A Comparison of the Basins in Western China with Those in Central Asia and the Oil-Gas Exploration Potential of Western China

There exist some similarities between the basins in western China and those in Central Asia in geological structures and oil gas conditions, but their differences remain obvious. In basin structure, both are composite basins, with different structures formed in different evolutionary stages. In source rock, there exists Jurassic source rock in all of the basins, but Palaeozic source rock is only present in basins of western China. In reservoir, there is mainly Mesozoic Cenozoic reservoirs in basins of Central Asia, but basins of western China have not only Mesozoic Cenozoic reservoirs but also Palaeozic reservoirs. In type of resource,the Central Asia basins possess mainly natural gas, whereas the western China basins have both oil and gas. It is therefore concluded that the basins in western China have better oil-gas conditions and petroleum prospects as well as greater exploration value than those in Central Asia.