Formation environment and hydrocarbon potential of the Paleogene Enping Formation coal measures in the Zhu I Depression of northern South China Sea

The coal-measure source rock in the Chinese sea area plays a significant role as a hydrocarbon source rock, with its genetic environment, development and distribution, and hydrocarbon generation potential serving as essential factors for the exploration of coal-type oil and gas fields. This study focuses on the coal-measure source rock of the Paleogene Enping Formation in the Zhu I Depression, located in the northern South China Sea. The main geological insights obtained are as follows. The coal measures of the Enping Formation are developed in a warm and wet tropical-subtropical climate. The development environment of the coal-measure source rock in the Enping Formation includes the braided river delta upper plain peat swamp, characterized by dry forest swamp coal facies with relatively thick coal seams and a small number of layers. The braided river delta lower plain swamp-interdistributary bay of braided river delta front represents a forest edge-wetland herbaceous swamp coal facies with numerous layers of thin coal seams and poor stability. The shore swamp corresponds to an open water swamp coal facies with multiple layers of thin coal seams and poor stability. The organic matter abundance in the braided river delta upper plain is the highest, followed by the braided river delta lower plain-braided river delta front, and the shore-shallow lake. The organic matter type is predominantly type II₁. Thermal evolution analysis suggests that the organic matter has progressed into a substantial oil generation stage. The hydrocarbon generation potential of the coal-measure source rock in the Enping Formation is the highest in the braided river delta upper plain, followed by the braided river delta lower plain-braided river delta front and the shore-shallow lake. Overall, this study proposes three organic facies in the coal-measure source rock of the Enping Formation: upper-plain swamp-dry forest swamp facies, lower plain-interdistributary bay-forest-herbaceous swamp facies, and lake swamp-herbaceous swamp facies.