Tectonic-sedimentary evolution and hydrocarbon accumulation during the Funingian on the western slope of the Jinhu depression, northern Jiangsu

The western slope of the Jinhu depression, northern Jiangsu appears as a secondary tectonic unit in the western part of the Dongtai depression in the North Jiangsu Basin. The tectonic movements herein are believed to exercise a major control on the formation, development and evolution of the slope; filling processes and filling patterns of the sediments; development and spatial arrangement of individual depositional systems within the slope, and thus generation, migration and enrichment of hydrocarbons. The emphasis in the present paper is placed upon the construction of the Funingian structural evolutionary section with the aid of balanced section technique; the intensity of the Funingian faulting in terms of the thickness analysis; sedimentary facies types and distribution in the Funing Formation, and tectonic-sedimentary evolution and its effects on hydrocarbon accumulation on the western slope of the Jinhu depression on the basis of core observation and description, well logs and seismic data. The hydrocarbons are mainly accumulated in a semigirdle shape around the deeper depressed zones or secondary depressed zones. A number of NNW-trending structural belts are considered as the favourable areas for hydrocarbon accumulation on the western slope of the Jinhu depression.