Genetic mechanisms of deep-water massive sandstones in continental lake basins and their significance in micro–nano reservoir storage systems: A case study of the Yanchang formation in the Ordos Basin

Abstract

Abstract Based on field geological surveys of two deep-water sedimentary outcrops in the Yanchang formation of the Ordos Basin, X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental geochemical analysis, and polarizing microscope observations were conducted to investigate the causes of various sedimentary structures inside the massive sand bodies from deep-water debris flow. A genesis model of deep-water debris-flow sandstone is established: during the handling of the mass transport complexes in the basin slope, the soft sandy sedimentary layer with relatively strong shear resistance tears the soft muddy sedimentary layer with weak shear resistance and pulls various clumps inside the muddy layer. Finally, debris-flow massive sandstones with rich sedimentary structures are formed. Through argon ion polishing and field emission scanning electron microscopy, the debris-flow sandstones mainly develop micron-scale pores, and the pore radius is mainly distributed in the range of 1–8 µm. The sedimentary rocks from the semi-deep lake to deep lake facies only have a small number of nano-scale pores, and the pore radius is distributed between 20 and 120 nm.