Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (4): 746-762.doi: 10.11743/ogg20220402

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characterization of sequence architectures and sandbody distribution in continental rift basins

Xiaomin Zhu1(), Hehe Chen2, Jiawang Ge3, Mingxuan Tan4, Qianghu Liu5, Zili Zhang6, Yaxiong Zhang7   

  1. 1.College of Geosciences,China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102249,China
    2.School of Ocean Sciences,China University of Geosciences (Beijing),Beijing 100083,China
    3.College of Geosciences and Technology,Southwest Petroleum University,Chengdu,Sichuan 610500,China
    4.College of Oceanography,Hohai University,Nanjing,Jiangsu 210098,China
    5.College of Earth Resources,China University of Geosciences (Wuhan),Wuhan,Hubei 430070,China
    6.Exploration and Production Research Institute,Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company,PetroChina,Chengdu,Sichuan 610051,China
    7.Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute,SINOPEC,Beijing 100083,China
  • Received:2022-04-26 Revised:2022-05-01 Online:2022-07-14 Published:2022-07-14

Abstract:

Efficient oil and gas exploration and development in petroliferous continental rift basins relies heavily on a profound understanding of sequence stratigraphic architectures and sandbody distribution characteristics in different tectonic evolution stages. Based on a review of the development status of sequence stratigraphy and geological characteristics of continental rift basins, this study characterizes the sequence stratigraphic architectures and sandbody distribution according to a four-stage tectonic evolution of the basins: ① During the early syn-rift stage, faulting at basin boundaries starts with parasequences being vertically aggraded and superposed, and with near-source coarse-grained depositional systems including alluvial fan, distributary channel, and fan delta being developed. ② During the main syn-rift stage, faulting intensifies with parasequences showing a variety of overlapping styles in different structural belts and systems tracts, and basins fill mainly with fluvial, delta and gravity flow. ③ During the transition stage from rifting to depression, faulting starts to wean with parasequences being overlapped and dominated by progradation and aggradation, and depositional systems dominated by axial fluvial and deltaic depositional systems being developed. ④ During the post-rift depression and subsidence stage, faulting nearly ends with basins in an overcompens and with the fluvial-shallow-water deltas being developed. Current hot topics and future development of sequence stratigraphy in continental rift basins are also discussed based on the above analyses.

Key words: sequence architecture, sandbody distribution, tectonic evolution stage, depositional system, sequence stratigraphy, continental rift basin

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