DISCOVERY OF UPPER ORDOVICIAN REEF FLAT BELT AND SIGNIFICANT FOR HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION IN THE SOUTHERN SLOPE OF THE TAZHONG UPLIFT OF TARIM BASIN

Study results of sedimentary evolution indicate that the Southern Slope of the Tazhong Uplift is similar to the Northern Slope in tectonic and sedimentary evolution setting. The fine seismic reinterpretation is conducted on the Southern Slope by establishing a seismic interpretation for the discovered reef flat facies in the Northern Slope of the Tazhong Uplift.The interpretation results give seismic reflection signatures of a slope break belt in the Southern Slope that are similar to those in the Northern Slope, which correspond to massive platform edge reef flat deposits. A geological exploration well was drilled in the reef flat belt identified by seismic data,and consequently massive marine reef flat deposits were discovered. This promises a whole reef flat-type petroleum play as large as 100 MMT, similar to that in the Northern Slope,which is significant to hydrocarbon exploration.