Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2022, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 224-238.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.8.7

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Strike-slip faults in marine cratonic basins in China: Development characteristics and controls on hydrocarbon accumulation

ZHENG Herong1(), HU Zongquan1, YUN Lu2, LIN Huixi1, DENG Shang1, JIA Huichong3, PU Yong4   

  1. 1. Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 102206, China
    2. Northwest Oil Field Company, SINOPEC, Ürümqi 830011, China
    3. North China Company, SINOPEC, Zhengzhou 450006, China
    4. Exploration Company, SINOPEC, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2022-07-07 Revised:2022-08-01 Online:2022-11-25 Published:2022-10-20

Abstract:

As a new type of petroleum reservoir, the strike-slip fault-controlled oil and gas reservoirs show promising resource potentials. Here, through comparative analysis of the strike-slip fault development characteristics and control on hydrocarbon accumulation in the three largest marine cratonic basins (Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos) in China, the similarities and differences in fault architecture and movement characteristics between the three basins are revealed. In combination with the dynamic evolution of each basin, the formation mechanisms of the strike-slip faults are discussed and the fault controls on oil and gas reservoirs are systematically analyzed. We show that (1) all three basins develop small-medium displacement strike-slip faults, and the fault structures can be characterized by “layered deformation” in profile, segmentation in plan view and superposition architecture—formed as a result of episodic fault activity—in vertical view. (2) The formation mechanisms, distributions and movement periods of the strike-slip fault systems differ between basins. Being the oldest, the strik-slip fault system of the Tarim Basin experiences the longest evolution, where the northern strike-slip faults merge together from north to south while divide into eastern and western regions. In the Ordos Basin, a NWW-trending strike-slip fault forms in the southwestern margin as a result of intracontinental extrusion at the margin. And in the Sichuan Basin, under the influence of the Permian Emeishan mantle plume, the pre-existing basement faults reactivate and form the NW-, NWW- and nearly EW-trending transtensional strike-slip faults. (3) The strike-slip faults in the three basins all have important controls on oil and gas accumulation. For reservoir rock formation, fault-controlled/fault-dissolution fracture-cavity or fault-controlled fracture-pore reservoir rocks can form under coupled fault-fluid interaction/modification. For trap formation, fault-controlled/fault-dissolution fracture-cavity lithologic traps can form in carbonate rocks. And for migration, the steeply dipping strike-slip faults can directly connect source rocks and reservoir rocks to form very important vertical migration conduits for oil and gas.

Key words: strike-slip faults, development characteristics, control on hydrocarbon accumulation, Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin, Ordos Basin

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