114

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences 2004 Vol.47 Supp. II 114

124

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in Mesozoic and Cenozoic in Kuqa depression, Tarim basin
ZENG Lianbo1, TAN Chengxuan2 & ZHANG Mingli3
1. Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Petroleum University, Ministry of Education, Beijing 102249, China; 2. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; 3. Institute of Exploration and Development, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, Beijing 100083, China Correspondence should be addressed to Zeng Lianbo (email: lbzeng@sina.com)

Received October 17, 2003; revised August 20, 2004

Abstract Through rock acoustic emission experiments and structural deformation analysis, the tectonic stages in Meso-Cenozoic in the Kuqa depression of the Tarim basin are firstly divided. Then, combining with rock magnetic fabric analysis and memory information, the distribution characteristics of tectonic stress field of every tectonic stage are quantificationally resumed. At the same time, according to the distribution relation of tectonic stress field of hydrocarbon formation stage by the finite element numerical simulation method and the known hydrocarbon reservoirs, the effects of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation are further analyzed. The Kuqa depression has mainly experienced six tectonic movements since Mesozoic. Except that the tectonic stress field of the Early Yanshan stage (208 135 Ma) showed northeast-southwest extensional stress field where the orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was northwest-southeast, the others were compressive stress field where the orientations of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) were near north-south. Along with the closure of the paleo-Tethys ocean, the Kuqa depression in the Indosinian stage (250 208 Ma) was in strong compressive circumstance with apparently big maximum principal stress ( 1) magnitude. Due to the equilibrium adjustment of interior Eurasia, the Kuqa depression in the Early Yanshan stage (208 135 Ma) was in weak extensional circumstance with apparently small maximum principal stress ( 1) magnitude. From the Late Yanshan stage (135 65 Ma) on, with a series of collision events occurring at the south edge of Eurasia, the Kuqa depression was in compressive circumstance again in which the maximum principal stress ( 1) magnitude was from small to big in turn. The Late Himalayan stage (2.6 0.7 Ma) was the main tectonic deformation stage with the biggest principal compressive stress ( 1) magnitude. Tectonic stress field plays a dominant role in hydrocarbon formation, it not only forms migration channels and trap structures for hydrocarbon accumulation, but also is the main drive power for hydrocarbon migration vertically along faults.
Keywords: tectonic stress field, Meso-Cenozoic, hydrocarbon formation, Kuqa depression, Tarim basin. DOI: 10.1360/04zd0030

Copyright by Science in China Press 2004

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation

115

Due to different earth dynamics background, basin type, boundary condition and basin-mountain coupling model in different geological development times, the superposition basin formed in many stages of structural transformation and multi-monotype basin superposition could produce different tectonic stress field characteristics, they restricted basin construction and reconstruction and controlled the formation, migration, accumulation and conservation for hydrocar bon in every geological evolvement stage. How to resume the distribution characteristics of paleotectonic stress field and their controlling complex structural deformation characteristics in the key tectonic transformation stages is an important content in the study of multiple phases of superposition basin formation, it affects multiple phases of hydrocarbon generation and reservoir formation of this kind of basin. Therefore, study of tectonic stress field plays an important role in guiding structural deformation analysis and hydrocarbon exploration of basin. This paper takes the Kuqa depression of Tarim basin for example. On the basis of structural deformation analysis and core experiments, it quantificationally analyzes tectonic stress field in the Meso-Cenozoic. Then, through the further study of distribution relation of tectonic stress field in hydrocarbon formation stage by the finite element numerical simulation method and the known hydrocarbon reservoirs, the effects of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation are also analyzed. The Kuqa depression is located at the north of Tarim basin and the south side of Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, northwestern China. It is from Korla in the east to Wensu in the west and the south edge is approximately along the road of Tailun-Kuqa-Aksu where the east-west length is 450 km and north-south width 20 60 km. It is adjacent to Tabei uplift. The strata of this area mainly consist of the Mesozoic group and Cenozoic group, the sedimentary thickness of the Mesozoic group generally is 2000 3000 m and the Cenozoic group 3000 5000 m. The Kuqa depression experienced multiple stages of structural transformation and finally fixed at the Late Himalayan movement with fold-thrust correlative structures. The deformation characteristics in the Kuqa depression

show zoning in north-south orientation and layering in perpendicularity. In plane, there are four zones and two sags. They consist of the northern monocline structural zone, Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural zones, Baicheng-Yangxia sags and Qiulitage front structural zone from north to south controlled by four main basement sliding faults. Controlled by four sets of sliding beds of gypsum-mudstone bed in the Jidike Formation of the Neogene System, gypsum-salt bed in the Paleogene System, coal measures strata in the Jurassic System and the Triassic System and the basement detachment layer, the structural deformation in perpendicularity obviously had layering where the structures under gypsum-salt bed and above gypsum-salt bed are obviously unsymmetrical. The above structural zoning characteristics control the line and strip distribution laws of hydrocarbon reservoirs. 1 Tectonic stages

Due to effects of multiple tectonic stages, rock will generally develop many tiny fractures and then produce unreversible Kaiser effect of acoustic emission caused by destabilization extending in the process of loading pressure experiments. When loading pressure reaches the stress endured before, the rock total number of acoustic emission increases rapidly. So, it generally shows multiple Kaiser effect points which respectively memory tectonic stages and corresponding stress magnitude endured in the geological historical periods on the rock response curve of total acoustic emission counts and stress applied[1,2]. The rock samples are taken from the cores of the Triassic-Neogene stratum of 8 drilling wells and outcrop section of the Kuqa River. After careful cores observation and strictly being machined to column which accords with ISRM international rock standard, the samples are tested on the equipment composed of 4010 series acoustic emission apparatus, 300 KN omnipotent pressure machine, strain sensor and computer in the Laboratory of Geomechanics of China Land & Resources Ministry. According to testing and contrasting analysis by man-made samples loaded stress before 14 years, the testing error of samples is 10% 15%.

116

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences

According to the rock memory information of acoustic emission of 79 samples in different strata, and combining with structural deformation analysis, the Kuqa depression has experienced 6 main paleotectonic movements since Mesozoic, they are quite clear in structural deformation and rock memory information. Fig. 1 is the typical response curve of total acoustic emission counts and stress applied of single sample of cores in different strata, the interpretative inflexions are the multiple Kaiser effect points evidently and synchronously existing in many samples (exceeding 70% samples) at the same sampling site. There evidently are 6 tectonic movements in the samples of the Lower Jurassic, which memorized 5 paleotectonic movements after eliminating the modern tectonic movement. In the same way, the Lower Cretaceous samples memorized 4 paleotectonic movements, the Paleogene 3 and the Neogene 2 (table 1). Otherwise, the Triassic samples in the outcrop section of the Kuqa River memorized 6 paleotectonic movements. Com-

bining with structural deformation analysis, 2 paleotectonic movements in the Neogene samples respectively are the Middle and Late Himalayan tectonic movements, and the other 4 paleotectonic movements respectively are the Early Himalayan movement, the Late Yanshan movement, the Early Yanshan movement and the Indosinian movement. The Middle and Late Himalayan stages were the main tectonic deformation stages which formed abundant thrusts and their relative folds. The Late Himalayan stage was the fixed stage of tectonic deformation. There also were 2 3 important uplift and fold movements in the Neotectonic stage, they had adjustment and destructive roles in hydrocarbon reservoirs formed before. 2 Distribution characteristics of tectonic stress field Due to lack of symbols for tectonic stress field analysis, the restoration of paleotectonic stress field of the superposition basin has been very difficult in struc-

Fig. 1. The typical response curves of total acoustic emission counts and stress applied in different strata in the Kuqa depression. (a) J1 argillaceous sandstone in Yn4 well (depth: 4407.0m); (b) K1+2 sandy mudstone in KL201well (depth: 3988.1 m); (c) E1+2 fine sandstone in KL201 well (depth: 3638.3m); (d) N1 fine sandstone in DW101 well (depth: 2490.5m).

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation
Table 1 The number of paleotectonic movements tested by rock memory information of acoustic emission in the Kuqa depression Stratigraphic times N Cenozoic E K1+2 Mesozoic J1+2 T Sampling wells or site TB1, DW101 KL3, KL201, KL202 KL201 KL202 Yn2, Yn4, KL3 Outcrop section of the Kuqa river Number of samples 17 12 16 19 15 Number of the main tectonic movement 2 3 4 5 6 Tectonic stages

117

Middle and Late Himalayan stage Early, Middle and Late Himalayan stage Late Yanshan stage, Early, Middle and Late Himalayan stage Early and Late Yanshan stage, Early, Middle and Late Himalayan stage Indosinian stage, Early and Late Yanshan stage, Early, Middle and Late Himalayan stage

tural geology and petroleum geology all the while. This work firstly discusses the feasibility of using rock magnetic fabric to determine the orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress axis ( 1). Then, according to the information of paleostructural deformation analysis, rock magnetic fabric and coal vitrinite reflectivity, the orientations of the maximum principal compressive stress axis ( 1) of paleotectonic stress field for the Kuqa depression in every tectonic stage in the Meso-Cenozoic are synthetically analyzed[3 9]. The fundamental principle of applying rock magnetic fabric for resuming paleotectonic stress field of basin is that the principal axis of magnetic susceptibility ellipsoid is reciprocally parallel to that of strain ellipsoid[5 8]. Firstly, the feasibility of the corresponding relation of the minimum magnetic susceptibility principal axis with that of the maximum principal compressive stress is analyzed according to experiments and contrast study, the error is 10B. Then, the rock magnetic susceptibilities of the oriented samples in the Triassic-Cretaceous and Neogene in the outcrop section of the Kuqa River and Paleogene in the outcrop section of the Kelasu River are systematically tested on DSM-2 paleomagnetism apparatus in the

Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Tectonics Deep-level Process and Exploration in China University of Geosciences, Ministry of Education, P. R. China. The preferred occurrences of the principal axis of magnetic susceptibility are counted by stereographic method. There are 15 samples in every measure place. At the same time, above results are synthetically analyzed with that obtained by the other methods. Then, the final orientations of the maximum principal stress axis ( 1) of paleotectonic stress field in every tectonic stage are determined. The paleotectonic stress magnitude in every tectonic stage is mainly determined by the means of Acoustic Emission Incomplete Erase Phenomenon in the General Sense where rocks can memorize the maximum principal stress of the main tectonic movements experienced before[1,2]. The last results of every tectonic stage are confirmed by filtrating from new stratum to old stratum one by one on the basis of systemic tests of all strata. Table 2 is the statistical average maximum effective paleostress magnitude counted by all samples in every stratum in the Kuqa depression, the well number of samples or sampling places are shown in table 1.

Table 2 The maximum effective paleotectonic stress ( ) magnitude determined by rock acoustic emission in the Kuqa depression Stratigraphic times N2 N1 E1+2 K1 J1 T1a) The maximum principal stress in the Indosinian stage/MPa 52.5 The maximum prin- The maximum prin- The maximum prin- The maximum prin- The maximum principal stress in the cipal stress in the cipal stress in the cipal stress in the cipal stress in the Late Himalayan Middle Himalayan Early Himalayan Late Yanshan Early Yanshan stage/MPa stage/MPa stage/MPa stage/MPa stage/MPa 26 39 56.1 81.5 50.2 71.6 85.2 35.2 59.9 74.8 80.9 28.8 46.9 65.3 88.2 95.6 25.9 35.8 47.1 64.9 73.9

a) Samples are from the outcrop section of the Kuqa River and analyzed by Tan Chengxuan (2001); the others are from cores of 8 drilling wells and analyzed by Zeng Lianbo (2000, 2001).

118

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences

The orientation and magnitude of the principal stress of modern stress field in basin can be measured and determined by the methods of hydrofracturing, caliper ellipsoid, cores test, earthquake focus mechanism, etc. 2.1 Indosinian stage 250 208 Ma

At the end of Triassic, along with closure of the paleo-Tethys ocean and Qiangtang plate put together with Tarim plate[10,11], the Kuqa depression was in strong compressive circumstance. According to the analysis of structural deformation, rock magnetic fabric and coal vitrinite reflectivity, the level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was about 10, that is to say, according to the present orientation, the compressive direction of regional tectonics in the stage was dominated by near south-north (fig. 2(a)). In the outcrop section of the Kuqa River, the long axis orientation of deformation gravels at the bottom of Triassic is 100, it is perpendicular to the maximum principal compressive stress orientation. The average maximum effective principal stress magnitude of 15 Triassic samples tested by acoustic emission method in the outcrop section of the Kuqa River was 52.5 MPa. 2.2 Early Yanshan stage (208 135 Ma) Due to the equilibrium adjustment of interior Eurasia, the Kuqa depression in the stage was in weak extensional circumstance[10,11]. Affected by subduction and compression of the Izanagi plate in the eastern China by northwestern direction, the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) in the whole Chinese Mainland was northwest-southeast and the minimum principal compressive stress or the maximum principal extensional stress ( 3) was northeast-southwest[4]. According to analysis of structural deformation, rock magnetic fabric and coal vitrinite reflectivity, the average level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress (1) was about 310 (fig. 2(b)). Affected by the extensional stress field by northeast-southwest, the Anhe Formation of the Lower Jurassic developed a group of joints which the orientations are 300 310 and perpendicular to layers with good spacing. At the same time, in the Lower and

Fig. 2. Projection map of the maximum and minimum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility in the Kuqa depression. The left is Schmidt projection, the right is Wulff projection. + indicates the maximum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility, indicates the minimum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility, K1, K2, K3 separately indicate the preferred principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility. (a) The Triassic; (b) the Lower and Middle Jurassic; (c) the Lower Cretaceous; (d) the Paleogene; (e) the Neogene, these samples are from hinge of fold and show the local stress orientation.

Middle Jurassic, there also developed a series of normal faults where the stratum thickness of hanging wall is evidently thicker than that of footwall. They are clearly reflected on the earthquake sections (fig. 3).

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation

119

Fig. 3. The normal faults formed in the Early Yanshan stage in the Kuqa depression (MD96-924 earthquake section, the data from the Tarim oilfield).

These show the extensional tectonic circumstance of the Kuqa depression in the stage. The average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of 34 samples tested by acoustic emission method in the Triassic of outcrop section of the Kuqa River and the Lower Jurassic of drilling cores was 27.4 MPa. 2.3 Late Yanshan stage 135 65 Ma

2.4

Early Himalayan stage

65

23.3 Ma

From the Early Jurassic on, with a series of collision events occurring at the south edge of Eurasia[10,11], the Kuqa depression was in compressive circumstance again. According to analysis of structural deformation and rock magnetic fabric, the level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was about 0 (fig. 2(c)), that is to say, according to the present orientation, the regional compressive direction in the stage was dominated by north-south. The average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of 50 samples tested by acoustic emission method in the Triassic of outcrop section of the Kuqa River, the Lower Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous of drilling cores was 39.3 MPa. At that time, along with compression and fold-thrust, the Kuqa depression began to show the rudiment characteristic of foreland basin which the bound was evidently small and the sedimentary center was nearby boundary thrust before the southern Tianshan Mountains (fig. 4).

Along with closure of the main body of the middle Tethys ocean and collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasia plate[10,11], the Kuqa depression was in strong compressive circumstance by near south-north. According to analysis of structural deformation and rock magnetic fabric, the average level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was about 350 (fig. 2(d)). The average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of 62 samples tested by acoustic emission method in the Triassic of outcrop section of the Kuqa River, the Lower Jurassic, the Lower Cretaceous and the Paleogene of drilling cores was 55.7 MPa. With the increasing of compression and thrust-fold, the characteristic of foreland basin was evident and the bound began to broaden. 2.5 Middle Himalayan stage (23.3 2.6 Ma)

Along with more wedging of the Indian plate to the Eurasia plate[10,11], the Kuqa depression was in quite strong compressive circumstance. According to analysis of structural deformation, the level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was near south-north. Fig. 2(e) is the projection map of the maximum and minimum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility in the Neogene.

120

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences

Fig. 4. The structural depth contour map of top of the Jurassic in the Late Yanshan stage in the Kuqa depression (unit: metre; the data from the Tarim oilfield).

These samples are from the hinge of the Kuchetawu fold to analyse the relation of the minimum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility with structural deformation axis, so it indicates the local principal stress orientation, the error is less than 10 contrast to the results obtained by structural deformation analysis. It shows the good corresponding relation of the minimum principal axis of rock magnetic susceptibility and structural deformation. The average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of 79 samples tested by acoustic emission method in the Triassic of outcrop section of the Kuqa River, the Lower Jurassic, the Lower Cretaceous, the Paleogene and the Neogene of drilling cores was 63.6 MPa. 2.6 Late Himalayan stage (2.6 0.7 Ma)

Lower Cretaceous, the Paleogene and the Neogene of drilling cores was 79.4 MPa. It shows that the Late Himalayan stage was the most violent compression stage which finally formed the east-west thrust structural pattern in this area. 2.7 Neotectonic stage (0.7 Ma )

Along with rapid wedging of the Indian plate to the Eurasia plate, quick rising of the Tibetan Plateau and strong uplift of the Tianshan Mountains[10,11], the compressive effect in the Kuqa depression became stronger and stronger[9,10]. According to analysis of structural deformation, the level preferred orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) was near south-north, it was consistent with the compression orientation in the Middle Himalayan stage and very difficult to distinguish them in structural deformation. The average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of 79 samples tested by the acoustic emission method in the Triassic of outcrop section of the Kuqa River, the Lower Jurassic, the

According to the data of hydrofracturing and caliper ellipsoid, the maximum principal stress ( 1) orientation of modern stress field in the stage is near south-north in the Kuqa depression, it is consistent with regional modern stress field determined by the earthquake focus mechanism method[3,4]. According to the initial response curve characteristics of acoustic emission of 64 samples in the Lower Jurassic-Neogene of 7 drilling wells and hydrofracturing data, the average maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude of modern stress field is 53.8 MPa. In consideration of rock pore fluid pressure, the maximum principal stress ( 1) magnitude in every stratum is 50 113 MPa, the average is 87 MPa. The maximum principle stress of modern stress field is different in every structural position and has a good linear relation with depth. On the logging curves, it has obvious response to resistance ratio and acoustic wave time difference of mudstone where the resistance is paranormal 10 30 times than that of normal value and acoustic wave time difference decreases. Therefore, the modern stress magnitude can be calculated by resistance ratio and acoustic wave time difference of mudstone. Com-

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation

121

pared with the Tabei uplift, the modern stress in the Kuqa depression is obviously big and its change ratio with depth is obviously quick. The phenomenon of high modern stress in the Kuqa depression has important influences on drilling engineering and hydrocarbon development. 3 Numerical simulation of tectonic stress field in Late Himalayan stage The finite element numerical simulation of tectonic stress field in the Late Himalayan stage (the main hydrocarbon formation stage) is also studied to analyze its influences on hydrocarbon formation in the Kelasu-Yinan structural zone which is the main bearing hydrocarbon zone in the Kuqa depression. The geological model adopted in numerical simulation is established by the paleotectonic top map of the Cretaceous at the end of the Paleogene, and 26 main faults are chosen and dealt with. The simulation range is from Laohutai in the west to the east of Yiqikelike, from Tianshan Mountains in the north to WenbashiKezier in the south. The east-west length is 233 km, the north-south width is 47 km and the average layer thickness is 800 m. According to the triaxial rock mechanics test at high pressure and temperature, the rock characteristics entirely are brittle and have obvious stress fall after cracking, so the geological body can be managed by elasticity and be calculated by sheet model. According to boundary conditions, the average initial bearing force in the north side of geological body is 90 MPa and the south side 80 MPa, the final boundary condition is determined by much inverse modeling. The southern boundary is supported by springs, while the northern boundary is free. The east and west corner spots of the southern boundary are fixed to prevent geological body from rotating. The average rock gravity is 0.264 g/cm3 and 0.235 g/cm3 in fault zones. The rock mechanics parameters in every unit are finally determined by the weighted average method according to actual parameters of different lithology obtained by the triaxial rock mechanics test at high pressure and temperature and lithology combination obtained by drilling data. Due to differences of lithofacies and lithology combination in every

structural part, the rock mechanics properties are also different, which leads to uneven distribution of tectonic stress. On the basis of rational geological model, mechanics model and mathematics model, and according to the actual rock mechanics parameters and boundary conditions, the tectonic stress in every unit can be calculated by linear elasticity theory using the method of finite element numerical simulation[12,13]. The results of numerical simulation consist of orientation and magnitude of the maximum and minimum principal stress, the maximum shear stress magnitude, elastic strain energy magnitude, etc. Then, the rock dilation quantity and shear fracturing value can also be counted on the basis of above results. The rock dilation quantity which is formed in the process of non-elastic bulk increasing under difference stress indicates the development degree of microfractures before macrofractures formed. The shear fracturing value is referred to the ratio of shear stress calculated by finite element method in every unit to the rock shear strength, which indicates the development degree of macrofractures. In the view of results of numerical simulation, the distribution of tectonic stress field in the Late Himalayan stage is nearly relative to structural zone where the high stress regions are mainly distributed at the middle of Kelasu and Yiqikelike structural zones and the low stress regions at the west and south (fig. 5). 4 Effect of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation Tectonic stress field not only controls the formation and evolvement of basins and their interior structural deformation styles, distribution of sedimentary facies zone, the favorable combination of hydrocarbon source bed, reservoir and capping bed and conservation condition, but also influences every link of hydrocarbon formation. Tectonic stress field plays a dominant role in the whole process of hydrocarbon formation[14 23]. According to analysis of hydrocarbon formation, the hydrocarbon formation stage in the Kuqa depression mainly was the Late Himalayan stage whose tectonic stress field controlled the formation process and distribution laws of hydrocarbon. There-

122

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences

Fig. 5. The contour diagram of the maximum shear stress of tectonic stress field in the Late Himalayan stage in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural zone of the Kuqa depression.

fore, on the basis of distribution of tectonic stress field in the Late Himalayan stage obtained by the numerical simulation method, according to its relation with the known hydrocarbon reservoirs and their formation process analysis in Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural zone, the effects of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the Kuqa depression are also analyzed. Tectonic stress field is the main power for hydrocarbon migration[14 23]. The influences of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation lie mainly in three aspects. Firstly, tectonic stress field leads to rock deformation, changes rock permeability, forms migration channel and trap structure for hydrocarbon. Secondly, in the violent tectonic movement stage, the change ratio of tectonic stress is the main drive power for hydrocarbon migration, the Earthquake Pump Mode of fluid migrating along faults belongs to this type[14 20]. Finally, in the relatively stable tectonic stage, the rock stress state influences the effective stress of multiple pore medium, thereby influences its seepage field. When tectonic stress which effects medium containing fluid increases, it will cause rock pore bulk to diminish, tectonic stress is firstly undertaken by rock framework. Then, when rock pore bulk decreases to a certain degree, part of tectonic stress is certainly undertaken by pore fluid that causes pore fluid pressure to increase and causes seepage field to change. Therefore, tectonic stress field mainly influences migration and accumulation for hydrocarbon by changing seepage field of stratum in the tectonic calm stage[21 23]. Fig. 6 directly shows these change laws of pore fluid pressure. When stress is less

than 25 MPa, the increasing ratio of pore fluid pressure with stress is correspondingly slow and its stress increases 22 MPa, but pore fluid pressure increases only 9 MPa, that is to say, 60 percent of stress is endured by rock framework. When stress is more than 25 MPa, the increasing ratio of pore fluid pressure with stress is correspondingly so rapid that its stress increases 34 MPa, pore fluid pressure increases 26 MPa, that is to say, over 75 percent of stress is changed into pore fluid pressure.

Fig. 6. The change curve of pore fluid pressure and tectonic stress obtained by physical simulation experiment data (Samples are sandstone in the Lower Cretaceous of KL2 well in the Kuqa depression, depth 3825.7 m, porosity 12%, permeability 8D103 m2).

From the results of numerical simulation of tectonic stress field in hydrocarbon formation stage, the known hydrocarbon reservoirs are distributed at the regions where the maximum principal stress, the maximum shear stress, rock strain energy, dilation quantity and shear fracturing value are relatively big

Tectonic stress field and its effect on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation

123

(fig. 7). Under tectonic stress field, the permeability of these positions and nearby faults is fine, they are good channels for hydrocarbon migration. At the same time, hydrocarbons vertically migrate along faults which have good unseal property by the drive power of tectonic stress, etc. and then accumulate to form hydrocarbon reservoirs in the positions where rock dilation quantity and shear fracturing value are relatively big and microfractures and macrofractures are also developed well, because rock cranny rooms in these position expand and lead their pore fluid pressure and fluid potential energy to be reduced, they become the favourable sites for hydrocarbon storage. On the part of the biggest rock shear fracturing value, faults always move violently and can easily incise upper layer to make hydrocarbon release. Therefore, these places are unfavorable for hydrocarbon accumulation. The rich petroleum seeps on the ground are the evidence. In Kelasu-Yiqikelike tectonic zone, the rock shear fracturing values are big in Tubei 1-Dawanqi-Tubei 2 structural, Kela 1 and its south structural zone, Kela 2 structural zone, Kela 3 structural zone, south of Kezi 1 structural zone, Yinan and its south structural zone (fig. 7). These show that fractures in above positions developed well and they are favourable regions for hydrocarbon accumulation. To sum up, the effect mode of tectonic stress field on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the Late Himalayan stage in the Kuqa depression can be established as follows: First, under the effect of tectonic stress field, rock dilation quantity increases with stress accumulation and strain increases, when shear stress exceeds rock shear strength, shear fractures develop well. On one hand, the unseal properties of faults which communicate hydrocarbon resource bed in these position are good and they become the main

channels for hydrocarbon migration. On the other hand, rock cranny bulk in some positions nearby faults augment that their reservoir properties become well and turn into good locations for hydrocarbon accumulation. Furthermore, under drive powers of tectonic stress and abnormal high pressure also formed by tectonic stress field, hydrocarbons rapidly migrate in large quantities in a short time along faults which communicate hydrocarbon resource bed. In the positions nearby faults which have big rock dilation quantity and shear fracturing value, they accumulate to form hydrocarbon reservoirs due to fall of pore fluid pressure and fluid potential energy. 5 Conclusion

The Kuqa depression has been experienced six main tectonic movements since Mesozoic, they respectively are the Indosinian movement, the Early Yanshan movement, the Late Yanshan movement, the Early Himalayan movement, the Middle Himalayan movement and the Late Himalayan movement. The Middle and Late Himalayan stages were the main tectonic deformation stages which formed a series of thrust and relative folds. The structures were fixed in the Late Himalayan stage. Except that the tectonic stress field of the Early Yanshan stage showed northeast-southwest extensional stress field in which the orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1 ) was northwestsoutheast, the others were compressive stress field in which the orientation of the maximum principal compressive stress ( 1) approximately was near northsouth. The maximum effective principal stress ( 1) magnitude in the Indosinian stage was 52.5 MPa, the Early Yanshan stage 27.4 MPa, the Late Yanshan stage

Fig. 7. The contour diagram of rock shear fracturing value in the Kelasu-Yiqikelike structural zone of the Kuqa depression.

124

Science in China Ser. D Earth Sciences

4. Wan, T., The progress of researches on tectonic stress field, Earth Science Frontiers (China University of Geosciences, Beijing) (in Chinese), 1995, 2(1-2): 226 235. 5. Yan, G., Application of Rock Magnetic Susceptibility Anisotropy on Geology (in Chinese), Wuhan: Publishing House of China University of Geosciences, 1996. 6. Borradaile, G J, Henry, B., Tectonic application of magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy, Earth Science Review, 1997, 42: 49 93.[DOI] 7. Xu, S., Chen, B., Studying on dynamic deformation by magnetic fabric, Acta Geoscientia Sinica-Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (in Chinese), 1998, 19(1): 19 24. 8. Meng, X., Tian, C., Liang, J., Method and application of rock magnetism to study directions of paleocurrent and paleostress, Geosciences-Journal of Graduate School, China University of Geosciences (in Chinese), 1999, 13(2): 184 189. 9. Yang, K., Gong. M., Intraplate Deformation and Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Tarim Basin, Xingjiang, China (in Chinese), Wuhan: Publishing House of China University of Geosciences, 1996. 10. Jia, C., Structural Characteristics and Petroleum of Tarim Basin, China (in Chinese), Beijing: Petroleum Industry Publishing House, 1997. 11. Tang, L., An approach to main tectogenesis of Tarim basin, Experimental Petroleum Geology (in Chinese), 1997, 19(2): 108 114. 12. Jiang, W., Analysis of Finite Element on Solid Mechanics (in Chinese), Beijing: Publishing House of Beijing Institute of Technology, 1989. 13. Zeng, L., Tian C., Application of tectonic stress field in the prospecting of hidden hydrocarbon reservoir, Geosciences-Journal of Graduate School, China University of Geosciences (in Chinese), 1998, 12(3): 401 405. 14. Rouchet, J. D., Stress field: A key to oil migration, AAPG Bulletin, 1981, 65(1): 74 85. 15. Hunt, J. M., Generation and migration of petroleum from abnormal pressured fluid compartment, AAPG Bulletin, 1990, 74(1): 1 12. 16. Hooper, E. D., Fluid migration along growth faults in compacting sediment, Journey of Petroleum, 1991, 4(4): 161 180. 17. Barton, C. A., Zoback, M. D., Moos, D., Fluid flow along potentially active faults in crystalline rock, Geology, 1995, 23: 683 686. [DOI] 18. Thomas, M. M., Clouse, J. A., Scaled physical mode of secondary oil migration, AAPG Bulletin, 1995, 79(1): 19 29. 19. Hua, B., Stress field, seismic pumping and oil-gas migration, Acta Sedimentological Sinica (in Chinese), 1995, 13(2): 77 85. 20. Lu, T., Su, P., Chang, J. et al., Negative pressure and empty suction: one of the forming-reservoir mechanisms of structure fractured oil and gas reservoirs, Petroleum Exploration and Development (in Chinese), 2003, 30(5): 116 118. 21. Zeng, L., Shan, Y., Tian, C., The relationship between tectonic stress and oil-gas migration and accumulation, Symposium for Hydrocarbon Formation Mechanism and Resources Evaluation (in Chinese), Beijing: Petroleum Industry Publishing House, 1997, 130 134. 22. Sun, X., Hong, H., Ma, Z., The influence of structure stress on fluid movement-Structure fluid dynamics, Acta Geoscientia Sinica (in Chinese), 1998, 19(2): 150 157. 23. Wu, H., Wang, X., Ma, Y. et al., The study of theory and method of tectonic stress field to drive oil and gas migration in oil field, Acta Petrolei Sinica (in Chinese), 1999, 20(5): 7 12.

39.3 MPa, the Early Himalayan stage 55.7 MPa, the Middle Himalayan stage 63.6 MPa and the Late Himalayan stage 79.4 MPa. These show that the tectonic compressive intensity by north-south orientation in the Indosinian stage was strong. In the Early Yanshan stage, the Kuqa depression was in weak extensional circumstance and had weak tectonic intensity. From the Late Yanshan stage on, tectonic compressive intensity had increased in turn and reached the maximum in the Late Himalayan stage. These change laws of tectonic intensity accord to structural strain obtained by balance section. The Himalayan movement plays an important role in hydrocarbon formation in the Kuqa depression. It not only formed migration channels and trap structures for hydrocarbon accumulation, but also was the main drive power for hydrocarbon migration. It controlled hydrocarbon reservoirs distributed by line and strip. Rapid sedimentation and embedding by violent tectonic compression in the Middle and Late Himalayan movement made hydrocarbons create. A lot of fractures formed by the Himalayan movement are the main seepage passage and the valid storage space for dense low-permeability reservoirs. Under the effect of tectonic stress field in the Himalayan stage, the abnormal high pressure and fractures formed with rock stress and strain increasing, and the unseal properties of faults became well that hydrocarbons vertically migrated along them. In the positions nearby faults with big rock dilation quantity and shear fracturing value, hydrocarbons accumulated to form hydrocarbon reservoirs due to fall of pore fluid pressure and fluid potential energy.
Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank academician Jia Chengzao, Researcher Ding Yuanchen, Prof. Wan Tianfeng, Prof. Hu Sherong, Prof. Jin Zhijun, Prof. Tang Liangjie, Prof. Lu Xiuxiang and Prof. Hou Guoliang for much guidance in the process of study and writing. This work was supported by the National Major Basic Research and Development Project (Grant No. G19990433) and the Petroleum Science and Technology Fund (Grant No. CX2000-39).

References
1. Ding, Y., Shao, Z., An experimental research into determination of the highest paleotectonic stress state experienced by rock through geological ages, Earth Science-Journal of China University of Geosciences (in Chinese), 2001, 26(1): 99 104. 2. Sun, B., Ding, Y., Shao, Z. et al., Application of acoustic emission technique in determination of fossil and present-day stresses in oil fields, Journal of Geomechanics (in Chinese), 1996, 2(2): 11 17. 3. Wan, T., Paleotectonic Stress Field (in Chinese), Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1988.