Typical strike-slip fault zones in southeastern Sichuan: Fault characteristics and potential for fault-controlled fractured vuggy reservoirs.

Controlled by the physical fracturing of medium and small-scale basement strike-slip fault zones fault-controlled fractured vuggy reservoirs are developed in Shunbei, Tarim Basin, where exploration breakthroughs have been made in recent years. Recent research has found that the NW-trending basement fractures in the southeastern Sichuan Basin also have typical strike-slip characteristics, while further analysis is needed to determine whether the area has undergone similar reservior development. Based on 3D seismic data, we start with the geometric and kinematic characteristics of strike-slip faults, and analyze and compare the deformation characteristics of typical strike-slip fault zones between Shunbei and the Fuling/Qijiang areas, southeastern Sichuan. Meanwhile, based on the analyses of fault movement direction, fault activity, and structural background, the formation and evolutionary history of basement faults in the study area is restored and compared with that of Shunbei. Finally, based on the proven seismic reflection characteristics of Shubei reservoirs, we sort out the seismic anomalies near typical strike-slip fault zones in the study area, and comprehensively analyze the area's potential for reservoir development. The analyses suggest that the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the NW-trending basement strike-slip fault zone in the study area are similar to those in Shunbei that has undergone multi-periods of parallel strike-slip activities, while Fuling has experienced three periods of fault activities of different types. In addition, the seismic reflection characteristics corresponding to typical reservoirs in northern Shunbei can also be identified in the study area. It is generally believed that typical strike-slip fault zones in Fuling have great potential for the development of fracture-controlled fracture-cave reservoirs, and Qijiang also has certain development potentials. © 2024 Science Frontiers editorial department. All rights reserved.