Guiding and method for division of petroleum exploration play in superimposed reformation basin

Abstract

Reasonable play division played an important role in the evaluation for the exploration and deployment in petroliferous basins. However, there were few studies on the play division in superimposed reformation basins of central and western part of China with multi-cycle evolution and complex accumulation process, and there was no relatively unified scheme. Based on the concept and extension of the play, it was proposed in this paper for the idea, method and process of division with the main line of "prototype-controlled sources and superposition-controlled accumulation" with the view of the characteristics of superimposed reformation basins with multiple sets of combinations, multi-phase reforms, and multiple types of petroleum systems. Play division needs to be started from the overall study of the basin, analysis for the distribution of original reservoir-forming geological elements and the subsequent generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon in the process of basin construction and reformation, clarify the types and distribution of petroleum systems of different plays in the basin during the process of superposition and reformation, reveal the main controlling factors of hydrocarbon accumulation in each type of petroleum systems, and determine the types and boundaries of the plays. According to the type of petroleum system, the play name adopted the combination of "(paleo) and modern tectonic unit + strata or combination + main controlling factors of reservoir". The play division scheme plays a guiding role in deepening the understanding of the regularity of hydrocarbon enrichment in the basin and guiding exploration practice.

Keywords

• prototype-controlled sources
• superposition-controlled accumulation
• play division
• superimposed reformation basin