Facies delineation and sandstone prediction using seismic sedimentology and seismic inversion in the Eocene Huizhou Depression, Pearl River Mouth basin, China

AbstractRecently, the rift-related successions in the Eocene Huizhou (HZ) Depression have been considered crucial intervals for hydrocarbon exploration in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, China. However, the facies delineation and sandstone distribution are poorly understood due to the limited well data. Our study area is the HZ25 Block in the HZ Depression, which consists of a typical overlapped synthetic transfer zone connecting the HZ26 and XJ30 Sags. Integrated analysis of seismic and logging data indicates that the Eocene Wenchang Formation can be subdivided into four third-order sequences (SQ1–4). Well-based observations reveal that the braided deltaic system is mainly characterized by distributary channels, subaqueous distributary channels, mouth bars, and sheet-sand deposits. The sandstone isopach map acquired by seismic inversion indicates that the sandstone could be 340 m thick in the SQ2 but sharply decreases in the SQ3 in the transfer zone area. Stratal slices make it possible to delineate the fac...