Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China

S-wave seismic data are unaffected by natural gas trapped in strata, making them a valuable tool to study evaporite facies comparing to P-wave data. S-wave seismic data were utilized to construct an isochronous framework and analyze evaporite facies by seismic sedimentology methods in the Quaternary...

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Main Authors: Guoyong Liu, Zhaohui Xu, Jiangtao Li, Yong Song, Hongliu Zeng, Xiaomin Zhu, Jixian Tian, Chunming Lin, Lei Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2288
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author Guoyong Liu
Zhaohui Xu
Jiangtao Li
Yong Song
Hongliu Zeng
Xiaomin Zhu
Jixian Tian
Chunming Lin
Lei Jiang
author_facet Guoyong Liu
Zhaohui Xu
Jiangtao Li
Yong Song
Hongliu Zeng
Xiaomin Zhu
Jixian Tian
Chunming Lin
Lei Jiang
author_sort Guoyong Liu
collection DOAJ
description S-wave seismic data are unaffected by natural gas trapped in strata, making them a valuable tool to study evaporite facies comparing to P-wave data. S-wave seismic data were utilized to construct an isochronous framework and analyze evaporite facies by seismic sedimentology methods in the Quaternary biogenic gas-bearing Taidong area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China, with calibration from wireline logs, geochemical evidences, and modern analogs. Techniques of phase rotation, frequency decomposition, R (Red), G (Green), B (Blue) fusion, and stratal slices were integrated to reconstruct seismic geomorphological features. Linear and sub-circular morphologies, resembling those observed in modern saline pans such as Lake Chad, were identified. Observations from Upper Pleistocene outcrops of anhydrite and halite at Yanshan (east of the Taidong area), along with lithological and paleo-environmental records from boreholes SG-5, SG-1, and SG-1b (northwest of the Taidong area), support the seismic findings. The slices generated from the S-wave seismic data indicate a progressive increase in the occurrence of evaporite features from the K2 standard zone upwards. The vertical occurrence of evaporite facies in the Taidong area increases, which coincides with the contemporary regional and global arid paleo-environmental changes. The interpretation of Quaternary stratal slices reveals a transition from a freshwater lake to brackish, saline, and finally, a dry saline pan, overlaid by silt. This analysis provides valuable insights into locating evaporites as cap rocks for biogenic gas accumulation and also into mining the evaporite mineral resources in shallow layers of the Taidong area.
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spelling doaj-art-97e34f83a07d4df38f4915a4414f6b2b2025-08-20T02:05:23ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01155228810.3390/app15052288Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW ChinaGuoyong Liu0Zhaohui Xu1Jiangtao Li2Yong Song3Hongliu Zeng4Xiaomin Zhu5Jixian Tian6Chunming Lin7Lei Jiang8PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang 736202, ChinaPetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang 736202, ChinaPetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang 736202, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaBureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USACollege of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric and Environmental Coevolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaS-wave seismic data are unaffected by natural gas trapped in strata, making them a valuable tool to study evaporite facies comparing to P-wave data. S-wave seismic data were utilized to construct an isochronous framework and analyze evaporite facies by seismic sedimentology methods in the Quaternary biogenic gas-bearing Taidong area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China, with calibration from wireline logs, geochemical evidences, and modern analogs. Techniques of phase rotation, frequency decomposition, R (Red), G (Green), B (Blue) fusion, and stratal slices were integrated to reconstruct seismic geomorphological features. Linear and sub-circular morphologies, resembling those observed in modern saline pans such as Lake Chad, were identified. Observations from Upper Pleistocene outcrops of anhydrite and halite at Yanshan (east of the Taidong area), along with lithological and paleo-environmental records from boreholes SG-5, SG-1, and SG-1b (northwest of the Taidong area), support the seismic findings. The slices generated from the S-wave seismic data indicate a progressive increase in the occurrence of evaporite features from the K2 standard zone upwards. The vertical occurrence of evaporite facies in the Taidong area increases, which coincides with the contemporary regional and global arid paleo-environmental changes. The interpretation of Quaternary stratal slices reveals a transition from a freshwater lake to brackish, saline, and finally, a dry saline pan, overlaid by silt. This analysis provides valuable insights into locating evaporites as cap rocks for biogenic gas accumulation and also into mining the evaporite mineral resources in shallow layers of the Taidong area.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2288seismic sedimentologyseismic geomorphologyQuaternary evaporite faciesS-wave 3D seismic dataevaporite mineralsbiogenic gas reservoirs
spellingShingle Guoyong Liu
Zhaohui Xu
Jiangtao Li
Yong Song
Hongliu Zeng
Xiaomin Zhu
Jixian Tian
Chunming Lin
Lei Jiang
Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
Applied Sciences
seismic sedimentology
seismic geomorphology
Quaternary evaporite facies
S-wave 3D seismic data
evaporite minerals
biogenic gas reservoirs
title Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
title_full Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
title_fullStr Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
title_full_unstemmed Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
title_short Seismic Sedimentology for the Characterization of Quaternary Evaporite Facies in Biogas-Bearing Taidong Area, Sanhu Depression, Qaidam Basin, NW China
title_sort seismic sedimentology for the characterization of quaternary evaporite facies in biogas bearing taidong area sanhu depression qaidam basin nw china
topic seismic sedimentology
seismic geomorphology
Quaternary evaporite facies
S-wave 3D seismic data
evaporite minerals
biogenic gas reservoirs
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2288
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