Sedimentary response of Cretaceous tectonic evolution in the Middle East Rub Al Khali Basin and its inspirations for oil exploration

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-7703.2020.04.012

Abstract

Abstract: Cretaceous strata form the main production layers of a number of large CNPC oil field projects in the Middle East. The evolution of the Neo-Tethys Ocean influenced the sedimentary pattern and accumulation laws of Cretaceous source-reservoir-cap assemblages throughout the area. Based on analysis of regional tectonic evolution in the Cretaceous, and on the structural- sedimentary characteristics of the Rub Al Khali Basin, it is believed that the area has experienced two stages of tectonic- sedimentary evolution and that there are three sets of source-reservoir-cap assemblages. (1) During a stable expansion stage in the Early-Middle Cretaceous, two stages of intra-shelf basins were developed; the Bab and the Shilaif. Influenced by faults activity and strata flexure, the sedimentary environment evolved from carbonate ramp to weakly-rimmed platform. High frequency sea level changes further controlled the spatial allocation of the geological elements-source rocks, reservoirs, and cap rocks-forming two sets of “self-generation and self-storage” plays in the Middle and Lower Cretaceous. (2) In an oceanic-crust obduction stage in the Late Cretaceous, the sedimentary environment was primarily carbonate ramp. The Oman orogeny resulted in serious denudation of the Cretaceous strata. This resulted in configurations of source rocks in the Shilaif Formation and reservoirs in the Upper Cretaceous that formed “lower generation and upper storage” plays in the Upper Cretaceous. The distribution of Cretaceous oil reservoirs is controlled by three major factors: high-quality hydrocarbon source rocks, high paleo- geomorphology, and dominant oil and gas migration pathways. In the future, non-structural traps and low-permeability oil resources will be the primary Cretaceous exploration targets.

CLC Number:

Luo Beiwei, Zhang Qingchun, Duan Haigang, Lv Mingsheng, Bian Congsheng, Zhang Ningning, Yang Peiguang, Wang Nai. Sedimentary response of Cretaceous tectonic evolution in the Middle East Rub Al Khali Basin and its inspirations for oil exploration[J]. China Petroleum Exploration, 2020, 25(4): 115-124.

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