Influence of Sublacustrine Fan Depositional Model on Distribution and Morphology of Reservoirs: A Case Study in Eastern Slope of Liaoxi Uplift, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

The study on morphology and distribution of sublacustrine fan are necessary for the exploration of oil and gas, which could help to effectively predict the reservoirs of sublacustrine fans. In this paper, the distribution and geomorphology of sublacustrine fans of Dongying Formation in Liaoxi uplift (Bohai Bay Basin, East China) and their controlling factors (including shape and formations) have been analyzed in detail based on seismic, core, and logging data. The main conclusions achieved in this study are: (1) During the sequence of the third member of Dongying Formation (SQd(3)), two types of sublacustrine fan, including channelized fan (in channel shape) and non-channelized fan (in tongue shape and lobe shape), developed on the eastern slope of Liaoxi uplift, which inherited the characteristics of sediments structural maturity in braided river delta front (good sandstone sorting and high structural maturity); (2) Steep slope was favorable for forming tongue shape sublacustrine fans with large ratio of length and width, while gentle slope tended to deposit lobe shape fans; high mud content tended to form stable channels with strong erosion on the slope end, while high sand content tended to form continuous lobes with lobe shape; (3) In the basin with uplift, the beneficial combination among provenance, relative lake level change and paleomorphology, determines the development and distribution of sublacustrine fan, and the sublacustrine fan deposits are mainly concentrated in the TST. The Yanshan fold belt in the west provided sufficient sediments to the Liaodong Bay during LST for the development of a sublacustrine fan in the east slope of Liaoxi uplift since the Liaoxi uplift sunk into the water, with the result that the deposition of braided river delta front can overlap the uplift. The incised canyons in the Liaoxi uplift provided the channels for sediments entering into the eastern slope, and the main sedimentary location of lacustrine fans was between two stages of faults. This study could provide a theoretical basis for researching the characteristics and distribution of other sublacustrine fans in similar basin backgrounds.

Automated summary

This study analyzes the distribution and geomorphology of sublacustrine fans in the Dongying Formation in the Liaoxi uplift of the Bohai Bay Basin, East China, and identifies the controlling factors. The study reveals that two types of sublacustrine fans, channelized and non-channelized, developed on the eastern slope of the uplift. The slope gradient, sediment composition, and relative lake level change were found to influence the shape and formation of the fans. The study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the characteristics and distribution of sublacustrine fans in similar basin settings.