Sedimentary tectonic evolution and reservoir-forming conditions of the Dazhou-Kaijiang paleo-uplift, Sichuan Basin

Great breakthrough recently achieved in the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic gas exploration in the Leshan-Longnüsi paleo-uplift, Sichuan Basin, has also made a common view reached, i.e., large-scale paleo-uplifts will be the most potential gas exploration target in the deep strata of this basin. Apart from the above-mentioned one, the other huge paleo-uplifts are all considered to be the ones formed in the post-Caledonian period, the impact of which, however, has rarely ever been discussed on the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic oil and gas reservoir formation. In view of this, based on outcrops, drilling and geophysical data, we analyzed the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic tectonic setting and sedimentary background in the East Sichuan Basin, studied the distribution rules of reservoirs and source rocks under the control of paleo-uplifts, and finally discussed, on the basis of structural evolution analysis, the conditions for the formation of Sinian-Lower Paleozoic gas reservoirs in this study area. The following findings were achieved. (1) The Dazhou-Kaijiang inherited uplift in NE Sichuan Basin which was developed before the Middle Cambrian controlled a large area of Sinian and Cambrian beach-facies development. (2) Beach-facies reservoirs were developed in the upper part of the paleo-uplift, while in the peripheral depression belts thick source rocks were developed like the Upper Sinian Doushantuo Fm and Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Fm, so there is a good source-reservoir assemblage. (3) Since the Permian epoch, the Dazhou-Kaijiang paleo-uplift had gradually become elevated from the slope zone, where the Permian oil generation peak occurred in the slope or lower and gentle uplift belts, while the Triassic gas generation peak occurred in the higher uplift belts, both with a favorable condition for hydrocarbon accumulation. (4) The lower structural layers, including the Lower Cambrian and its underlying strata, in the East Sichuan Basin, are now equipped with a large-scale uplift with a simple structural configuration, above which a complete local structural trap was well developed with a good preserving condition. In conclusion, there are good forming conditions for hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic strata in the Dazhou-Kaijiang paleo-uplift, East Sichuan Basin, in the higher parts of which the well-developed beach-facies reservoirs occupy an area of 8000 km2 and will be the next important gas exploration target in this basin.