Characteristics of Paleozoic clastic reservoirs and the relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China

In order to predict favorable exploration areas of the Paleozoic, Carboniferous and Silurian elastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area of the Tarim Basin, west China, we studied the basic characteristics of Paleozoic elastic reservoirs in the Tazhong area based on a lot of data. Several issues about the hydrocarbon accumulation related to the reservoirs were also discussed. The results were concluded that: the high-value areas of the porosity and permeability of elastic reservoirs were located in the southeast of the Tazhong area; the content of cement (carbonate cement in particular) was the main factor controlling the porosity and permeability of elastic reservoirs; the hydrocarbon distributions of Carboniferous and Silurian elastic reservoirs were closely related to the porosity and permeability; the favorable hydrocarbon accumulation areas of the two sets of strata were located in the southeast of this area, especially in the updip pinch-out area.