Seismic characteristics and development of the Xisha carbonate platforms, northern margin of the South China Sea

Ma, Yubo; Wu, Shiguo; Fuliang, Lv; Dong, Dongdong; Sun, Qiliang; Lu, Yuanzheng; Gu, Mingfeng

doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2010.11.003

Cited by 74 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The earliest carbonate platforms, such as the Malampaya carbonate buildup and Luconia Platform, occurred on the proto-SCS margin (Hutchison, 2004). The hanging walls of the large-scale faults bounding the block ridge formed a substrate for the reefs (Ma et al, 2011;Fyhn et al, 2013). However, most of the carbonate platforms developed following the opening of the SCS basin in the Early Miocene ( Figure 3; Table 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Xisha Carbonate Platform has been imaged using industrial seismic data (Ma et al, 2011;Wu et al, 2014). The seismic data indicate that the Xisha Carbonate Platform was typically restricted to the west and southwest of the Xisha Uplift during the Early Miocene transgression, likely at the margin of the Xisha Uplift ( Figure 6a).…”

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Xisha Carbonate Platform is located on a northeast striking uplift on the slope of the SCS (Figure 2). This platform has been well-studied using high-quality seismic and drilling well data (Ma et al, 2011;Zhao et al, 2011;Wu et al, 2014). This platform has been well-studied using high-quality seismic and drilling well data (Ma et al, 2011;Zhao et al, 2011;Wu et al, 2014).…”

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the seismic profiles, the associated facies are characterized by medium-to high-amplitude continuous reflections, with a prograding reflection pattern in some profiles. Because lagoons provide a stable and siliciclasticfree sedimentary environment, patch reefs were able to grow in some lagoons (Ma et al, 2011;Figure 6b). During the early stages of the platform development (Early and Middle Miocene), small lagoons formed within the Xisha Carbonate Platform.…”

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Eocene to Early Oligocene carbonate platforms in the SCS, which developed mostly on tilted fault blocks associated with rifting, were dominated by faulting and block tilting along the southern margin (Fulthorpe and Schlanger, 1989;Sales et al, 1997;Williams, 1997;Vahrenkamp, 1998). They are therefore younger than those along the southern margin, likely due to the absence of fully marine conditions until the final stage of SCS opening (Qiu and Wang, 2001;Ma et al, 2011;Fyhn et al, 2013). They are therefore younger than those along the southern margin, likely due to the absence of fully marine conditions until the final stage of SCS opening (Qiu and Wang, 2001;Ma et al, 2011;Fyhn et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and temporal evolution of Cenozoic carbonate platforms on the continental margins of the South China Sea: Response to opening of the ocean basin

Zhang

Yang

et al. 2016

Interpretation

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Widespread and tremendously thick Cenozoic carbonate sequences are present along the margins of the South China Sea (SCS). However, most of the sequences have been drowned since the Late Miocene. The stratigraphic architecture of the carbonate platforms in the SCS can provide information on the tectonic evolution of the ocean basin. Based on 2D/3D seismic, well and regional geologic data, we have interpreted the Cenozoic SCS carbonate platforms along the continental margins. The carbonate platforms developed during rifting and initiated on the fault block of the conjugate rifted margins. Most of the carbonate platforms became drowned after the Middle Miocene. The Malampaya Carbonate Sequences, which have thicknesses of greater than 600 m, developed on a horst of an Oligocene rifted block. Tectonic subsidence provided accommodation for the growth of the carbonate platforms. Tectonic tilting, faulting, and the foreland bulge controlled the distributions, thicknesses, and horizontal seismic reflection variations of the drowned carbonate platforms. The tectonic evolution and relative sea-level fluctuations controlled the depositional cycles of the carbonate platforms. We quantitatively calculated the factors that affected the extension and subsidence rates using balanced cross section and backstepping techniques. Our results have demonstrated that the carbonate platforms flourished during the Middle Miocene due to stable tectonic conditions and shrank during the Late Miocene due to rapid subsidence. The relative sea level exerted a second-order control on the evolutionary trend of the carbonate platforms and a third-order control on the evolutionary periods in each stage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Xisha Carbonate Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and temporal evolution of Cenozoic carbonate platforms on the continental margins of the South China Sea: Response to opening of the ocean basin

Zhang

Yang

et al. 2016

Interpretation

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Sedimentary budget of the Southwest Sub‐basin, South China Sea: Controlling factors and geological implications

Ding

Sun

et al. 2018

Geological Journal

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Calculation of the sediment budget in the South China Sea abyssal basin lacks constraints from drilling data and reinterpretation of seismic data. On the basis of six multichannel seismic profiles across the Southwest Sub-basin (SWSB) and the drilling data from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 349, we divided the Cenozoic sediments into four sedimentary units. The sedimentary budget of the abyssal basin at different geological times was calculated. The previous works in the Mekong continental shelf and slope areas were integrated to calculate the sediment budget of the whole SWSB. Our researches show that the sediment budget in the SWSB increased during the Palaeogene and reached its first peak because of intensified erosion, which might have resulted from the continued uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and accelerated southeastward extrusion of the Indo-China Peninsula. Since the Late Miocene, the sediment budget was mainly influenced by the East Asia monsoon, that is, the intensified winter monsoon decreased the sediment budget of the entire area during the Late Miocene, whereas the strengthened summer monsoon increased the sediment budget during the Pliocene and reached a peak during the Pleistocene. The sediment budgets of the Mekong continental shelf, the Mekong continental slope, and the abyssal basin have distinct characteristics, relating to the infilling sequence of the terrestrial sediments in different regions. The sediment provenance of the SWSB was mainly from the Indo-China Peninsula, the Nansha area, and the Palawan before the Late Miocene. After that time, sediments were mainly transported from the modern Mekong River.

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Development and controlling factors of Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene carbonate platforms and reefs in the Liyue Basin, South China Sea

et al. 2018

Geological Journal

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The architecture and distribution of Late Oligocene–Early Miocene carbonate platforms and reefs are studied for the first time, using reprocessed 2D seismic data in the Liyue Basin, southern South China Sea. The reef complexes developed at higher positions of fault block platform and horst platform. Fault block platforms are the most important for reef development. In addition, most reefs developed in the Northern I Sag, and a few developed in the Middle Uplift. The growth processes of reefs on the platform were subdivided into six reef‐building units and two building stages. The first stage, including units 1–3, displayed slow backstepping and rapid keep up. The second stage was a rapid backstepping process that included the reef‐building units 4–6. Palaeogeomorphology, sea‐level fluctuations, and later volcanic activities were the main controls for reef occurrence. Palaeogeomorphology provided the initial topography for reef growth, and sea‐level fluctuations in combination with tectonic activity influenced reef development including growth and changing facies. Later volcanoes have strongly destroyed the pre‐existing carbonate platforms and reefs. By comparing with the carbonate reservoirs properties of adjacent regions, it is considered there is great potential for oil and gas exploration in the Liyue Basin.

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Seismic characteristics and development of the Xisha carbonate platforms, northern margin of the South China Sea

Cited by 74 publications

References 29 publications

Spatial and temporal evolution of Cenozoic carbonate platforms on the continental margins of the South China Sea: Response to opening of the ocean basin

Spatial and temporal evolution of Cenozoic carbonate platforms on the continental margins of the South China Sea: Response to opening of the ocean basin

Sedimentary budget of the Southwest Sub‐basin, South China Sea: Controlling factors and geological implications

Development and controlling factors of Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene carbonate platforms and reefs in the Liyue Basin, South China Sea

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