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Types and Evolution of the Miocene Reefs Based on Seismic Data in the Beikang Basin, South China Sea

Authors :
Zhen Yang
Guozhang Fan
Wei Yan
Xuefeng Wang
Guoqing Zhang
Zhili Yang
Zuofei Zhu
Yuanze Zhang
Huai Cheng
Hongxun Tian
Li Li
Qiang Zhang
Source :
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol 12, Iss 2, p 360 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

During the Miocene, several reefs formed in the Beikang Basin, South China Sea, which may be potential targets for hydrocarbon exploration. This is due to the environment that developed as a result of the collision, splitting, and splicing of the Nansha Block, which was influenced by the Neogene expansion of the area. However, studies on the types, distribution, controlling factors, and evolution stages of these reefs are scarce. In this study, we used high-resolution seismic data and extensive well-drilling records to gain insights into the evolution of reefs in this particular area. Six distinct types of reefs, namely, the point reef, the platform-edge reef, the block reef, the bedded reef, the pinnacle reef, and the atoll reef, were identified based on our data. These reefs underwent four stages of development. During the initial stage, a few small-sized point reefs emerged in the basin and experienced significant growth during the early Middle Miocene. In the flourishing stage, the reefs predominantly thrived around the Central Uplift and Eastern Uplift areas. In the recession stage, the reefs began to deteriorate during the late Middle Miocene period as a result of the rapid increase in relative sea level caused by tectonic subsidence. In the submerged stage, since the Late Miocene, as the relative sea level continued to rise steadily over time, many reefs that had previously flourished surrounding the Central Uplift and Eastern Uplift areas became submerged underwater, with only a handful of atoll reefs surviving near islands located on the Eastern Uplift. This study indicated the presence of a significant number of well-preserved reefs in the Beikang Basin that have experienced minimal subsequent diagenesis and therefore exhibit high potential as reservoirs for oil and gas exploration.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20771312
Volume :
12
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.11e1352bd6748b3a7fa04cfe6f4bb77
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12020360