Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production

Bozhong Depression is the marine part of Bohai Bay Basin and is also the area with the most abundant offshore oil and gas resources in China. According to recent seismic data, kinematic evolution has resulted in a double-layer velocity structure as well as a corresponding double-layer thermal struct...

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Main Authors: Yubei He, Jian Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Asian Earth Sciences: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590056025000076
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author Yubei He
Jian Zhang
author_facet Yubei He
Jian Zhang
author_sort Yubei He
collection DOAJ
description Bozhong Depression is the marine part of Bohai Bay Basin and is also the area with the most abundant offshore oil and gas resources in China. According to recent seismic data, kinematic evolution has resulted in a double-layer velocity structure as well as a corresponding double-layer thermal structure in the crust and mantle in Bozhong Depression. Under the influence of the India–Eurasia collision and Pacific plate subduction, Bohai Bay Basin has been subjected to active rifting and associated heat transfers since the late Cenozoic, resulting in two sets of deep and shallow oil and gas reservoir systems, which are related to the double-layer thermal structure. However, the evolution mechanism of this structure remains unclear because of lack of research on the vertical structure of the lithosphere in the area. We conducted finite-element simulations using seismic, geomagnetic, and geothermal heat flow data; results indicate synchronous uplift of deep mantle material and high-temperature crustal material in Bozhong Depression around 23 Ma. Around 5.3 Ma, retreat of the Pacific plate subduction accelerated and the deep mantle was uplifted by a small amount, creating a double-layer structure with differential uplift between the mantle and the crust. Successive synchronous and differential uplift in a double-layer thermal structure explains the anomalously high temperatures found during exploratory drilling in Bozhong Depression. Furthermore, the temperature of the sedimentary stratum in Bozhong Depression currently lies within the best window for oil and gas generation; it is the Golden Age for numerous oil and gas reservoirs.
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spelling doaj-art-692eaa63c31b4feaacddf8b841c5f5c02025-08-20T02:06:15ZengElsevierJournal of Asian Earth Sciences: X2590-05602025-06-011310019610.1016/j.jaesx.2025.100196Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon productionYubei He0Jian Zhang1College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaCorresponding author.; College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaBozhong Depression is the marine part of Bohai Bay Basin and is also the area with the most abundant offshore oil and gas resources in China. According to recent seismic data, kinematic evolution has resulted in a double-layer velocity structure as well as a corresponding double-layer thermal structure in the crust and mantle in Bozhong Depression. Under the influence of the India–Eurasia collision and Pacific plate subduction, Bohai Bay Basin has been subjected to active rifting and associated heat transfers since the late Cenozoic, resulting in two sets of deep and shallow oil and gas reservoir systems, which are related to the double-layer thermal structure. However, the evolution mechanism of this structure remains unclear because of lack of research on the vertical structure of the lithosphere in the area. We conducted finite-element simulations using seismic, geomagnetic, and geothermal heat flow data; results indicate synchronous uplift of deep mantle material and high-temperature crustal material in Bozhong Depression around 23 Ma. Around 5.3 Ma, retreat of the Pacific plate subduction accelerated and the deep mantle was uplifted by a small amount, creating a double-layer structure with differential uplift between the mantle and the crust. Successive synchronous and differential uplift in a double-layer thermal structure explains the anomalously high temperatures found during exploratory drilling in Bozhong Depression. Furthermore, the temperature of the sedimentary stratum in Bozhong Depression currently lies within the best window for oil and gas generation; it is the Golden Age for numerous oil and gas reservoirs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590056025000076Bohai Bay BasinBozhong depressionFinite element simulationDynamic mechanism and evolution
spellingShingle Yubei He
Jian Zhang
Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences: X
Bohai Bay Basin
Bozhong depression
Finite element simulation
Dynamic mechanism and evolution
title Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
title_full Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
title_fullStr Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
title_full_unstemmed Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
title_short Formation mechanism of the deep double-layer thermal structure in Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and its impact on hydrocarbon production
title_sort formation mechanism of the deep double layer thermal structure in bohai bay basin eastern china and its impact on hydrocarbon production
topic Bohai Bay Basin
Bozhong depression
Finite element simulation
Dynamic mechanism and evolution
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590056025000076
work_keys_str_mv AT yubeihe formationmechanismofthedeepdoublelayerthermalstructureinbohaibaybasineasternchinaanditsimpactonhydrocarbonproduction
AT jianzhang formationmechanismofthedeepdoublelayerthermalstructureinbohaibaybasineasternchinaanditsimpactonhydrocarbonproduction