Classification of shelf margins based on characterization of deep-water source-to-sink parameters and its implications on finding suitable deepwater reservoirs
The application of the source-to-sink methodology in predicting reservoir occurrence in deep-water hydrocarbon exploration is frequently impeded by the difficulty of quantifying deep-water source-to-sink(S2S)parameters,such as sea-level fluctuations,sediment supply(Qs),and accommodation space(δa). This study establishes a method for quantitatively characterizing these three S2S parameters and identifies suitable deep-water hydrocarbon reservoirs based on the classification of shelf margins. Our findings indicate that sea-level fluctuations can be categorized as either icehouse or greenhouse based on geological age,sediment supply can be distinguished as high or low based on the rates of shelf-edge movement,and accommodation space can be classified as low,medium,or high based on the angles of shelf-edge trajectories. The interaction of these three S2S parameters results in 10 distinct types of shelf margins,each associated with a specific risk level for finding suitable hydrocarbon reservoirs in deep-water areas. Applying these quantitative methods to the Pearl River margin of the SQ13.8 age has led to the identification of three primary types of icehouse margins: high Qs-medium δa,high Qs-low δa,and high Qs-high δa. Shelf-edge trajectories that are slightly falling or rising(-2°<Tse<1°)can transport coarse-grained clastics to the deep-water slope,forming sand-rich submarine fans regardless of whether the system is controlled by icehouse or greenhouse sea-level conditions and whether sediment supply is high or low. Moderately rising shelf-edge trajectories(1°<Tse<4°)promote the formation of sandy highstand submarine fans under high sediment supply conditions but are associated with muddy deep-water systems under low sediment supply scenarios. Steeply rising or backstepping shelf-edge trajectories(1°<Tse<4° and 90°<Tse<180°,respectively)tend to form small-scale sand-rich submarine fans under high sediment supply,while under low sediment supply they are commonly associated with large-scale mud-rich mass-transport depositional systems. According to this shelf-margin classification-based prediction model,icehouse shelf margins with high Qs and low δa show the highest sand-rich potential in deep-water settings. This conclusion is supported by borehole data,which reveal the presence of tens of meters thick sandstones in channelized submarine fans,exhibiting block well-log patterns. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed new methods for identifying suitable deepwater reservoirs.
“低可容纳空间”或“高物源供给”能够驱动河流或三角洲向外陆架一侧迁移驻留,并将陆源物源供给总量约2/3搬运卸载到陆架边缘 (shelf margin)及其以深的深水陆缘(Petter et al., 2013;Gong et al., 2016;Fisher et al., 2021;龚承林等,2021)。以陆架边缘为界,可以将这一由陆到洋的源汇系统划分为“物源区—内陆架”和“外陆架—深海盆地”2个次级源汇系统,亦即物源区—浅水源汇系统和深水源汇系统(龚承林等,2021)。深水源汇系统中沉积物由外陆架分散卸载到深水陆坡的沉积物输运过程形成陆架边缘及其所伴生的陆架边缘三角洲—海底扇重力流沉积体系,这一深水源汇过程主要受控于海平面变化、物源供给和可容空间(Paumard et al., 2018;Fisher et al., 2021;龚承林等,2022)。
深水源汇参数(海平面变化、物源供给和可容空间)之间的相互耦合形成不同类型的陆架边缘堆砌样式(如进积型、加积型和退积型等)以及不同类型的陆架坡折迁移轨迹(如下降型、上升型和回撤型等)(Carvajal and Steel,2006;Carvajal et al., 2009;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018)。通过追踪分析陆架边缘堆砌样式和陆架坡折迁移轨迹可以更加客观地在一个连续的水进或水退过程中,分析沉积物在外陆架和深水陆坡搬运分散过程的迁移演变(深水源汇过程)(Paumard et al., 2018;Pellegrini et al., 2020)。因而,陆架坡折迁移轨迹和陆架边缘叠置样式常常被认为是陆源粗碎屑颗粒向深水中搬运分散形成海底扇的“预言者”(Carvajal et al., 2009;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018)。然而,“如何定量表征深水源汇参数(海平面变化、物源供给和可容空间),进而对深水沉积体系的富砂程度进行预测”一直是层序地层学和深水油气勘探的重点和难点所在(Carvajal and Steel,2009;Martinsen et al., 2010;Paumard et al., 2018;Catuneanu,2022)。本研究在深水源汇参数(海平面变化,物源供给和可容空间)定量表征的基础上,提出一种基于源汇参数定量表征的深水沉积富砂性评价方法; 以期解决“在无井/少井条件下进行深水沉积富砂性预测”这一深水油气勘探的难点。
在约46亿年的地质历史时期中,主要存在着“冰室气候”和“温室气候”2种气候类型,而冰室气候类型又进一步分为“冰期(气候较寒冷,持续时间较长)”与“间冰期(气候较温暖,持续时间较短)”(Takashima et al., 2006;Nance et al., 2014)。“冰室气候”和“温室气候”具有截然不同的海平面变化特征(振幅和频率)(Sømme et al., 2009)。一般而言,冰室气候往往伴随着高频(10's~100's kyr)高幅(10's~100's m)的海平面变化,而温室气候则伴随着低频(100's~1000's kyr)低幅(10's m)的海平面变化(Takashima et al., 2006;Sømme et al., 2009;Nance et al., 2014)。
“晚寒武世、晚泥盆世、石炭纪、二叠纪、三叠纪、渐新世、新近纪和第四纪”被认为是冰室气候期; 而“早—中寒武世、奥陶纪、志留纪、早—中泥盆世、侏罗纪、白垩纪、古新世和始新世”被认为是温室气候期(Takashima et al., 2006;Nance et al., 2014)。故而,可以依据地质年代可将深水陆缘的海平面变化区分为“冰室海平面变化——高频(10's~100's kyr)高幅(10's~100's m)海平面升降”和“温室海平面变化——低频(100's~1000's kyr)低幅(10's m)海平面升降”2种类型。在本研究所统计分析的20个深水陆缘实例中,温室海平面变化所对应的深水陆缘仅6个,约占30%;而冰室海平面变化所对应的深水陆缘达14个,约占70%(表 1)。
低幅下降型(-2°<Tse<0°)和低幅上升型(0°<Tse<1°)陆架坡折迁移轨迹常常被认为是下降型沉积基准面或相对海平面下降(低δa)的“代言人”(Carvajal and Steel,2006;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018;Pellegrini et al., 2020)。低δa能够驱动河口迁移驻留在外陆架、继而向深水陆缘分散卸载陆源沉积颗粒形成富砂的海底扇,从而导致“不管是高Qs 还是低Qs”背景,低幅下降型或低幅上升型陆架坡折迁移轨迹的前方总是发育出现相对富砂的深水沉积(如海底扇等)(Posamentier et al., 1988;Catuneanu et al., 2009;龚承林等,2022)。Muto和Steel(2002)从物理实验角度证实了低δa能够驱动河流及其所伴生的三角洲迁移驻留在陆架边缘,进而将所携带的陆源粗碎屑颗粒搬运分散到深水陆坡形成海底扇。由此可见,“高Qs-低δa-冰室陆架边缘”和“低Qs-低δa-冰室陆架边缘”所形成的深水沉积体系相对富砂(图 4)。这一结论被如图 5-a所示的晚中新世琼东南陆缘所证实,该陆缘形成于晚中新世冰室海平面变化条件下,计算Ra为-74 m/Myr、Rp 为8.18 km/Myr,见低幅下降型陆架坡折迁移轨迹(Tse=0.52°);为一典型的低Qs-低δa冰室陆缘(表 2)。在这一冰室陆缘上,深水陆坡发育可见呈“楔状、中强振幅—中高频率—中高连续、前积反射”的富砂海底扇(图 5-a)。
中幅上升型(1°<Tse<4°)陆架坡折迁移轨迹是缓慢上升型基准面或相对海平面缓慢上升(中δa)的“代言人”(Carvajal and Steel,2006;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018;Pellegrini et al., 2020)。在高Qs条件下,中δa可能被高Qs所压制,从而导致粗碎屑颗粒在可容空间缓慢上升条件下搬运分散到深水陆坡形成小规模高位海底扇(highstand submarine fan)。在“低物源供给(低Qs)”条件下,相对海平面缓慢上升(中δa)可能抑制粗碎屑颗粒搬运驻留在外陆架,从而导致中幅上升型陆架坡折迁移轨迹前方往往发育出现大规模的块状搬运沉积体系(mass-transport systems)。由此可见,高Qs-中δa-冰室陆架边缘富砂性程度中等,而低Qs-中δa-冰室陆架边缘富砂性程度较低(图 4)。这一结论被如图 5-a所示的上新世琼东南陆缘所证实,该陆缘形成于上新世冰室海平面变化条件下,计算Ra为188 m/Myr、Rp为9.40 km/Myr,见中幅上升型陆架坡折迁移轨迹(Tse=1.15°);为一典型的高Qs-中δa冰室陆缘(表 2)。在这一低Qs-中δa冰室陆缘上,深水陆坡发育存在呈“顶平定凸状、强振幅—高频率—高连续、充填反射”的相对富砂的深水水道(图 5-a)。
高幅上升型(2°<Tse<20°)和向陆回退型(90°<Tse<180°)陆架坡折迁移轨迹往往被认为是快速上升型基准面或相对海平面快速上升(高δa)的“预言者”(Carvajal and Steel,2006;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018;Pellegrini et al., 2020)。高δa使得河流—三角洲难以跨越内陆架到达外陆架,从而导致在高幅上升型和向陆回退型陆架坡折迁移轨迹前方往往形成相对富泥的深水沉积体系(如块状搬运复合体、富泥陆架边缘斜坡进积体等)。由此可见,高Qs-高δa-冰室陆架边缘和低Qs-高δa-冰室陆架边缘所形成的深水沉积体系相对富泥,深水富砂性程度相对较低(图 4)。这一结论被如图 5-a所示的第四纪琼东南陆缘所证实,该陆缘形成于第四纪冰室海平面变化条件下,计算Ra 为533 m/Myr、Rp 为6.03 km/Myr,见高幅上升型陆架坡折迁移轨迹(Tse=5.07°);为一典型的“高Qs-高δa 冰室陆缘”(表 2)。在这一高Qs-高δa冰室陆缘上,深水陆坡发育可见大规模相对富泥的、呈杂乱反射的块状搬运沉积(图 5-a)。
在“低频(100's~1000's kyr)低幅(10's m)的温室海平面变化”条件下,无论是物源供给高(高Qs)还是物源供给低(低Qs),下降型沉积基准面/相对海平面下降(低δa)总能够驱动河口迁徙到外陆架向深水中分散卸载陆源沉积颗粒形成海底扇或斜坡扇(Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018;Pellegrini et al., 2020);从而使得高Qs-低δa-暖室陆架边缘和低Qs-低δa-温室陆架边缘所对应的深水沉积体系相对富砂(图 4)。这一结论被如图 5-b所示的Sptisbergen陆架边缘所证实,该陆缘形成发育在早始新世温室气候条件下; 在早始新世4~5个百万年内,其向盆地方向进积了20~30 km,具有低物源供给(低Qs)的特征(Steel and Olsen,2002;Johannessen and Steel,2005)。在这一低物源供给的温室陆架边缘上,低幅上升型(陆架边缘SM2)和低幅下降型(陆架边缘SM3)陆架坡折迁移轨迹前方发育可见富砂的海底扇,这些海底扇厚度为30~80 m,延伸长度约10 km(图 5-b;表 2)(Steel and Olsen,2002;Johannessen and Steel,2005)。
在“低频(100's~1000's kyr)低幅(10's m)的温室海平面变化”条件下,高物源供给(高Qs)可能压制相对海平面缓慢上升(中δa)并向深水中搬运分散粗碎屑颗粒形成海底扇,而低物源供给(低Qs)可能被相对海平面缓慢上升(中δa)所压制使得河流无法迁移抵达外陆架; 从而使得高Qs-中δa-暖室陆架边缘所对应的深水沉积体系相对富砂,而低Qs-中δa-温室陆架边缘所对应的深水沉积体系则相对富泥(图 4)。这一结论被如图 5-b所示的低物源供给(低Qs)、温室陆架边缘所证实,在Spitsbergen温室陆架边缘上,中幅上升型(陆架边缘SM1和SM4)陆架坡折迁移轨迹前方相对富泥,无明显的富砂海底扇发育存在(图 5-b;表 2)(Steel and Olsen,2002;Johannessen and Steel,2005)。
从2010年至今,地质学家将沉积物在母岩区的剥蚀、流域盆地的搬运与汇水盆地的堆积纳入到一个由“源”到“汇”的系统中,将源汇系统方法原理运用到有利砂体预测研究中来(林畅松等,2015;徐长贵和杜晓峰,2017;朱红涛等,2017;徐长贵和龚承林,2023)。“海平面变化、物源供给和可容空间”被公认为是深水源汇过程3个最主要的控制因素(源汇参数),如何定量表征这3大深水源汇参数一直是源汇系统研究的难点所在(林畅松等,2015;Romans et al., 2016;Gong et al., 2016;Paumard et al., 2018;Catuneanu,2022)。本研究提出了“基于地质年代的海平面变化表征、基于陆架坡折迁移速率的物源供给表征和基于陆架坡折迁移轨迹的可容空间表征”方法原理,这一方法原理有助于更好地开展定量源汇分析。
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