Stratigraphic Constraints on Sandy Conglomerates in Huanghekou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, via In Situ U-Pb Dating of Vein Calcite and Detrital Zircons, and XRD Analysis

The discovery of the BZ19-6 large-scale condensate gas field illustrates the great potential of the sandy conglomerate reservoirs in the Bohai Bay Basin. However, the stratigraphic correlation of the sandy conglomerate sequence in northern Huanghekou Sag remains a challenge due to the lack of syn-depositional volcanic layers and biostratigraphic constraints. The challenge limits understanding the regional strata distribution and further exploration deployment. In this study, we conducted in situ U-Pb dating of vein calcite and detrital zircons of the sandy conglomerate samples from borehole BZ26-A. The vein calcite age and the youngest age of detrital zircons provide the upper and lower bounds of the depositional age, respectively. We also correlated the samples with those from well-understood strata through a comparison of XRD mineral components. The absolute age of 47.0 Ma of the vein calcite and the youngest detrital zircon age of 103.5 Ma suggest the sedimentary sequence is supposed to be referred to as the Kongdian Formation (65-50.5 Ma). The XRD data and petrological analysis suggest that the lithostratigraphy of the Kongdian Formation in Huanghekou Sag could be divided into at least three members, with Member 3 consisting of red sediment deposited in a hot and dry climate; Member 2 and Member 1 deposited as fan delta with major parent rock of Mesozoic volcanic rocks and Precambrian meta-granitoid, respectively. Member 1 shows significant potential for energy exploration due to high brittle mineral components and fracture development.

Automated summary

The in situ U-Pb dating of sandy conglomerate samples from the Huanghekou Sag allowed for stratigraphic correlation and revealed that the sedimentary sequence could be referred to as the Kongdian Formation with an age range of 65-50.5 Ma. Petrological analysis suggested at least three lithostratigraphic members, with Member 1 showing significant potential for energy exploration.