Based on an integrated analysis of the conditions of hydrocarbon pooling

types and distribution of the reservoirs in the Lower Silurian Kepingtage Formation in the southern Tahe region of the Tarim basin

this paper focuses on the distribution patterns of the Silurian hydrocarbon reservoirs in the southern Tahe region and estimates the hydrocarbon potential in this area.The Kepingtage sandstones are reservoir rocks with low porosity and low permeability

but some of them are quality reservoirs

such as thick shoreside facies

distributary channels in delta

mouth bars and tidal channel.Several reservoir-seal combinations were developed in the Silurian.Hydrocarbons generated from the Cambro-Ordovician source rocks in the southern Tahe region migrated to and accumulated in the Kepingtage sandstones through Upper Ordovician Sangtamu mudstone via faults

fractures

sandstone layers and unconformities.Five types of reservoirs

including anticline

unconformity barrier

onlap

lithological and structural-lithological combination reservoirs

are recognized in the Kepingtage Formation and were mainly developed in the Himalayan period.The unconformity barrier reservoirs are mainly distributed around the denudation pinch-out line of the Silurian in the high of the northern Tahe area

while the anticline

onlap

lithological and structural-lithological combination reservoirs are mainly distributed in the southern Tahe area.The Silurian sandstone in the study area has the characteristics of deep burial

large area of distribution

low abundance

thin hydrocarbon-bearing layers

linkage via faults and overlapping of oil-bearing areas.The estimated oil reserves in the Silurian are about 160 million tons.Moreover

tight sands gas reservoirs may also occur in the study area.