Identification and Distribution of Lower Cretaceous Source Rocks in Ying’er Sag, Jiuquan Basin

Abstract

Based on the sequence stratigraphy study, the relation between dark mudstone ratio and sedimentary facies in different system tracts is observed and used to forcast the distribution of dark mudstones in the main formation combining with seismic data and well log. However, not all dark mudstones can generate hydrocarbon, so the source rock quality is quoted to calculate the thickness of the source rock within mudstone. The results show that the favored source rock in lake progressive system tracts and the bottom of highstand system tracts of Xiagou Formation and Chijinpu Formation are related to a group of reflectors with medium-strong amplitude, medium-low frequency and medium to comparatively good lateral continuity. The source rock of Xiagou Formation with high organic content and wide-range distribution is the major hydrocarbon source in Ying’er Sag, while Chijinpu Formation with thick dark mudstones is the potential source rock and the target of the further exploration.