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The Cambrian system in the Ordos Basin has a similar development degree of carbonate strata to that in the Sichuan and the Tarim Basins; however, no significant oil and gas breakthroughs similar to those in the latter two basins have been made in the Ordos Basin yet, and the characteristics, genesis, and differences in the reservoir need to be explored. Field outcrop observations reveal that the oil and gas shows are common in the Upper Cambrian Sanshanzi Formation in the eastern Ordos Basin, indicating important oil and gas exploration potential. Analysis of the characteristics and genesis of dolomite reservoirs can greatly support the exploration and development of the Cambrian carbonate oil reservoirs in the Ordos Basin. Based on the field outcrop observations and comprehensive laboratory tests and analyses, the reservoir characteristics and main control factors are systematically discussed. This study reveals that the reservoir lithology mainly comprises crystalline dolomite, from fine crystalline dolomite to coarse crystalline dolomite; this results in reservoirs with low porosity, extreme-low porosity, and ultralow permeability dominated by intergranular denudation, caves, and microfractures. They can be further divided into two types of reservoirs: type I reservoirs that have low porosity, ultralow permeability, and medium pore-throat radii, and type II reservoirs that have extreme-low porosity, ultralow permeability, and small pore-throat radii. The physical properties of fine-medium crystalline and medium crystalline dolomite reservoirs are slightly better, and the throats tend to be larger with increasing grain size. The reservoirs have not experienced deep burial processes; dolomitization mainly occurs in the marine-sourced fluid environment with weak oxidation and weak reduction, influenced by the atmospheric fresh water and thermal fluid transformation during the late period to some extent, whereas the hydrocarbons mainly charged during the late period. The crystalline dolomite in residual grains superimposes the denudation and cataclasis in the epigenetic karst stage that are the main controlling factors of the reservoirs. The crystalline cataclasis of dolomite can aid in the formation and reconstruction of the reservoirs. The spatial and temporal distribution laws of the reservoirs and key formation periods need to be studied further.

Using fresh core samples, we have determined the origin and formation process of Eocene lacustrine dolomites in the Tibetan Plateau through petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses. Dolomitic rocks were collected from the upper member of the Eocene Niubao Formation in the Lunpola Basin, consisting of dolomitic mudstone, argillaceous dolomite, dolomite-bearing mudstone, and mud-bearing dolomite. These dolomites are dominated by aphanotopic and microcrystalline dolomites, with minor amounts of euhedral or subhedral powder- and fine-crystalline dolomites. Carbon and oxygen stable isotopes, combined with ubiquitous gypsum in study area, indicate a semisaline continental lake under strong evaporative conditions. The revealed relatively high temperature of the dolomitization (33.8°C–119.1°C), combined with hydrothermal minerals such as cerous phosphate and barite, reflect the participation of dolomite from hot fluids. Moreover, the inferred dolomitization temperatures decrease gradually toward the center of the lake basin, suggesting the resurgence of hydrothermal fluids along a fault zone on the lake margin. This proves that frequent thermal events occurred at the boundary fault of the Lunpola Basin margin during early Himalayan orogenesis. In addition, Jurassic carbonates interacting with hydrothermal fluids, as well as strong evaporation conditions, likely provided favorable conditions for the formation of primary lime sediments. A rich source of [Formula: see text] brought by volcanic ash, hydrothermal fluids, and the Jurassic carbonates then created conditions for dolomitization during the depositional period. Strong evaporation under a relatively hot climate enhanced penecontemporaneous dolomitization, thus forming dolomite. Tibetan Plateau was under arid to semiarid climate conditions, and there was a widespread distribution of dolostones in western, central, and northern China during the Eocene period. The hydrothermal dolomites of the upper Niubao Formation testify for active hot springs, whereas lacustrine dolomite imply arid or semiarid climates during the Eocene, in the early stages of Himalayan orogenesis.

Paleogeographic maps, especially when overlain on reconstructions of ancient plate positions, represent the culmination of geoscience field mapping, basin drilling, geophysical research and methods of interpretation and correlation. During the past century, Chinese geoscientists have progressively compiled and revised many depositional facies maps from the scale of individual basins to nationwide syntheses for different slices of geologic time. However, the most recent comprehensive national compilation spanning the entire Phanerozoic was in 1985, and the most recent national compilation that spans only the Paleozoic was in 2010 (Zheng, Hu, et al., 2010; which is partly reproduced in the Supplementary materials). A major challenge is to place these facies maps of the numerous individual blocks into the larger contexts of moving plates and of their relationships to adjoining regions, especially for the diverse opinions on pre-Triassic plate tectonic models of Southeast Asia. There are many challenges in compiling the paleogeography of China in the context of Southeast Asia, especially prior to the Permian. A multi-institutional coordinated paleogeography program with user-friendly shared databases and visualization outputs from the basin- to inter-national scale is a major goal in China and Southeast Asia stratigraphy and geophysical research.

The high-porosity dolomite reservoirs of the Lower Ordovician Tongzi Formation (Fm.) were widely developed in the Sichuan Basin of southern China. The characteristics and developing mechanisms of the high-porosity dolomite reservoirs under the control of fourth-order sequence boundaries are discussed. In the Tongzi stage of the Early Ordovician, the Sichuan Basin was in a restricted platform facies in an evaporated shallow seawater environment. From the western to eastern regions of the basin, the Tongzi Fm. was serially developed in a tidal flat-lagoon-high-energy shoal depositional system. The evaporated seawater consequently led to dolomitization by way of the refluxing model. The Tongzi Fm. dolomites were subdivided into four coarsening-upward fourth-order sequences. Many tiny dissolution pores were formed in the dolomite beneath the four fourth-order sequence boundaries due to syn-sedimentation meteoric water erosion. Exposure above the seawater due to the short-term fall of the relative sea level consequently led to contemporaneous meteoric erosion. The Tongzi Fm. dolomites in the belt surrounding the Central Paleo-uplift were further subaerially dissolved by meteoric water due to tectonic uplift in the Guangxi Movement since the end of the Silurian period. Therefore, dolomitization, syn-sedimentation meteoric erosion under the fourth-order sequence boundaries, and meteoric karst during the Guangxi tectonic uplift jointly controlled the development of the Tongzi Formation high-porosity dolomite reservoirs. In the eastern and southeastern Sichuan Basin, the favourable reservoirs are the high-energy shoal dolomites that were eroded by meteoric water under fourth-order sequence boundaries. Around the Central Paleo-uplift, the favourable reservoirs are the dolomites dissolved by subaerial meteoric karst during the Guangxi Movement.

The Eocene Niubao Formation of the Lunpola Basin, a large Cenozoic intermontane basin in central Tibet, is an important potential hydrocarbon source and reservoir unit. It represents ∼20 Myr of lacustrine sedimentation in a half-graben with a sharply fault-bounded northern margin and a low-angle flexural southern margin, resulting in a highly asymmetric distribution of depositional facies and sediment thicknesses along the N-S axis of the basin. An integrated investigation of well-logs, seismic data, cores and outcrops revealed three third-order sequences (SQ1 to SQ3), each representing a cycle of rising and falling lake levels yielding lowstand, transgressive, and highstand systems tracts. Lowstand systems tracts (LST) include delta and fan delta facies spread widely along the gentle southern margin and concentrated narrowly along the steep northern margin of the basin, with sublacustrine fan sand bodies extending into the basin center. Highstand systems tracts (HST) include expanded areas of basin-center shale deposition, with sublacustrine fans, deltas and fan deltas locally developed along the basin margins. Sequence development may reflect episodes of tectonic uplift and base-level changes. The southern margin of the basin exhibits two different structural styles that locally influenced sequence development, i.e., a multi-step fault belt in the south-central sector and a flexure belt in the southeastern sector. The sedimentary model and sequence stratigraphic framework developed in this study demonstrate that N2 (the middle member of Niubao Formation) exhibits superior hydrocarbon potential, characterized by thicker source rocks and a wider distribution of sand-body reservoirs, although N3 (the upper member of Niubao Formation) also has good potential. Fault-controlled lithologic traps are plentiful along the basin margins, representing attractive targets for future exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons.

The Yuanba Gas Field is the second largest natural gas reservoir in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China. The vast majority of the natural gas reserve is from the Permian Changhsingian reef complexes and Lower Triassic Feixianguan oolitic shoal complexes. To better understand this reservoir system, this study characterizes geological and geophysical properties, spatial and temporal distribution of the oolitic shoal complexes and factors that control the oolitic shoals character for the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Yuanba Gas Field. Facies analysis, well-seismic tie, well logs, seismic character, impedance inversion, and root mean square (RMS) seismic attributes distinguish two oolitic shoal complex facies – FA-A and FA-B that occur in the study area. FA-A, located in the middle of oolitic shoal complex, is composed of well-sorted ooids with rounded shape. This facies is interpreted to have been deposited in shallow water with relatively high energy. In contrast, FA-B is located in flanks of the oolitic shoal complex, and consists of poorly sorted grains with various shape (rounded, subrounded and subangular). The oolitic shoal complexes were mainly deposited along the platform margin. From the early Fei 2 Member period to the late Fei 2 Member period, the oolitic shoals complexes on the platform margin gradually migrated from the southwest to the northeast with an extent ranging from less than 100 km2–150 km2 in the Yuanba Gas Field. The migration of oolitic shoals coincided with the development of a series of progradational clinoforms, suggesting that progradational clinoforms caused by sea-level fall maybe are the main reason that lead to the migration of oolitic shoals. Finally, this study provide an integrated method for the researchers to characterize oolitic shoal complexes by using well cores, logs, seismic reflections, impedance inversion, and seismic attribute in other basins of the world.

The pore structure of shale plays key role in oil and gas storage capacity and accumulation. Twelve representative samples were selected from Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin with different ages, depositional settings, and maturities to analyze shale pore structure using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy and high-pressure mercury intrusion capillary porosimetry. The results show that the pores of lacustrine shale with maturity Ro 1.3% from the Silurian Longmaxi Formation were predominantly composed of pores with pore throat diameter of smaller than 100 nm. For the porosity, the average porosity of low-mature lacustrine shale is 2.4%, while the average porosity of high-mature marine shale is 1.5%. For the pore type, intergranular inorganic pores predominantly occurred between mineral particles in the lacustrine shale, while the marine shale mainly developed organic pores with pore throat diameters ranging from 5 to 200 nm. Compared to the low-mature lacustrine shale, macropores of high-mature marine shale are less developed and micropores dominant. Importantly, brittle minerals (quartz, feldspar, and carbonate minerals) mainly affect the pore structure of lacustrine shale, while organic matter mainly affects the pore structure of marine shale.

Based on outcrops, cores, well logs data, and mineralogical, geochemical and petrophysical analysis, we studied the sequence stratigraphy of marine shale dominated the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation, favorable commercial shale gas interval within the sequence stratigraphic framework. We interpret the Lower Member of the Longmaxi Formation as a third order sequence which is composed of transgressive systems tract (TST), early highstand systems tract (EHST) and late highstand systems tract (LHST). The TST mainly consists of mixed siliceous mudstone and clay-rich siliceous mudstone with high total organic carbon (TOC) content, high content of brittle minerals and the highest gas content which is the most favorable shale gas reservoir interval; the EHST is mainly composed of mixed siliceous mudstone and clay-rich siliceous mudstone in the lower part and mixed argillaceous mudstone in the upper part with well-developed laminaes, moderate TOC content and gas content; finally, the LHST is mainly composed of organic-lean and clay-rich mudstone (e.g. silica-rich argillaceous mudstone and mixed argillaceous mudstone) with the lowest gas content. Sequence stratigraphic framework controls the distribution of TOC, mineralogy in time and space, which further controls the sweet spot areally and pay zone vertically for shale gas accumulation in the southeast Sichuan Basin. The data collected from the commercial shale gas wells confirmed that the sequence stratigraphy is valid for the shale gas exploration and can be applied to the shale gas exploration in the other area.

The large reef complexes of the Upper Permian Changxing Formation, with a significant breakthrough for petroleum exploration, are an important target for petroleum exploration in the Yuanba area of the Sichuan Basin in SW China. The storage space types of reef complexes are dominated by the dissolved pore-fracture (DPF). However, using only single geophysical methods, it is difficult to predict effective distribution of DPF. Based on a combination of geological models and geophysics technology, this study proposes two new geophysical methods, including anisotropy coherence technique (ACT) and fracture intensity inversion (FII), to research the characteristics of DPF by facies-controlling in Changxing Formation in Yuanba area. Two major findings are presented as follows: (1) the characteristics of DPF varying with facies are the result of different diagenetic and petrophysical property. The intensity of DPF decreases from reef and bioclastic bank to interbank sea and slope; (2) ACT can qualitatively identify the distribution of DPF with no-directional and dispersed distribution, while FII can quantitatively characterize the intensity of DPF development within various sedimentary facies. When integrated into the geological study, ACT and FII can provide an effective way to predict the distribution of DPF in similar geological settings and the predicted DPF have been supported by the historical well data.

The two basalt flows in Kupukuziman (库普库兹满) Formation of Keping (柯坪) area are the typical products of Permian magmatism. Based on systematic field investigations, we carried out geochemical studies on representative Keping basalts. The results show that the SiO2 contents in basalts range from 44.69 wt.% to 51.68 wt.%, and the total alkalis range from 4.05 wt.% to 5.5 wt.%, belong- ing to alkaline basalts. The Ti/Y=468.27-565.35 and TiO2=(2.88-3.82) wt.% compared to those of the high-Ti basalts in Emeishan (峨眉山) large igneous province (LIP) (TiO2=(3.58-5.21) wt.%, Ti/Y>500, Xiao et al., 2004). The contents of MgO and compatible elements Cr (12.9-18.6 ppm), Ni (13.7-22.7 ppm), and Co (39.6-50.2 ppm) are low, which suggest that the samples have undergone varying grades of fractional crystallization. All the samples have uniform REE and other trace element characteristics, with enriched LREE and LILE relative to HREE and HFS, similar REE patterns without Eu anomaly. The basalts are also show slightly depleted of Ta and Nb. They have higher initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios (0.707 211-0.708 300), lower eNd(t) values (-2.47 to -4.14), and a narrow range of ( 208 Pb/ 204 Pb)t=37.535 2

A great amount of quartz was found filling vugs of the dolomite strata of Upper Cambrian-Lower Ordovician in Keping (柯坪) outcrop area of Tarim basin, China, which is widely distributed with obvious impact on dolomite reservoirs. The quartz’s genesis and environment were studied based on careful field observation and indoor comprehensive analysis. The abnormal high temperature of the primary saline aqueous inclusions of quartz minerals might reach as high as 578 °C, showing the characteristics of basin abnormal heat events. The quartz-rare earth element (REE) pattern is similar to those of the granite, diabase, and basalt of Permian in Tabei (塔北) area. According to the regional geological setting and quartz’s distribution as well as its occurrence, the genesis of quartz is attributed to Permian magmatic activity-related hydrothermal liquid instead of the primary marine sedimentary genesis or regional metamorphic genesis. The δ13C values of CO2 in the quartz inclusions range from −1.4‰ to −4.6‰, which might derive from the mantle, while δ18O of SiO2 indicates a hot fluid genesis of meteoric precipitation, which consists of the meteoric precipitation diagenetic setting of C and O isotopes in the dolomite host rocks and the low-medium salinity freshwater condition in the inclusions. REEs must have experienced clear differentiation, since the values of LREE/HREE are all over 1, clearly indicating the characteristic of enrichment of LREE and decrement of HREE. Ce has no obvious anomaly and Eu has clear negative anomalies, which suggests a reducing environment when the quartz crystallized. After the comprehensive analysis, we believe that quartz is a product of siliceous hydrothermal liquids in combination with meteoric precipitation under a reducing environment. Additionally, the precipitation hydrothermal fluid mixture might have also mixed thoroughly with the formation water and exchanged material with the host dolomites. The significance of siliceous hydrothermal fluids for dolomite reservoirs as well as oil-gas exploration is finally discussed in this article.

The structural framework and evolution processes of the giant superimposed Tarim basin in Paleozoic Era are controlled by three main factors: (1) features and structures of the basin basement; (2) deep mantle dynamics process (such as the Sinian rifting and the Permian plume-related magmatic activities); (3) the powerful regional compressional or compresso-shear stress regime generated by the orogenic movement from surrounding regions. The latter of which occurring in multiple episodes is the most important factor for the Paleozoic Tarim basin evolution. Under the above tectonic background, the underlying lithosphere of the Tarim basin had been flexed, and then the upper crust was folded. The paleo-uplifts (e.g., Tabei (塔北) and Tazhong (塔中)) and depressions occurred in both of the flexural and folding processes, which are different with the models of foreland basin in stable and large cratons in the world. During the early evolution stage in Cambrian-Early Ordovician, low-relief paleo-uplifts, and open carbonate platforms formed in center area, while during the Late Ordovician compressional tectonic regime, the belted uplifts and restricted platforms formed in the contemporaneous folding processes. Denudated stages occurred during the strong tectonic events marked by the unconformities and karstified weathered crusts formed on platforms. All the discovered giant-middle oilfields are closely related to the paleo-uplift and karstified crust evolution. There are two main types of oil reservoir: paleo-karst type and reef-bank type on the carbonate platform in paleo-uplift areas. In Permian, plume-related massive magmatic activities led to geo-temperature increase and the regional uplifting in this basin, ending the marine deposit filling sequences and starting the formation of terrestrial deposits-dominated sequences. With abundant supply from giant hydrocarbon generation depressions, the most important oil fields formed in Tabei and Tazhong areas. To reveal the multi-stage evolution processes and the structural framework of the paleo-uplifts may be helpful for the prediction of new hydrocarbon domains. The integrated study on coupling relationship between the basin and surrounding orogens can provide an important approach for the superimposed basin dynamic research.

The Yuanba (元坝) area is considered another potential large-scale reef-bank gas field following the Puguang (普光) field. However, there are lots of difficulties on the spatial and temporal distribution of reef-beach and the detailed prediction of the effective reservoir in the sequence stratigraphic framework. In this paper, based on the seismic data, well, log and core, we conduct a high-resolution sequence division and build an isochronal sequence stratigraphic framework for the Changxing (长兴) Formation by the methods of wavelet transformation, FMI, etc.. Then, the corresponding relationship among the lithologic facies, logging facies, seismic facies, seismic attribute facies and reservoir of Changxing Formation were established through well-seismic calibration and geological-geophysical modeling. Furthermore, detailed study on the spatial and temporal distribution of microfacies of the reef-beach was carried out by means of seismic attribute extraction. Meanwhile, combined with impedance inversion, the spatial distribution of porosity of reef-beach reservoir was predicted. The results show that the revolution of the reef-beach system contains three stages which are initial bioclastic bank establishment stage, reef development stage and exposure stage. Also, porosity inversion shows that the region with high value of porosity is located in the reef cap, fore reef and back reef.