Xinjiang Petroleum Geology ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4): 379-392.doi: 10.7657/XJPG20260401

• OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Hydrocarbon Accumulation Conditions and Exploration Directions of the Devonian in the Central Part of Western Sichuan Depression

LI Shuangjian1(), ZHANG Lei1a, MA Jianfei1a, WU Qingjie2, MENG Xianwu2, DUAN Nan1a, SHI Lei1a   

  1. 1 Sinopec, a. Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute; b. Key Laboratory of Geology and Resources in Deep Strata, Beijing 102206, China
    2 Research Institute of Exploration and Development, Southwest Oil & Gas Company, Sinopec, Chengdu, Sichuan 610095, China
  • Received:2026-04-02 Revised:2026-05-16 Accepted:2026-06-25 Online:2026-08-01 Published:2026-07-30

Abstract:

Influenced by the expansion of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean, the Devonian system along the western margin of the Yangtze Block presents a continuous sedimentary succession, with thickness up to several kilometers, providing favorable petroleum geological conditions. Due to complex surface structures and large burial depth of the Devonian in the Longmenshan piedmont zone of the Western Sichuan depression, this area has been insufficiently explored and studied. Moreover, there is limited research on stratigraphic distribution, reservoir development patterns, and hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation conditions of the Devonian in the deeply buried zones in the basin. Based on high-precision, contiguous 3D seismic data, this study identifies and confirms the presence of Middle-Upper Devonian high-energy facies zones. By integrating drilling and outcrop data, the fundamental hydrocarbon accumulation conditions of the Devonian in the central part of the Western Sichuan Depression are clarified, and future exploration directions are proposed. The results show that the strata in the Middle Devonian-Carboniferous in the central part of the Western Sichuan depression have a residual thickness ranging from 0 to 450 m, gradually decreasing from west to east, with a distribution area of up to 6,500 km2. The Middle-Upper Devonian is primarily an open platform to restricted platform depositional system, where high-quality reservoirs are mainly intraplatform facies and contain dissolution pores/vugs, jointly controlled by high-energy facies zones, fractures and early-stage dissolution. These high-quality reservoirs exhibit distinct medium-strong amplitude, discontinuous reflection features on seismic sections, and distribute as NE-SW-trending strips, covering an area of approximately 2,000 km2. Structural-lithologic traps in the Middle-Upper Devonian across the Western Sichuan depression, formed during the Indosinian period, show a good match with the peak hydrocarbon generation period of the Cambrian main source rocks. The overlying Triassic gypsum-salt rocks serve as a regional seal, ensuring excellent preservation conditions. Individual reservoirs can reach 100 m in thickness. These characteristics imply potential for forming large-to-medium, high-abundance gas fields. It is concluded that the Middle-Upper Devonian can be taken as a favorable target for deep-to-ultradeep marine exploration in the Sichuan Basin.

Key words: Sichuan Basin, Western Sichuan depression, Longmenshan piedmont zone, Devonian, high-Energy facies zone, hydrocarbon accumulation condition, exploration direction

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