Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 1504-1521.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250508

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles    

Types of deep-water gravity-flow deposits and comparison of their oil-bearing properties: A case study of the 7th-9th oil groups in the Triassic Yanchang Formation, Fuxian area, Ordos Basin

Linxi WANG1,2(), Jingzhou ZHAO1,2(), Zhendong GAO3, Fanrong WEI3, Shiqi ZHOU1,2, Xuangang MENG3, Xinzhi YAN3, Ning XU3   

  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 Shiyou University,Xi’an,Shaanxi 710065,China
    3.Yanchang Oil Field Co. ,Ltd. ,Yan’an,Shaanxi 716000,China
  • Received:2025-06-17 Revised:2025-08-14 Online:2025-10-30 Published:2025-10-29
  • Contact: Jingzhou ZHAO E-mail:1474153226@qq.com;jzzhao@xsyu.edu.cn

Abstract:

In the Fuxian area of the Ordos Basin, the 7th‒9th oil groups in the Triassic Yanchang Formation (also referred to as the Chang 7‒9 oil groups) hold great petroleum resource potential. Previous studies mostly hold that sandstones in these oil groups are dominated by deltaic deposits. Although gravity-flow deposits have been discovered in the Chang 7 oil group in recent years, some issues remain unclear, including their existence and distribution range across the Chang 7‒9 oil groups. Using core observations, grain size analysis, and thin section observations, we identify the primary types of gravity-flow deposits and their distributions, together with the comparison of reservoir characteristics and oil-bearing properties within. The results indicate that gravity-flow deposits are widely distributed across the Chang 7‒9 oil groups in the Fuxian area, including sandy debris-flow deposits, turbidite-flow deposits, and slide-slump deposits. The sandy debris-flow deposits, among others, feature great thicknesses and massive beddings, with rip-up clasts visible. Their grain-size cumulative probability curves exhibit three primary patterns: a coarse-skewed single-segment pattern, a short-tailed two-segment pattern, and a two-segment pattern with high suspended component content. In contrast, the turbidite-flow deposits are thin, with incomplete Bouma sequences observable in cores. Their grain-size cumulative probability curves primarily show a fine-skewed single-segment pattern. In contrast, the slide-slump deposits are characterized by wrinkling deformation, convolute beddings, and stepped faults. The comparison reveals that the sandy debris-flow deposits are generally superior to the turbidite-flow deposits, exhibiting high reservoir quality, favorable oil-bearing properties, and high daily oil production from well tests. Among the widespread gravity-flow deposits in the Chang 7‒9 oil groups in the Fuxian area, the sandy debris-flow deposits show the most extensive distribution, as well as the most favorable reservoir physical properties and oil-bearing properties. Therefore, they should be prioritized as significant targets for future exploration and development of tight oil in the Fuxian area.

Key words: oil-bearing property, sandy debris-flow deposits, turbidite-flow deposits, slide-slump deposits, gravity-flow deposits, Fuxian area, Ordos Basin

CLC Number: