Abnormal overpressure distribution and natural gas accumulation in foreland basins, Western China

Abnormal overpressure occurs in the foreland basins of Kuqa, South Junggar and West Sichuan in China. The pressure coefficients are high. Overpressure exists in wide areas and various strata. The layers of overpressure have a very close relationship with lithology, and the area of overpressure is controlled by the piedmont depression. The mechanisms of overpressure formation in the Kuqa and South Junggar Depression include disequilibrium compaction and tectonic compression; the importance of these two factors varies in different basins and in different stages of the same basin. Different models of gas accumulation are established to explain the relationship between overpressure distribution and gas pool formation, and the influence of overpressure on the gas pools. These models include: (ⅰ) the violent tectonic movement leads to the pool formation in overpressure belt (Kela-2 gas field in Kuqa); (ⅱ) the pressure releases at shallow part and the gas pool forms in late time (Hutubi gas field in southern Junggar Basin); (ⅲ) through the pressure transfer the gas migrates and accumulates (Xinchang gas field in Western Sichuan Basin).