Petroleum Exploration and Development (Apr 2015)
Controlling factors of Jurassic Da'anzhai Member tight oil accumulation and high production in central Sichuan Basin, SW China
Abstract
Based on observation of cores and casting thin sections, reservoir fluorescence, hydrocarbon geochemical characteristics and oil production test data, the factors controlling the tight oil accumulation and high production in the Da'anzhai Member in the Jurassic Ziliujing Formation in central Sichuan Basin are studied. The shelly limestone, muddy shell limestone and tight limestone are all oil-bearing in the Da'anzhai Member. The dissolved pores and fractures in shelly limestone and the matrix pores (microfractures, intercrystal pores) in tight limestone are all oil-bearing in large area, which is the reason why oil wells can keep low production for a long period of time. On the basis of the extensive oil-bearing, natural gas from the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation provided the major power for oil migration and accumulation in the Da'anzhai low amplitude, water-free tight limestone reservoirs, driving the dispersed oil from the matrix pores into an accumulation, so the oil is more enriched in the western structures of central Sichuan Basin where oil wells are higher in gas-oil ratio. In contrast, in the east of central Sichuan, the Huayingshan major faults generally cut through Da'anzhai Member, allowing gas to migrate to the formations above Da'anzhai Member along fractures to accumulate or dissipate, without gas as driving force, as a result, the oil is less enriched than that in the west part of central Sichuan. Key words: tight oil, central Sichuan Basin, Jurassic Da'anzhai Member, enrichment and high production, gas drive, fault