Practices of petroleum exploration in marine carbonates in China

marked by the exploration and development of Tahe oilfield and Puguang gas field

reveal a prospective exploration field worthy of research.Since there are no practicable exploration theories and mature engineering techniques

petroleum exploration in marine carbonate sequences of China is characterized by large difficulty and high risk

challenging management of exploration and development in marine sequences.An integrated management philosophy

which incorporates theoretical innovation

technical research and advantageous team

is proposed based on a summarization of previous experiences and lessens.In the context of theories

marine petroleum theories are quite different with continental petroleum theories and the marine petroleum theories in China also have large differences with oversea marine petroleum theories.While in the context of engineering techniques

marine carbonates in China are characterized by highly variable topographic and geomorphologic conditions

complexity of subsurface structures due to muhiphase deformation and superimposition and deep burial of targets

challenging oil and gas exploration.Therefore

both theoretical innovation and technical research should be emphasized in exploration of marine sequences. However

attentions should be paid to both general techniques and specific techniques

and equal stress should be laid on both fundamental and applied researches

so as to speed up transferring of science and technology to productivity.Four combinations including production with scientific research

geology with engineering

theory with technique

and research with management

should be realized.It is necessary to summarize the theories and practices of exploration in marine carbonate sequences in China

so as to further promote the advancement of marine petroleum technologies and achieve larger breakthrough in exploration of marine sequences in China.