Impact of Tethyan domain evolution on the formation of petroleum systems in the Sichuan super basin, SW China

Based on the “unidirectional break-up and convergence” geodynamic model, this study investigates the impact of the evolution of the Tethyan domain on the formation of petroleum systems in the Sichuan super basin and explores the enrichment pattern of natural gas. The results show that, firstly, the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have experienced two unidirectional rifting-aggregation cycles triggered by the Proto-Tethys Ocean and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean during the Neoproterozoic to Triassic. During Jurassic–Cenozoic, the Sichuan Basin is incorporated in the circum-Tibetan plateau basin-mountain coupled tectonic domain system. The episodic tectonic movements within the plate control the sedimentary infill styles. Second, the evolution of the Tethyan domain, paleoclimatic environment and major geological events controlled the formation and distribution of high-quality source rocks within the basin. The rift valley and intracratonic rift, passive continental margin slope, and intracratonic sags are favorable areas for the development of source rocks. Third, the evolution of the Tethyan domain, supercontinent cycles, global sea level changes, and tectono-climatic events controlled the distribution of carbonate platform and reservoir-caprock combinations. The cratonic platform margins and sub-platform internal high terrains are key areas for finding carbonate high-energy facies belts. Syndepositional paleo-uplifts and surrounding slopes, regional unconformities, and later faults zone are areas where large-scale carbonate reservoirs are distributed. The regional evaporite or shale caprock are beneficial for the large-scale preservation of oil and gas in the basin. Fourth, the spatio-temporal matching relationship of reservoir forming factors influenced by the early tectonic-sedimentary evolution pattern and the degree of later tectonic modification is the key to oil and gas enrichment. Future oil and gas exploration should focus on potential gas systems during the Sinian rift period, Cambrian pre-salt gas systems in the eastern and southern Sichuan, as well as whole oil and gas systems of Permian and Triassic.