Sedimentary characteristics and formation mechanisms of lacustrine beach-bars in the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation in the Shubei area, western depression of the Liaohe Oilfield, China

Abstract

Beach-bars are well developed in the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation in the Shubei area, western depression of the Liaohe oilfield. The fourth member is composed of two three-order sequences, including a lower Sequence 1 (SQ1) and an upper Sequence 2 (SQ2). SQ2, which is the focus of this study, comprises a lowstand systems tract (LST) and a transgressive system tract (TST). Three types of beach-bars have been recognized: shallow-littoral lacustrine sandy beach-bars, semi-deep lacustrine storm-related sandy beach-bars and shallow-littoral lacustrine carbonate beach-bars. Paleo-environments during the deposition of SQ2, including the paleo-geomorphology, paleo-water depth and paleo-source have been reconstructed to determine the formation mechanisms of the different types of beach-bars. The shallow-littoral lacustrine sandy beach-bars formed mainly by waves and currents and were mostly deposited in the LST, where water depths ranged from 3 to 9 m and the terrestrial clast supply is sufficient. The storm-related sandy beach-bars developed in the TST in the southern part of the study area near previously massively deposited sand bodies where there was sufficient water depth to preserve them. The carbonate beach-bars formed primarily in the TST in the Shubei low buried hill belt where there was a lack of terrestrial clast supply and complex, uneven geomorphology that easily gave rise to a lagoonal environment.

Keywords

beach-bars / Shubei area / sedimentary characteristics / formation mechanisms / western depression / Liaohe oilfield

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