Sedimentary Characteristics and Model of Estuary Dam-Type Shallow-Water Delta Front: A Case Study of the Qing 1 Member in the Daqingzijing Area, Songliao Basin, China
Source abstract
Abstract
The sedimentary characteristics and model of the shallow-water delta front are of great significance for the development of oil and gas reservoirs. At present, there are great differences in the understanding of the distribution patterns of estuary dams in the shallow-water delta front. Therefore, this paper reveals the distribution characteristics of estuary dams through the detailed dissection of the Qing 1 Member in the Daqingzijing area and establishes a completely new distribution pattern of estuary dams. By using geological data such as logging and core measurements, sedimentary microfacies at the shallow-water delta front are classified and logging facies identification charts for each sedimentary microfacies are developed. Based on the analysis of single-well and profile facies, the sedimentary evolution laws of the Qing 1 Member reservoirs are analyzed. On this basis, the sedimentary characteristics and model of the lacustrine shallow-water delta front are established. The results indicate that the Qing 1 Member in the Daqingzijing area exhibits a transitional sequence from a delta front to pro-delta facies and finally to deep lacustrine facies, with sediments continuously retrograding upward. Subaqueous distributary channels and estuary dams constitute the skeletal sand bodies of the retrogradational shallow-water delta. The estuary dam sand bodies are distributed on both sides of the subaqueous distributary channels, with sand body development gradually decreasing in scale from bottom to top. These bodies are intermittently distributed, overlapping, and laterally connected in plan view, challenging the conventional understanding that estuary dams only occur at the bifurcation points of underwater distributary channels. Establishing the sedimentary characteristics and model of the shallow-water delta front is of great significance for the exploration and development of reservoirs with similar sedimentary settings.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Geological formations and processes · Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Earth Sciences, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Reservoir and Underground Gas Storage Integrity Evaluation of Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163318, China
Funding
Joint Guidance Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province
References (49)
Show source-provided references
1. Yang, Z., Dong, G., Zeng, L., Qiu, Y., Guo, C., Ma, Z., Wang, T., Yang, X., Ran, S., and Zhao, X. (2025). Identification and sedimentary model of shallow-water deltas: A case study of the funing formation, Subei Basin, northeast China. Minerals, 15.10.3390/min15030207 ↗
2. Modern sedimentation in the wave-dominated delta beach bar sedimentary system of the Fenghe River in Jiaonan, Qingdao10.1007/s12517-020-06211-y ↗
3. Anatomy and controlling factors of a Late Cretaceous aeolian sand sheet: The Marília and the Adamantina formations, NW Bauru Basin, Brazil10.1016/j.sedgeo.2010.02.010 ↗
4. Nabawy, B.S., El Aziz, E.A.A., Ramadan, M., and Shehata, A.A. (2023). Implication of the micro- and lithofacies types on the quality of a gas-bearing deltaic reservoir in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Sci. Rep., 13.10.1038/s41598-023-35660-0 ↗
5. The fine characterization method of multiscale sedimentary cycles in phase space10.1109/TGRS.2024.3512660 ↗
6. Sedimentary framework of the modern Mississippi Delta10.1306/D4269661-2B26-11D7-8648000102C1865D ↗
7. Pennsylvanian sedimentation of central Appalachians
8. An analysis of the variation in delta architecture10.1111/j.1365-3121.1990.tb00052.x ↗
9. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of fan-delta and river-delta deposystems, Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation, Colorado10.1306/03110300127 ↗
10. Rational theory of delta formation
11. Sediment infilling and wetland formation dynamics in an active crevasse splay of the Mississippi River delta10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.12.002 ↗
12. Research on the sedimentary characteristics and oil accumulation laws10.1007/s10553-024-01636-7 ↗
13. Facies analysis and sequence-stratigraphic control on reservoir architecture: Example from mixed carbonate/siliciclastic sediments of Raha Formation, Gulf of Suez, Egypt10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105160 ↗
14. Diagenetic evolution of the lower Yaojia Formation of Songliao Basin, China: Impact on reservoir quality10.1016/j.petrol.2022.110415 ↗
15. Asymmetrical deltas below wave base: Insights from the Fraser River Delta, Canada10.1111/sed.12237 ↗
16. Huang, Y., Yu, X., and Fu, C. (2025). Depositional architecture of aggrading delta front distributary channels and corresponding depositional evolution process in Ordos Basin: Implications for deltaic reservoir prediction. Water, 17.10.3390/w17040528 ↗
17. Provenance systems and types of sand bodies during Upper Triassic Chang 8 time of the Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China10.1007/s12517-021-07531-3 ↗
18. Sedimentary characteristics and pattern of distributary channels in shallow water deltaic red bed succession: A case from the Late Cretaceous Yaojia formation, southern Songliao Basin, NE China10.1016/j.petrol.2018.08.006 ↗
19. Sedimentary characteristics and seismic geomorphologic responses of a shallow-water delta in the Qingshankou Formation from the Songliao Basin, China10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.09.018 ↗
20. A Reservoir Assessment of the Qingshankou sandstones (The Upper Cretaceous), Daqingzijing Field, South Songliao Basin, Northeastern China10.1080/10916466.2011.572104 ↗
21. Gilbert-type deltas recording short-term base-level changes: Delta-brink morphody-namics and related foreset facies10.1111/sed.12212 ↗
22. Delta-front hyperpycnal bed geometry and implications for reservoir modeling: Cretaceous Panther Tongue delta, Book Cliffs, Utah10.1306/11020909072 ↗
23. Changes to Subaqueous Delta Bathymetry Following a High River Flow Event, Wax Lake Delta, USA10.1007/s12237-020-00727-y ↗
24. Re-understanding Sedimentary Characteristics of Shallow-water Delta in Funing Formation, Gaoyou Sag, Subei Basin, Eastern China
25. Terminal distributary channels and Delta front architecture of river-dominated delta systems10.2110/jsr.2006.026 ↗
26. Ma, Z., Dong, G., Wang, T., Qiu, Y., Bi, T., and Yang, Z. (2025). Sedimentary Characteristics of Shallow Water Delta: A Case Study from the Paleogene Funing Formation in the Haian Sag of the Subei Basin, China. Minerals, 15.10.3390/min15010075 ↗
27. Depositional characteristics and evolution of the shallow water deltaic channel sand bodies in Fuyu oil layer of central downwarp zone of Songliao Basin, NE China10.1007/s12517-019-4762-9 ↗
28. Wang, J., Wang, L., Yin, Y., Xie, P., and Xiong, G. (2025). Comprehensive reservoir architecture dissection and microfacies analysis of the Chang 8 Oil Group in the Luo 1 Well Area, Jiyuan Oilfield. Appl. Sci., 15.10.3390/app15031082 ↗
29. Christopher, B., Liu, K.W., and Gwavava, O. (2017). Diagenesis and reservoir properties of the Permian Ecca group sandstones and mudrocks in the eastern Cape province, south Africa. Minerals, 7.10.3390/min7060088 ↗
30. High-resolution geochemical analysis of organic matter accumulation in the Qingshankou Formation, Upper Cretaceous, Songliao Basin (NE China)10.1016/j.coal.2015.03.003 ↗
31. Geochemical characterization of source rocks and crude oils in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Changling Sag, southern Songliao Basin10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.03.001 ↗
32. Ma, F., Chen, B., Xue, L., Hong, L., Wang, L., and Ma, L. (2025). River patterns transition of subaqueous distributary channels in delta front and its significances for petroleum geology: An insight from Paleogene Yabus Formation in the Sag A of Melut Basin, South Sudan. Front. Earth Sci., 5.10.1007/s11707-024-1129-7 ↗
33. Fang, M; Li, H; Fan, W; Li, W. Sandbody characterization and sedimentary system evolution of shallow water delta in the H4 Member of Kangning gasfield
34. Study on depositional elements and sandstone body development characteristics under high-resolution sequence framework of the Fuyu Oil Layer in Bayanchagan Area10.2118/223931-PA ↗
35. Li, Z., Bao, Z., Wei, Z., Li, L., and Wang, H. (2022). Geochemical features of lacustrine shales in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of Changling Sag, Songliao Basin, Northeast China. Energies, 15.10.3390/en15196983 ↗
36. A novel method for automatic quantification of different pore types in shale based on SEM-EDS calibration10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2024.107278 ↗
37. Wen, H., Li, X., and He, X. (2025). Quantitative Prediction Method for Post-Fracturing Productivity of Oil–Water Two-Phase Flow in Low-Saturation Reservoirs. Processes, 13.10.3390/pr13041091 ↗
38. Stratigraphic characteristics and geological significance of Qingshankou Formation in Songliao Basin10.1088/1755-1315/787/1/012097 ↗
39. Zhang, P., Xu, Y., Meng, Q., Liu, Z., Zhang, J., Shen, L., and Zhang, S. (2020). Sequence stratigraphy and geochemistry of oil shale deposits in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation. Energies, 13.10.3390/en13112964 ↗
40. Sequence stratigraphy in post-rift river-dominated lacustrine delta deposits: A case study from the Qingshankou Formation10.1002/gj.3948 ↗
41. Tectonic and climate control of oil shale deposition in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation (Songliao Basin, NE China)10.1007/s00531-013-0903-7 ↗
42. Variability in fluvially dominated, fine grained, shallow water deltas10.1111/sed.13017 ↗
43. Xin, W., Bai, Y., and Xu, H. (2019). Experimental study on evolution of lacustrine shallow-water delta. CATENA, 182.10.1016/j.catena.2019.104125 ↗
44. Seismic geomorphology of shallow water lacustrine deltas in the Paleocene Huanghua Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104561 ↗
45. Controls on the strata architecture flacustrine delta succesions in low accommodation con-ditions10.1111/sed.12838 ↗
46. Gao, Y., Zhang, G., Li, S.T., Guo, R., Zeng, Z., Cheng, S., Xue, Z., Li, L., Zhou, H., and Liu, S. (2023). Provenance of the lower jurassic Badaowan and Sangonghe Formations in Dongdaohaizi deperssion, Junggar Basin, and its constraint on the Karamaili Ocean. Mar. Sci. Eng., 11.10.3390/jmse11071375 ↗
47. Study on the sedimentary characteristics of braided fluvial fan10.1080/16583655.2023.2286715 ↗
48. Lacustrine to deltaic depositional systems: Sedimentary evolution and controlling factors of an Upper Cretaceous continental depression and implications for petroleum exploration10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2024.107234 ↗
49. Sedimentary characteristics and implications for hydrocarbon exploration in a retrograding shallow-water delta: An example from the fourth member of the Cretaceous Quantou Formation in the Sanzhao depression, Songliao Basin, NE China10.1016/j.petsci.2022.01.018 ↗