Natural gas sources, migration and accumulation in the shallow water area of the Panyu lower uplift: An insight into the deep water prospects of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea

Abstract

Although no drilling has been carried out in the deep water area of the Baiyun sag in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea, the successful exploration for natural gas in the shallow water area of the Panyu lower uplift allows an insight into the prospectivity of the adjacent deep water fan system of the Baiyun sag. The Paleogene gas kitchen in the Baiyun sag provided both oil-derived gas and coal-derived gas. Fluid inclusion measurements and 2D numeric modelling of formation pressure indicate four episodes of hydrocarbon charge since the third release of the overpressure system. Seismic wipeout zones manifest several types of gas chimney which could play a role in vertical migration conduits to feed the natural gases into the deep water fan system. There would be, therefore, a low risk for hydrocarbon exploration in the deep water fan system.