Characteristics of Miocene Guangle carbonate platforms in the Xisha area and its evolution

Cenozoic carbonate platforms of huge thickness are widely distributed on the conjugate continental margins of the South China Sea. A large number of Miocene reefs and carbonate platforms, which are potential reservoirs for hydrocarbon accumulation, have been found on the northwestern margin. The Guangle carbonate platforms are located on the Guangle Uplift of the Xisha region. Based on previous studies, the latest seismic data acquired are used by this paper for study of the seismic characteristics of the carbonate platforms. An evolutionary model is then proposed to reveal the history of the Guangle carbonate platforms. The platforms started growing in Early Miocene, built up and expanded towards east in early and middle Miocene, shrank by the end of Middle Miocene, and finally submerged under sea water due to tectonic subsidence and the environmental changes caused by the input of detrital sediments since late Miocene.