Guangfa Zhong

Cyclic steps along the South Taiwan Shoal and West Penghu submarine canyons on the northeastern continental slope of the South China Sea

Large-scale step-like features within the South Taiwan Shoal and West Penghu submarine canyons on the northeastern continental slope of the South China Sea are investigated by integrating high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and multichannel seismic profiles. These step-like features, ranging from 1.2 to 10.0 km in wavelength and 5.4–80.9 m in wave height, are mostly interpreted as cyclic steps formed by turbidity currents flowing through the canyons, based on their characteristic step-like morphology, in-train alignment, large wavelengths and aspect ratios (ratio of wavelength to wave height), and typical upstream-sloping backset bedding, among others. A train of 19 continuous steps delineated along the thalweg of the South Taiwan Shoal canyon measures up to 100 km and may be the longest ever reported. Nine short trains of scours identified on a terrace of the South Taiwan Shoal canyon are oriented parallel to the distributaries draining over the terrace and roughly perpendicular to the main canyon thalweg, indicating a complicated flow pattern within the canyon valley. Two trains of scours separated by an intracanyon high in the steeper middle reach of the West Penghu canyon are interpreted as transitional bed forms between antidunes and cyclic steps, which develop downstream into a train of five net-depositional cyclic steps with typical backset bedding in the gentler-sloping lower reach of the canyon. Average slope gradients for the canyon reaches with cyclic steps range from 0.26° to 1.24°. Along each thalweg step train, a slope break is identified to separate the net-erosional cyclic steps in the steeper upstream segment from the net-depositional ones in the gentler downstream segment. Rough estimations indicate that the paleoflows are 100 to 300 m thick with maximum velocities of up to 10 m s–1. The estimated flow depths match well with those inferred from geomorphologic analysis. Estimated paleodischarges of ?7–23 × 105 m3 s–1 are equivalent to ten times the discharge of the modern Amazon River.

GIS-based modeling of secondary hydrocarbon migration pathways and its application in the northern Songliao Basin, northeast China

Hydrocarbon migration pathways are the linkage between hydrocarbon source areas and accumulation sites. Modeling accurately the pathways of hydrocarbon migration is of important significance in determining the location of favorable petroleum exploration targets. In this paper, GIS-based modeling algorithms are presented for searching the pathways of secondary hydrocarbon migration by considering the geologic mechanisms. These algorithms are constructed on a raster digital elevation model (DEM) of the top boundary of a carrier bed, in which secondary migration occurred. On the DEM, a 3x3 pixel sized window is used for searching. The center of the search window is initially assumed at a point on the boundary of a hydrocarbon source area, from which the secondary hydrocarbon migration starts. The altitude values in the eight adjoining pixels enclosing the central pixel of the search window are compared, and the pixel with an altitude value not only larger than the central pixel but also the largest of the eight surrounding pixels is the next target pixel where the search window will move to. Each searched path will terminate at either a convex point, which indicates the existence of a trap for hydrocarbon accumulation, or a point on the boundary of the DEM, which suggests that the pathway of hydrocarbon migration extends outside the DEM. In addition, a concourse point of two paths is also considered as a termination point of either path. The algorithms were successfully applied in the modeling of the secondary migration pathways in the northern Songliao Basin, northeast China. The modeled results matched well with drilling data, suggesting the robustness of the algorithms.

Morphology, sedimentary characteristics, and origin of the Dongsha submarine canyon in the northeastern continental slope of the South China Sea

The Dongsha submarine canyon is a large canyon belonging to a group of canyons on the northeastern South China Sea margin. Investigation of the Dongsha canyon is important for understanding the origin of this canyon group as well as the transport mechanism of sediments on the margin, and the evolution of the Taixinan foreland basin and the associated Taiwan orogenic belt. In this study, the morphology, sedimentary characteristics, and origin of the Dongsha canyon were investigated by integrating high-resolution multi-channel seismic reflection profiles and high-precision multibeam bathymetric data. This is a slope-confined canyon that originates in the upper slope east of the Dongsha Islands, extends downslope in the SEE direction, and finally merges with the South Taiwan Shoal canyon at a water depth of 3000 m. The total length and average width of the canyon are around 190 and 10 km, respectively. Eleven seismic sequence boundaries within the canyon fills were identified and interpreted as incision surfaces of the canyon. In the canyon fills, four types of seismic facies were defined: parallel onlap fill, chaotic fill, mounded divergent facies, and migrated wavy facies. The parallel onlap fill facies is interpreted as alternating coarser turbidites or other gravity-flow deposits and fine hemipelagic sediments filling the canyon valley. The chaotic fill facies is presumed to be debrites and/or basal lag deposits filling the thalwegs. The mounded divergent and migrated wavy seismic facies can be explained as canyon levees consisting mainly of overspilled fine turbidites and sediment waves on the levees or on the canyon-mouth submarine fans. Age correlation between the sequence boundaries and the ODP Site 1144 data suggests that the Dongsha canyon was initiated at approximately 0.9 Ma in the middle Pleistocene. Mapping of the canyon indicates that the canyon originated at the upstream portion of the middle reach of the modern canyon, and has been continuously expanding both upstream and downstream by retrogressive erosion, incision, and deposition of turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes. The ages of the sequence boundaries representing major canyon incision events are in good agreement with those of global sea-level lowstands, indicating that sea-level changes may have played an important role in the canyon’s development. The Dongsha canyon developed in a region with an active tectonic background characterized by the Taiwan uplifting and the development of the Taixinan foreland basin. However, no evidence suggests that the canyon formation is directly associated with local or regional faulting and magmatic activities. Turbidity currents and other gravity transport processes (including submarine slides and slumps) may have had an important influence on the formation and evolution of the canyon.

ESTIMATION OF GAS HYDRATE SATURATION WITH MODIFIED BIOT GASSMANN THEORY: A CASE FROM NORTHERN SOUTH CHINA SEA: ESTIMATION OF GAS HYDRATE SATURATION WITH MODIFIED BIOT GASSMANN THEORY: A CASE FROM NORTHERN SOUTH CHINA SEA

The modified Biot-Gassmann theory(BGTL) proposed by Lee(2002) is applied in this study to estimation of the saturation of gas hydroate in the deep-water unconsolidated clayey sediments from the Well A,Shenhu area,northern South China Sea.The BGTL theory assumes that the ratio of the shear to compressional velocities of an unconsolidated sediment is related to the ratio of the shear to compressional velocities of the solid matrix in the sediment and its porosity.Parameters involved in the model are related to the occurrence of gas hydrate,mineral components,pressure differentiation,porosity,and pore structure of the sediments.The cross plot of velocity from sonic logging vs.concentration of gas hydrate from core measurements suggest that the occurrence of gas hydrate in the sediments of Well A is more or less close to the matrix model.Statistics from core smear slide data suggest that the sediment matrix in well A can be simplified as three major mineral components,i.e clay,carbonate,and terrigenous clastic minerals.The elastic modulus and density values of the matrix are calculated by the elastic modulus and density values of the individual mineral components and their volume percentage.As estimated,the gas hydrate in Well A is mainly distributed in the depth interval of 195 to 220 meters below sea floor with a highest concentration of gas hydrate up to 47%,which matches well with the results from core measurements.

Seismic sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary evolution of carbonate reservoirs in the Sinian Dengying Formation, Middle Sichuan Basin, Southwest China

AbstractThe Sinian Dengying Formation in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China, mainly consisting of dolomites, is one of the most ancient gas-producing series in the world. During the past half-century, gas exploration in the formation has been largely based on the lithostratigraphic correlation, but a regional correlation scheme of time significance is usually insufficient, resulting in the difficulty of lateral correlation of strata between gas fields. Aiming to overcome the problem, we completed an interpretation of about 2500-km 2D regional seismic lines by using the seismic sequence analysis method. As a result, a sequence stratigraphic framework was successfully constructed, which consists of two sequences and five systems tracts. By integrating analysis of isopatch maps with stratal stacking patterns, we identify three depositional facies belts within the formation, which are a shallow-water platform facies belt in the eastern and southern regions, a relatively deep-water (intraplatform) basin facies...

Seismic stratigraphy and tectono-sedimentary framework of the Pliocene to recent Taixinan foreland basin in the northeastern continental margin, South China Sea

AbstractThe Pliocene to recent Taixinan basin is a unique foreland basin built on the northeastern part of the northern passive margin of the South China Sea (SCS). We have used multichannel seismic profiles tied to well controls from ODP Leg 184 to investigate the tectonic and sedimentary characteristics of the foreland basin. We defined three seismic sequences, dated respectively to the Pliocene (5.33–2.5xa0Ma), early Quaternary (2.5–1.0xa0Ma), and late Quaternary (1.0xa0Ma–present). They represent three stages of evolution of the foreland basin. We have recognized seven types of seismic facies, which are parallel-to-subparallel, progradational, fill-type, divergent mounded, wavy, lenticular, and chaotic facies, and are interpreted as hemipelagic deposits, deltas, submarine canyon fills, levees, sediment waves, submarine fans, and mass transport deposits, respectively. Seismic facies analysis indicates that sedimentation within the foreland basin has been dominated by turbidity currents and the other gravity ...

Identification of subtle seismic sequence boundaries by all-reflector tracking method

Summary Seismic sequence analysis presented by Vail et al. (1977) is based on the identification of reflection terminations on regional seismic profiles. It is difficult to be used in small 3D surveys with reflection terminations not so straight to be identified. In this paper, we present a method, which labeled as ‘all-reflector tracking’, for identifying subtle seismic sequence stratigraphic boundaries in small 3D seismic surveys. It has been used in the late Triassic Xujiahe Formation of a 180 km 2 3D seismic survey in middle Sichuan Basin, southwest China. As a result, five seismic sequence boundaries and three transgressive surfaces were recognized in Xujiahe Formation, which subdivided the formation into four seismic sequences and seven seismic systems tracts, and therefore the seismic sequence stratigraphic framework for the survey was successfully constructed. It is suggested that all-reflector tracking is an efficient approach to seismic sequence stratigraphy in small 3D seismic surveys.

Introduction to special section: Gas hydrates in the South China Sea

Exploration for gas hydrate resources in the South China Sea began in the late 1990s. A series of geophysical and drilling expeditions have since been carried out in the marginal sea. As a result, large amounts of seismic data have been accumulated, and tens of exploration wells have been drilled.

Stratal Carbonate Content Inversion Using Seismic Data and Its Applications to the Northern South China Sea

ABSTRACT On the basis of the relationship between the carbonate content and the stratal velocity and density, an exercise has been attempted using an artificial neural network on high-resolution seismic data for inversion of carbonate content with limited well measurements as a control. The method was applied to the slope area of the northern South China Sea near ODP Sites 1146 and 1148, and the results are satisfactory. Before inversion calculation, a stepwise regression method was applied to obtain six properties related most closely to the carbonate content variations among the various properties on the seismic profiles across or near the wells. These include the average frequency, the integrated absolute amplitude, the dominant frequency, the reflection time, the derivative instantaneous amplitude, and the instantaneous frequency. The results, with carbonate content errors of mostly ±5% relative to those measured from sediment samples, show a relatively accurate picture of carbonate distribution along the slope profile. This method pioneers a new quantitative model to acquire carbonate content variations directly from high-resolution seismic data. It will provide a new approach toward obtaining substitutive high-resolution sediment data for earth system studies related to basin evolution, especially in discussing the coupling between regional sedimentation and climate change.

Variations of fluvial patterns and infilling history of a paleoincised valley system during Late Pleistocene to Holocene, Offshore Pahang River, Peninsular Malaysia

AbstractHigh-resolution 2D acoustic profiles, combined with time slices from a 3D data volume, were used to investigate the paleoincised valleys offshore of the present-day Pahang River, South China Sea. Paleovalleys were formed during the regressive phase of the last glacial cycle. They were submerged and possibly filled during valley formation and postglacial marine transgression. Interpretation of acoustic profiles illustrates that the valleys were incised and infilled during the regression and low stand followed by subsequent deglacial sea-level rise. They were overlain by a transgressive ravinement surface suggesting transitional deposits between fluvial-dominated filling and shallow-marine deposition. This ravinement surface is overlain by Holocene shallow marine deposits. A low-sinuosity low-stand valley system changed to a high-sinuosity meander belt and eventually evolved into a deltaic distributary channel system before the complete submergence of the area. The average Late Pleistocene surface l...