Structural characteristics and controlling factors in western Tabei uplift-Kuqa depression area, Tarim Basin

The Tabei uplift-Kuqa depression area is an important area of petroleum accumulation. The research results obtained by the authors contribute to oil and gas exploration by studying the structural characteristics and controlling factors in this area. Based on the seismic profiles, the authors interpreted the seismic activity and reconstructed the section, and then analyzed the structural features and characteristics of growing strata. The results show that the time of the growing structure development is earlier in the east than in the west, and the spread distance of the tectonic deformation from north to south varies significantly. Detachment structures are well developed in the west where the spread distance is longer than that of the east section. In contrast, the spread distance in the east section is limited in Kuqa depression area. Based on a comprehensive analysis, the compression-shearing in this area was characterized by right-handed rotation after the Paleogene; in the Paleogene gypsum and mudstone layers, well-developed thrust structures and the basement flexure constituted the principal factors which impacted the tectonic deformation structure styles from east to west in this area.