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Title: $Fluid Flow and Hydrocarbon Migration Pathways in Abnormally Pressured Environments
Abstract: Hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation are closely related to activity of the basin fluid. Fluid flow in abnormally pressured environments shows different hydrodynamic processes as a result of associated distinct models of hydrocarbon accumulation. Two kinds of fluid flow systems have been classified in abnormally pressured environments including overpressure and underpressure, i.e. semi-opened and closed systems. In the former, opening of seal beds result in episodic fluid expulsion; but in the latter, thermal convection is dominant in anomalous pressured system. The opening mechanisms of seal beds can be grouped into three kinds of patterns, hydrofracturing, faulting and combination action of both faulting and pressuring. Opening of seal beds constitutes main pathways of hydrocarbon from abnormally pressured system. These fluids flowing from deep overpressured strata to seafloor have been identified using different geophysical data, which are imaged as gas blow-out, pockmark, chimney, fluid diapir, and so on. Some resided remarks or anomalous phenomena recorded in depositional rocks can be used to identify the active processes of fluid, such as fluid inclusions, geochemical features of formation water, anomaly in organic matters and diagenetic processes. At the same time, quantitative modeling can be used to present the dynamic processes of fluid flow. These results can constrain the realm of main migration pathways of fluid flow and hydrocarbon, and provide the useful information for hydrocarbon exploration in abnormally pressured environments.