Sealing mechanisms in volcanic faulted reservoirs in Xujiaweizi extension, Northern Songliao Basin, Northeastern China

Distribution of volcanic reservoirs in Xujiaweizi half graben is controlled by both faults and sealing layers where their integrity could have been compromised. This paper documents the distribution of sealing units of the Denglouku and Yingcheng Formations based on seismic and well-log data to delineate all of the reservoirs with proper caprocks within the volcanic Yincheng Formation via the relationship between the fault system and reservoir rocks. Based on the regional sealing effect of Denglouku Formation, two hydrocarbon traps are identified: the lower primary and upper secondary gas reservoirs where the formation with a mudstone percentage of more than 50% within the second member seals the primary reservoirs. The upper secondary trap is controlled by faults that have been activated during the structural reversal phase, causing the regional sealing layers in the Denglouku Formation to get displaced with a caprock juxtaposition thickness of less than 35 m. This has created series of “fault-seal” dual-control reservoir. The local seals within the Yingcheng Formation consist of mudstone, tight volcanic rock and clayey breccia covering each volcanic eruption cycle. These local seals separate the volcanic gas reservoirs with a minimum thickness of 20 m. The local top seals in this tectonically active zone were placed on the hanging wall via the juxtaposition of the reservoir and overlying mudstone and/or clayey breccia. It was concluded that gas has migrated vertically through the faults and accumulated in the fault-controlled traps where sharp changes in the lithology (juxtaposition) forms the seal, while the gas-water contact is controlled by the depth of the reservoir rock. Finally, this study concludes that the primary reservoirs are distributed in a "sinusoidal" configuration around the fault zone due to the "dolphin effect" of the Xuzhong strike-slip fault system which has connected the source and reservoir rocks.