Integrated Geophysical Research on the Distribution of Pre-Cenozoic Residual Basins in the South China Sea

In order to assess the oil and gas resources potential of Pre‐Cenozoic strata in the South China Sea (SCS), macro‐distribution of Pre‐Cenozoic residual basins is studied by using integrated geophysical methods. Based on the analysis of rock physical properties, gravity and magnetic data, the distribution of gravity basement, magnetic basement and residual thickness of Pre‐Cenozoic strata in the SCS have been obtained by forward modeling calculation and inversion methods. According to topography and tectonic evolution of the SCS, the study area is divided into five regions, and each region is assigned different parameters for inversion calculation. The result shows that Pre‐Cenozoic residual basins of the SCS have a good potential for oil and gas resources, such as the Dongsha uplift, Chaoshan depression, Southwest Taiwan Basin of Northeastern SCS, Peikang uplift of western Taiwan, and Liyue Bank (Reed Tablemount) of Southern SCS.