Discovery and exploration implications of high-yield oil and gas accumulation zone of ultra deep sea carbonate rocks in Tarim Basin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-7703.2025.03.002

Abstract

Abstract: The exploration and development of marine carbonate rocks in the Tarim Basin have been underway for nearly 40 years. Through five revolutionary shifts in mindset, focusing on changes in understanding karst reservoirs and hydrocarbon accumulation, and aiming to achieve quantitative modeling of karst-fractured cavities, the theory of ultra-deep marine carbonate oil and gas geology and exploration technology has been innovated and developed. This has guided the transformation of carbonate exploration targets from buried-hill karst, reef-shoal karst, and interlayer karst to fault-controlled karst. The exploration frontier is continuously approaching source rocks, moving from ancient uplifts to ultra-deep ancient slopes and paleo-depressions, leading to the discovery of several large carbonate oil and gas fields. Breakthroughs have led to the development of high-density 3D seismic exploration technology in large desert areas and quantitative modeling of fractures and cavities, confirming geological reserves equivalent to 2 billion tons of oil, and achieving an annual oil and gas output equivalent to 5 million tons, advancing the establishment of largest ultra-deep oil and gas production base in China. In the practice of exploring ultra-deep carbonates in the Tarim Basin, the success of rapid exploration discoveries has been attributed to the philosophy of unrestricted exploration, continuous innovation in karst theory and understanding of hydrocarbon accumulation, advances in 3D seismic exploration technology, and the integration of exploration and development. Under special geological conditions such as long-term shallow burial, late-stage rapid deep burial, and a cold basin environment, effective source rocks developed in the early basin stages. Large effective reservoir-caprock combinations have developed in ultra-deep formations, forming extensive belts of hydrocarbon accumulation. With ongoing theoretical innovation and technological advancement, ultra-deep carbonate remains a critical area for substantial reserve growth in the future.

Key words: ultra-deep carbonate rock, strike-slip fault, reservoir, hydrocarbon accumulation, enrichment model, Tarim Basin

CLC Number:

TE121

Zhang Lijuan, Chen Lixin, Zhang Yintao. Discovery and exploration implications of high-yield oil and gas accumulation zone of ultra deep sea carbonate rocks in Tarim Basin[J]. China Petroleum Exploration, 2025, 30(3): 23-35.

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