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Electrical resistivity imaging in Shibaozhai area using magnetotelluric sounding: Enlightenment of hydrocarbon reservoirs on the eastern edge of the Sichuan Basin

  • Electriical & electromagnetic methods
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Abstract

Shibaozhai area is located in the northeast Sichuan Basin in Southwest China. In recent years, oil and gas reservoirs with abundant reserves have been discovered in nearby areas. Six magnetotelluric (MT) survey lines were arranged to investigate the deep geoelectrical structures and hidden faults that controlled the hydrocarbon migration along the eastern Kaijiang–Liangping trough and Dachiganjing tectonic belt in this area. The MT sounding data for 181 sites, which covered an area of 15 × 6 km, were collected. Twodimensional transverse-magnetic-mode inversion of the data revealed four geoelectric layers with a total thickness of approximately 10 km. A low resistivity layer with a thickness of 4 km was discovered in the middle of the exploration area. The combination of faults within the study area revealed a northeast-direction thrust-fault system, which was displaced by northwest-direction faults. The regional geological structures played a significant role in controlling hydrocarbon and gas accumulation. The results of this study could be beneficial in analyzing the geological structure of hydrocarbon reservoirs in this area and can be extended to the exploration of areas in the boundary of a basin.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.42074085 and 41574067) and the WEM Underground Resource Exploration Sub-system Project of the National Development and Reform Commission. We would like to acknowledge the members of the field team: Cheng Xu, Xiaolu Su, Renzhong Pei, Hao Yang, Jiangming Mao, Huiqian Zhang, Pengfei Wang, and Wenxiu Yuan, and thank graduate students Zhaochen li, Wenke Tang and Hongwei Yi for their work in literature novelty search and illustration drawing. We sincerely thank Professor Diquan Li and his students for their important information support. The MT instruments were provided by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The review experts have put forward many valuable and constructive opinions and suggestions in the process of revising this paper. The authors would like to express our sincere thanks.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Shu-Ming Wang, Gui-An Zou, Xiao-Lu Su & Cai Qian

  2. Hubei Subsurface Multi-scale Imaging Key Laboratory, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Shu-Ming Wang, Gui-An Zou, Xiao-Lu Su & Cai Qian

  3. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Qing-Yun Di & Ruo Wang

  4. Xi’an Research Institute of China Coal Technology & Engineering Group Corporation, Xian, 710054, China

    De-Shan Li

Authors
  1. Shu-Ming Wang
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  2. Qing-Yun Di
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  3. Gui-An Zou
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  4. Xiao-Lu Su
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  5. Cai Qian
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  6. Ruo Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qing-Yun Di.

Additional information

Wang Shu-Ming is a professor working at the Institute of Geophysics and Geomatics, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). From 2006 to 2010, he worked in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, USA. From 2002 to 2004, he worked in the Postdoctoral Research Station of Geological Resources and Geological Environment, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). He received his Ph.D. degree in 2002 from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), his master’s degree in 1997, and his bachelor’s degree in 1987. He is mainly engaged in geoelectromagnetic data processing, forward and inversion teaching, and research and application.

Di Qing-Yun is an academician working at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She received her Ph.D. degree in Science in Exploration Geophysics from the Institute of Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 1998; her master’s degree in Applied Geophysics, Department of Geophysical Exploration, Changchun Institute of Geology, in 1990; and her bachelor’s degree in Applied Geophysics, Changchun Institute of Geology, in 1987. She is mainly engaged in the research and application of geoelectromagnetic method and forward and inversion.

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42074085, and 41574067).

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Wang, SM., Di, QY., Zou, GA. et al. Electrical resistivity imaging in Shibaozhai area using magnetotelluric sounding: Enlightenment of hydrocarbon reservoirs on the eastern edge of the Sichuan Basin. Appl. Geophys. 19, 294–305 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-022-0979-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-022-0979-6

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