Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China
Archaean metamorphic basement reservoirs, characterized by the development of natural fractures, constitute the primary target for oil and gas exploration in the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China. Based on analyses of geophysical image logs, cores, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Guanjie Zhang Jingshou Liu Lei Zhang Elsheikh Ahmed Qi Cheng Ning Shi Yang Luo |
| author_facet | Guanjie Zhang Jingshou Liu Lei Zhang Elsheikh Ahmed Qi Cheng Ning Shi Yang Luo |
| author_sort | Guanjie Zhang |
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| description | Archaean metamorphic basement reservoirs, characterized by the development of natural fractures, constitute the primary target for oil and gas exploration in the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China. Based on analyses of geophysical image logs, cores, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laboratory measurements, tectonic fractures are identified as the dominant type of natural fracture. Their development is primarily controlled by lithology, weathering intensity, and faulting. Fractures preferentially develop in metamorphic rocks with low plastic mineral content and are positively correlated with weathering intensity. Fracture orientations are predominantly parallel or subparallel to fault strikes, while localized stress perturbations induced by faulting significantly increase fracture density. Open fractures, constituting more than 60% of the total reservoir porosity, serve as both primary storage spaces and dominant fluid flow conduits, fundamentally governing reservoir quality. Consequently, spatial heterogeneity in fracture distribution drives distinct vertical zonation within the reservoir. The lithological units are ranked by fracture development potential (in descending order): leptynite, migmatitic granite, gneiss, cataclasite, diorite-porphyrite, and diabase. Diabase represents the lower threshold for effective reservoir formation, whereas overlying lithologies may function as reservoirs under favorable conditions. The large-scale compressional orogeny during the Indosinian period marked the primary phase of tectonic fracture formation. Subsequent uplift and inversion during the Yanshanian period further modified and overlaid the Indosinian structures. These structures are characterized by strong strike-slip strain, resulting in a series of conjugate shear fractures. During the Himalayan period, preexisting fractures were primarily reactivated, significantly influencing fracture effectiveness. The development model of the fracture network system in the metamorphic basement reservoirs of the study area is determined by a coupling mechanism of dominant lithology and multiphase fracturing. The spatial network reservoir system, under the control of multistage structure and weathering, is key to the formation of large-scale effective reservoirs in the metamorphic basement. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-98bc9adaaec04cab82ccd9bbc02f080d2025-08-20T02:28:15ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-04-0113481610.3390/jmse13040816Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern ChinaGuanjie Zhang0Jingshou Liu1Lei Zhang2Elsheikh Ahmed3Qi Cheng4Ning Shi5Yang Luo6School of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaTianjin Branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Tianjin 841000, ChinaSchool of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaTianjin Branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Tianjin 841000, ChinaSchool of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaArchaean metamorphic basement reservoirs, characterized by the development of natural fractures, constitute the primary target for oil and gas exploration in the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China. Based on analyses of geophysical image logs, cores, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laboratory measurements, tectonic fractures are identified as the dominant type of natural fracture. Their development is primarily controlled by lithology, weathering intensity, and faulting. Fractures preferentially develop in metamorphic rocks with low plastic mineral content and are positively correlated with weathering intensity. Fracture orientations are predominantly parallel or subparallel to fault strikes, while localized stress perturbations induced by faulting significantly increase fracture density. Open fractures, constituting more than 60% of the total reservoir porosity, serve as both primary storage spaces and dominant fluid flow conduits, fundamentally governing reservoir quality. Consequently, spatial heterogeneity in fracture distribution drives distinct vertical zonation within the reservoir. The lithological units are ranked by fracture development potential (in descending order): leptynite, migmatitic granite, gneiss, cataclasite, diorite-porphyrite, and diabase. Diabase represents the lower threshold for effective reservoir formation, whereas overlying lithologies may function as reservoirs under favorable conditions. The large-scale compressional orogeny during the Indosinian period marked the primary phase of tectonic fracture formation. Subsequent uplift and inversion during the Yanshanian period further modified and overlaid the Indosinian structures. These structures are characterized by strong strike-slip strain, resulting in a series of conjugate shear fractures. During the Himalayan period, preexisting fractures were primarily reactivated, significantly influencing fracture effectiveness. The development model of the fracture network system in the metamorphic basement reservoirs of the study area is determined by a coupling mechanism of dominant lithology and multiphase fracturing. The spatial network reservoir system, under the control of multistage structure and weathering, is key to the formation of large-scale effective reservoirs in the metamorphic basement.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/4/816natural fracturesfracture characteristicscontrolling factorsmetamorphic basement reservoirfracture development patternBozhong depression |
| spellingShingle | Guanjie Zhang Jingshou Liu Lei Zhang Elsheikh Ahmed Qi Cheng Ning Shi Yang Luo Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China Journal of Marine Science and Engineering natural fractures fracture characteristics controlling factors metamorphic basement reservoir fracture development pattern Bozhong depression |
| title | Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China |
| title_full | Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China |
| title_fullStr | Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China |
| title_short | Development Characteristics of Natural Fractures in Metamorphic Basement Reservoirs and Their Impacts on Reservoir Performance: A Case Study from the Bozhong Depression, Bohai Sea Area, Eastern China |
| title_sort | development characteristics of natural fractures in metamorphic basement reservoirs and their impacts on reservoir performance a case study from the bozhong depression bohai sea area eastern china |
| topic | natural fractures fracture characteristics controlling factors metamorphic basement reservoir fracture development pattern Bozhong depression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/4/816 |
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