An Overview of Structural Diagenesis

Key words: 
• structural diagenesis /
• deformation bands /
• fracture /
• diagenetic fluid /
• reservoir

Abstract: Structural diagenesis, which is a cross-discipline of structural geology and sedimentology, is a frontier research field; it mainly studies the interaction between the tectonic action and its deformation structure and effect and the diagenesis of the sediments (rock). Deformation structures and processes have an important influence on the diagenesis heterogeneity through influencing the diagenetic fluid flow; the diagenesis research related to the deformation structure can provide people with diagenetic evolution, fluid flow, and period, stage and rate of structure development. Structural diagenesis provides a new idea for researching the reservoir evolution under the structure-diagenetic framework. It should be noted in practical work that this idea should be considered in research including genesis and prediction, densification mechanism of the reservoir, and evolution of sedimentary basins. The new classification system for deformation bands that include carbonates needs to be established urgently; the research related to deformation bands in carbonate rock started relatively late and is relatively weak. Therefore, research in this area should be strengthened in the future. The degree of research between different deformation structures is not balanced. Deformation bands and fractures constitute the main body of diagenesis research; diagenesis research related to deformation structures, such as soft sediment deformation structure and sandstone veins, needs further strengthening. The research concerning spatial distribution prediction of deformation structures and their influence on the fluid flow should be conducted by integration of various data and methods, such as cores, outcrops, and numerical simulations. Domestic scholars have carried out research on the impact of tectonic activity on physical changes of reservoirs in the Midwest Basin and made important progress; the influence of tectonism on reservoir chemical change has started. The dynamic mechanism and process of reservoir evolution and distribution should be explored by using structural diagenesis in the future in order to promote studies of reservoir diagenesis dynamics and sedimentary basin dynamics.