Characteristics, formation periods and genetic mechanisms of tectonic fractures in the tight gas sandstones reservoir: A case study of Xujiahe Formation in YB area, Sichuan Basin, China

Abstract

The main target for hydrocarbon exploration of terrestrial strata in Sichuan Basin is the tight gas sandstone reservoir of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation. Xujiahe Formation in YB area is a major discovery of hydrocarbon exploration in recent years, which is characterized as tight with ultralow porosity, ultralow permeability, and intensive heterogeneity. The tectonic fractures have important influence on accumulation and productivity of gas in the area. In the paper, analysis data of outcrop, core, imaging logging and other experiments were used to determine the characteristics, formation periods and genetic mechanisms of tectonic fractures. There are mainly high-angle and low-angle shear fractures in the area, which caused by tectonic stress. The length of the fractures is mainly 0–4 m from the outcrop and 10–20 cm from the cores and fracture frequencies (number per meter) is mostly 2-7 m−1, 2-4 m−1 respectively. The fracture fillings are mainly calcite, argillaceous and carbonaceous, about 60% of the fractures is unfilled or incompletely filled. Without considering the diagenetic fractures, there are three periods of the fractures: the middle-late Yanshanian tectonic movement, the early-middle Himalaya tectonic movement and the late Himalaya tectonic movement. The first period of the fractures are mainly filled with fine calcite, homogenization temperature of inclusion is 75–85 °C and the maximum effective principal stress of paleostress is 71.64 Mpa. The second period of the fractures are half-filled (or unfilled) with coarse calcite, homogenization temperature of inclusion is 150–175 °C and the maximum effective principal stress of paleostress is 74.91 Mpa. The third period of the fractures are low filling degree and cuts formed fractures clearly, the maximum effective principal stress of paleostress is 86.52 Mpa. For these tectonic movement, there are four sets of the plane “X” shear fractures in the area: NE strike fractures, NW strike fractures, NEE strike fractures, SN strike fractures. There are one set of the profile shear fractures of NWW strike. Finally, the complex fault system of nearly NS, NW and NE strike are formed in YB area.