Sequence Stratigraphic Architectures of Intra-Cratonic Basin and Its Controlling Factors

Our study on two typical intra-cratonic basins, namely, Ordos basin, China and Surat basin, Australia indicates that the sequence stratigraphic infilling succession is correlated, The study results show that intra-cratonic basin has unique stratigraphic infilling characteristics, such as (1) typical fining-upward lithology association successions with a sandstone-rich lower part and a mudstone-rich upper part; (2) asymmetrical base level cycle mainly composed of ascending half cycle, with the characteristic of long term transgression and short term regression; (3) sequence stratigraphy made up primarily of a lowstand system tract with multistorey stacked sandstones forming excellent reservoir quality, and little deposition of transgressive system tract and highstand systems tract with isolated sandstones within mud-dominated deposits forming medium or poor reservoir. The spatial and temporal distributions of sequence stratigraphy and sandstones in the intra-cratonic basin are characterized by the source-ward retrogradation controlled by structure action of basin margin, sediment supply, eustasy, palaeotopography, basin infilling, climate, or integrated influence of above-listed factors.