Simulation of oil–gas migration and accumulation in the East China Sea Continental Shelf Basin: a case study from the Xihu Depression

Abstract

The oil–gas accumulation process is a tectonic indicator, and the oil–gas trap is generally a result of tectonic movement. In order to explore the law of oil–gas migration and accumulation in the East China Sea Continental Shelf Basin, this paper analyses the dynamic process of hydrocarbon accumulation based on a geological model, taking the Xihu Depression as an example and using the IES PetroMod basin modelling software. Combined with the seismic data and drilling data, the burial history, thermal evolution history and hydrocarbon generation, expulsion and migration history of the Xihu Depression is simulated in this study. The simulation results show that (1) the tectonic framework of the Xihu Depression developed as an inversion structure from an early extensional stage or transtensional faulting stage to a later compressional or transpressional inversion stage; (2) the Pinghu and Huagang formations of the Xihu Depression are still currently at the peak stage of oil–gas generation, and the Xihu Depression is a depression which has abundant hydrocarbon generation and expulsion at a later stage; (3) oil–gas resources vertically migrated to the structural highs from the eastern and western sub‐sags along faults and ultimately accumulated in favourable traps, which developed a migration pattern of interbedded sandstone–fault–sandstone like an upward ‘staircase’. In particular, faults and the potential energy state played an important role in hydrocarbon migration of the Xihu Depression, which has a guiding significance for understanding hydrocarbon migration and accumulation law and reducing the risk in oil–gas exploration in the East China Sea Continental Shelf Basin. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Facies Architecture Model of the Shimentan Formation Pyroclastic Rocks in the Block‐T Units, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Basin, and its Exploration Significance

“…The nature of the ECSB is a post-arc rift-type basin formed on the active continental margin by thinning of the continental crust due to fracturing and stretching caused by ocean-continent subduction. This system is one of many "ditch-arc-basin" systems in the western Pacific Ocean (Yan et al, 2001;Ren et al, 2002;Yang et al, 2004;Suo et al, 2014).The ECSB can be divided into three groups (from west to east) according to the principles of stratigraphic distribution and the structural characteristics of the basin: The West Depression Group, the Central Uplift Group and the East Depression Group (Lee et al, 2006;Zahirovic et al, 2014;Han et al, 2015;Jiang et al, 2016, Su et al, 2018. From north to south, the West Depression Group comprises the Changjiang, Taibei and Pengjiayu Sag; the Central Uplift Group is composed of the Hupijiao, Haijiao, South Yushan and Fuzhou uplifts; and the East Depression Group is made up of the Fujiang, Xihu and Diaobei Sag (Jiang et al, 2015).…”

Structural evolution of two‐stage rifting in the northern East China Sea Shelf Basin

“…Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic basins along the East Asian continental margin have attracted much attention for hydrocarbon exploration and evaluation over the past few decades (Gongcheng, Li, Lei, & Zhao, ; Jiang, Li, Chen, Zhang, & Wang, ; G. H. Lee, Kim, Shin, & Sunwoo, ; Pigott, Kang, & Han, ; Ye, Qing, Bend, & Gu, ; Zhou, Zhao, & Yin, ). East China Sea Basin (ECSB), one of the petroliferous sedimentary basins in the East Asia, is composed of elongated depressions aligned parallel to the subduction zone of the western Philippine Sea Plate with the Taiwan–Sinzi Belt and Ryukyu Arc (Figure ; Wageman, Hilde, & Emery, ).…”

Paleogeotemperature and maturity evolutionary history of the source rocks in the Ordos Basin

“…Besides the thickness and evaluation indexes, the paleogeotemperature and maturity evolution of the source rocks play a more important role in hydrocarbon accumulation (Li, Guzmics, Liu, & Xie, ; Li & Li, ; Qiu, Chang, Zuo, Wang, & Li, ; Ren et al, ; Yu & Li, ; Zhang, Jiang, & Li, ; Zhang, Wang, & Di, ). Currently, although there are some published works (Cao, Ren, Xiong, Qi, & Chen, ; Jiang, Li, Chen, Zhang, & Wang, ; Laurence, ; Qiu, Zuo, Xu, & Chang, ; Ren et al, ; Tang & Li, ; Xi, Li, & Li, ; Yu et al, ; Yu et al, ; Yu et al, ), a study aimed at the paleogeotemperature and maturity evolutionary history of Paleozoic and Mesozoic source rocks is lacking, which restricts petroleum geologists to deeply understand the hydrocarbon accumulation and mechanism of the Ordos Basin to some extent.…”

“…Besides the thickness and evaluation indexes, the paleogeotemperature and maturity evolution of the source rocks play a more important role in hydrocarbon accumulation (Li, Guzmics, Liu, & Xie, 2011;Qiu, Chang, Zuo, Wang, & Li, 2012;Ren et al, 2015;Zhang, Jiang, & Li, 1996;Zhang, Wang, & Di, 1996). Currently, although there are some published works (Cao, Ren, Xiong, Qi, & Chen, 2016;Jiang, Li, Chen, Zhang, & Wang, 2016;Laurence, 1992;Qiu, Zuo, Xu, & Chang, 2016;Tang & Li, 2016;Xi, Li, & Li, 2008;Yu et al, 2011;, a study aimed at the paleogeotemperature and maturity evolutionary history of Paleozoic and Mesozoic source rocks is lacking, which restricts petroleum geologists to deeply understand the hydrocarbon accumulation and mechanism of the Ordos Basin to some extent. Therefore, the thickness of each set of source rocks, organic matter maturity, and present geothermal field were determined using the data of drilling, formation temperature, rock thermal conductivity, vitrinite reflectance, and mudstone interval transit time.…”