Dynamic Systems of Petroleum Accumulation in the Nanpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

It is significant to distinguish the dynamic systems of petroleum accumulation (DSPA) for the understanding of petroleum accumulation and distribution. According to the formation pressure framework, genetic types of petroleum and characteristics of conduit systems, three dynamic systems of petroleum accumulation were identified in the vertical profile in the Nanpu depression, Bohai Bay basin. The deeper DSPA (including formations Es-3 to Es-2) is a sealed system with high-overpressure and high-mature self-sourced oil. Most of the crude oil in the system accumulated in the periods of late Oligocene (23.5 Ma) and late Pliocene (2.4 Ma). The middle DSPA (including formations Es-1 to Ed(1)) is an overpressured half-sealed system with mature or lower-mature self-sourced oil. The accumulation of oil in the system also occurred in the late Oligocene (23.5 Ma) and late Pliocene (2.4 Ma). The shallower DSPA (including formations Ed(2) to Q) is a hydrostatic system with lower-mature alien-sourced oil from the middle system. Oil within this system accumulated only in the late Pliocene period. The oil in the shallower system migrated vertically along the faults from the formerly accumulated oil in the middle system by lateral migration along the sandbodies, whereas petroleum accumulation in the deeper system was mainly derived from the system itself by lateral migration along the sandbodies and rarely migrated out of the system. In this case, it seems that the deeper system is a more potential exploration prospect in addition to the other two proved favorable systems.