Geological characteristics of large gas provinces and large gas fields in China

Based on the examination of the global researches on oil and gas provinces and large gas fields and the analysis of the features, attributes and distribution of large gas provinces and gas fields, this paper puts forward three indicators of determining large oil and gas provinces: spatial indicator, reservoir-forming indicator and resource indicator. It classifies the gas accumulated areas and large gas provinces in China and analyzes the controlling factors on the distribution of large gas provinces and large gas fields: the lateral distribution is mainly controlled by high-energy sedimentary facies and constructive diagenetic facies, palaeo-highs and their periclinal zones, deep faults, etc, and the vertical distribution is mainly controlled by unconformities, series of evaporates and deep low-velocity highly-conductive beds, etc. It also reveals the main geological characteristics of large gas provinces and large gas fields in China. Large gas fields in four-type basins have their own characteristics and onland large gas fields are dominantly developed in foreland basins and craton basins; there are three types of gas sources, of which, coal is the main source with high gas generating intensity and varying origins; reservoir rocks of the large gas fields (provinces) are of various types and dominated generally by low-middle permeability and porosity pore-type reservoirs; structural traps and litho-stratigraphic traps coexist in Chinese large gas fields and form dense high abundance and large-area low and middle-abundance large gas fields; most of the large gas fields have late hydrocarbon-generation peaks and reservoir formation, and experienced the process of multiple-stage charging and late finalization; large gas provinces (fields) have good sealing and preservation conditions, and evaporates seals are largely developed in large and extra-large gas fields. This paper intends to shed light on the exploration and development of large gas fields (provinces) through analyzing their geological characteristics.