Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 753-763.doi: 10.11743/ogg20230317

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics and forming mechanisms of transform zone in the Tiantai slope, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin

Lang YU1,2(), Yixin YU1,2(), Yiming JIANG3, Wei ZOU3, Shi Chen1,2, Xianjun TANG3, Xinxin LIANG1,2, Xinjian HE3, Dongxia CHEN1,2   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting,China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102249,China
    2.College of Geosciences,China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102249,China
    3.Shanghai Branch,CNOOC,Shanghai 200030,China
  • Received:2022-11-07 Revised:2023-03-07 Online:2023-06-01 Published:2023-06-05
  • Contact: Yixin YU E-mail:yulang2634@163.com;yuxin0707@163.com

Abstract:

The Tiantai slope in the Xihu Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin, has a special tectonic background with a deep NW-trending fault zone cutting through and adjusting/transforming the tectonic features of the Cenozoic in the southern and northern parts of the slope. Based on the detailed interpretation of 3D seismic data and restored balanced cross sections, this study establishes models for the development of deep and shallow faults, determines the tectonic attribute of the NW-trending transform zone and discusses the evolution history and genetic mechanisms of the transform zone against regional geological settings. The results show that the NW-trending extensional detachment faults, including the Tiantaixi fault and the Gushan fault, were developed in the Mesozoic of the Tiantai slope, and have played an accommodating and transforming role in shaping the geological framework and controlling fault development and extension intensity of the Cenozoic, resulting in a gentle and a steep slope respectively on the south and more stretched north parts of the slope. The faults of the Cenozoic in the northern slope obviously outnumber those in the southern slope. Arc fault systems are found to be developed in the hanging wall of the Gushan fault. The NW-trending tectonic transform zone bounded by the Tiantaixi fault and the Gushan fault differs greatly from that formed in the extensional setting, indicating a discrete type of tectonic transform zone. Influenced by the post-orogenic collision and extension between the Qinling and Dabie orogenic belts, and the collision and subduction of the Eurasian and Pacific plates, the transform zone in the Tiantai slope has experienced four evolutionary stages, including the gestation period from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, the embryonic period from the middle Early Cretaceous to the Early Eocene, the maturation period from the middle Late Eocene to the Early Oligocene, and the quiescence stage from the Late Oligocene to present.

Key words: arc fault, NW-trending fault, tectonic transform zone, Tiantai slope, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin

CLC Number: