Tang 2020

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1 Carbonate burial dissolution related to faults and fractures in the Triassic Daye
2 Formation of the Huandiqiao Section, Huangshi Area, Hubei, China
3 Yu Tanga,b, Yunfeng Zhanga,b*,Hongming Tanga,f, Zhenyu Wanga,b,Jianxin Zhaoc, Xiaochen Yangd, Liang Xue
4 a. School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
5 b. Southwest Petroleum University, Division of Key Laboratory of Carbonate Reservoirs, CNPC, Chengdu, 610500, China
Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY on 06/23/20. For personal use only.
6 c. Radiogenic Isotope Facility, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland,
7 4072, Australia
8 d. Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company, Renqiu, 062550, China
9 e. PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company, Research Institute of Exploration and Development, Chengdu,
10 610041, China
11 f. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu,
12 Sichuan, 610500, China;
13 *correspondence author, email: zhyf@swpu.edu.cn (Y. Zhang)
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32 Abstract: Carbonate burial dissolution is generally associated with faults and fractures, accompanied
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33 by formation of the fracture-vug system that can provide important reservoir space for oil and gas
34 accumulation. Taking the Lower Triassic Daye Formation in the Huandiqiao Section, Huangshi Area,
35 Middle Yangtze Paraplatform, China, as an example, this study elaborates genetic mechanisms of
36 faults and fractures, features of burial dissolution and cementation, and properties of karst water,
37 accompanied by establishment of a genetic model that illustrates the whole process of burial
38 dissolution and cementation. There are a total of nine reverse faults with dominant NW dips in the
39 study section. Fractures are selectively developed in hanging walls of all the nine faults, with tensile
40 features and dominant NEE and NNW strikes. Dendritic dissolution and subsequent cementation is
41 prevalent in the hanging wall, while they are rare in the footwall. Most of the cements in the fractures
42 of the hanging walls are calcites, with a fluid inclusion homogenization temperature range of
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43 70~120°C, overgrowth bands at the pore edge with different luminous intensities, low contents of Na,
44 Ba, K, and Sr, and high contents of Fe, Mn, and Mg. All these characteristics indicate the karst fluid
45 to originate from calcium-rich formation water with hydrothermal genesis. The formation of the
46 dendritic vug and fracture system is ascribed to the upward migration of hydrothermal fluids along the
47 fault planes and fractures that result in selective dissolution. As the water circulation weakens, CaCO3
48 is gradually supersaturated in the distal zone with reference to the fault as well as the stagnant and
49 weak-circulation zone, eventually forming a complex vug and fracture system.
50 Key words: burial dissolution; fracture-vug system; genetic model; carbonate rocks; Lower Triassic
51 Daye Formation
52 1. Introduction
53 It has been widely acknowledged that secondary reservoir space in carbonates is mainly attributed
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54 to three processes, namely dissolution, dolomitization and tectonic movement (Yang et al. 2020; Liu
55 et al. 2016; Jin and Yu 2011; Lambert et al. 2006). Moreover, these three processes are generally not
56 exclusive. Instead, they often coexist and interact with each other. Specifically, burial dissolution
57 usually occurs in the zones with fractures and faults along the main tectonic faults, which can
58 significantly enhance porosity and permeability of the carbonate reservoir rocks (Graham et al. 2006;
59 Xing 2011; Liu et al. 2016; Wei et al. 2017; Zhang et al. 2018; Ngong et al. 2019). Tectonically related
60 burial dissolution is demonstrated to be jointly controlled by tectonic movement, diagenetic fluid
61 properties, temperature and pressure changes, and properties of surrounding rocks (Wierzbicki et al.
62 2006; Jia at al. 2016; Tan et al. 2017; Cherepanov 2018;), forming rocks with good reservoir potential
63 (Zan et al. 2018; Yang et al. 2012). Dissolution-related pores and vugs have been continuously
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64 discovered in deep-buried carbonate successions of many basins since the 1980s (Ye 1994; Hu et al.
65 2009; Simms 2014), including the Carboniferous in the Delaware Basin Mazzullo 1981, 1994), the
66 Jurassic in the Gulf Coast (Moore and Dreckman 1981; Roehl and Choquette 1985), the Permian in
67 the Midland Basin (Bontognali 2008; Kenward et al. 2009), and the Ordovician in the Tarim Basin
68 (He et al. 2006; Li et al. 2010; Wang et al. 2015). Meanwhile, due to insufficient coring data, it is
69 generally difficult to comprehensively analyze the process and product of water-rock interaction in the
70 burial dissolution, which makes it difficult to predict meter-level reservoir distribution. In this study,
71 we systematically investigate the tectonically-related burial dissolution in the Lower Triassic Daye
72 Formation of the Huandiqiao Section, Huangshi Area, Hubei Province, China. The study area has been
73 subjected to strong tectonic movement, accompanied by well-developed fractures and faults and
74 obvious burial dissolution. A series of laboratory experiments are combined with field survey to
75 systematically investigate the timing, fluid properties, dissolution-cementation sequences, and
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76 corresponding reservoir types of the tectonically related burial dissolution, followed by establishment
77 of a schematic model that illustrates the process of the burial dissolution. Results of this study are
78 expected to provide important guidance for oil and gas exploration and exploitation in carbonate
79 reservoirs that undergo burial dissolution.

80 2. Geological background
81 The study area is located about 2.3 km northwest of Huandiqiao Town, Huangshi City, Hubei
82 Province, China (30°20′06′′N, 114°08′36′′E; Fig. 1a), with 103 m near-north-south exposure. It is
83 tectonically situated in the northwestern wing of the Huandiqiao-Huangjingshan Anticline, which dips
84 towards south with a dip angle of 21°~55°. The anticline experienced multiple episodes of tectonic
85 movements, including the northward intrusion during the Indosinian and Early Yanshanian, the
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86 southward intrusion and strike-slip during the Middle and Late Yanshanian, and the rifting during the
87 Late Yanshanian (HuBei Provincial BGE 1990, 1996; Hubei Geological Survey, 2020).
88 The exposed outcrop section is the third member of the Triassic Daye Formation, which is divided
89 into 24 layers. Lithologically, the lower 12 layers are mainly calcarenitic dolomites intercalated with
90 micritic dolomite and gypsum-bearing dolomite, the 13th to 20th layers are primarily conglomeratic
91 calcarenitic dolomite and conglomeratic micritic dolomite with tectonic breccias, and the 21st to 24th
92 layers are calcarenitic dolomite intercalated with conglomeratic dolomite and conglomeratic limestone
93 (Fig. 1b). The evaporation platform facies is demonstrated to be the main environment that hosts these
94 rocks (Du and Chen, 1993). Moreover, there are a large number of faults in the study area. Among
95 them, nine reverse faults are recognized, and they are lined in an imbricated form.
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96 3. Methods
97 This study is based on detailed field observations and laboratory thin section analyses.
98 Specifically, field observations include quantitative description of occurrences, features and
99 dimensions of faults and fractures as well as types and timing of cementation in them. A total of 120
100 thin sections are observed under a Zeiss AXIO SCOPE A1 polarizing microscope to investigate the
101 mineral composition, fracture occurrence and cementation; 75 cathode luminescent sections are
102 observed under a CL8200 MK5 cathode luminescence microscope; 40 fluid inclusion thin sections are
103 analyzed on the THMSG 600 cooling-heating stage to investigate the homogenization temperature of
104 calcite cement inclusions; 453 trace element samples are tested using a JXA-8230 electron probe-
105 spectrometer; 15 samples with calcite cements in the fractures are observed under the Zeiss AXIO
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106 SCOPE A1 polarizing microscope and the Quanta 450 scanning electron microscope for analysis of
107 calcite cements with twin crystals, followed by reconstruction of the paleo-stress using the EBSD
108 technique. All the above experiments are implemented at the State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas
109 Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University.
110 When applying the EBSD technique, the plane of the twin crystals is assumed to be a shear
111 plane, which means the twin crystals should be formed in the direction parallel to the direction of the
112 maximum effective shear stress. The maximum principal stress (σ1), the minimum principal stress (σ3),
113 the c-axis of the main crystal (Cv), and the normal of the e-plane of the twin crystals (⊥e), are found
114 to be in the same plane. Moreover, σ1 and σ3 intersect Cv with angles of 71° and 19°, respectively,
115 while they intersect ⊥e with equal angles of 45°. In this way, the direction of the maximum effective
116 shear stress can be determined (Yan et al. 2016). In order to obtain the best results, the low-vacuum
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117 mode is used, and the conductive carbon film is not sprayed. The testing conditions include a sample
118 inclination of 70°, a working distance between the sample and the pole piece of 10 mm, an acceleration
119 voltage of 20 kV, a water vapor pressure of 30 Pa, a binning size of 2×2, and a step size of 2 μm (Zhang
120 et al. 2013). The area where twin crystals are the most developed is determined under the polarized
121 microscope (Fig. 3c), and the orientation image is then obtained by scanning in the same area (Fig.
122 3d), with a surface scanning calibration rate of about 90%. Subsequently, the acquired data is subjected
123 to processes including removal of wild spikes and zero solutions, extraction of main crystal and e-
124 twin crystallographic parameters, and determination of true slip surface (e1).
125 4. Characteristics of fault and fracture development
126 4.1 Characteristics of faults and fractures

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127 There are a total of 9 faults in the study section, and all of them are reverse faults, with a dip range
128 of 180-210° and a dip angle range of 34-83°. They are generally featured by clearly visible fault planes,
129 walls, and displacements. Obvious fractured zones are observed in the vicinity of some faults (e.g.
130 Faults F7 and F9), with a width range of 0.35-5 m. Within these fractured zones, there are a large
131 amount of crushed weathered rocks, forming extremely poorly sorted breccias. These breccias are
132 characterized by a grain size range of 2-10 cm, angular-sub-angular grains, poor sorting and rounding,
133 strong directionality, massive harbor-like dissolution grain edges, dominant calcite cement, a few
134 breccia muds and sand clasts, and irregular vugs formed by dissolution along tectonic fractures among
135 breccias. Tectonic fractures are commonly seen on both sides of the faults, with their extension
136 direction and width dependent on the distance to the fault and the location in the fault wall. Specifically,
137 fractures within a distance of 0.8 km to the main fault are most developed. Fractures close to the fault
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138 in the hanging wall dominantly extend in the NEE and NNW directions, and they are mostly tensile,
139 with their widths generally larger than 5 mm (dominantly in the range of 1-5 cm). The linear fracture
140 density is about 4-20 /m, and fractures are primarily irregular, with short extension. In comparison,
141 fractures far away from the fault in the hanging wall are featured by their dominant NNW strikes,
142 smaller widths (generally smaller than 2 mm), reduced linear density (1-10 /m), shearing properties,
143 more flat surface, and smaller dimensions. Contrastingly, fractures in the footwall are overall with
144 smaller intensity as well as shorter lengths and widths than those in the hanging wall. Moreover, those
145 fractures close to the fault are mainly of NW strikes, small widths (generally smaller than 2 mm), low
146 linear density (1~5 /m), and narrow opening. Fractures between closely adjacent Faults F4 and F5 are
147 controlled by both of them, with similar features shared by the hanging wall and the footwall.
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148 Moreover, the footwall hosts a lot of crushed rocks, and it hasn't experienced strong dissolution (Fig.
149 2).
150 4.2 Tectonic stress analysis
151 The direction of the principal stress is analyzed by characterizing the relationship between the
152 maximum and minimum principal stresses and the conjugate joints using the rose diagram. Specifically,
153 there are three sets of fractures in the study section, with strikes and dip angles of 305°~344° ∠30°~89°,
154 210°~267° ∠30°~89°, and 25°~81° ∠30°~89°, respectively. Fractures with NNE, NW, and NNW
155 strikes take the dominance (Fig. 3g). As for the fractures with NNW strikes, they are tensile, and almost
156 perpendicular to the plane, with dominant strikes and dip angles of 41°∠32° and 45°∠39°. Though
157 bearing more variable features, the other two sets of fractures share similarities with symbiotic shear
158 joints during the development of the fault. To be specific, the bisector of the sharp angle of the bedding
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159 joint is perpendicular to the fault strike, and the bisector of the sharp angle of the X-shaped conjugate
160 joint is perpendicular to the plane. Dominant strikes and dip angles of these two sets of conjugate joints
161 are 320°∠77.2° and 210°∠75.6° as well as 344°∠30° and 267°∠82°, respectively.
162 One conjugated joint system is suggested to be developed in the fault according to the strike rose
163 diagram. In the conjugate joint system, the bisector of the sharp angle is generally consistent with the
164 compressive stress (the maximum principal stress), which is 22.65° in the study section (Fig. 3h and
165 3k), while the bisector of the blunt angle is consistent with the tensile stress (the minimum principal
166 stress).
167 Calcite veins with twin crystals are featured by varied widths of a few millimeters to a few
168 centimeters (Fig. 3a and b), varied grain sizes of a few millimeters to hundreds of millimeters, and
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169 generally developed mechanical e-twin crystals. Among these e-twin crystals, about half of them have
170 a set of twin crystals (Fig. 3c and 3d), with another half having two sets of twin crystals (Fig. 3e and
171 3f). All the twin crystals are fine in terms of the crystal size, with widths narrower than 0.1 mm, which
172 suggests the deformation temperature of calcite twin crystals to be lower than 200°C (Ferrill et al.
173 2004;Yan et al. 2016). This is consistent with the low temperature assumptions required for paleo-
174 stress reconstruction. Directions of σ1 and σ3 are experimentally demonstrated to be 23.25° and 279.57°,
175 respectively (Fig. 3i and 3j), which are consistent with results of the rose diagram analysis (Fig. 3k) as
176 well as the near-north-south compressive stress during the Yanshanian period (Dai 2002; Liu and
177 Wang 2008）
178 According to above analysis, there is strong consistency among these nine faults in terms of their
179 occurrences, properties, and hosted fractures, which suggests them to be formed during the same
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180 period. These reversed faults are lined in an imbricated form, with symbiotic fractures as products of
181 fault-related stress.
182 5. Tectonically related burial dissolution and cementation

183 5.1 Areas with burial dissolution and cementation
184 As demonstrated in the field survey and microscopic thin section observation, burial dissolution
185 occurs in certain areas of the hanging wall and rock fabrics. However, huge differences in
186 characteristics of burial dissolution and cementation are seen among different areas.
187 Burial dissolution in the vicinity of the hanging wall is characterized by “dendritic” dissolution,
188 which is speculated to be typical fault-related dissolution. Its formation is attributed to dissolution and
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189 alteration of weak and fractured zones in the fault and the hanging wall by upward migrating fluid. At
190 the proximal end of the fault, tensile fractures along breccia edges are more selectively dissolved by
191 fluids, resulting in harbor-like dissolution. Cementation is generally weak, and fractures are mostly
192 semi-filled by calcites. Irregular vugs lined in a beaded form are seen along the tectonic fractures, with
193 a long axis length of 7-18 cm (up to 140 cm) and a short axis length of 3-7 cm (up to 74 cm). In
194 comparison, the distal end of the fault is characterized by weak dissolution and strong cementation, as
195 reflected by the completely cemented fine shear fractures by calcites. In general, fracture density tends
196 to decrease as the distance to the fault increases. The entire hanging wall is overall featured by dendritic
197 dissolution and cementation in the fractures (Fig. 4).
198 There are mainly two types of burial dissolution in rock fabrics. The first type refers to the further
199 dissolution and alteration of those pores and vugs formed in the penesyngenetic karstification, which
200 dominantly occurs in either cellular form (Fig. 5a) or isolated to beaded form (Fig. 5b and 5c) in the
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201 dolarenite and crystalline dolomite. The second type mainly refers to the dissolution along the gypsum
202 crystal, causing irregular gypsum crystal edges. It is generally featured by dominant cementation of
203 flake-shaped calcite (3~7 mm) in dissolved parts of gypsum crystals. Calcite cements emit orange-red
204 luminescence, which indicates their affinity to calcite cements in fractures (Fig. 5d, 5e and 5f).
205 5.2 Sequences of dissolution and cementation
206 Dendritic dissolution and subsequent cementation are clearly seen in the hanging wall, whereas
207 they are rare in the footwall. Near-fault fractures in the hanging wall are featured by wide opening,
208 expanded dissolution (Fig. 6b and 6c), fillings among breccias, and two episodes of calcite cementation.
209 Specifically, calcite of the first episode of cementation is white in color, fine in grain size (0.1-0.2 cm)
210 and granular in morphology (Fig. 6d), while that of the second episode is light orange in color, coarse
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211 in grain size (0.2~0.4 cm) and short columnar in morphology (Fig. 6e). Vugs are developed in fractures,
212 with an average long axis length of 8 cm and an average short axis length of 5 cm. These vugs are
213 generally semi-filled, with overall triangular and rounded rectangle shapes. Fractures at the distal end
214 of the hanging wall are narrow and straight, with strong cementation by one to two episodes of calcite
215 cementation.
216 In general, as the distance to the fault increases in the hanging wall, dissolution intensity decreases,
217 fracture opening narrows, and cementation strength grows.
218 5.3 Properties of karst water
219 The burial karstification occurs in a relatively closed environment during the moderate-deep
220 burial stage, with main dissolution fluids resulting from hydrocarbon generation and magmatic
221 activities. In this context, characteristics of cements can reflect the properties of karstification fluids
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222 to some extent.
223 5.3.1 Homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions
224 Fluid inclusions from 38 calcite cements of different types (e.g. fibrous, bundle, and granular
225 shapes) in the fractures are implemented with homogenization temperature measurements, and these
226 cements have a variety of crystal dimensions, from microscopic to giant crystals ( >2 mm) (Fig. 7a
227 and b). In comparison, 7 calcite cements in pores and vugs are also carried out with homogenization
228 temperature measurements, and these cements are mainly granular ones at the edge of pores and vugs
229 (Fig. 7d and 7e). Moreover, fluid inclusions from 5 calcite cements in the pseudomorphic gypsum
230 crystals are also tested (Fig. 7g and 7h). All these measurements are completed at a temperature range
231 of -196~600 °C, an initial temperature rise rate of 0.5°C/min, and a slowed temperature rise rate of
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232 0.1~0.2°C/min when the bubbles become smaller and closer to homogenization. The test error is about
233 ±0.1°C. Eventually, the homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions is found to be concentrated in
234 a range of 70~120°C (Fig 7c, 7f and 7i), which, together with burial depth and geothermal gradient
235 (Yu et al. 1986; Guo et al. 2005), indicate the cement to be formed in a burial diagenetic environment,
236 with formation water as the main diagenetic fluid.
237 5.3.2 Cathode luminescence and trace element characteristics of calcite cement
238 Structure and trace element composition of calcite cement in carbonate rocks are important
239 indicators of diagenetic fluid properties (liu et al. 2010). Five types of calcite cements are classified in
240 terms of cathode luminescence intensities of their overgrowth bands, which respectively display no
241 luminescence, dull-dull orange luminescence, dull orange luminescence, saffron yellow luminescence,
242 and bright orange luminescence. Overgrowth bands of calcite crystals are generally 0.02-0.05 mm
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243 wide, and all of them have the contour of euhedral rhombic calcites (Fig. 8) except for some of them
244 being deformed in the case that competition for growth space occurs (Huang 1992; Huang and Qing
245 2006; liu et al. 2010).
246 As shown in Table 1, localities with typical cathode luminescence are generally featured by low
247 contents of Na, Ba, K and Sr, relatively high contents of Fe and Mn, and extremely high content of
248 Mg. In general, calcite cement formed in the relatively late stage has the strongest luminescence, and
249 it is usually featured by its orange-red bright edges. As for medium-coarse calcite cements, they are
250 characterized by high Fe and Mn contents and strong luminescence with multiple bands, which are
251 important indicators of the burial diagenetic environment (Qian et al. 2004;Liu et al. 2010).
252 5.4 Fluid types

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253 According to the above analysis, the burial dissolution fluid has a dominant homogenization
254 temperature range of 70~120°C, banded overgrowth cement edges with luminescence, and low Na and
255 Sr elements, all of which suggest the cement to be formed in a burial diagenetic environment.
256 Moreover, calcite is seen as the dominant cement in the 120 conventional thin sections and 75 cathode
257 luminescence thin sections, with rare observation of quartz, fluorite and barite that reflect
258 hydrothermal fluid origin. Therefore, it can be inferred that the dissolution fluid may derive from
259 calcium-rich formation water with hydrothermal genesis.
260 5.5 Impacts of burial dissolution on reservoir rocks
261 Burial dissolution in the study section is closely related to faults and fractures. Expanded
262 dissolution and subsequent cementation are seen in fault-related fractures. Fractures, pores and
263 honeycomb-shaped vugs commonly compose the reservoir space. After the burial dissolution, the
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264 porosity is elevated by 5-12%, reaching 20% in the local. Meanwhile, the permeability is also
265 improved. Cementation results in porosity reduction, and porosity in local areas can be zero due to
266 complete cementation. The contribution of tectonically related burial dissolution to the reservoir
267 quality enhancement is mainly reflected in the reconfiguration of pores, which significantly improves
268 the permeability of the dissolution zone that can act as potential reservoir space for oil and gas
269 resources.
270 6. The burial dissolution and cementation model
271 A model is established according to features of fractures and vugs, properties of filling materials,
272 parameter description of karsts, and diagenetic environment and genetic mechanism of karsts (Fig. 9).
273 There are mainly three processes:

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274 (1) In the early stage, imbricated thrust faults are formed due to tectonic extrusion, accompanied
275 by formation of high-angle tensile fractures in the hanging wall. Meanwhile, a negative pressure
276 environment is locally formed, associated with migration of hydrothermal fluids along fault planes and
277 fractures (Fig. 9a and b).
278 (2) During the upward fluid migration, saturation of CaCO3 in hydrothermal fluids becomes lower
279 and lower, which results in the expanded dissolution of carbonate rocks in the fractures of the hanging
280 wall, forming branched vug and fracture system. Moreover, lateral dissolution occurs when these fluids
281 enter the unconformity (Fig. 9c).
282 (3) With gradually enhanced thermal brine migration, convective circulation and dissolution,
283 dissolved CaCO3 is transported to the stagnant zone or the downstream zone, followed by CaCO3
284 precipitation. As the liquid circulation weakens, CaCO3 gradually becomes over-saturated.
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285 Consequently, calcite cementation zones occur in the distal or upper stagnant zone and weak
286 circulation zone, which expand toward the fluid source. With further weakened fluid circulation,
287 stagnant flow emerges, accompanied by rapid calcite crystallization and cementation in the middle
288 parts of fractures (Fig. 9d).

289 7. Conclusions
290 (1) The Triassic Daye Formation in the Huandiqiao Section, Hubei, China is 124.98 m thick, and it
291 lithologically consists of dolarenite, micrite dolomite and conglomeritic dolarenite. A total of 24
292 layers are classified according to their lithologic and structural characteristics.
293 (2) There are a total of 9 reverse faults with dominant NNW dips and imbricated alignment in the study
294 section. Fractures are primarily distributed in the hanging wall, with tensile properties. These
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295 fractures are subjected to expanded dissolution near the fault and cementation far away from the
296 fault. Cementation is more complete in the shear fractures than tensile fractures. Vugs are formed
297 locally due to strong dissolution. Tensile fractures are semi-filled in the vicinity of the fault, while
298 they are to a larger degree filled at locations far away from the fault.
299 (3) Calcite is the most prevalent cement in the vugs and fractures, which is characterized by a fluid
300 inclusion homogenization temperature range of 70~120°C, overgrowth bands with different
301 luminous intensities under the cathode luminescence, low contents of Na, Ba, K, and Sr, and high
302 contents of Fe, Mn, and Mg. All these indicate the fluid to originate from calcium-rich formation
303 water with hydrothermal genesis.
304 (4) A model is established to illustrate the process of burial dissolution and subsequent cementation.
305 Imbricated reverse faults are first formed due to tectonic extrusion, accompanied by formation of
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306 high-angle tensile fractures in the hanging wall of the fault. Moreover, locally formed negative-
307 pressure environments favor the entrance of burial fluids into those fractures. Subsequently,
308 hydrothermal fluids begin to migrate upward along the reverse faults and fractures in the hanging
309 wall, causing selective dissolution and consequent dendritic vug and fracture system. As the water
310 circulation weakens, CaCO3 becomes gradually oversaturated in the distal zone with reference to
311 the fault, the stagnant zone, and the weak circulation zone, eventually forming a complex vug and
312 fracture system.
313 (5) The contribution of tectonically related burial dissolution to the reservoir quality enhancement is
314 mainly reflected in the reconfiguration of pores, which significantly improves the permeability of
315 the dissolution zone that can act as potential reservoir space for oil and gas resources.
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316 Acknowledgments
317 This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.
318 41702122)and the natural gas key laboratory of Sichuan Province(Grant No.2015trqdz09). We would
319 like to thank two anonymous reviewers, and the editor for their careful reviews and useful comments.
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363 Li Z, Huang SJ, Liu JQ. 2010. Buried Diagenesis Structurally Controlled thermal-fluid process and
364 their effect on Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tahe,Tarim Basin. Acta Sedimentol.Sin 5:
365 972-976.
366 Liu LH, Huang SJ, Wang CL. 2010. Cathodoluminescence Zonal Texture of Calcite Cement in
367 Carbonate Rockand Its Relationship with Trace Element Composition:A Case of Ordovician
368 Carbonate Rock of Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin. Marine origin Petroleum Geology 01: 55-60.
369 Li L, Wang SH, Fu YH. 2007. Tectonic style and exploration targets of marine strata in jianghan plain.
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370 Natural Gas Exploration and Development 30: 2.
371 Liu LH , Ma YS , Liu B . 2016. Hydrothermal dissolution of Ordovician carbonates rocks and its
372 dissolution mechanism in Tarim Basin, China. Carbonates and Evaporites 32(4):1-13.
373 Liu YS, Wang YB. 2008. Anaylsis on Tectonic-geologic Framework Styles in Jianghan Basin. Oil
374 Gas.Technol 19: 165-170．
375 Lambert L, Durlet C, Loreau JP, Marnier G. 2006. Burial dissolution of micrite in Middle East
376 carbonate reservoirs （Jurassic–Cretaceous）: keys for recognition and timing.
377 Marine and Petroleum Geology 23: 79-92.
378 Mazzullo SJ. 1981. Facies and burial diagenesis of a carbonate reservoirs:Chapman Deep(Atoka)
379 Field,Delaware Basin,Texas. AAPG Bull 65: 850-865.

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381 carbonate reservoirs, Permian Basin, Texas and New Mexico.Petrol Sci.Engineering 11: 311-322.
382 Moore CH, Dreckman Y. 1981. Burial diagenesis and porosity evolution,Upper Jurassic
383 Smackover,Arkansas and Lousisana. AAPG Bull 65: 597-628.
384 Ngong RN, Hu M, Gao D. 2019. Tectonic and geothermal controls on dolomitization and dolomitizing
385 fluid flows in the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician carbonate successions in the western and central
386 Tarim Basin,NW.China. Asian Earth Sci 172: 359-382.
387 Qian YX, Chen Y, Ma HQ. 2004. Chemical Analysis and Origin of Calcite Filled in and CaveWith in
388 Ordovician Carbonates in Tahe Oilfield. Xinjian. Sedimentary. Geology 22(1): 6-12.
389 Roehl PO, Choquette PW. 1985. Carbonate Petroleum Reservoirs, Berlin, Heidelberg. New
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392 Sciences.
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394 Petrofabric Carbonate Rocks of Ordovician in the Ordos Basin. Acta Sedimentol.Sin 2: 214-225.
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396 of Paleogene aragonite in the Jiyang Depression, China. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences
397 64(3): 1-10.
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399 in central uplift of the Tarim basin, China. Miner.Pet 109: 339-348.
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401 Rocks and Porosity Generation: Integrated with Geological Studies and Reactive
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405 1843-1861.
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411 Technology Information (4): 50-54.
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427 NW China, and corresponding exploration strategies. Mar.Pet.Geol 98: 66-78.
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429 Lower Paleozoic buried hills in Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin.Oil & Gas Geology 39(02):153-
430 163.
431
432
433
434
435
20
Can. J. Earth Sci.
447
446
445
444
443
442
441
440
439
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436
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21
Figure 1. Regional geological background of the study area
Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY on 06/23/20. For personal use only. Page 22 of 32
Can. J. Earth Sci.
448
449 (a) Regional Geology of Hubei(Fig 1a from Hubei Geological Survey, 2020); (b) Stratigraphic histogram of the study
450 area.
451
452
453
454
455
456
457 Figure 2. Features of typical faults and corresponding hanging wall and footwall
22
Page 23 of 32
Can. J. Earth Sci.
458
459 (a) Fault F7; (b) a sketch for Fault F7; (c) high-angle fractures in Fault F7; (d) Z-shaped fractures in Fault F7; (e)
23
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460 Fault F5; (f) a sketch for Fault F5; (g) dissolution along the edge of the breccia in Fault F5; (h) the hanging wall of
461 Fault F5; (i) Fault F4; (j) a sketch for Fault F4; (k) dissolution along the edge of the breccia in Fault F4; (l) the crushed
462 footwall of Fault F4; (m) Fault F1; (n) a sketch for Fault F1; (o) irregular vugs formed during dissolution along
463 fractures among breccias; (p) four episodes of cements; (q) sketch profile of the section; (r) fracture widths at different
464 locations with reference to the fault; (s) fracture lengths at different locations with reference to the fault; (t) fracture
465 densities at different locations with reference to the fault.
466
467
468
Can. J. Earth Sci.
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478 Figure 3. Schematic diagram of tectonic stress analysis
24
Page 25 of 32
Can. J. Earth Sci.
479
480 (a) dolomite with developed fractures; (b) dolomite with calcite vein; (c) calcite twin crystal under the cross-polarized
481 light; (d) orientation imaging; (e-f) calcite veins with two sets of fine twin crystals; (g) strike rose diagram; (h) dip
482 rose diagram; (i) stereographic projection of Cv, e-twin crystal and principal stress; (j) reconstruction of paleo-stress
483 direction; (k) reconstruction of principle tectonic stress.
484
485
486
487
488
489 Figure 4. Characteristics of dendritic dissolution patterns in the hanging wall
25
Can. J. Earth Sci.
490
491 (a-b) Fault F9, crushed fault zone in the lenticular form (40 cm long and 18 cm wide) with a width of about 35 cm,
492 intersecting the upper layer at an acute angle; (c-d) expanded dissolution in the tectonic fractures along the breccia
493 edge; (e-f) zoomed-in features of Figure 4c; (g) completely cemented fine shear fractures by calcites; (h) sketch of
494 Figure 4g.
495
496
497
498
499
500 Figure 5. Dissolution characteristics in rock fabrics
26
Page 27 of 32
501
502 (a) dissolution along the coarse grains, forming a dissolution zone; (b) dissolved sandy clasts in the dolarenite; (c)
503 dolomite with pseudomorphic gypsum crystal; (d) features of pseudomorphic gypsum crystal (-); (e) features of
Can. J. Earth Sci.
504 pseudomorphic gypsum crystal (+); (f) features of pseudomorphic gypsum crystal under the cathode luminescence.
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513 Figure 6. Sequences of dissolution and cementation in the hanging wall
27
Can. J. Earth Sci.
514
515 (a) overall dissolution and cementation patterns near Fault F5; (b) dolarenite as the original rock; (c) formation of
516 fractures and breccias under tectonic action; (d) expanded dissolution along breccias and fractures by hydrothermal
517 fluids, and dissolution of sandy clasts forming beaded dissolution pores and harbor-shaped pore edges; (e) fractures
518 and dissolution pores cemented by the first-episode fine-grained calcite; (f) fractures and dissolution pores cemented
519 by the second-episode short-column calcite.
520
521
522
523
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524 Figure 7. Fluid inclusions and their homogenization temperature measurements

Can. J. Earth Sci.
525
526 (a-c) calcite cement sampling localities in the fractures and corresponding homogenization temperature
527 measurements; (e-f) calcite cement sampling localities in the pores and vugs and corresponding homogenization
528 temperature measurements; (g-i) calcite cement sampling localities in the pseudomorphic gypsum crystals and
529 corresponding homogenization temperature measurements
530
531
532
533 Figure 8. Cathode luminescence characteristics of calcite cements
29
Can. J. Earth Sci.
542
541
540
539
538
537
536
535
534
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Page 31 of 32
543 Table 1. Trace element characteristics of calcite cements
Cathode luminescence Trace element (wB/10-6)

Locality Cement shape
characteristics Mn Fe Mg Sr Na Ba K
1 Granular No 50 4010 910 180 0 490 100
2 Granular No 120 600 2950 440 0 1260 0

3 Granular Dull to dull orange 690 650 2940 150 0 0 0
4 Granular Orange 170 330 1610 620 140 220 0
5 Granular Saffron yellow 270 450 1500 420 0 350 0
6 Granular No 690 1700 4230 100 70 310 10
8 Granular No 270 2290 2340 130 340 0 0
9 Granular Dull orange 240 450 1780 430 0 0 0

Can. J. Earth Sci.
12 Fibrous Dull to dull orange 220 410 2940 310 140 900 140
14 Granular Saffron yellow 510 260 2220 490 140 1160 160
15 Granular Bright orange 740 560 2020 0 0 0 40
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
31
Can. J. Earth Sci.
553
552
551
32
Figure9. A schematic model illustrating burial dissolution and subsequent cementation
Page 32 of 32

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13 *correspondence author, email: zhyf@swpu.edu.cn (Y. Zhang)

49 weak-circulation zone, eventually forming a complex vug and fracture system.

60 burial dissolution is demonstrated to be jointly controlled by tectonic movement, diagenetic fluid

75 systematically investigate the timing, fluid properties, dissolution-cementation sequences, and

79 reservoirs that undergo burial dissolution.

98 Specifically, field observations include quantitative description of occurrences, features and

109 Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University.

125 4. Characteristics of fault and fracture development

126 4.1 Characteristics of faults and fractures

150 4.2 Tectonic stress analysis

177 Wang 2008）

181 fault-related stress.

182 5. Tectonically related burial dissolution and cementation

183 5.1 Areas with burial dissolution and cementation

197 dissolution and cementation in the fractures (Fig. 4).

205 5.2 Sequences of dissolution and cementation

217 fracture opening narrows, and cementation strength grows.

218 5.3 Properties of karst water

222 to some extent.

223 5.3.1 Homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions

236 with formation water as the main diagenetic fluid.

245 2006; liu et al. 2010).

252 5.4 Fluid types

259 calcium-rich formation water with hydrothermal genesis.

260 5.5 Impacts of burial dissolution on reservoir rocks

270 6. The burial dissolution and cementation model

273 There are mainly three processes:

277 fractures (Fig. 9a and b).

281 enter the unconformity (Fig. 9c).

288 parts of fractures (Fig. 9d).

303 water with hydrothermal genesis.

312 fracture system.

322 structures, avoiding cell entombment. Geology 36(8): 663-666.

325 China.Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 39: 173-187.

327 in the Nepsko-Botuobinskaya anteclise region. Oil Gas. Geol 1: 75-87.

329 Prototype basins. Oil Gas.Geol 3: 229-238.

331 South eastern Hubei. Sedimentary facies and Palaeogeography 13: 4.

333 geothermomerter. Journal of Structural Geology 26(8):1521-1529.

335 overview. AAPG Bull 1641-1690.

340 Province.M.Geological Publishing House.

341 Hubei Provincial Bureau of Geological Exploration. 1996. Lithostratigraphy in Hubei

342 Province.M.China University of Geosciences Press

347 hydrothermal fluid. Acta Sedimentol. Sin 24: 806–816.

349 Tazhong Area of Tarim Basin. Oil Gas.Technol 31(6): 49–54.

351 manganese in car-bonate minerals. Mineralogy and Petrology 12(4): 74-79.

357 Mar.Pet.Geol 78: 271-290.

360 Development 38(4):428-435.

370 Natural Gas Exploration and Development 30: 2.

374 Gas.Technol 19: 165-170．

376 carbonate reservoirs （Jurassic–Cretaceous）: keys for recognition and timing.

377 Marine and Petroleum Geology 23: 79-92.

379 Field,Delaware Basin,Texas. AAPG Bull 65: 850-865.

383 Smackover,Arkansas and Lousisana. AAPG Bull 65: 597-628.

386 Tarim Basin,NW.China. Asian Earth Sci 172: 359-382.

390 York.Springer Verlag 1-622.

391 Simms,M.J.,2014.Karst and Paleokarst.M.Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental

397 64(3): 1-10.

402 TransportModeling in the Tarim Basin,China. Geofluids 10: 1155

408 ActaPetrol.Sin 27: 266-276.

411 Technology Information (4): 50-54.

416 Sedimentol.Sin 4: 49-54．

418 ActaSedimentol.Sin 12(1): 66-71