Exploring the mysteries of deep oil and gas formation in the South China Sea to guide Palaeocene exploration in the Pearl River Mouth Basin

Deep oil and gas resources in the South China Sea have drawn increasing attention in recent years, involving several essential challenges such as favorable zone prediction, deep burial, poor data quality, non-homogeneous reservoir properties, low drilling rate, and the low research degree of Paleozoic strata. These issues vastly affect the exploration and development of deep oil and gas resources in this area. Specifically, the Lufeng and Huizhou Depressions exhibit rich hydrocarbon accumulation and distribution areas in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, thereby possess great resource potential. The seven papers discussed here propose a set of practical techniques that can be applied to the exploration of deep Paleogene in the shallow layers of the Pearl River Mouth Basin. All of these works make important contributions deepening the theory of Paleogene reservoir formation and promoting further exploration of Paleogene in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, to increase the hydrocarbon storage and production prospects.

Automated summary

Deep oil and gas resources in the South China Sea face various challenges, but the Lufeng and Huizhou Depressions in the Pearl River Mouth Basin have significant potential. The seven papers discussed in this article propose practical techniques for exploring the shallow layers of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, which contribute to the theory of Paleogene reservoir formation and further exploration.