Tectonic evolution of Caledonian Palaeohigh in the Sichuan Basin and its relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation

The Caledonian Palaeohigh is an important gas exploration domain of Sinian and Lower Paleozoic in western Central Sichuan Basin where gas discoveries have been made successively in recent years. In order to sort out the relationship between the tectonic evolution of this Palaeohigh and hydrocarbon accumulation there, we carried out a new round of research based on previous study results. The evolution history of this Palaeohigh can be divided into seven episodes: the Late Sinian overall tilting and the youth form development of this Palaeohigh, the Cambrian-Ordovician syndepositional uplifting, the Silurian joint uplifting, the Devonian-Carboniferous uplifting and erosion, the Permian overall subsidence and deposition of regional caprock, the Triassic-Jurassic migration of structural high of the eastern segment of this Palaeohigh, and Cretaceous-Neogene strong deformation of the western segment of this Palaeohigh. The hydrocarbon accumulation in the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic experienced three evolution stages, namely the formation of ancient oil reservoirs in the Silurian-Triassic period, the development of the paleo-gas reservoirs in the Jurassic-Oligocene period, and differential evolution of gas reservoirs since the Miocene era. The Sinian-Lower Paleozoic paleo-reservoirs mainly occur in the Leshan-Ziyang-Gaoshiti-Longnǚsi zone and in the area to its north. The tectonic movement of the western segment of the Palaeohigh was strong, while its eastern segment was relatively stable since the later Himalayan epoch, which is favorable for gas accumulation and preservation. It is believed that the Gaoshiti-Moxi-Longnǚsi structural belt and its northern flank are not only favorable for the development of structural gas reservoirs in the Lower Paleozoic but also for gas reservoirs of karstic-lithologic type on the top of the Cambrian and Ordovician. The later type will be the major exploration target of this area in the future.