Sequence Filling Patterns and Petroleum Implications of Lower Cretaceous Series in South Tamtsag Depression

Abstract

Sequence stratigraphic study of Lower Cretaceous strata in the South Tamtsag Depression of Mongolia identifies one second-order and four third-order sequences. These sequences are controlled by syndepositional fault activities at the slope-break zone of the lacustrine basin. At the initial rift stage of the basin, creation of accommodation space outpaced sediment accumulation and the lake level fell below the structural slope-break zone. Sequences formed in this stage can be divided into lowstand, transgressive and highstand system tracts. At the main rift stage, lake level did not fall below the structural slope-break zone and sequences formed in this stage consist of transgressive and regressive system tracts. Vertical stacking patterns within sequences are expressed by cyclic occurrences of alluvial fan, fan delta and delta deposits in the gentle slope belt located in the western part of the basin, and fan delta, nearshore subaqueous fan and lake deposits in the steep slope belt in the eastern part of the basin. The distribution of sandstone units in the sequences, which are the major target reservoirs, can be easily recognized through the combination of sedimentology analysis and interpretation of seismic reflection profiles. The slope-break zone of the lacustrine basin, which can be identified from seismic reflection profiles, played critical roles on the thickness and lateral extension of the sandbodies in the basin, and thus is the main controlling factor of petroleum reservoirs in the basin. Because mudstone and oil shale developed during the transgressive system tracts are hydrocarbon source rocks and cap rocks, deltaic sandstone units and incision channel fills are the most important petroleum reservoirs in the Tamtsag basin. Finally, this paper divides four types of subtle traps according to the petroleum accumulation model for future exploration.

Keywords

Sequence stratigraphy Slope-break zone Petroleum accumulation Subtle traps South Tamtsag Depression

References

Biddle

K.T.

and Wielchowsky

C.C.

, 1994. Hydrocarbon traps. In: Magoon

L.B.

and Dow

W.G.

(Eds.), The petroleum system: From source to trap. AAPG Memoir, pp. 219–235.

David

W.H.

and Kenneth

J.B.

, 2004. Sequence stratigraphy of the Kingak Shale (Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous), National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. AAPG Bulletin, 88(3), 279–302.

Decarlis

and Lualdi

, 2009. A sequence stratigraphic approach to a Middle Triassic shelf-slope complex of the Ligurian Alps (Ligurian Brian double dagger onnais, Monte Carmo-Rialto unit, Italy). Facies 55(2), 267–290.

Deng

H.W.

Wang

H.L.

and Li

X.M.

, 1997. Application of high-resolution sequence stratigraphic correlation to fluvial facies. Oil & Gas Geology 18(2), 90–95.

Ernest

A.M.

Jamal

Marcello

Liu

K.Y.

and William

C.P.

, 2008. Sequence-stratigraphic analysis of Jurassic and Cretaceous strata and petroleum exploration in the central and eastern Gulf coastal plain, United States. AAPG Bulletin 92(12), 1655–1686.

Feng

Y.L.

S.T.

and Xie

X.N.

, 2000. Dynamics of sequence generation and sequence stratigraphic model in continental rift-subsidence basin. Earth Science Frontiers 7(3), 119–132.

Feng

Y.L.

Zhou

H.M.

Ren

J.Y.

Zheng

H.R.

and Miao

S.D.

, 2010. Paleogene sequence stratigraphy in the east of the Bohai Bay Basin and its response to structural movement. Science China Press 40(10), 1356–1376.

Feng

Y.L.

Zhou

H.M.

S.T.

Liu

Y.H.

Dong

Y.X.

and Cao

Z.H.

, 2004. Sequence types and structural characteristics in continental rift-subsidence basins. Geology Review 50(1), 43–49.

Ghabeishavi

Vaziri

M.H.

and Taheri

, 2009. Facies distribution and sequence stratigraphy of the Coniacian-Santonian succession of the Bangestan Palaeo-high in the Bangestan Anticline, SW Iran. Facies 55(2), 243–257.

10.

Y.L.

Cao

R.C.

Meng

Q.A.

Zhang

and Qu

Y.H.

, 2009. Analysis of sequence structure and its controlling factors in Lower Cretaceous in Tanan Depression, Tamtsag Basin. Acta Geological Sinica 83(6), 827–835.

11.

Y.L.

Meng

Q.A.

Cao

R.C.

Y.H.

and Zhang

, 2010. Stratigraphic architecture and sedimentary infilling characteristics of the Cretaceous in southern Tamuchage Basin, East Mongolia. Journal of Palaeography 12(6), 729–736.

12.

Jia

C.Z.

Zhao

W.Z.

Zou

C.N.

Chi

Y.L.

Yao

F.C.

Zheng

X.D.

Liu

and Yin

J.F.

, 2004. Two key technologies about exploration of lithological reservoirs. Petroleum Exploration and Development 31(3), 3–9.

13.

Jiang

Z.X.

Chen

Z.Y.

and Lin

, 2011. Sedimentary systems and their influences on gas distribution in the second member and third member of the Permian Xiashihezi Formation in the Daniudi Gas Field, Ordos Basin, China. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 29(1), 59–76.

14.

Jin

Z.J.

W.X.

Cao

Tao

G.L.

Zhang

Y.J.

and Wang

X.L.

, 2011. Identification of NW-trending faults in the northwestern Junggar Basin (NW China) and its significance of hydrocarbon migration. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 29(3), 251–266.

15.

P.L.

Zhang

S.W.

Xiao

H.Q.

Wang

Y.S.

and Qiu

G.Q.

, 2004. Exploration of Subtle Trap in Jiyang Depression. Petroleum Science 1(2), 13–21.

16.

Z.X.

Han

M.L.

Zhang

G.C.

Liu

H.Y.

Wang

D.D.

Lü

D.W.

and Li

, 2009. Sedimentological characteristics of the coal seams of Yacheng Formation in Qiongdongnan Basin, China. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 27(6), 411–424.

17.

Z.X.

Lü

D.W.

Han

M.L.

Liu

H.Y.

Zhang

G.C.

and Wang

D.D.

, 2011. Coal forming environments of the Third Member of Yacheng Formation of the Paleogene in Qiongdongnan Basin for an example. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 29(2), 179–196.

18.

Lin

C.S.

Eriksson

and Li

S.T.

, 2000. Sequence architecture, depositional systems, and controls on development of lacustrine basin fills in part of the Erlian basin, northeast China. AAPG Bulletin 85(11), 2017–2043.

19.

Liu

C.Y.

Zhao

H.G.

and Sun

Y.Z.

, 2009. Tectonic background of Ordos Basin and its controlling role for basin evolution and energy mineral deposits. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 27(1), 15–27.

20.

Liu

Jiang

Z.X.

Cao

Y.C.

and Wang

Y.Z.

, 2010. Sedimentary characteristics and hydrocarbon accumulation of glutenite in the fourth member of Eogene Shahejie Formation in Shengtuo area of Bohai Bay Basin, East China. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 28(4), 223–237.

21.

Lü

X.X.

Wang

Han

J.F.

Jiao

W.W.

H.F.

and Zhao

, 2011. Hydrocarbon play of Ordovician carbonate dominated by faulting and karstification—A case study of Yingshan Formation on northern slope of Tazhong Area in Tarim Basin, NW China. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 29(6), 743–758.

22.

Miao

C.S.

Liu

Z.J.

Fang

Zhang

J.L.

and Sun

X.J.

, 2011. Sedimentary characteristics and favorable oil-bearing facies belts analysis of near-shore subaqueous fan of Nantun formation in Tanan depression. Journal of China University of Petroleum 35(1), 34–39.

23.

Milton

N.J.

and Bertram

G.T.

, 1992. Trap styles, A new classification based on sealing surfaces. AAPG Bulletin 76, 983–999.

24.

Mukhopadhyay

S.K.

Roychowdhury

and Parui

P.K.

, 2010. Stratigraphic correlation between different Gondwana Basins of India. Journal of The Geological Society of India 76(3), 251–266.

25.

Octavian

, 2002. Sequence stratigraphy of clastic systems: Concepts, merits, and pitfalls. Journal of African Earth Sciences 35(1), 1–43.

26.

Richard

G.H.

and Kenneth

D.R.

, 2003. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of fan-delta and river-delta deposystems, Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation, Colorado. AAPG Bulletin 87(7), 1169–1191.

27.

Sadeghi

Vaziri

M.H.

and Taheri

, 2011. Microfacies and sedimentary environment of the Oligocene sequence (Asmari Formation) in Fars sub-basin, Zagros Mountains, southwest Iran. Facies 57(3), 431–446.

28.

Sha

J.G.

, 2007. Cretaceous stratigraphy of northeast China: Non-marine and marine correlation. Cretaceous Research 28(2), 146–170.

29.

Soper

N.J.

and Dunning

F.W.

, 2005. Structure and sequence of the Ingleton Group, basement to the central Pennines of northern England. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 55(4), 241–261.

30.

Sun

Y.Z.

Wang

B.S.

and Lin

M.Y.

, 1998. Maceral and geochemical characteristics of coal seam 1 and oil shale 1 in fault-controlled Huangxian Basin, China. Organic Geochenistry 29(1–3), 583–591.

31.

Tetsuji

and Ron

J.S.

, 2000. The accommodation concept in sequence stratigraphy: Some dimensional problems and possible redefinition. Sedimentary Geology 130, 1–10.

32.

Vail

P.R.

Mitchum

R.M.

and Thompson

, 1977. Global cycles of relative changes of sea level. AAPG Bull 26, 99–116.

33.

Van Wagoner

J.C.

, 1991. High-frequency sequence stratigraphy and facies architecture of the Sego Sandstone in the Book Cliffs of western Colorado and eastern Utah. In: Van Wagoner

J.C.

(Ed.), Sequence Stratigraphy Applications to Shelf Sandstone Reservoirs: Outcrop to Subsurface Examples, AAPG Field Conference, September 21–28, 1991. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, pp. 15–42.

34.

Vincelette

R.R.

Beaumont

A.E.

and Foster

H.N.

, 1999. Classification of exploration traps. In: Beaumont

E.A.

and Foster

N.H.

(Eds.), Exploring for oil and gas traps. AAPG Treatise of Petroleum Geology, Handbook of Petroleum Geology, pp. 1–42.

35.

Wang

X.D.

Jia

C.Z.

Meng

Q.A.

and Zhang

, 2011. Main controlling factors of the formation and distribution of Nantun Formation lithologic reservoirs in the abrupt slope zone, Tanan Sag. Acta Petrolei Sinica 32(4), 564–572.

36.

Xiong

, 2008. Exploration of stratigraphic-lithologic reservoirs. Lithologic Reservoir 20(4), 1–8.

37.

J.L.

Liu

L.F.

Wang

G.W.

and Su

B.Y.

, 2010. Research on stratigraphic division and sand bed correlation based on “three instantaneous” attribute spectra of logging data. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 28(6), 467–481.

38.

Yang

Y.H.

Y.L.

Cao

R.C.

and Meng

Q.A.

, 2009. Types of sequences, controlling factors and sequence models for Lower Cretaceous of Tanan Depression in Tamtsag Basin, Mongolia. Geoscience 23(4), 655–666.

39.

Yang

Z.C.

, 2010. Sedimentary Facies from Tongbomiao-Damoguaihe Formation of the Lower Cretaceous in Tanan Depression. Science and Technology of West China 9(18), 3–6.

40.

Zhang

J.L.

, 2011. Macroscopic heterogeneity and hydrocarbon of Nantun formation in the eastern structural belt of Tanan depression. Journal of Jinlin University (Earth science Edition) 41(2), 351–358.

41.

Zhao

H.G.

Liu

C.Y.

Wang

J.Q.

Gui

X.J.

Qiao

J.X.

and Wang

H.R.

, 2011. Characteristics of later different reformation and its significance in occurrence of multi-energy deposits in Ordos Basin. Energy, Exploration & Exploitation 29(4), 435–454.

42.

Zhao

W.Z.

Zou

C.N.

Chi

Y.L.

and Zeng

H.L.

, 2011. Sequence stratigraphy, seismic sedimentology, and lithostratigraphic plays: Upper Cretaceous, Sifangtuozi area, southwest Songliao Basin, China. AAPG Bulletin 95(2), 241–265.