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An integrated geophysical study on the Mesozoic strata distribution and

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.05.015

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 Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43

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Journal of Asian Earth Sciences

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jseaes

An integrated geophysical study on the Mesozoic strata distribution

and hydrocarbon potential in the South China Sea
Weijian Hu a,⇑, Tianyao Hao a, Weiwei Jiang a, Ya Xu a, Baimin Zhao b, Didi Jiang a
a
Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
b
China Aero Geophysical Survey & Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources, Beijing 100083, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: A series of drilling, dredge, and seismic investigations indicate that Mesozoic sediments exist in the South
Received 9 January 2015 China Sea (SCS) which shows a bright prospect for oil and gas exploration. In order to study the distribu-
Received in revised form 13 May 2015 tion of Mesozoic strata and their residual thicknesses in the SCS, we carried out an integrated geophysical
Accepted 28 May 2015
study based mainly on gravity data, gravity basement depth and distribution of residual Mesozoic thick-
Available online 2 June 2015
ness in the SCS were obtained using gravity inversion constrained with high-precision drilling and seis-
mic data. In addition, the fine deep crustal structures and distribution characteristics of Mesozoic
Keywords:
thicknesses of three typical profiles were obtained by gravity fitting inversion. Mesozoic strata in the
South China Sea
Mesozoic residual thickness
SCS are mainly distributed in the south and north continental margins, and have been reformed by the
Gravity later tectonic activities. They extend in NE-trending stripes are macro-controlled by the deep and large
Integrated geophysical method NE-trending faults, and cut by the NW-trending faults which were active in later times. The offset in
Hydrocarbon potential NW direction of Mesozoic strata in Nansha area of the southern margin are more obvious as compared
to the north margin. In the Pearl River Mouth Basin and Southwest Taiwan Basin of the north continental
margin the Mesozoic sediments are continuously distributed with a relatively large thickness. In the
Nansha area of the south margin the Mesozoic strata are discontinuous and their thicknesses vary con-
siderably. According to the characteristics of Mesozoic thickness distribution and hydrocarbon potential
analyses from drilling and other data, Dongsha Uplift-Chaoshan Depression, Southwest Taiwan
Basin-Peikang Uplift and Liyue Bank have large thickness of the Mesozoic residual strata, have good
hydrocarbon genesis capability and complete source–reservoir–cap combinations, show a bright pro-
spect of Mesozoic oil/gas resources.
Ó 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction the same time, Mesozoic sedimentary strata are widespread in

The South China Sea is a unique marginal sea in the west Pacific
Ocean. It is located at the junction of three major plates of Eurasia,
Pacific and Indo-Australia, between the Tethys tectonic domain in
the west and the Pacific tectonic domain in the east. Since the
Mesozoic, the SCS has been transformed from an active continental
margin to passive continental margin (Liu, 2011). It is not only a
natural laboratory for studying the dynamics of continental mar-
gin, but also very rich in petroleum resources. Therefore, it attracts
lasting attention of geoscientists.
Oil/gas resources in the SCS are very rich, and the prospecting of
Cenozoic oil/gas has achieved fruitful result (Yao et al., 2004), at
⇑ Corresponding author at: No. 19, Beitucheng Western Road, Chaoyang District,
100029 Beijing, China. Tel.: +86 1082998104.
E-mail addresses: huweijian@mail.iggcas.ac.cn (W. Hu), tyhao@mail.iggcas.ac.cn
(T. Hao), wwjiang@mail.iggcas.ac.cn (W. Jiang), xuya@mail.iggcas.ac.cn (Y. Xu),
zhaobm2001@163.com (B. Zhao), jiangdidi@mail.iggcas.ac.cn (D. Jiang).
the SCS. A number of wells in the SW Taiwan Basin, Peikang
Uplift and Liyue Bank have revealed Mesozoic strata and oil/gas
structures. In the recent years, series of studies indicated that
pre-Cenozoic residual basins have a good prospect for oil/gas
exploration (Cai, 2003; Hao and Zhang, 2003; He et al., 2007; Hu,
2013; Liu et al., 1999, 2010; Liu and Chen, 2005; Qiu and Wen,
2004; Xia and Huang, 2000). In September of 2003, the LF35-1-1
Well on the north slope of Chaoshan Depression drilled about
1500 m Mesozoic strata, revealing the existence of Mesozoic mar-
ine sediments and Jurassic hydrocarbon genetic rocks (Shao et al.,
2007; Wang et al., 2009). These findings showed a good prospect of
Mesozoic oil/gas in the SCS. However, there are controversies over
some questions such as whether the Mesozoic strata, especially
marine strata in the SCS belong to Tethys or Pacific domain?
What differences in Mesozoic strata and resource distribution exist
between the southern and northern part of the SCS? The present
knowledge of Mesozoic strata in the SCS comes from a limited
number of wells or profiles, lacking knowledge of their distribution

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.05.015
1367-9120/Ó 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
32 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43

in entire region. Therefore, we collected available geological and
geophysical data in the SCS and its adjacent areas, especially the
recent multi-channel seismic and ocean bottom seismometer
(OBS) data (blue solid lines in Fig. 1) (Ding and Li, 2011; Ding
et al., 2013; Li et al., 2011; McIntosh et al., 2005; Qiu et al., 2001,
2011, 2012; Ruan et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2006; Wei et al.,
2011; Yan et al., 2001; Yao and Wang, 2006), and carried out an
integrated geophysical study based mainly on gravity data to
obtain the distribution of Mesozoic residual thickness. It helps to
acquire the regional knowledge of Mesozoic strata and their hydro-
carbon potential in the SCS, which may also provide basis for
studying the above mentioned questions.
2. Data and method
2.1. Data
The study region (Fig. 1) is within 105°E–122°E, 0°–25°N. The
free air gravity data used in this paper from actual measurements
of Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey on a scale of 1:500,000,
global satellite gravity data (longitudinal and latitudinal grid size
10  10 ) published by Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(Sandwell and Smith, 2009; Sandwell et al., 2014) was used in
the areas without measurements.
2.2. Method
Based on petrophysical properties analysis, taking
high-precision drilling and seismic data as priori constraints, grav-
ity data were inverted for the depths of gravity basement in the
SCS, and then Mesozoic residual thicknesses were extracted. In
addition, gravity fitting inversion along three typical profiles was
carried out under the constraint with recent multi-channel seismic
and OBS data. The density structures of profiles were constructed
in order to further constrain and verify the planar distribution of
Mesozoic residual thickness. Combining planar and profile results
we obtained the macro-distribution of Mesozoic strata thickness
in the SCS. The flowchart of this study is shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1. Topography and the division of sub-regions in the SCS. The black dashed lines mark sub-regions boundary for gravity inversion. The study region is divided into 5 sub-
regions: 1. Northern continental shelf, 2. Sea basin, 3. Nansha, 4. Southwest of the SCS, 5. Southeast of the SCS. The red solid lines are inversion profiles of this study, the
inversion result for profile AA0 is in Fig. 8, BB0 in Fig. 9, and CC0 in Fig. 10. The blue solid lines are seismic profiles used for priori constraints. (For interpretation of the
references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43 33

Fig. 2. Flowchart of research method. The key techniques are indicated in red, green and blue frames of dashed line. Red frame: potential field extraction of the Mesozoic
target layer constrained with seismic data; green frame: joint inversion of typical profiles; blue frame: inversed Mesozoic thickness constrained with the results from multi-
channel seismic and OBS data. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

Table 1
The average density converted from layer velocity in various areas of the SCS (Yao and Wang, 2006) (Unit: g/cm3).

Stratum North continental shelf North continental slope Sea basin Liyue Bank Zengmu Basin Peikang Basin Middle part of Nansha Wan’an Basin
Q-N2 2.15 2.14 2.12 2.25 2.13 2.09 2.10 1.90
N31 2.23 2.21 2.18 / 2.28 2.15 2.20 2.05
N1–2
1 2.35 2.35 2.26 2.41 2.42 2.33 2.34 2.20
E3 2.51 2.51 2.36 / 2.44 2.46 2.40 2.26
E2-Mz 2.58 2.58 / 2.58 2.58 2.48 2.42 /
Ocean layer 2 2.72
Ocean layer 3 2.98
Upper mantle 3.18

Considering that the vast scope, complicated tectonic evolution Table 2

and topography varies remarkably in the SCS, it is difficult to use Densities of the inversion model (Unit: g/cm3).
unified parameters to get accurate potential field separation and
Layer Density
inversion in various tectonic units. Therefore, we divided the study
region into five sub-regions (Fig. 1) and adopted different parame- Seawater 1.03
Cenozoic 2.00–2.45
ters for different sub-regions in potential field separation and
Mesozoic 2.50–2.60
inversion. Pre-Mesozoic 2.65–2.70
Continental crust Upper crust 2.70–2.80
Lower crust 2.85–2.95
3. Analysis of basic geophysical data in the South China Sea Oceanic crust Layer 2 2.70–2.80
Layer 3 2.90–3.00
3.1. Rock physical property Upper mantle 3.20–3.30

The physical properties of rock are basis and prerequisite for

gravity forward and inverse calculation. In order to establish a rea-
sonable geophysical model, we collected a large quantity of rock
density data in the study region, and made analysis and summa-
rization. Some of the densities come from measurement of out-
cropped rocks in the periphery of the SCS, some average stratum
densities converted from the layer velocities of seismic profiles
(Qiu et al., 2001, 2011; Wang et al., 1997, 2006; Yan et al., 2001;
Yao and Wang, 2006; Zhao et al., 2010).
According to Tables 1 and 2 and geologic structures in the SCS
and its adjacent areas, the following major density interfaces exist
in the study region, which tally with unconformity planes of geo-
logical structure. (1) Density interface between seawater and sea-
floor with density difference of 0.97–1.42 g/cm3. (2) Density
interface between Cenozoic sedimentary basement and the older
stratum, the density difference varies with the stratum in contact,
and is 0.1–0.4 g/cm3 between Cenozoic and Mesozoic. (3) Density
interface between Mesozoic and Paleozoic with a difference of
0.1–0.2 g/cm3. (4) Moho interface between the lower crust and
upper mantle, the density difference is 0.25–0.45 g/cm3, the undu-
lation of this interface is the main factor to cause regional back-
ground gravity anomalies.
3.2. Characteristics of gravity anomaly
The free-air gravity anomalies in the SCS (Fig. 3) vary generally
in the range 180 to +200 mGal. The anomalies trend macroscop-
ically in NE–SW direction, but different regions and crust types
(continental crust, oceanic crust and transitional crust) show
34 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43

Fig. 3. Free-air gravity anomaly and its characteristics regionalization in the SCS. The white solid line marks continent-ocean boundary (COB from Li and Song, 2012). The
black dashed lines mark region boundary of free-air gravity anomalies. A = South China anomaly region, B = Indo-China Peninsula, C = Northwest continental margin of the
SCS, D = Northeast continental margin of the SCS, E = Southwest Sub-basin, F = East Sub-basin, G = Taiwan – Luzon arc-trench, H = Nansha Islands, I = Liyue Bank (Reed Bank),
J = Sunda Shelf, K = Kalimantan Island, L = Sulu – Sulawesi Sea.

remarkably different anomaly characteristics. From north to south
there are 4 near NE-trending characteristic boundaries respectively
along the north coastline of the SCS, the continent-ocean bound-
aries (COB), and Nansha Trough – Palawan Island. From west to
east there are 3 near SN-trending anomaly boundaries along the
east margin of Indochina Peninsula, Zhongsha-Zhongnan Sea
Mountain and the Manila Trench. These NE and SN-trending
boundaries divide gravity field of the SCS and its adjacent areas
into different anomaly regions.
Gravity anomalies in the Beibuwan Basin and Yinggehai Basin
on the northwest margin of the SCS reflect basin configurations,
appearing as smooth negative anomalies with amplitude about
40 mGal. The Xisha Trough exhibits NE-trending negative
anomalies less than 40 mGal. The anomalies at northeast conti-
nental margin are smooth in NE direction. Gravity anomaly charac-
teristics in the northeast continental margin are different from that
in the northwestern margin, indicating to some extent that the
crustal structures in the east and west of the northern continental
margin of SCS are different.
The most part of the East Sub-Basin shows positive gravity
anomaly. Except for the EW-trending positive anomaly along
Huangyan seamount chain, the anomaly trends in other places
 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43
Fig. 4. Gravitational effect of the Cenozoic sedimentary layer in the SCS. It was calculated by volumetric element method using combination of various rectangular prisms to
simulate the Cenozoic sediments.
are not obvious. There are different anomaly shape and characters
between the north and south side of Huangyan seamount chain. At
the north side, the anomalies are smooth and the values in most
areas are about 10 mGal, while, in the south the anomaly contour
lines are relatively dense, the amplitude is higher, the anomaly in
most areas varies from 20 to 30 mGal. As a contrast the anomalies
in the Southwest Sub-Basin trend clearly in NE direction. In the
middle of spreading ridge there is an NE-trending negative anom-
aly belt of amplitude 30 mGal, and its two sides are smooth pos-
itive anomalies of 10–20 mGal. The gravity anomalies in the SCS
Basin are small and smooth anomaly characteristic makes a sharp
contrast with positive and negative anomaly belts arrange
alternately at Zhongsha-Xisha Islands and Nansha Islands. The for-
mer reflects the character of oceanic crust in sea basin, while the
later two reflect broken continental crust in continental margin
areas.
Gravity anomalies in the Nansha continental margin show an
overall NE trend, positive alternates with negative, but positive
anomalies are dominant. Under the influence of the Southwest
Sub-Basin and the Nansha Trough, the anomalies in the north
35
and south part of Nansha region are clear NE-trending belts, while
in the middle part are bead-like EW-trending local anomalies. The
shape and amplitude of free-air gravity anomaly in the Liyue Bank
are similar to that in Zhongsha Islands, indicating that crustal
structures of the two are similar. They could be the conjugate point
of the northern and southern conjugate continental margins of the
SCS (Hao et al., 2009b, 2011).
Along Taiwan, Manila Trench to Mindoro in the eastern part of
SCS, gravity anomalies are generally NS-trending positive–negative
pairs, and their value varies rapidly, which are the typical charac-
teristics of free-air gravity anomaly in trench-arc regions. In the
south side of Mindoro, the anomalies in Palawan region trend in
NNE direction, vary more smoothly than in the north, and the pos-
itive and negative anomalies are not associated with each other.
The change of gravity field indicates that crustal structures in the
north and south of the Mindoro are different, in the north crustal
structure was formed by plate subduction and the arc-continent
collision in Taiwan, while in the south crustal structure was
formed mainly by extensional and rifting of continental crust
(Zhang, 2008).
36 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43
Fig. 5. Regional background gravity field caused mainly by the Moho in the SCS.
4. Inversion for the depth of gravity basement
Based on petrophysical properties analysis, taking
high-precision drilling and seismic data as priori constraints, we
adopted stripping method to remove the gravitational effects of
shallow layers and deep parts. The thicknesses of shallow
Cenozoic sedimentary layer refer to Cenozoic sedimentary basins
map in the Map Series of Geology and Geophysics of China Seas
and Adjacent Regions compiled by Liu (1992), and the recent seis-
mic and drilling data. Volumetric element method using the com-
bination of different rectangular prisms to simulate the Cenozoic
sedimentary layer was used to forward their gravitational effect
(Fig. 4). The regional background gravity field (Fig. 5) was obtained
by using wavelet transform method (Hornby et al., 1999; Moreau
et al., 1999) and at the same time referring to the results of
Moho research in study region (Hu et al., 2014; Qin et al., 2011).
Residual gravity anomalies (Fig. 6) after removing the gravitational
effect of seawater (density used 1.03 g/cm3), shallow Cenozoic sed-
imentary layer (density used 2.37 g/cm3) and the deep part, they
are caused mainly by the density difference between Mesozoic
and underlying stratum. Therefore, gravity basement inverted
from these residual anomalies is basically bottom interface of the
Mesozoic strata. According to the regionalization in Fig. 1 and uti-
lizing the Parker–Oldenburg interface inversion method
(Oldenburg, 1974; Parker, 1973) the parameters for each
sub-region (Table 3) were selected for calculating the depth of
gravity basement in the SCS (Fig. 7).
5. Gravity fitting inversion of typical profiles
Based on the result of planar distribution research we selected
three typical profiles to do gravity fitting inversion (Fig. 1 and
Table 4). It helps to constrain and test the planar distribution of
Mesozoic strata residual thickness, reduces the non-uniqueness
of inversion, and raises the accuracy of inversion and interpreta-
tion as much as possible.
In the recent years a large number of multi-channel seismic and
deep seismic survey and related studies have been carried out in
the SCS (Qiu et al., 2012), which provide us the constraining infor-
mation for planar inversion and initial model of profile inversion.
Based on the results of gravity basement depths inversion and
recent seismic profiles in the SCS, we selected Dongsha profile
 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43 37

Fig. 6. Residual gravity anomalies obtained after removing the gravitational effect of the seawater, the shallow Cenozoic sedimentary layer and the deep part.

Table 3 Uplift Zone. The multi-channel seismic result for shallow informa-
The parameters for gravity basement inversion in different sub-regions. tion and P-wave velocity structure of profile OBS2006-3 for deep
Region Density difference (g/cm3) Average depth (km)
information (Wei et al., 2011) were referred to build initial model
of AA0 profile. Then interactive 2.5D gravity fitting inversion was
1 0.15 4.5
carried out, resulting in the density structure, crustal structure
2 0.16 5.0
3 0.16 4.5 and Mesozoic distribution along the profile (Fig. 8).
4 0.15 4.0 It is seen from Fig. 8 that the overall characteristic of the crustal
5 0.15 4.0 structure along profile AA0 is gradual thinning of crust from land to
sea. The Moho is 28 km deep in the Zhu I Depression and rises
gradually toward sea to about 12 km. The thickness of upper crust
(AA0 ), Nansha profile (BB0 ) and Liyue Bank profile (CC0 ) to carry out is 7–14 km, density 2.64–2.75 g/cm3, there is a high velocity anom-
two-half dimensional gravity fitting inversion, obtained density aly (up to 6.9 km/s) in the upper crust of Dongsha Uplift. The thick-
structures and deep crustal structures, and analyzed the character- ness of lower crust varies considerably along the profile and
istics of Mesozoic distribution on the profiles. generally thins from land to sea in range of 3–12 km. The thickest
lower crust beneath the Dongsha Uplift (7–12 km) with a density
of 2.92 g/cm3, the thickness of lower crust beneath Chaoshan
5.1. Dongsha profile (AA0 ) Depression is 3–7 km, density is 2.88 g/cm3, while beneath the
South Uplift is relatively thin (3 km), density is 2.86 g/cm3. On
The Dongsha profile (Fig. 1) is near-NS with a total length of the whole, lower crust is a high velocity layer and thins in a greater
331 km. From north to south it passes through the Zhu I degree than upper crust. According to the magmatic activity char-
Depression, Dongsha Uplift, Chaoshan Depression and South acteristics in various periods, it is inferred that the high velocity
38 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43

Fig. 7. Depth of gravity basement in the SCS which basically reflect the bottom depth of Mesozoic strata.

Table 4
Profiles of gravity simulation inversion.

Profile Start End Length/km Major geologic units crossed

Dongsha profile (AA0 ) 116.40°E, 21.52°N 116.59°E, 18.65°N 331 Zhu I Depression, Dongsha Uplift, Chaoshan Depression, South Uplift
Nansha profile (BB0 ) 113.07°E, 12.89°N 114.47°E, 8.98°N 457 SW Sub-Basin, Nansha
Liyue Bank profile (CC0 ) 116.36°E, 13.32°N 118.32°E, 9.38°N 484 East Sub-Basin, Liyue Bank, Palawan Basin

layer in lower crust of northern SCS was formed by magma under-
plating after the cessation of seafloor spreading.
Mesozoic strata were continuously distributed in the Dongsha
Uplift, Chaoshan Depression and South Uplift Zone, especially in
the center of the Chaoshan Depression its thickness reaches 8 km.
The Well LF35-1-1 on the north slope of Chaoshan Depression veri-
fied the existence of Mesozoic strata (Shao et al., 2007; Wang et al.,
2009). Between the Beiweitan Fault (F11) and North Continental
Slope Margin Fault (F6) residual Mesozoic thickness is large, while
it is relatively thin (about 2–3 km) in the south side of F6. Residual
Mesozoic thickness distribution is controlled by deep-large faults.
5.2. Nansha profile (BB0 )
The Nansha profile (Fig. 1) extends in NW–SE direction with a
total length of 457 km. It passes through mainly the Southwest
Sub-Basin and Nansha tectonic units. The multi-channel seismic
profile NH973-1 (Ding et al., 2013; Li et al., 2011) for shallow infor-
mation and the P-wave velocity structure of OBS973-1 profile (Qiu
et al., 2011) for deep information were referred to build initial
model of BB0 profile.
It is seen from Fig. 9 that crustal structure along the profile can
be divided into two sections. Taking the South Margin of Sea Basin
 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43 39

Fig. 8. Density structure from gravity fitting inversion of the Dongsha profile (AA0 ) and its crustal structure interpretation. (a) gravity anomaly, the mean square error
between calculated and observed free-air gravities is 0.75 mGal, (b) density structure, c: crustal structure interpretation, P-wave velocities are from Wei et al. (2011). Faults:
North Margin of Sea Basin Fault (F2), North Continental Slope Margin Fault (F6), Beiweitan Fault (F11), North Margin of Pearl River Mouth Basin Fault (F13). Error bars represent
the depth difference between gravity inversion and seismic results.

Fault (F4) as boundary, the section between 0 and 230 km on the
profile has a typical oceanic crustal structure, the crust is thin,
Moho depth is only about 11 km. The thickness of Cenozoic sedi-
ments varies from 1 to 3 km. The centre of Southwest Sub-Basin
(between 60 and 100 km on the profile) has the largest thickness
of Cenozoic sediments, multi-channel seismic prospecting (Li
et al., 2011) and gravity inversion (Zhang and Li, 2011) got the
same result, indicating that a central rift existed during the spread-
ing of the Southwest Sub-Basin. The thickness of oceanic layer 2 is
about 3–4 km, density is 2.72–2.78 g/cm3, the thickness of oceanic
layer 3 is about 2–3 km, density is 2.90–2.95 g/cm3. Between 230
and 457 km on the profile the crustal structure is continental type,
crust is relatively thick, Moho deepens rapidly from sea basin
(11 km depth) to the Nansha area (deepest 22 km), then rises
slowly toward southeast to about 18 km. Upper crust in the
Nansha area is about 5–10 km thick, density 2.72–2.80 g/cm3,
lower crust is 4–10 km thick, density 2.86–2.90 g/cm3. The upper
and lower crusts have similar thickness and thinning degrees, indi-
cating as a thinned continental crust.
Residual Mesozoic strata are discontinuously distributed on
profile BB0 . At the transition zone of oceanic and continental crust
(between 180 and 240 km on the profile), there are about 2 km
thick residual Mesozoic strata. Seismic data also showed that
velocity at the bottom of Cenozoic sediments is relatively high in
this area, implying the existence of Mesozoic strata. Sun et al.
(2011) analyzed the NH973-1 multi-channel seismic data and
obtained clear reflection characteristics of residual Mesozoic stra-
tum, which was considered large thickness. In addition, Mesozoic
strata were also distributed discontinuously in the
fault-depressions of Nansha area, such as, between 300 and
340 km on the profile with a residual thickness 1–1.5 km, between
360 and 410 km with a thickness 1–2 km, and between 415 and
450 km with a thickness of 1–1.5 km. Under the control of deep
faults and later modification, residual Mesozoic strata are offset
and discontinuous. On the multi-channel seismic profile of this
area (Ding et al., 2013), Tb–Tg are pre-Cenozoic strata, with contin-
uous seismic reflections, characterized by parallel or sub-parallel,
internal reflection for the local noisy phase.
5.3. Liyue Bank profile (CC0 )
The Liyue Bank profile (Fig. 1) extends in NW–SE direction with
a total length of 484 km. It passes through the East Sub-Basin,
Liyue Bank, Palawan Basin and Palawan Island tectonic units. The
multi-channel seismic profile NH973-2 (Ding and Li, 2011) for
shallow information and the P-wave velocity structure of profile
OBS973-2 (Ruan et al., 2011) for deep information were referred
to build initial model of CC0 profile.
40 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43
Fig. 9. Density structure from gravity fitting inversion of the Nansha profile (BB0 ) and its crustal structure interpretation. (a) gravity anomaly, the mean square error between
calculated and observed free-air gravities is 0.48 mGal, (b) density structure, (c) crustal structure interpretation, P-wave velocities are from Qiu et al. (2011).
As can be seen in Fig. 10, deep-large faults are boundaries
between tectonic units, and they controlled deep structures.
Oceanic crust exists in the East Sub-basin, while other areas are con-
tinental crusts. Upper crust thickness in the Liyue Bank is about 9–
10 km, and density is 2.70–2.75 g/cm3, while in the transitional area
and sea basin oceanic layer 2 is thin (about 4–5 km), density is 2.70–
2.80 g/cm3. The thickness of lower crust in continental crust areas,
such as in the Liyue Bank is about 10–11 km, density is 2.90–
2.95 g/cm3, while oceanic layer 3 in the transitional area and sea
basin is thin (about 2–4 km), density is 2.95–2.98 g/cm3. Overall,
the crust in sea basin area is thin, indicating the effect of extensional
thinning. The Moho rises rapidly from continental slope (23 km
depth in the Liyue Bank) to sea basin (8–12 km depth).
The Mesozoic strata were widely distributed on CC0 profile,
mainly in fault-depressions of the Liyue Bank, residual thickness
is 2–4 km. In addition, there is a thin pre-Cenozoic stratum (about
1 km thickness) in the transition zone of oceanic and continental
crust, and it is conjectured to be mainly Mesozoic.
6. Mesozoic thickness distribution
Subtracting Cenozoic bottom depth from the Mesozoic bottom
depth, and combining with results from drilling, seismic prospect-
ing and inversion of three profiles, we acquired the distribution of
Mesozoic thickness in the SCS (Fig. 11).
Residual Mesozoic strata (Fig. 11) extend macroscopically in NE
direction. They are mainly distributed in the north and south con-
tinental margin, and residual thickness varies from 1 to 8 km. In
the north continental margin area Mesozoic strata exist mainly
in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, SW Taiwan Basin and West
Taiwan Basin, and extend in NEE-NE directions. Among them resid-
ual thickness in the Chaoshan Depression is the largest (up to
8 km). The LH35-1-1 well on the north slope of Chaoshan
Depression drilled about 1500 m thick of Mesozoic (Shao et al.,
2007; Wang et al., 2009). According to our result, Mesozoic thick-
ness at the drilling position is about 4 km, because the drilling did
not penetrate the whole Mesozoic stratum and reach to its bottom,
it is reasonable that the Mesozoic thickness of ours is greater than
that revealed by drilling. In the West Taiwan Basin and SW Taiwan
Basin Mesozoic strata are distributed in NE direction and about 2–
4 km thick. The CFC-1 well in F structure of SW Taiwan Basin
drilled 300 m thick Lower Cretaceous sandy shale and 367 m thick
dark shale, which was inferred to be Jurassic. The PK-1 well in the
Peikang Uplift drilled 530 m thick Lower Cretaceous transgressive
series (Zhou, 2002). Our result is consistent with the above data.
Residual Mesozoic strata are widely distributed in the south
margin of SCS, in NE-trending, and their thickness varies consider-
ably. They exist mainly in the Liyue Bank, Shuangzi Reefs, Zhongye
Reefs and Guangya Bench. Mesozoic stratum thickness in Liyue
Bank is 2–5 km. Unlike the north continental margin, distribution
of Mesozoic in the south is discontinuous and offset.
In the western part of SCS, Mesozoic strata are mainly dis-
tributed in the Zhongjiannan Basin, extending in SN direction,
thickness is 2–3 km. In the eastern part of SCS, there is almost no
Mesozoic stratum, probably due to the Manila subduction severely
destroyed and reformed Mesozoic strata.
7. Discussion
7.1. The relationship between Mesozoic distribution and major faults
The distribution of Mesozoic strata in the SCS (Fig. 11) was con-
trolled by NE-trending deep and large faults. These NE faults were
 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43 41

Fig. 10. Density structure from gravity fitting of the Liyue Bank profile (CC0 ) and its crustal structure interpretation. a: gravity anomaly, the mean square error between
calculated and observed free-air gravities is 1.05 mGal, b: density structure, c: crustal structure interpretation, P-wave velocities are from Ruan et al. (2011). Faults: South
Margin of Sea Basin Fault (F4), Nansha Trough North Margin Fault (F18), Nansha Trough South Margin Fault (F19).

developed rather early, started in Indosinian period, formed in
Yanshanian period, and were most active in Late Jurassic. Under
control of NE faults group, Mesozoic strata in the north and south
continental shelf and slope were mostly distributed in NE direc-
tion. As compared to NE faults, NW-trending faults were developed
later, mostly in the Yanshanian or Himalayan period, and generally
cut NE-trending fault. Because they were generally of shearing
type, the older NE-trending Mesozoic strata were cut by them,
resulting in their NW offset, which was especially obvious in the
Mesozoic strata of Nansha area. Mesozoic strata in western part
of the SCS extend in SN direction was mainly controlled by
SN-trending West Margin of SCS Fault.
7.2. Mesozoic hydrocarbon potential
In the Dongsha Uplift and Chaoshan Depression, the thickness of
residual Mesozoic strata is large, especially in the Chaoshan
Depression it’s more than 8 km, seismic data also indicated that
Mesozoic marine faces sedimentary strata exist in this area (Wang
et al., 2009), and LF35-1-1 well revealed Cretaceous continental
and Late Jurassic marine deposits in the Chaoshan Depression,
which possess good geologic condition for petroleum (Hao et al.,
2009a).
Mesozoic thickness in the West Taiwan Basin and SW Taiwan
Basin is 2–4 km, where a number of wells (e.g., PK-1, CFC-1) drilled
into Mesozoic strata and found oil/gas bearing structures (Klemme
and Ulmishek, 1991; Zhou, 2002). The analysis of hydrocarbon
source rocks from the drilling in SW Taiwan Basin indicated that
kerogen is type III, and organic carbon content is 0.59–1.78%. The
organic carbon content of Cretaceous series from PK-3 and GH-1
wells in the Peikang Uplift is also up to 1.0% (Qiu and Wen,
2004). These data show that the Mesozoic strata in this area pos-
sess good hydrocarbon genetic ability.
Seismic and drilling data showed that two sets of Mesozoic
marine and paralic sedimentary strata were developed in the
Chaoshan Depression and SW Taiwan Basin, Upper
Triassic-Lower Jurassic series consists mainly of dark shale and
Lower Cretaceous series consists mainly of sandy shale. The
Mesozoic sediments have obvious cycling characteristics and are
capable of constituting complete source–reservoir–cap combina-
tions (Qiu and Wen, 2004).
Mesozoic strata are widely distributed in the south margin of
the SCS. The thickness in Liyue Bank is the largest (more than
4 km thickness). Furthermore, drilling, dredge and seismic data
also verified that large thickness Mesozoic strata are widespread
in this area (Taylor and Hayes, 1980, 1983; Xia and Huang, 2000;
Yan and Liu, 2004). Sun et al. (2010) analyzed the seismic and dril-
ling data, and found that Late Mesozoic strata in the Liyue Bank
were warped and tilted by the Early Cenozoic rifting, weathered
and disintegrated rocks became good reservoir to form fault block
traps. The stratigraphic columnar diagram of Liyue Basin (Sales
et al., 1997) showed that Mesozoic strata in this area have a com-
plete source–reservoir–cap combination, indicating a bright pro-
spect of oil/gas resources.
8. Conclusions
(1) We utilized the integrated geophysical method based mainly
on gravity data to study the macroscopic distribution of
Mesozoic strata in the SCS, and acquired a complete knowl-
edge of Mesozoic distribution in entire SCS. Mesozoic strata
are mostly distributed in the north and south continental
42 W. Hu et al. / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 111 (2015) 31–43

Fig. 11. Residual Mesozoic thickness in the SCS. The location of drilling and dredge sites are from Wang et al. (2009), Zhou (2002) and Ding et al. (2013), faults information is
from Hu (2013) and Song et al. (2002). CSD = Chaoshan Depression, GYB = Guangya Bench, LYB = Liyue Bank, NST = Nansha Trough, PRMB = Pearl River Mouth Basin,
SWTB = Southwest Taiwan Bain, SZR = Shuangzi Reefs, ZJNB = Zhongjiannan Basin, ZYR = Zhongye Reefs.

margins. In the Pearl River Mouth Basin and SW Taiwan Acknowledgements

Basin of the north margin they are relatively thick and con-
tinuously distributed, while in the Nansha area of the south
continental margin Mesozoic strata are discontinuous and
vary considerably in thickness.
(2) The macroscopic distribution pattern of Mesozoic strata in
the SCS was controlled by NE-trending deep-large faults.
They extend in northeasterly belts and have been cut and
offset by NW-trending faults which were active in later
times. The NW offsets of Mesozoic strata on the south conti-
nental margin are more obvious than that on the north mar-
gin. It shows that Mesozoic strata were reformed by later
tectonic activities, and the degree of destruction was differ-
ent between the north and south continental margins.
(3) Mesozoic strata in the Dongsha Uplift-Chaoshan Depression,
SW Taiwan Basin-Peikang Uplift and Liyue Bank have large
thickness and good hydrocarbon genesis capability and com-
plete source–reservoir–cap combination. They indicate a
good prospect of Mesozoic oil/gas resources.
The authors wish to thank Professor Changli Yao of the China
University of Geosciences (Beijing) for providing the 2D gravity
inversion software. We also appreciate the helpful comments from
two anonymous reviewers and comments and editorial handing
from the editor Bor-Ming Jahn, which improved this manuscript.
This work was financially supported by National Basic Research
Program (973) of China (No. 2007CB411701) and National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41374139 and
41476033).
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