Feature, genetic model and distribution of calcareous insulating layers in marine strata of western Pearl River Mouth basin in north of South China Sea

Abstract

We have systematically investigated the feature, genetic model and distribution of calcareous insulating layers in marine strata of the I oil group in member 2 of Zhujiang formation (ZJ2I oil formation), western Pearl River Mouth basin (PRMB) in the north of the South China Sea by using data such as cores, thin sections, X-ray diffraction of whole-rock, and calcite cement carbon and oxygen isotopes. The lithology of the calcareous insulating layers in the study area is mainly composed of the terrigenous clastic bioclastic limestone and a small amount of fine-grained calcareous sandstone. On this basis, two genetic models of calcareous insulating layers are established, including the evaporation seawater genetic model and shallow burial meteoric water genetic model. The calcareous insulating layers of the evaporation seawater genetic model developed in the foreshore subfacies, mainly at the top of the 1–1 strata and 1–3 strata. The calcareous insulating layers of the shallow burial meteoric water genetic model developed in the backshore subfacies, primarily in the 1–2 strata.