Sedimentary facies and model of shallow water carbonates platform of the Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation in Sichuan Basin

Building the sedimentary model accurately and delineating the spatial-temporal distribution of grain bank are the keys to increase the rate of success in natural gas exploration. Thus,the types and characteristics of sedimentary facies of the Longwangmiao Formation in the Sichuan Basin were studied based on field outcrops,drilling,logging and seismic data. Taking a fourth-order sequence systems tract as a unit,the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of sedimentary facies within the chronostratigraphic framework were precisely described,and the depositional model of the Longwangmiao Formation was established to reveal the development mechanisms of grain bank and point out the future natural gas exploration. The results showed that: (1)The typical shallow carbonate platform depositional system was developed in the Longwangmiao Formation of the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas. Mixed tidal flat,restricted platform(microfacies types including grain bank,dolomitic tidal flat,lagoon,and gypsum lagoon),open platform(microfacies types including grain bank,lime tidal flat),platform margin,and slope-basin were developed from the edge to the interior of the basin;(2)A sedimentary model was established,which was characterized by “one depression,two uplifts,and two grain banks in the form of belts”. The development of grain banks was mainly controlled by palaeo-topography and relative sea-level fluctuation. It was mainly developed in the highstand systems tract of a fourth-order sequence vertically,and distributed as a belt along the platform margin and around the lagoon area horizontally. Our paper pointed out the grain shoal deposits are the material basis for the development of high-quality reservoirs,the results thus provide a sedimentary geological basis for future natural gas exploration of the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation in the Sichuan Basin.