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Volume 45 Issue 2
Apr.  2026
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Article Navigation >  CARSOLOGICA SINICA  > 2026  >  45(2): 431-442
HE Shiwei, YUAN Feiyu, ZHANG Shiliang, ZENG Cheng, LI Jingrui, FU Yafei, WANG Dong. Hydrogeological analysis of paleokarst conduits at a well area in the western Tahe Oilfield[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 45(2): 431-442. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y007
Citation: HE Shiwei, YUAN Feiyu, ZHANG Shiliang, ZENG Cheng, LI Jingrui, FU Yafei, WANG Dong. Hydrogeological analysis of paleokarst conduits at a well area in the western Tahe Oilfield[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 45(2): 431-442. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y007
shu

Hydrogeological analysis of paleokarst conduits at a well area in the western Tahe Oilfield

doi: 10.11932/karst2026y007
  • 1.

    Sinopec Group Northwest Petroleum Branch, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China

  • 2.

    Institute of Geochemistry, CAS, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China

  • 3.

    Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China

  • Received Date: 2025-08-25
  • Accepted Date: 2026-02-10
  • Rev Recd Date: 2026-02-06
    Abstract
  • Paleokarst fractured-vuggy hydrocarbon reservoirs represent a core component of global carbonate hydrocarbon reservoirs, with the Tahe Oilfield in the northern Tarim Basin being the most typical example in China. The Ordovician marine carbonate rocks in this oilfield serve as the main producing formation of China's first ultra-large Lower Paleozoic hydrocarbon field with reserves exceeding 100 million tons. The paleo-subterranean river systems formed by epigenic karstification constitute the core framework of reservoir fractured-vuggy bodies. Accurate analysis of their hydrogeological characteristics is not only crucial for the exploration and development of deep hydrocarbon resources, but also holds significant exemplary value for analogous studies worldwide.The Tahe Oilfield has undergone multiple phases of tectonic movements, resulting in complex karst geological conditions that pose significant challenges to the identification of paleokarst conduits at the well area scale. This study focuses on the TH12402 well area in the western Tahe Oilfield, which is geographically located in the western part of the Akekule Uplift within the Shaya Uplift of the Tarim Basin. The study area features the development of multiple stratigraphic units, including the Yingshan Formation and Yijianfang Formation of the Ordovician System, with reservoir burial depth exceeding 6,000 meters. Influenced by the intercalation of four stratigraphic pinch-out lines, superimposed karstification of multiple phases is well-developed in this region.Guided by the "present-to-past analogy" research methodology and drawing on the experience of modern karst hydrogeological surveys in southern China, this study integrates high-precision 3D seismic data and actual drilling logging data. The residual thickness trend surface superposition with residual error method was employed to restore the paleogeomorphology of the dominant karstification period (Middle Caledonian Episode Ⅱ). By combining well data with seismic analysis to interpret seismic response characteristics, a set of geophysical identification criteria for the recharge-runoff-discharge elements of karst water systems was established.A key innovation of this study lies in the proposal of seven core principles for identifying paleokarst conduit pathways, namely: (1) Potential sink analysis (to determine the overall flow direction of karst water based on the general topographic trend of paleokarst); (2) Fault framework identification (to recognize fault patterns such as grid-like, single-branch, and conjugate faults using multiple 3D seismic attributes); (3) Judgment of the hydrogeological properties of faults (to assess water-blocking or water-conducting capabilities based on fault mechanical properties, fault-paleoflow angle relationships, and dynamic connectivity); (4) Coupled analysis of fault formation stages (to examine the coupling relationships between faults, river systems, and karstification, and distinguish between constructive and destructive roles of faults in karst development); (5) Topographic slope analysis (to identify the direction of maximum slope gradient from paleokarst geomorphology); (6) Karst conduit orientation matching (to ensure consistency with paleoflow direction); and (7) The principle of minimum resistance (to determine that the main flow prioritizes paths with the least energy consumption when multiple pathways coexist).The results indicate that the paleogeomorphology of the study area exhibits a topographic trend of "higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast," with a local elevation difference of 40 to 80 meters and a regional elevation difference of 180 to 300 meters. Typical negative topographies such as peak cluster depressions and karst valleys are well-developed, and the paleoflow direction is from northwest to southeast. Based on the seven identification principles, 11 main conduits, 19 branch conduits, and 8 fracture flows were identified, and the karst water system was classified into two types: the northeastern reticular fracture flow system (where dispersed flow forms labyrinthine cave systems) and the southwestern dendritic conduit flow system (where strong runoff zones develop pinnate karst conduits).This study confirms that the migration of tectonic highs in the northern Tarim Basin controls the hydrodynamic conditions of the well area. The relatively high CO2 concentration and hot-humid climate during the Ordovician Period laid a favorable hydrodynamic environment for karstification, while the principles of modern karst hydrogeology provide important insights for paleokarst identification. The well area-scale paleokarst conduit identification method and technical system established in this study not only provide accurate geological support for potential tapping in the mature Tahe Oilfield and well pattern reconstruction, but also offer valuable references for hydrogeological research and hydrocarbon exploration in analogous marine carbonate paleokarst fractured-vuggy reservoirs globally.

     

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