Mud volcano structures appear as discontinuous blank to chaotic reflections with weak amplitudes in seismic facies

and are in columnar uncomformable contact with adjacent rocks.Controlled by stress field and tectonic active belt of the basin

the mud structures are better developed in the piedmont thrust belt on the basin margin in the center of subsidence.In the same structural belt

mud volcanoes occur in paternoster distribution along trend of the major fault and anticlinal zone.Mud volcano structures are characterized by episodic eruption with radial normal faults and slump structures developed in shallow layers.The volcano structures can be classified into anticlinal

strike-slip fault

and thrust types

according to their origins and characteristics.Geological background

tectonic activity in compressional strike-slip stress field

rapid sedimentation and abnormal formation pressure

are the major reason behind the formation of mud volcano structures.The mud volcano structures exert influences over the hydrocarbon generation

migration

accumulation

preservation

and destruction as well as trap formation

and development of reservoirs.