Xiaogan Cheng

Tectonic evolution of Tethyan tectonic field, formation of Northern Margin basin and explorative perspective of natural gas in Tarim Basin

Analyzing the characteristics of the Tethyan tectonic field, the authors think that the Tethyan tectonic field underwent three evolutional stages: closing of Paleo-Tethys and rifting of Neo-Tethys from early Permian to late Triassic, subduction of Neo-Tethys and collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasia plate from Jurassic to early of low Tertiary, and collision between the Arab plate and the Eurasia plate and the A-type subduction of Indian plate from late of low Tertiary to the present. Combining the evolution of the Tethyan orogenic belt with the characteristics of the Northern Margin basin, it is suggested that the sedimentary and tectonic characteristics and types of the Northern Margin basin are controlled by the formation and evolution of the Tethyan orogenic belt and the ingression of Tethys. The evolution of Northern Margin basin can be divided into three development stages: back-arc foreland basin from late Permian to Triassic, the back-arc fault subsidence and depression from Jurassic to the early of low Tertiary, and the reactive foreland basin from the late of low Tertiary to the present. The Northern Margin basin in the Tethyan tectonic field is an important region for natural gas accumulation, and the Tarim Basin is a part of this region.

Conceptual models for fracturing in fault related folds

Fault related folds and fractures, which always improve reservoirs and trap capacity, especially in the oil and gas fields in western China, are of extreme importance for oil and gas exploration. Based on four assumptions and fault related fold theory, we propose four conceptual models for fracturing in fault related folds, i.e., a simple-step parallel fault bend anticline, a simple-step parallel fault propagation anticline, a multiple-bend fault-bend fold and a break-forward imbricate. Fracture conditions depend on structural evolution and specific site conditions. A case study of the Kulongshan Anticline in the Jiuquan Basin shows that our conceptual models match reality data very well.

Deformation geometry and timing of the Wupoer thrust belt in the NE Pamir and its tectonic implications

The Pamir region, located to the northwest of the Tibetan Plateau, provides important information that can aid the understanding of the plateau’s tectonic evolution. Here we present new findings on the deformation geometry and timing of the Wupoer thrust belt at the northeastern margin of Pamir. Field investigations and interpretations of seismic profiles indicate that the eastern portion of the Wupoer thrust belt is dominated by an underlying foreland basin and an overlying piggy-back basin. A regional unconformity occurs between the Pliocene (N2) and the underlying Miocene (N1) or Paleogene (Pg) strata associated with two other local unconformities between Lower Pleistocene (Q1) and N2 and between Middle Pleistocene (Q2-4) and Q1 strata. Results of structural restorations suggest that compressional deformation was initiated during the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene, contributing a total shortening magnitude of 48.6 km with a total shortening rate of 48.12%, most of which occurred in the period from the latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene. These results, combined with previous studies on the Kongur and Tarshkorgan extensional system, suggest an interesting picture of strong piedmont compressional thrusting activity concurrent with interorogen extensional rifting. Combining these results with previously published work on the lithospheric architecture of the Pamir, we propose that gravitational collapse drove the formation of simultaneous extensional and compressional structures with a weak, ductile middle crustal layer acting as a décollement along which both the extensional and compressional faults merged.

Geometry and Kinematic Evolution of the Hotan-Tiklik Segment of the Western Kunlun Thrust Belt: Constrained by Structural Analyses and Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology

The western Kunlun thrust belt defines the boundary between the stable Tarim Basin in the north and the intensely deformed Cenozoic Tibetan Plateau in the south. Because of its important tectonic position, understanding its tectonic evolution should have important implications for propagation of deformation from Tibet to its neighboring cratonal regions during India-Eurasia convergence. We here present new structural analyses based on field investigations and seismic reflection profiles across the Hotan-Tiklik segment of the western Kunlun thrust belt. The results indicate that the structural section crosses two major thrust zones: the Tiklik zone in the hinterland to the south and the Hotan zone in the foreland to the north. Within these, the Hotan thrust zone is thin skinned, with its deformation characterized by fault-bend folding and fault slipping along detachment layers, whereas the Tiklik thrust zone involves basement, with its deformation driven by the currently steeply dipping Tiklik fault. Results from apatite fission track thermochronology in combination with growth strata and balanced cross section indicate that the Hotan-Tiklik segment underwent two-stage deformation: (1) development of the Tiklik thrust during the late Oligocene–early Miocene and again since the mid- to late Miocene and (2) activity of the Hotan thrust since the mid- to late Miocene as a result of basinward propagation of thrusting. The balanced cross section, combined with the apatite fission track results, suggests that the Hotan-Tiklik segment contributes a total shortening magnitude of more than ca. 34 ± 6 km. Within this, ca. 4 ± 2 and ca. 23 ± 1 km of the shortenings were absorbed by the Hotan anticline and the Hotan detachment fault, respectively, both of which were related to detachment layers. This suggests that detachment layers played an efficient role in propagating deformation from the western Tibetan Plateau into the Tarim Basin.

On the timing and forcing mechanism of a mid-Miocene arid climate transition at the NE margins of the Tibetan Plateau: stratigraphic and sedimentologic evidence from the Sikouzi Section

Abstract The Sikouzi Section is located towards the northern limits of the East Asian summer monsoon, providing the opportunity of placing the stratigraphic record into the context of the East Asian summer monsoon history. We present here the results of the details of the sedimentology of the Neogene succession of the section and use these to provide insights into the evolving history of the East Asian summer monsoon. The record is marked by a strongly expressed early Miocene lacustrine phase. A well-defined evaporate bed defines the top of the lacustrine succession, marking the onset of more arid conditions during the middle Miocene. The overlying succession is dominated by a series of alluvial packages, extending into the late Pleistocene with varying stratigraphic architectures and including a subordinate lacustrine component. Given the regional setting, the onset of drier conditions during the middle Miocene must relate to a downturn of summer monsoon activity. We focus on the question: what ‘forced’ this palaeoclimate event? Earlier biostratigraphic work places the explanation of this change into the context of the global-scale middle Miocene climate reorganisation. Here we explore this question in the context of regional-scale climate dynamics and propose that the onset of drier conditions over the study area was a response to atmospheric subsidence driven by circulation changes related to the growth of the Tibetan Plateau.

From folding to transpressional faulting: the Cenozoic Fusha structural belt in front of the Western Kunlun Orogen, northwestern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract Fusha structural belt (FSB) is one of the most important tectonic units in front of the Western Kunlun Orogen, northwestern Tibetan Plateau (NW China), in which the Kekeya oil field was discovered in 1971. However, there is no new oil field discovered since then due to the unclarity of the intense and complex Cenozoic deformation in this area. Based on field investigation, seismic interpretation and Continuous Electromagnetic Profile data, we analyze in detail the Cenozoic deformation history, emphasizing on the spatial and temporal variation of the deformation of the FSB in this paper. The result suggests that the FSB was dominated by two deformation events, (1) early (Miocene–early Pliocene) folding event expressed by anticline, with the western segment E–W orienting, while the eastern segment NWW–SEE orienting and (2) later (since late Pliocene) transpressional faulting event that destroyed and divided the earlier anticline into a number of fault blocks. The transpressional faulting caused dextral strike-slip reverse fault, with the dip angles decreasing eastward from ~90° to <45°. The dextral strike-slip reverse fault developed in the core of the anticline in the western part which caused the anticline into several fault blocks, while in the eastern part, the fault developed in the north limb of the anticline with the core of the anticline reserved. Based on the spatial variation of structural characteristics, we propose that the fault block traps and anticline traps in the eastern segment and fault block traps in western segment are favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation.