Development characteristics and seismic identification of carbonate rocks in the deep-water area of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

Due to multiple spreading and subduction of the South China Sea, some geological phenomena may be observed in the Baiyun deep water area of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, such as multiple continental shelf rifting and sea water intrusion. After integrated analysis, the geological characteristics, development pattern, seismic response characteristics and main controlling factors affecting carbonate sedimentation in the deep water area of the Pearl River Mouth Basin are discussed in this paper. Drilling results confirm that platforms commonly developed in the periphery of paleo-uplift, structure high and volcanic uplift margin, thus there are two types of platforms in the Baiyun deep water area, the rimmed platforms on paleo uplifts and the isolated platforms on volcanic highs. Hermatypic organism like corals, red algae and bryozoans have been found in some typical reefs on the southwestern margin of the Dongsha uplift, Yunli low uplift, the northern margin of Liwan sag, and the southern margin of Liwan sag and Shunhe uplift. The reefs have clear seismic reflection characteristics, for example strong and continuous top and bottom, domal seismic reflection, blank or disordered inner reflection structure and progradational and aggradational as well as retrogradational reflection sequences.