Mechanism Study of Hydrocarbon Differential Distribution Controlled by the Activity of Growing Faults in Faulted Basins: Case Study of Paleogene in the Wang Guantun Area, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Mechanisms that lead to different quantities of hydrocarbon accumulation in complex fault blocks are a major subject that impacts further development plans of oil and gas fields. To better understand such mechanisms, fault activity has been interpreted along with existing electron micrographs from the fault zone, petrophysical data, and the occurrence of the seismic pump. This enabled us to investigate the controlling mechanisms of the growth faults and other associated faults with the main growth fault in the Wang Guantun area that could have impacted hydrocarbon distribution. The results showed that the activity of Kongdong growth fault is periodic and intermittent, which produced strong seismic pumping action. Furthermore, a series of secondary faults were generated in adjacent strata due to the fault activity, which could have led to the formation of a secondary seismic pump source. A combination of these two incidents is believed to influence the differential distribution of hydrocarbons in the area, in fault-associated reservoirs. Ultimately, we correlated the activity of the growth fault to the strength of the pumping force causing the distribution of hydrocarbons in the active parts of the faults (pump source position) on the horizontal plane and vertically located reservoirs to be more dominant.

Automated summary

The study found that the active Kongdong growth fault produces strong seismic pumping action, leading to the formation of secondary faults in adjacent strata, which impact hydrocarbon distribution. It is believed that the pumping force caused by the growth fault influences the dominant distribution of hydrocarbons in the active parts of the faults and vertically located reservoirs.