Geologic Characteristics of Volcanic Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Exploration Directions in China

Volcanic rocks are distributed widely in China, which are important exploration targets. By analyzing many discovered volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs all over the world, the authors summarized the geologic characteristics of the formation of volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in China, and gave further exploration directions and advices. (1) There are mainly Carboniferous‐Permian, Jurassic‐Cretaceous, Paleogene‐Neogene volcanic rocks in oil‐ and gas‐bearing basins in China, which are mainly distributed in the Junggar Basin, Songliao Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, etc. There are mainly intermediate rocks and acidic rocks in east China, and intermediate rocks and basic rocks in west China. They primarily develop in intracontinental rift settings and island are environments. (2) Porefissure reservoirs are distributed widely in basins, which are volcanic rocks mainly in explosive and effusive facies. (3) Volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs are chiefly near‐source lithostratigraphic hydrocarbon reservoirs, and the oil and gas accumulation is predominantly controlled by lithotypes, faults and structural positions. (4) Deep‐seated oil and gas reservoirs in the Songliao Basin and Carboniferous volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Junggar Basin are potential giant volcanic gas provinces, the volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Bohai Bay Basin and Santanghu Basin are favorable for oil and gas reserves increase, and volcanic rocks in the Turpan Basin, Sichuan Basin, Tarim Basin have exploration potentiality. (5) The technology series of oil and gas exploration in volcanic rocks have been preliminarily formed.

[1]  Zhi-Qiang Feng,et al.  Geological features and evaluation techniques of deep-seated volcanics gas reservoirs, Songliao Basin , 2008 .

[2]  Sun Xiaomeng,et al.  The Cretaceous Songliao Basin: Volcanogenic Succession, Sedimentary Sequence and Tectonic Evolution, NE China , 2007 .

[3]  Niu Jia-yu.  Effective reservoir recognition of paleogene trachyte in the middle part of the east sag of Liaohe Depression , 2007 .

[4]  Hou Zengqian,et al.  Eruption of the Continental Flood Basalts at ∼259 Ma in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China: Evidence from Laser Microprobe 40Ar/39Ar Dating , 2006 .

[5]  Li Ming.  Exploration scheme of gas in deep-seated volcanic rocks in Songliao Basin , 2006 .

[6]  Yang Jin-long.  Permian volcanic reservoirs in the Tahe region , 2004 .

[7]  Wang Pu.  VOLCANIC FACIES OF THE SONGLIAO BASIN: CLASSIFICATION, CHARACTERISTICS AND RESERVOIR SIGNIFICANCE , 2003 .

[8]  Zhang Guanghui.  Subvolcanic Trachyte Porphyry at Oulituozi in the Liaohe Basin and Its Mechanism for Hydrocarbon Reservoir Formation , 2003 .

[9]  Luo Bing-quan.  Present and Prospect of Cenozoic/Mesozoic Volcanic Rock Oil and Gas Accumulations in East of China , 2003 .

[10]  Zhou Li-hong.  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TERTIARY IGNEOUS ROCKS AND INVESTIGATION OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH HYDROCARBON IN HUANGHUA DEPRESSION , 2000 .

[11]  X. Shang.  A PRELIMINARY APPROACH TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF OIL AND GAS RESERVOIRS IN IGNEOUS ROCKS , 1999 .

[12]  Jin Qiang.  HYDROCARBON GENERATION IN RIFT BASINS, EASTERN CHINA: CATALYSIS AND HYDROGENATION—INTERACTION BETWEEN VOLCANIC MINERALS AND ORGANIC MATTER , 1998 .