Analyzing the Formation and Evolution of Strike-Slip Faults and Their Controlling Effects on Hydrocarbon Migration and Charging: A Case Study of Tahe Area, Tarim Basin
Authors: Sun Zhipeng , Yang Ruizhao , Geng Feng , Wang Li , Wang Lingda , Guo Jialiang 
Published: March 2023

The Ordovician strike-slip faults system in the Tahe area of the Tarim Basin provides an important opportunity for using 3D seismic data to document the structural characteristics, formation, and evolution of strike-slip faults and their relationship with oil and gas. With high-resolution 3D seismic data, the strike-slip faults are interpreted, classified, and described using the seismic coherence technique. The geometric characteristics, active periods, formation, and evolution process of strike-slip faults are analyzed, and the relationship between strike-slip faults and hydrocarbon accumulation and charging is discussed in this research project. On the map, the primary strike-slip faults on the east and west sides of the Tahe area are relatively sheared to each other, showing an “X” type conjugate fault, and the secondary strike-slip faults are scattered. In the cross-section, the primary strike-slip faults are inserted downward into the Cambrian basement and up to Devonian, and “Single line”, “Y”, “Flower”, and “Parallel lines” structures are observed. Bounded by the top of Ordovician, the deep and shallow parts are vertically segmented, with different structure styles. The switch of the structural style of strike-slip faults is attributed to principal stress. A deep “positive flower” shape of faults was developed in the mid-Ordovician period under the effect of compressive stress. Meanwhile, a shallow “negative flower” shape of faults was developed from the late Ordovician to the mid-Devonian period under tensile stress. The “Compound Flower” shape of deep “positive flower” shape and shallow “negative flower” shape formed by compressive and tensile activities has a wider fracture range, which leads to deep fluid migration and shallow karstification. There are two combinations of deep Ordovician strike-slip faults in the section: “Lower single branch-upper flower type” and “lower single branch-upper single branch type”. The primary faults of the former insertion into the Cambrian basement are associated with homologous secondary faults, while the latter has no derived secondary faults. It has an important impact on reservoir reconstruction and distribution, and the reservoir is controlled by faults. Strike-slip faults not only control the channel of oil and gas migration, but also the horizontal and vertical distribution of oil and gas. The closer the carbonate reservoir is to the primary fault, the more likely it is to form a high yield area. There are four types of oil and gas charging models controlled by strike-slip faults. In the area where the structure is high and the strike-slip faults are sheared relatively to each other, the larger the scale of faults, the more conducive it would be to oil and gas migration and accumulation. Among them, the charging model related to the primary fault has higher oil and gas migration efficiency. This research contributes to analyzing the relationship between strike-slip faults and oil and gas as well as playing a significant role in applications of oil and gas exploration in practical works.