Depositional characteristics of Dalong Formation and its potential as hydrocarbon source rocks in Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi

Abstract

The Late Permian Dalong Formation in Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi in South China could be subdivided into several sedimentary types according to the lithology, indicative of the great spatial variations of both the lithology and sedimentary facies. The Dalong Formation deposited during the highest transgression of Late Permian, in particular under the anaerobic and suboxic conditions, which shows a strong linkage with the hydrocarbon source rocks. The Dalong Formation has some favorable properties such as hydrocarbon source rocks, including the sediments deposited in highest transgression sea level, the deep slope sedimentary environments and the low sedimentary rate, which raises the importance of the investigations on the sedimentary features, the geochemical properties and their relationship with the oil potential.