Mechanism of petroleum migration and accumulation in western China’s superposed basins

In western China, most petroliferous basins are superposed due to their multi-periodic tectonic evolution, and the mechanisms of petroleum migration and accumulation are so complex that much more sophisticated methodologies are necessary for depiction of these mechanisms and identification of petroleum occurrences. For this purpose, in this article, a new methodology was formulated which includes: (1) vertical identification of petroleum migration and accumulation fluid dynamic systems in the superposed basins; (2) analysis of the effect of large scale regional faults and fault combinations on the fluids exchange between the vertically identified different systems; (3) analysis of petroleum migration and accumulation in each vertically identified system, and establishment of appropriate geological model of petroleum migration and accumulation for each vertically identified system. Using this methodology, the satisfactory results obtained in the Lunnan Uplift of Tarim Basin and Ludong Uplift of Jungar Basin case studies are: (1) existence of different vertical fluid dynamic systems in western China’s superposed basins which are very necessary for understanding the mechanism of petroleum migration and accumulation; (2) in deep system, long-distance lateral petroleum migration and accumulation mainly take place along the long time exposed unconformity with weathered, fractured or karst reservoir rocks; (3) regional faults are the main conducts for fluids migration from deep system up to middle and/or upper systems. As to middle and/or upper systems, regional faults play a role of “petroleum source”. Small faults within middle and/or upper systems conduct petroleum to carrier beds with less impeding force; (4) petroleum migrated from deep system vertically up to middle and/or upper systems will migrate laterally in carrier beds of these systems and accumulate to form pools near or far from faults.