OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT OF SEDIMENTOLOGY AND HOT ISSUES IN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

The development of sedimentology has experienced three stages:germination and initial formation, transition from sedimentary petrology to sedimentology and all-round development. The research field developed from microscopic to macroscopic, from petrographic features of sedimentary rocks further into its genesis, from observation of rocks to explanation of sedimentary facies. With sequence stratigraphy and seismic sedimentology as the beginning of qualitative to quantitative study, geochemistry, digital simulation and experimental techniques provide effective methods for its realization. Hot issues related to sedimentology in present oil and gas exploration field are summarized in this paper, such as theoretical research and practical application of seismic sedimentology, identification of deep-water deposition, genesis of dolomite, development prospect of shallow-water deltas in oil and gas exploration, development and challenge for cyclostratigraphy and global change sedimentology, etc. which provide basic information for further development of new theoretical methods and techniques in sedimentology.