Characteristics and Geological Significance of Strike-slip Faults

Abstract

Strike-slip faults are nearly vertical sections and their two plates move relatively horizontally along strike. The existence of strike-slip faults makes the basin's structural styles diverse, forming abundant fault structural assemblages and structural style types. These abundant structural assemblages and styles may become favorable places for hydrocarbon accumulation. Distribution of hydrocarbon-rich sags is often controlled by faults, such as source rocks in the main period of Lishu fault depression near Sangshutai fault and Xiaokuan fault. Strike-slip faults control the sedimentary system and its evolution of oil-bearing basins and the distribution of secondary structural belts in basins, thus controlling the oil-gas system of basins. The exploration value and prospecting area of a petroliferous basin are determined in a large direction. The effect of Altun fault on Qaidam basin and Tanlu fault on Bohai Bay basin belongs to this category.