Cretaceous

摘要： In view of the difficulties in the study of lithofacies paleogeography and the low reliability of the distribution range of sedimentary sand bodies in the prototype basin caused by less deep drilling, complex seismic imaging and low degree of exploration in the southern margin of Junggar Basin, NW China. A new method based on the source to sink idea was used to restore lithofacies paleogeography and predict glutenite distribution. In the restoration, apatite fission track age was used to define range and uplift time of macro-provenance;the range of provenance area and the migration process of lake shoreline were restored based on the quantitative relationship between gravel diameter and transportation distance, tectonic shortening and other geological parameters;drilling cores and field outcrop sedimentary structures were analyzed, and a series of maps of lithofacies paleogeographic evolution and distribution range of glutenite bodies were compiled. It is concluded that from Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, in the southern margin of Junggar Basin, the provenance area gradually expanded from south to north, the lake basin expanded, shrunk and expanded, and the paleoclimate changed from humid to drought to humid. The western section always had proximal fan delta deposits from the southern ancient Tianshan provenance developed, and in the middle and eastern sections, the provenance areas evolved from far source to near source, mainly river-delta, braided delta, fan delta and other sediments developed. The boundary between provenance areas of the western and middle sections is speculated to be Hongche fault zone. In an angle open to the northwest with the current basin edge line, the restored ancient lake shoreline controlled the heterogeneity of reservoirs in the delta plain belt and delta front belt on its both sides. The ancient lake shoreline, current stratigraphic denudation line and current basin margin line limit the types and scope of favorable reservoirs.This understanding provides an important geological basis for oil and gas exploration in the deep lower source-reservoir assemblage at the southern margin of Junggar Basin.

摘要： To solve the problem that it is difficult to identify carbonate low resistivity pays(LRPs) by conventional logging methods in the Rub Al Khali Basin, the Middle East, the variation of fluid distribution and rock conductivity during displacement were analyzed by displacement resistivity experiments simulating the process of reservoir formation and production, together with the data from thin sections, mercury injection and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. In combination with geological understandings, the genetic mechanisms of LRPs were revealed, then the saturation interpretation model was selected, the variation laws and distribution range of the model parameters were defined, and finally an updated comprehensive saturation interpretation technique for the LRPs has been proposed. In the study area, the LRPs have resistivity values of less than 1 Ω·m, similar to or even slightly lower than that of the water layers. Geological research reveals that the LRPs were developed in low-energy depositional environment and their reservoir spaces are controlled by micro-scale pore throats, with an average radius of less than 0.7 μm, so they are typical microporous LRPs. Different from LRPs of sandstone and mudstone, they have less tortuous conductive paths than conventional reservoirs, and thus lower resistivity value under the same saturation. Archie’s formula is applicable to the saturation interpretation of LRPs with a cementation index value of 1.77-1.93 and a saturation index value of 1.82-2.03 that are 0.2-0.4 lower than conventional reservoirs respectively. By using interpretation parameters determined by classification statistics of petrophysical groups(PGs), oil saturations of the LRPs were calculated at bout 30%-50%,15% higher than the results by conventional methods, and basically consistent with the data of Dean Stark, RST, oil testing and production. The 15 wells of oil testing and production proved that the coincidence rate of saturation interpretation is over 90%and the feasibility of this method has been further verified.

摘要： Key parameters and evaluation methods of shale gas show that it is not possible to guarantee the commercial and economic development of shale gas by sorting out geological sweet spots only according to technical indicators.A research method combining technical indicators including total organic carbon content and vitrinite reflectance with economic indicators including internal rate of return and investment payback period is proposed to screen the best technological and economic development sweet spots in undeveloped areas.This method was used to evaluate the best technological and economic development sweet spots in Cretaceous shale gas reservoirs S_(1) and S_(2) of Lurestan area,Iran.Twenty-one geologic sweet spots were picked out based on effective reservoir thickness,vitrinite reflectance and gas content.Based on analogy method,the pressure gradient,clay mineral content,buried depth and other parameters were taken as comparative indicators,the Eagle Ford shale as comparison object,recovery factor and production curve were extracted to estimate the technologically recoverable reserves of the study area.On this basis,the economic indexes such as internal rate of return and investment payback period were used to evaluate the economy of the geological sweet spots.In the case of P_(10) distribution,the total technologically recoverable reserves and economically recoverable reserves are 7875×10^(8)m^(3) and 4306×10^(8)m^(3) respectively,11 geological sweet spots have commercial development value,among which,No.1 sweet spot has the highest value,with a net present value of 35×10^(8) USD.

摘要： Distribution characteristics,organic matter development characteristics,gas-bearing characteristics,reservoir characteristics,and preservation conditions of the Shahezi Formation shale of Lower Cretaceous in the Lishu fault depression,Songliao Basin,NE China,are analyzed using organic geochemical,whole rock,and SEM analysis data,and CO_(2)and N_(2) adsorption and high-pressure mercury injection experiment data in combination with the tectonic and sedimentation evolution of the region to reveal the geological conditions for enrichment and resource potential of continental shale gas.The organic-rich shale in the Lower Cretaceous of the Lishu fault depression is mainly developed in the lower submember of the second member of the Shahezi Formation(K_(1)sh_(2)^(1) Fm.)and is thick and stable in distribution.The shale has high TOC,mainly types II_(1) and II_(2) organic matter,and is in the mature to the over-mature stage.The volcanic activity,salinization,and reduction of the water environment are conducive to the formation of the organic-rich shale.The shale reservoirs have mainly clay mineral intergranular pores,organic matter pores,carbonate mineral dissolution pores,and foliated microfractures as storage space.The pores are in the mesopore range of 10–50 nm,and the microfractures are mostly 5–10μm wide.Massive argillaceous rocks of lowland and highstand domains are deposited above and below the gas-bearing shale separately in the lower submember of the K_(1)sh_(2)^(1) Fm.,act as the natural roof and floor in the process of shale gas accumulation and preservation,and control the shale gas enrichment.Based on the above understandings,the first shale gas exploration well in Shahezi Formation was drilled in the Lishu fault depression of Songliao Basin.After fracturing,the well tested a daily gas production of 7.6×10^(4) m^(3),marking a breakthrough in continental shale gas exploration in the Shahezi Formation(K1 sh Fm.)of the Lishu fault depression in Songliao Basin.The exploration practice has reference significance for the exploration of continental shale gas in the Lower Cretaceous of Songliao Basin and its periphery.

摘要： Constructing a static reservoir model or a 3D geological model is a widely used modern tool to employ subsurface information expose the setting and properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The current study attempts to build a 3D reservoir model of the Yamama Formation (an important oil reservoir in Southern Iraq), from digital logs data and drilling information. This would lead to a better understanding of the relationships between different reservoir elements, then expose many characteristics of the reservoir, such as the facies distribution and petrophysical properties. The data of the Yamama Formation (Early Cretaceous Carbonates) were taken from four wells of Gharraf Oilfield, Southern Iraq (GA-1, GA-2, GA-3, and GA-4). The adopted modeling approach consists of a series of steps starting with a preliminary analysis of data, followed by interpretation of these data, and terminated by geostatistical methods for building the structural model. The modeling was assisted by defining the top of each layer detected by wireline logs and final well reports of each studied well. The results of the study encompass four microfacies distributed between Inner Ramp and Mid Ramp environments. The followed 3D geological modeling scheme was capable to visualize the distribution of petrophysical properties, and the classification of Yamama Formation into several layers or reservoir units (Y1 to Y5), and thirteen subdivisions (minor units). The model could also define the places where effective porosity was enhanced. The process of Pillar Gridding, a step within the modeling, showed that the Yamama Formation is composed of two domes. The constructed model was helpful, based on the evaluation of petrophysical parameters, then to point out the most important reservoir zone (Zone Y3_top) that has Effective Porosity of (13.6%) and water saturation of around (10.6%).

摘要： Southeastern Eurasia is a global window to the Cretaceous paleoclimate and lithosphere coupling.China contains one of the most complete and complex sedimentary records of Mesozoic desert basins on planet Earth.In this study,we perform the spatio-temporal tracking of 96 Cretaceous palaeoclimate indicators during 79 Myr which reveal that the plateau paleoclimate archives from East Asia resulted from an Early to Mid-Cretaceous ocean–atmosphere coupling and a shift to a preponderant role of Late Cretaceous lithosphere dynamics and tectonic forcing on high-altitude depositional systems linked to the subduction margins of the Tethys and Paleo-Pacific realms beneath the Eurasian plate.The crustal response to tectonic processes linked with the spatio-temporal evolution of the Tethyan and Paleo-Pacific margins defined the configuration of major sedimentary basins on this region.The significant increase and decrease in the number of active sedimentary basins that occur during the Cretaceous,from 16 in the Early Cretaceous,to 28 in the Mid-Cretaceous,and a decreasing to 20 sedimentary basins in the Late Cretaceous,is a direct response of lithospheric dynamics associated with the two main subduction zones(Tethys and Pacific domains).A shift in subduction style from an Early Cretaceous Paleo-Pacific Plate slab roll back to a Late Cretaceous flat-slab mode might have triggered regional plateau uplift,blocked intraplate volcanism,thus enhancing the denudation and sediment availability,and created wind corridors that led to the construction and accumulation of extensive Late Cretaceous aeolian sandy deserts(ergs)that covered Mid-Cretaceous plateau salars.At the same time,plateau uplift associated with crustal thickening following terrane assembly in the Tethyan margin triggered altitudinal cryospheric processes in sandy desert systems.Evidence of an active Cretaceous cryosphere in China include ValanginianHauterivian glacial debris flows,Early Aptian geochemical signature of melt waters from extensive ice sheets,and Cenomanian–Turonian ice-rafted debris(IRD).These cryospheric indicators suggest an already uplifted plateau in southeastern Eurasia during the Cretaceous,and the marked correlation between cold plateau paleoclimate archives and marine records suggests a strong ocean-atmosphere coupling during Early and Mid-Cretaceous cold snaps.We thus conclude that lithospheric tectonics during Cretaceous played a fundamental role in triggering high-altitude basin desertification and spatiotemporal plateau paleohydrology variability in the Cretaceous of south-eastern Eurasia.

摘要： Upper Cretaceous rocks are widespread in Jordan, covering uncomfortably the rocks of the Lower Cretaceous (Kurnub Sandstone). These rocks consist mainly of limestone, marls, chalk, biogenic chert and phosphate of primarily marine origin. Age determination of these rocks was based on the abundance of macro and microfossil content. Man researchers subdivided the Upper Cretaceous succession. The classification of Powell (1989) is considered in this study, particularly for the Belqa Group, which is of Coniacian to Maastrichtian in age. This investigation will focus on the geology of Wadi Es Sir, Umm Ghudran;Amman silicified limestone, and Al Hisa phosphorite formations, that belong to Ajlun and Belqa Groups respectively. Moreover, sedimentary structures, lithological characteristics Microfacies types and fossil content were evaluated. Using the lithostratigraphy and the fossil content of those formations, 6 Microfacies types were identified. Evaluation of the cross-section, the tectonic processes and the prepared rose diagrams indicate that the study area was affected by compressional as well as by tensional forces. Two major tends of fracturing can be identified in the rose diagrams. The measured physical properties show that the porosity is variable and ranges between 30% and 48%. The bulk density has values between 1.8 and 2.2 g/cm3. The different obtained results point out that the studied rocks represent good reservoir.

摘要： The latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco preserve the highest biodiversity of mosasaurid squamates anywhere in the world. Intensive sampling over the past century has uncovered at least ten genera and thirteen species from the mosasaur subgroups Halisauromorpha, Plioplatecarpinae, and Mosasaurinae. Notably missing from the assemblage are members of the macropredatory Tylosaurinae. The Tylosaurinae were globally rare in the Maastrichtian and their apparent absence has been previously explained by either collecting bias, ecological preference for deeper waters, or habitat restriction to higher paleolatitudes. Here, we describe a new tylosaurine mosasaurid, Hainosaurus boubker sp. nov., based on several partial skulls and isolated teeth originating from the Couche III layer of the Sidi Chennane Phosphate quarry near Oued Zem, Morocco. It is unique amongst tylosaurine mosasaurids in possessing blade-like teeth that are laterally compressed, encircled by enamel facets, and differentiated along the dental margin. The discovery of this new taxon in the Maastrichtian of Morocco is remarkable as it represents both the youngest species of Tylosaurinae and the first occurrence in North Africa.

摘要： A joint Sino-Brazilian research team led by Dr.WANG Xiaolin from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology(IVPP)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has reported new dinosaur fossils from the Early Cretaceous Hami Pterosaur Fauna.All three of the newly reported dinosaurs are classified in the Somphospondyli of the Sauropoda.Their findings were published in Scientific Reports on August 12.

摘要： Objective The Zhongdian area,Yunnan Province,is located in the southern of the Yidun Island arc belt in the TethysHimalayan metallogenic area,and is one of the important copper polymetallic mineral resource bases in China.Based on the previous studies(Liu et al.,2014),this paper discusses the Late Cretaceous tectono-thermal events in Zhongdian,to reconstruct the framework of their evolution and to restore the uplift history of representative ore-forming porphyries.