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Marine Origin Petroleum Geology >

2025 , Vol. 30 >Issue 2: 133 - 146

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-9854.2025.02.004

Multi-scale structural characteristics and a new depositional model of microbialites of the Sinian Dengying Formation in Sichuan Basin, SW China

  • XU Zhehang , 1, 2, 3 ,
  • LI Wenzheng , 1, 2, 3 ,
  • QIAO Zhanfeng 1, 2, 3 ,
  • CHEN Zheng'an 4 ,
  • LAN Caijun 5 ,
  • YANG Dailin 5 ,
  • SUN Xiaowei 1, 2, 3 ,
  • ZHU Xinjian 1, 2, 3 ,
  • WANG Yongxiao 1, 2, 3 ,
  • CAI Jun 1 ,
  • WANG Zeyu 1
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  • 1. PetroChina Hangzhou Research Institute of Geology
  • 2. State Energy Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas in Carbonate Strata
  • 3. Key Laboratory of Carbonate Reservoir, CNPC
  • 4. Petrochina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development
  • 5. Research Institute of Exploration and Devetopment, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company
LI Wenzheng, PhD Student, Geological Senior Engineer, mainly engaged in research on sedimentology-reservoir geology and exploration deployment. Add: 920 Xixi Rd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310023, China. E-mail：

XU Zhehang, PhD, Geological Engineer, mainly engaged in sedimentology and reservoir geology of carbonate rocks. Add: 920 Xixi Rd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310023, China. E-mail：

Received date: 2024-12-27

  Revised date: 2025-03-13

  Online published: 2025-05-13

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Abstract

The Sinian Dengying Formation reveals a great resource potential in the central part of Sichuan Basin. Describing the microbialite depositional fabrics at multi-scale is beneficial for clarifying their distribution. Based on outcrop, core, and thin section data, this study characterizes the fabrics of microbialites at mesoscopic, microscopic, and macroscopic scales. Two types of microbialites, stromatolites and thrombolites, are identified in the Sinian Dengying Formation in Sichuan Basin. In addition, non-skeletal grains such as intraclasts, oncoids, ooids, and peloids have also been observed in the Dengying Formation. Based on these petrological characteristics, eleven lithofacies and three sedimentary cycles have been identified, which correspond to three depositional environments, including supratidal-intertidal, shallow subtidal, and lagoon environments. In the supratidal-intertidal environment, the multi-stage microbial biostrome build-ups are observed with the frequently occurrence of the fenestral and teepee structures. The shallow subtidal environment exhibits lens-shaped microbial bioherm build-ups and grain-dominated intraclastic packstone/grainstone. The lagoon cycle is dominated by medium to thick-bedded dolo-mudstone in the lower part. A depositional model for the microbialite of Dengying Formation in Sichuan Basin is established, in which high-quality microbial reservoir are predominantly developed in the lower supratidal-intertidal environment and the upper shallow subtidal environment.

Key words： microbialite; sedimentary structure; lithofacies association; depositional model; Dengying Formation; Sichuan Basin

Cite this article

XU Zhehang , LI Wenzheng , QIAO Zhanfeng , CHEN Zheng'an , LAN Caijun , YANG Dailin , SUN Xiaowei , ZHU Xinjian , WANG Yongxiao , CAI Jun , WANG Zeyu . Multi-scale structural characteristics and a new depositional model of microbialites of the Sinian Dengying Formation in Sichuan Basin, SW China[J]. Marine Origin Petroleum Geology, 2025 , 30(2) : 133 -146 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-9854.2025.02.004

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