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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Structural Geology and Tectonics
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1515685

A complete structural analysis of the F Ⅰ 17 strike-slip fault and its hydrocarbon enrichment factors, Tarim basin, NW China

Provisionally accepted
Shi Chen Shi Chen 1*Xinxin Liang Xinxin Liang 1Xingguo Song Xingguo Song 1Yintao Zhang Yintao Zhang 2Zhou Xie Zhou Xie 2Yuan Neng Yuan Neng 1Pengfei Kang Pengfei Kang 2Jianxun Zhou Jianxun Zhou 1
  • 1 College of Science, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China
  • 2 PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company, Korla, Xinjiang, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The FⅠ17 fault is a prominent strike-slip fault in the central Tarim basin, notable for its hydrocarbon abundance and intricate tectonic attributes, characterized by several deflections in its planar trajectory. Analyzing the F Ⅰ 17 fault offers crucial insights into the role of basement structures on the evolution and formation of intracratonic strike-slip fault systems. This study utilizes the latest seismic data and integrating the foundation of previous research to conduct a detailed investigation into the spatial distribution, deformation intensity, activity phases, and formation mechanisms of the fault. The fault can be divided into three structural layers based on deformation features. The deep layer, situated beneath the TЄ3 interface (the bottom of the Upper Cambrian), shows basement rifts and weak strike-slip activity. The middle layer, spanning from TЄ3 to TO3 (the bottom of the Upper Ordovician), exhibits pronounced deformation with flower-like structures. The upper layer, extending from the TO3 to TP (the bottom of the Permian), is marked by three groups of en-echelon normal faults. Controlled by Precambrian basement heterogeneity, the fault evolved through three stages: weak compressive stress during the Middle -Late Cambrian led to rupture along basement rifts and weak zones that formed the fault's embryonic shape; strong compressive stress from Middle-Late Ordovician activated and propagated the fault upwards; during the Silurian-Carboniferous, the fault experienced episodic reactivation and result in the emergence of en-echelon normal faults. Hydrocarbon enrichment at the FⅠ17 fault is influenced by source rock distribution, reservoir characteristics, and fault reactivation. Its positioning above the source rock center ensures an ample supply of hydrocarbon. The intense fault activity has created favorable conditions for large-scale fracture-cavity reservoir development, and the reactivation period corresponds with the hydrocarbon accumulation phase, significantly boosts hydrocarbon charging.

    Keywords: Tarim Basin, Layered deformation, Basement structure, formation mechanism, Hydrocarbon enrichment

    Received: 23 Oct 2024; Accepted: 26 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chen, Liang, Song, Zhang, Xie, Neng, Kang and Zhou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Shi Chen, College of Science, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.