Comprehensive insight of the Cambrian carbonate platform types as well as margin segmentation characteristics' exploration in Tarim Basin, China

AbstractThe carbonate platform types and features of the platform margin belt plays an important role in controlling the reservoir formation; it also affects the relationship between reservoirs and caps. The Cambrian carbonate platform in the Tarim Basin underwent three evolutionary processes, namely, the Early Cambrian ramp platform, the Middle Cambrian edging evaporative platform, and the Late Cambrian edging platform; the northern platform margin was the deposition type, whereas the eastern platform margin was for fault control, additionally, the Lungu-Gucheng had evident sectional differences. The line from Wushi-Kashi-Maigaiti-Hetian to Minfeng of the southwestern Tarim Basin was an ancient land in the Early Cambrian. Through evolution, the sea level raised the underwater lows in the Middle and Late Cambrian period that possibly developed it to platform edge deposits in the Late Cambrian. The carbonate platform margin of both steep slope and gentle slope formed different reservoir-seal assemblages. The Upper Cambrian aggradation-progradation platform margin reservoir in the steep slope of the eastern Lungu and Gucheng area was developed with good connectivity, its caprock had been always the key of the platform margin reservoir-seal assemblages. Therefore, the reef-beach located behind the platform margin belt near the seaside of the lagoon had favorable reservoirs; the reservoirs often overlaid carbonate caprock which formed good reservoir-seal assemblages. The platform margin belt in the gentle slope in the Well Yingmai 7-Well Yingmai 8, in west Tabei, was a dolomite reservoir for algal mound and reef-bank complex with caprock of middle-lower Cambrian dolomicrite, gypsum dolomite, and mud dolomite. Aforementioned dense layers' reservoir-seal assemblage was superior to that of the eastern Lungu and Gucheng that had better exploration prospects