Provenance Evolution of the Paleogene Enping Formation in the Northern Pearl River Mouth Basin and Its Influence on the Sedimentary Infilling of Offshore Petroliferous Sags

The Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB) had two potential provenances (intrabasinal and extrabasinal) during the Paleogene Enping Formation period. However, the understanding of their differences in source supply and evolution over time and space is limited due to the regional restriction in borehole coverage. This study aims to address the knowledge gap by utilizing detrital zircon U-Pb dating data, seismic data, and borehole data. Specifically, this study focuses on examining the characteristics of provenance evolution and sedimentary infilling within the Enping Formation in various sags of the northern PRMB. The results indicate temporal and spatial variability in provenance from the lower Ep⁴ and Ep³ to the upper Ep² and Ep¹ Members. The influence of extrabasinal provenance from the South China Block (SCB) was prominent in the northern region of the Zhu I Depression during the deposition of Ep⁴ and Ep³ Members, while intrabasinal provenance from local uplifts remained a significant source for most sags. During this period, sediment transportation occurred over short distances, leading to the widespread development of smaller fan deltas and braided river deltas. In contrast, extrabasinal provenance became dominant during the deposition of Ep² and Ep¹ Members throughout the entire Zhu I Depression. This shift promoted the development of large-scale, shallow, braided river deltas with sediment transported over long distances. The analysis reveals a close correspondence between the shifting provenance and the evolution of sedimentary infilling patterns in the PRMB. As a result, the sags transitioned from being under-filled or balanced-filled to being balanced-filled or over-filled. This study holds immense significance for oil and gas exploration as well as the prediction of favorable sedimentary sand bodies in offshore petroliferous basins.