Song Hong / Yinggehai Basin

Fig. 2 Detail map of the Beibu Gulf with
Song Hong / Yinggehai Basin,
showing wells and seismic locations

Fig.1 Sedimentary basins offshore Indochina.

The southeast extension of Red River Fault generated a rift basin offshore west of Hainan Island (Fig. 1). The Vietnamese called it Song Hong Basin and the Chinese called it Yinggehai Basin. The basin has NW-SE orientation, parallel to the Red River Fault system.

The maximum water depth in Beibu Gulf is less than 200 m and it is getting deeper towards the south when it is open up to the South China Sea. A number of wells have been drilled in this area with oil and gas discoveries (Fig. 2). Several seismic lines were published:

A & B are perpendicular to Red River Fault system.
C is parallel to the Red River Fault system.

Fig. 3. Section A, located to the north of the basin. A graben 

system was opened up as part of the Red River Fault system

 ( Nielsen et al, 1999)

Fig. 4. Section B, Line 89-I-36A shows a series of horst 

and graben system in the lower section, below B horizon  

( Nielsen et al, 1999)

Fig 5. Section C. 90-I-C65 line, SW-NE orientation, 

perpendicular to Red River Fault system ( Nielsen et al, 1999)

Fig. 6. Section D. Line 89-I-62 with NW-SE orientation, 

parallel to Red River Fault system ( Nielsen et al, 1999)

Reference: 

Nielsen, L.H., Mathiesen, A., Bidstrup, T., Vejbñk, O.V., Dien, P.T., Tiem, P.V., 1999. Modelling of hydrocarbon generation in the Cenozoic Song Hong Basin, Vietnam; a highly prospective basin. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 17, 269±294.