Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 1446-1465.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250505

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles    

Origin and distribution of deep-water gravity-flow tight-sand reservoirs in the oil layer group of the 7th member of the Yanchang Formation, Fuxian area, Ordos Basin

Jun ZHANG1,2(), Yubin BAI1,2(), Hai ZHANG3, Jingzhou ZHAO1,2, Ning XU4   

  1. 1.School of Earth Sciences and Engineering,Xi’an Shiyou University,Xi’an,Shaanxi 710065,China
    2.Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Geology,Xi’an,Shaanxi 710065,China
    3.Yanchang Oil Field Co. ,Ltd. ,Yan’an,Shaanxi 717000,China
    4.Fuxian Oil Production Plant of Yanchang Oil Field Co. ,Ltd. ,Yan’an,Shaanxi 727500,China
  • Received:2025-04-27 Revised:2025-08-19 Online:2025-10-30 Published:2025-10-29
  • Contact: Yubin BAI E-mail:zj1012311730@126.com;baiyubin@xsyu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Deep-water gravity flow reservoirs are widely distributed in the oil layer group of the 7th member of the Yanchang Formation (also referred to as the Chang 7 oil layer group) in the Fuxian area, Ordos Basin. However, the tightening mechanisms of these reservoirs remain unclear. Using test methods and technologies including X-ray diffraction (XRD), petrophysical analysis, granulometry, casting thin section observation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry, and oil layer interpretation, we analyze the fundamental characteristics of gravity flow reservoirs in the Chang 7 oil layer group, highlighting the tightening mechanisms and distribution patterns of the reservoirs. The results indicate that the Chang 7 oil layer group consists primarily of fine-grained feldspathic sandstone and lithic feldspathic sandstone, with a porosity ranging from 0.5% to 18.4% (average: 8.44%) and a permeability from 0.01 × 10-3 µm² to 14.1 × 10-3 µm² (average: 0.36 × 10-3 µm²). Within this member, sandy debris flow reservoirs exhibit the most favorable pore structures and the best physical properties, with an average porosity of 8.94% and a permeability of 0.39 × 10-3 µm². Slide-slump reservoirs come the second, which have an average porosity of 8.28% and a permeability of 0.40 × 10-3 µm². In contrast, turbidite reservoirs show the poorest physical properties, with an average porosity of 6.90% and a permeability of 0.28 × 10-3 µm². The gravity flow reservoirs are poorly sorted and characterized by fine grain sizes, high matrix content, and weak resistance to compaction. Furthermore, these reservoirs exhibit high carbonate cement content, which is identified as the primary reason for reservoir tightening. Week dissolution in the late stage failed to change the overall tightness of reservoirs in the Chang 7 oil layer group. Diagenetic evolution places the Chang 7 Oil layer group in the meso-diagenetic stage A, having undergone a single-phase hydrocarbon charging, with the homogenization temperatures of inclusions ranging primarily from 110 ℃ to 120 ℃. Large-scale hydrocarbon accumulation in this oil layer group occurred during the late Early Cretaceous (105 ~ 120 Ma). In the Chang 7 oil layer group, high-quality Class Ⅰ reservoirs occur in sandy debris flow deposits. In contrast, moderate Class Ⅱ reservoirs are found in intervals consisting of sandy debris flow and turbidity current deposits, and poor Class Ⅲ reservoirs appear in turbidity current deposits. The comprehensive analysis suggests that the section with sandy debris flow deposits in the 1st and 2nd oil layer sub-groups represent play fairways for the exploration and exploitation of deep-water tight-sand oil reservoirs.

Key words: sandy debris flow reservoir, diagenetic evolution, gravity flow tight sandstone, Chang 7 oil layer group, Fuxian area, Ordos Basin

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