Internal Structure Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Reverse Fault in the Carbonate Rock, A Case Study of Outcrops in Xike’er Area, Tarim Basin, Northwest China

Abstract

China’s Paleozoic deep carbonate effective reservoirs, mainly non-porous reservoirs, are generally formed under the interaction of late diagenesis, hydrothermal fluids, and structural fractures. Faults and their deformation mechanism and internal structure of fault zones play an important role in the formation of carbonate reservoirs and hydrocarbon accumulation. Based on the detailed analysis of outcrop data in Xike’er area, Tarim Basin, this paper systematically studies the deformation mechanism and internal structure of reverse fault in the carbonate rock, and discusses the reservoir characteristics, control factors and development rules. The study shows that the deformation mechanism of the fault in carbonate rocks is faulting and fracturing, and the dual structure of fault core and damage zone is developed. The fault core is mainly composed of fault breccia, fault gouge and calcite zone, and a large number of fractures are formed in the damage zone, which are cemented by calcite locally. The mineral composition and rare earth element tests show that the fault core has the dual effect of hydrothermal fluids and atmospheric fresh water, which is easy to be cemented by calcite; while the damage zone is dominated by atmospheric fresh water, which is a favorable zone for the development of fracture-vuggy reservoirs. Therefore, the damage zone is the “sweet spot” area of carbonate oil and gas enrichment, and generally shows strip distribution along the fault.

Growth and Distribution of Coal-Measure Source Rocks in Mixed Platform: A Case Study of Carboniferous in Bamai Area, Southwest Tarim Basin, China

“…Furthermore, limestone rocks in the latter atypically contain partial dolomites and rare gypsum [3]. The proportion of carbonate rocks in the Karashayi Formation is a little higher, and coal seams are generally not developed [4,5]. However, multiple layers of coal seams and carbonaceous mudstones occurred in the Karashayi Formation in the BT5 well's seismic survey, suggesting different sedimentary environments and hydrocarbon-generation potential from other areas of the basin.…”