SEDIMENTARY CHARACTERISTICS OF CARBONATE INTRA-PLATFORM SHOALS AND THEIR FORMATION IN ORDOVICIAN TARIM BASIN, WEST CHINA

The widely distributed carbonate intra-platform shoals has become a new important exploration target within the Tarim Basin, where reservoirs of Yubei oil-field (discovered in 2011) and the Shunnan oil-field (discovered in 2013) occur. Better understanding of the sedimentary characteristics and formation of intra-platform shoals is significant for predicting the distribution of Ordovician shoal reservoirs.

The sedimentary characteristics, distribution patterns and formation mechanisms of carbonate intra-platform shoals in Ordovician Tarim Basin were studied based on outcrop analogue, core data, thin section observation, seismic, and well log data. Those shoals include oolitic shoal, intraclast shoal and bioclastic shoal. The intra-platform shoal consists of three sedimentary units: shoal base, shoal core and shoal cover, which are adjacent to intershoal sea faces.

Laterally, the intra-platform shoals occurred as a more continuous sheet-like body.The intra-platform shoals deposited mainly in the lowstand systems tract and late stage of highstand systems tract.

Several factors were probably responsible for the occurrence of intra-platform shoals, including: (i) a relatively shallow-water condition with a strong hydrodynamic environment, (ii) high-frequency oscillations of the sea level, and (iii) Subtle paleo-highs and relatively weak structural activities, which are important for the spatial distribution of reservoir facies.