Hyperpycnal flow found in submarine fan of the Meishan Formation in Ledong Sag in Qiongdongnan Basin：Evidence from the drilling cores

Xiong Lianqiao; Li Jianping; Xie Xiaojun; Tang Wu; Bai Haiqiang; Wu Aijun; Li Xin; Liu Ziyu; Chen Ying; Yu Jinxin

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Xiong Lianqiao，Li Jianping，Xie Xiaojun, et al. Hyperpycnal flow found in submarine fan of the Meishan Formation in Ledong Sag in Qiongdongnan Basin：Evidence from the drilling cores[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2024, 46(x)：1–13

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Hyperpycnal flow found in submarine fan of the Meishan Formation in Ledong Sag in Qiongdongnan Basin：Evidence from the drilling cores

CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing 100028, China

Received Date: 2023-12-12
Rev Recd Date: 2024-02-29

Available Online: 2024-04-11

Abstract

Abstract

Submarine fans developed in the middle Miocene Meishan formation possess significant potential for natural gas exploration. Most of scholars believed that these Miocene submarine fans were formed primarily by turbidity currents. However, drilling cores reveal the presence of pebbles with a particle size of up to 5 cm in the sandy conglomerates. These sandy conglomerates exhibit good roundness and poor sorting, indicating that the traditional turbidity formation mechanism cannot fully explain the origin of this type of sandy conglomerates. Furthermore, the classic submarine fan model has limitations in predicting the distribution of sand bodies. Through a comprehensive study involving core, thin section observation, and grain size analysis, we have conducted a systematic investigation of the petrological characteristics and sedimentary structures of submarine fan in the study area. Our findings suggest that submarine fans in the study area resulted from the interaction of turbidity and hyperpycnal flow deposits. We have identified distinct sequences of turbidites and hyperpycnalites within the submarine fan. Based on the paleogeomorphlogy of the study area, we have established a genetic evolution model for the submarine fan in Meishan Formation. This model reveals that the hyperpycnites dominated by feldspathic litharenite, exhibit low compositional maturity. Poor sorting and subangular-circular of the rocks indicate middle-to-high structural maturity. Typical features of hyperpycnal flow include orientated gravel within block sandy conglomerates, reverse-to-normal grain order bedding, parallel bedding, carbonaceous debris, and biological fossil fragments. Multi stage superimposed turbidite sequence and hyperpycnites sequence developed in submarine fan in the study area. The early Meishan period is primarily composed of turbidite submarine fan lobes, while the middle Meishan period is dominated by hyperpycnites submarine fan channels. The late Meishan period, on the other hand, is mainly composed of turbidite submarine fan channels. We predict that more favorable submarine fan sand bodies could be found in the southern part of the study area. The results can serve as a basis for predicting the distribution of favorable submarine fan reservoirs of the Qiongdongnan Basin, and they hold significance for selecting exploration and development targets for hydrocarbon exploration.
- hyperpycnal flow,
- sedimentary sequence,
- submarine fan,
- Meishan formation,
- Qiongdongnan Basin

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References

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