Advances in basic research on the mechanism of deep marine hydrocarbon enrichment and key exploitation technologies

A basic research program on deep hydrocarbon resource accumulation mechanisms and key exploitation technologies was initiated by the National Natural Science Foundation of China at the beginning of 2020, to meet the theoretical and technological demands of deep hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos basins. This paper provided a review of the recent program progresses on (1) the reconstruction of prototypes and the transformation histories of three ancient cratons in China; (2) the petroleum accumulation and flow mechanisms in deep marine carbonate reservoirs and deep shale gas systems; (3) the geophysical theories and methods for imaging the deep structures and predicting the deep petroleum reservoirs; and (4) the new protocols and downhole tools for deep well drilling and completion. Brief comments were also made on the preliminary application of the recent program results in facilitating several breakthroughs in the deep petroleum exploration of the Tarim and Sichuan basins.