Relation between structural evolution of the Longmenshan orogenic zone and sedimentation of its foreland basin

In order to determine the area for oil and gas exploration in China's north Sichuan basin, we have divided the time during which the Longmenshan foreland basin was formed into five periods, based on the sedimentary response relationship of the foreland basin to structural evolution: 1) a late Triassic Noric period; 2) an early-Middle Jurassic period; 3) a late Jurassic to early Cretaceous period; 4) a late Cretaceous to Paleogene-Neogene period and 5) the Quaternary period. As well, we analyzed the sedimentary environment and lithologic features of every basin-forming period. The results show that there are several favorable source-reservoir-cap assemblages in our study area, making it a major region for future oil and gas exploration in China's northern Sichuan basin.