Quantitative evaluation of hydrocarbon resource potential and its distribution in the Bozhong Sag and surrounding areas, Bohai Bay Basin

The Bozhong Sag is the biggest hydrocarbon rich sag in the Bohai Sea area. However, hydrocarbon resource potential and its distribution are not clear, which restricts petroleum exploration. According to the material balance principle and the hydrocarbon accumulation threshold theory, the resource potential and distribution characteristics of hydrocarbons were evaluated quantitatively with hydrocarbon accumulation systems as evaluation units. The upper and lower plays in the Bozhong Sag and surrounding areas each can be divided into six hydrocarbon accumulation systems. The total afforded accumulation hydrocarbon quantity in the Bozhong Sag and surrounding areas is 60.265×108 t of oil (43.185×108 t in the upper play, 17.080×108 t in the lower play) and 27.03×1011 m3 of gas (17.76×1011 m3 in the upper play and 9.27×1011 m3 in the lower play). The Shijiutuo (I) and Bodong (II) accumulation systems are the further exploration areas with the greatest afforded accumulation hydrocarbon quantity.