Development regularity and hydrocarbon exploration potential of Cenozoic reef reservoir, South China Sea

Abstract

Abstract: Reefs are greatly developed in Cenozoic petroliferous basins in the South China Sea and its surrounding area. According to the collected data on regional geology and reef reservoirs, a comprehensive analysis was made on the development regularity of Cenozoic reefs. The results indicate that the Cenozoic reefs in the South China Sea were built from coralgals, and they are dominantly infralittoral reefs. In the northern and southern parts of South China Sea, there are diverse reefs, including tower reef, platform-edge reef and massive reef. In the western part, platform-edge reef is typical. In the eastern part, tower reef is dominant. Reefs in the South China Sea were developed earlier in the north than in the south across the region, and earlier in the east than the west within the same tectonic belt. All reefs reside on the secondary positive tectonic belts in basins. The reefs were mainly formed during the Miocene, consisting of three main periods, i.e. Early Miocene, Middle Miocene and Late Miocene. They grew with the sea level rising, and exposed after a transitory regression. Hydrocarbon-rich sags spread widely in the South China Sea, reef reservoirs provide excellent preservation conditions, and thick marine mudstone serves as regional effective seal. Moreover, fault surfaces and unconformities act as main pathways for vertical hydrocarbon migration, and overpressure offers a driving force for hydrocarbon migration. All these conditions suggest a bright exploration prospect for the Cenozoic reef reservoirs in the South China Sea.

Key words: South China Sea, reef, Cenozoic, development regularity, hydrocarbon exploration potential

Feng Yangwei, Zhang Gongcheng, Qu Hongjun. Development regularity and hydrocarbon exploration potential of Cenozoic reef reservoir, South China Sea[J]. China Petroleum Exploration, 2016, 21(6): 18-25.

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