The role of large-scale mass wasting processes in changing the sediment dispersal pattern in the deep-water Central Canyon of the northwestern South China Sea

Liang, Chao; Liu, Chiyang; Xie, Xinong; Yu, Xu; He, Yu; Chen, Hui; Zhou, Zhan; Tian, Dongmei; Lu, Biyu; Mi, Honggang; Li, Mingjun; Zhang, Hui; Yang, Yunliu

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104693

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…MTDs also frequently occurred in the central QDNB, as mentioned above (Liang et al, 2020). They may source from the northern slope area, western slope area, or Guangle Massif (Cheng et al, 2021) and mainly formed after ∼4.2 Ma (Liang et al, 2020). Moreover, the slope overstepping resulting from high sediment supply likely triggered the slope instability (Qin et al, 2015;Liang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Moreover, the reactivation of major faults and associated volcanism in the late Miocene were proposed as the dominant trigger mechanisms for those MTDs (Wang et al, 2013). MTDs also frequently occurred in the central QDNB, as mentioned above (Liang et al, 2020). They may source from the northern slope area, western slope area, or Guangle Massif (Cheng et al, 2021) and mainly formed after ∼4.2 Ma (Liang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The Central Canyon is > 425 km long and 3-16 km wide (Su et al, 2014). Its deep incision into the strata as old as 8.2 Ma was fully filled at ∼4.2 Ma (Liang et al, 2020). Moreover, the Central Canyon is mainly filled by the fine-grained mudstone and layered coarse-grained sandstone that acts as hydrocarbon reservoir (Wang Z. et al, 2015).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the Central Canyon is mainly filled by the fine-grained mudstone and layered coarse-grained sandstone that acts as hydrocarbon reservoir (Wang Z. et al, 2015). After ∼4.2 Ma, multiple MTDs are draped on the Central Canyon strata and formed the seal for the hydrocarbon reservoir (Liang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the slope overstepping resulting from high sediment supply likely triggered the slope instability (Qin et al, 2015;Liang et al, 2020). The occurrence of MTDs greatly changed the sediment dispersal pattern in the Central Canyon and thus influenced the hydrocarbon systems (reservoirs and seals) in the study area Liang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Thrust Faults Promoted Hydrocarbon Leakage at the Compressional Zone of Fine-Grained Mass-Transport Deposits

Sun

Xie

et al. 2021

Front. Earth Sci.

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Fine-grained mass-transport deposits (MTDs), especially their compressional toe zones, are traditionally considered as effective seal in constraining the vertical fluid migration underneath. However, this study documents thrust faults at the compressional toe zone of fine-grained MTDs that could disaggregate the seal competence and promote vertical fluid flow. The investigated MTD referred to as MTD-a lies directly over a large hydrocarbon reservoir that is located within the Central Canyon of northern South China Sea, which is examined by using high-resolution 3D seismic and borehole data. Thrust faults and irregular blocks composed of coarse-grained sandstones are observed in the compressional zone of the MTD-a’s toe. More importantly, seismic evidence (e.g., enhanced seismic reflections) suggests that a large amount of hydrocarbons from the underlying reservoir penetrated through the MTD-a along these thrust faults and charged into the coarse-grained sandstone blocks. This clear evidence of thrust faults compromising the MTD’s seal effectiveness and thus facilitating the vertical fluid flow through the non-permeable strata demonstrate the importance of reassessing the seal capacity of MTD.

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Thrust Faults Promoted Hydrocarbon Leakage at the Compressional Zone of Fine-Grained Mass-Transport Deposits

Sun

Xie

et al. 2021

Front. Earth Sci.

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RETRACTED: Structural characteristics and development model of fluid diapirs within the structural transition zone, northern South China Sea

Qin,

Liu,

Peng

et al. 2024

Geological Journal

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Fluid diapirs are widespread in the northern South China Sea (SCS), are significant indicators of the existence and distribution of hydrocarbons and natural gas hydrates and are of great petroleum geological significance. Based on high‐precision 3D seismic and drilling data, this paper analyses the tectonic features and genetic mechanism of a fluid diapir zone in the northern SCS and a development model of fluid diapirs is proposed herein. Studies have revealed that the northern SCS large‐scale fluid diapir zone is located within a concealed structural transition zone, which is consistent with the spatial distribution location and direction of a concealed structural transition zone and that the formation of a fluid diapir zone is strongly influenced by the structural transition zone. Fluid diapirs are large continuously spreading bright reflection zones in shallow surface layers and are downwards converging high‐variance ribbons in middle and shallow layers, all of which are spreading in a NW–NNW orientation on the plane. The profile shows a conical or mushroom‐shaped shape that converges from shallow to deep, with a height of approximately 7 km and is characterized by a compound gas chimney fuzzy zone. The main body of the concealed structural transition zone is a slope structure and is flanked by large‐scale NW–NNW‐oriented fault systems. Minor en echelon spreading NW–NNW‐oriented faults and fractures are developed within the structural transition zone and are soft linkages that match well with the distribution direction and location of the fluid diapirs. On the profile, the overall display is a composite flower‐like structure dispersed from deep to shallow, which belongs to a large strike‐slip fault zone with a tectonic transformation effect. A comprehensive analysis suggests that the formation and development of the structural transition zone are mainly controlled by pre‐existing structures in the basement and that minor faults, fractures and slope zones within the structural transition zone serve as dominant pathways for the migration of deep overpressure fluids and gas hydrates. Consequently, the concealed structural transition zone provides favourable conditions for fluid diapirs to develop. Moreover, the stratigraphic overpressure systems mainly caused by gas generation provided the main driving force for the formation of fluid diapirs. Obviously, the development location, distribution direction, formation and evolution of the northern SCS fluid diapirs are jointly controlled by internal minor faults and fractures of the Eocene‐Miocene structural transition zone and the overpressure of the rifting period after the Pliocene. The main development period of the northern SCS large‐scale fluid diapirs was the second phase of the Dongsha Movement. During the exploration of gas hydrates and hydrocarbons in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, it is essential to consider the mutually restricting relationships between fluid diapir structures and gas hydrates and hydrocarbons.

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Multistage geomorphic evolution of the Central Canyon in the Qiongdongnan Basin, NW South China Sea

Chen

Zhou

et al. 2021

Mar Geophys Res

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The role of large-scale mass wasting processes in changing the sediment dispersal pattern in the deep-water Central Canyon of the northwestern South China Sea

Cited by 11 publications

References 54 publications

Thrust Faults Promoted Hydrocarbon Leakage at the Compressional Zone of Fine-Grained Mass-Transport Deposits

Thrust Faults Promoted Hydrocarbon Leakage at the Compressional Zone of Fine-Grained Mass-Transport Deposits

RETRACTED: Structural characteristics and development model of fluid diapirs within the structural transition zone, northern South China Sea

Multistage geomorphic evolution of the Central Canyon in the Qiongdongnan Basin, NW South China Sea

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