Print this pageThe Prospect of Hydrocarbon Exploration in South China Sea
ZHU, WEILIN
The evolution of south china sea basins began before the forming of south china sea. A number of rift basins of early Tertiary (including northern continental shelf basins) are major petroliferous exploration basins. Recent studies show that thick Paleogene sediments exist in most of the basins, even in some massifs. These sediments provide significant hydrocarbon resources which indicate a brilliant exploration prospect.
Great oil and gas potential in South China Sea has been proved by geophysical survey and drilling, for example, some 5 billion barrels of oil and 300 Bcm of gas have been found in northern continental shelf, and great breakthrough has also been made by neighbor countries in other parts of South China Sea. There is a vast potential exploration domain including neritic area and deep water area (water depth over 500 m) where extensive Paleogene sediments and large structures were developed. In addition, some overpressured formations in deeper part of the basins such as Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins also remain highly prospective. We believe reasonably that South China Sea will be continuously the hot spot for hydrocarbon exploration in next century because of the optimum geologic conditions with various structural styles and significant hydrocarbon resources.