Exploration discovery in ultra-deep marine carbonate rocks and enlightenments, Tarim Basin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-7703.2025.03.002

Abstract

Abstract: Marine carbonate rocks in Tarim Basin are mainly distributed in the Early Paleozoic marine strata in cratonic zone, with a burial depth of greater than 6000 m, a large thickness, and wide distribution area. The reservoir formation and hydrocarbon accumulation mechanisms in ancient carbonate rocks are complex, so the case studies have important enlightenments for the petroleum exploration in the ultra-deep formation (≥6000 m). The arduous exploration of carbonate oil and gas resources in Tarim Basin for 40 years has been summarized, and the theory, technology and deployment ideas of major discoveries in large ultra-deep carbonate oil and gas fields have been analyzed. The field practice shows that the exploration of carbonate rocks in Tarim Basin has gone through four major stages. Through the understanding and innovation of geological theories of ultra-deep buried hill karst, reef beach karst, interlayer karst and fault controlled karst reservoirs, the formation mechanism of large-scale ultra-deep ancient carbonate rock karst reservoirs in paleo-uplift–slope–depression has been revealed, which has guided the transformation of exploration deployment ideas and major new breakthroughs; After implementing 3D high-precision seismic exploration, a series of exploration techniques dominated by quantitative fracture and cave carving and fine characterization of strike slip faults in ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs have been formed, achieving effective prediction of heterogeneous karst fractured and cavity reservoirs, and supporting the constant discoveries in ultra-deep complex carbonate rocks. The exploration theory and technical innovation of ultra-deep ancient carbonate karst reservoirs formed by exploration practice in Tarim Basin have broken through the traditional theories of “oil reservoir controlled by paleo uplift” and “dead line of oil generation” in the cratonic zone, and realized the major strategic shift from structural high part of the paleo uplift to the slope–depression zone. The experience of successful exploration in the ultra-deep ancient carbonate rocks includes the change of idea to bravely breaking the exploration forbidden zone and the integration of exploration and development.

Key words: ultra-deep formation, carbonate rock, karst reservoir, fracture and cave carving technology, large oil and gas field, exploration history, Tarim Basin

CLC Number:

TE121

Zhang Lijuan, Su Zhou, Liu Yongfu, Zhang Yintao. Exploration discovery in ultra-deep marine carbonate rocks and enlightenments, Tarim Basin[J]. China Petroleum Exploration, 2025, 30(3): 25-39.

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