Characteristics of strike-slip fault-related fractures and their controls on reservoir in Halahatang area, northern Tarim Basin

Abstract

The strike-slip fault system in the central Tarim Craton controls a complex petroleum system with estimated reserves exceeding 1×10⁹ t, the fault-related fractures are important for hydrocarbon accumulation. In this paper, the basic parameters such as density and width of fractures are counted and classified, and the effects of fractures on reservoirs are analyzed. The results show that: (1) Structural fractures and stylolite were widely developed in Halahatang area and experienced at least three stages of activity based on the infilling materials and crosscutting relationship. (2) Fracture density, width, aperture, and dip angle vary in different wells, but the relationship between the above parameters and the distance to the fault core indicates the fracture differences in the fault damage zone and further provides a method to divide the inner units in the fault damage zone. In addition, oil and gas wells with high production mainly concentrate in the inner unit. (3) The infilling materials and degree of fractures vary. Fractures formed in the early stage are more filled and less open, while the fractures formed in the late stage are relatively less filled and more open. (4) Fractures improve porosity to a certain extent but greatly increase permeability, especially in the inner zone of fault damage zone with large quantity, multiple inclinations, less filling and large width. These features contribute to the formation of a higher-quality reservoir, further improving oil and gas production. This paper provides a quantitative characterization method for the study of strike-slip fault-related fracture-caved reservoirs, and points out that fault damage zone, especially the inner zone of the fault damage zone, is the potential goal for oil and gas exploration.

Keywords

Petroleum system / Strike-slip fault system / Fracture parameters / Fracturing stage / Ordovician / Carbonate rock / Fault damage zone / Fracture-cave reservoir / Oil-gas exploration engineering / Halahatang area / Tarim Basin

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Bing-shan Ma and Guang-hui Wu conceived of the presented idea. Li-xin Chen and Guang-hui Wu supervised the findings of this work. Xiao-xu Liu and Bing-shan Ma contributed to the interpretation of the results. Xiao-xu Liu, Bing-shan Ma, Zhou Su, Bo Yang, Bin Zhao wrote the manuscript in consultation. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgement

We thanked two anonymous reviewers, together with editor Profs. Zi-guo Hao, for their constructive comments focusing us on improving the manuscript. PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company was thanked for permission for publication. This study was jointly supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China-Youth Foundation (42402163), Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province of China (2024NSFSC0814), and Science and Technology Cooperation Project of the CNPC-SWPU Innovation Alliance (2020CX010101). Hao Tang and Wei-zhen Tian were thanked for their kind help during the preparation of the manuscript.

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