016/S0040-1951(01)00222-0 |
Wang, G. F., Wu, C. L., Zhou, J. Y., et al., 1998. Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of the Tertiary in the Qiongdongnan Basin. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 20(2): 124–128 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Wang, T. K., Chen, M. K., Li, C. S., et al., 2006. Seismic Imaging of the Transitional Crust across the Northeastern Margin of the South China Sea. Tectonophysics, 412: 237–254 doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2005.10.039 |
Wang, Z. F., He, J. X., 2003. Miocene Hydrocarbon's Transferring and Collecting Condition and Reservoir Combination Analysis in Qiongdongnan Basin. Natural Gas Geosciences, 14(2): 107–115 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Wei, K. S., Cui, H. Y., Ye, S. F., et al., 2001. High-Precision Sequence Stratigraphy in Qiongdongnan Basin. Earth Science—Journal of China University of Geosciences, 26(1): 59–66 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Wu, L., Shi, W., 2005. Analysis of the Features of Sequence Stratigraphy and Spatial Distribution of Sandstones in the Baodao Area, Qiongdongnan Basin. Journal of Geomechanics, 11(1): 43–52 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Wu, S. G., Han, Q. H., Ma, Y. B., et al., 2009. Petroleum System in Deepwater Basins of the Northern South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 20(1): 124–135 doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0014-3 |
Xie, J. H., Xia, B., Zhang, Y. H., et al., 2005. Study on the Effects of the India-Eurasia Collision on the Formation of the South China Sea: A Numerical Simulation Approach. Marine Science Bulletin, 24(5): 47–53 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Xie, T. J., 2000. Natural Gas Migration Conducting System and Reservoir Formation Pattern in Southeast Hainan Basin. China Petroleum Exploration, 5(1): 17–21 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Xie, X. N., Müller, R. D., Li, S. T., et al., 2006. Origin of Anomalous Subsidence along the Northern South China Sea Margin and Its Relationship to Dynamic Topography. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 23: 745–765 doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2006.03.004 |
Yan, P., Zhou, D., Liu, Z. S., 2001. A Crustal Structure Profile across the Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea. Tectonophysics, 338: 1–21 doi: 10.1016/S0040-1951(01)00062-2 |
Yao, B. C., Wan, L., Wu, N. Y., 2004. Cenozoic Plate Tectonic Activities in the Great South China Sea Area. Geology in China, 31(2): 113–122 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Yao, B. C., Wan, L., Wu, N. Y., 2005. Cenozoic Tectonic Evolution and the 3D Structure of the Lithosphere of the South China Sea. Geological Bulletin of China, 24(1): 1–8 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Yuan, S. Q., Yao, G. S., Lü, F. L., et al., 2009. Features of Late Cenozoic Deepwater Sedimentation in Southern Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea. Journal of Earth Science, 20(1): 172–179 doi: 10.1007/s12583-009-0017-0 |
Zhang, H. Q., Wu, L. S., 2005. Tectonic Landform in the South of the South China Sea. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 25(1): 63–70 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |
Zhang, Q. X., Huang, B. J., 1991. Genetic Types and Generation History of Natural Gases from Major Basins in the South China Sea. China Offshore Oil & Gas, 4: 5–13 (in Chinese with English Abstract) |