Zhao, H.; Wang, C.; Wang, Z., and Liu, J., 2020. Reef evolution model of Dongsha Uplift in Pearl River mouth basin, South China Sea. In: Yang, D.F. and Wang, H. (eds.), Recent Advances in Marine Geology and Environmental Oceanography. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 108, pp. 118–124. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Hydrocarbon resource distribution in the organic reef areas all over the world is so rich that it is estimated to exceed 5 billion tons of oil. With continuous development of oil exploration and production, hydrocarbon resources in bioherm reservoirs will increase greatly. The recent oil exploration situation of bioherm reservoirs in the world is reviewed. The South China Sea is the largest marginal sea in China and various kinds of organic reefs exist and are buried in it. The peculiar geological conditions and the favorable bioherm reservoir conditions contribute to a good prospect for oil exploration. The South China Sea is the biggest marginal sea in the West Pacific and its evolutionary process supplies a proper growing environment to the reef. Dongsha Massif was shallow water and far from provenance supply area in the Miocene; its temperature, salinity, and water depth were fit for reef growth. According to the multidisciplinary analysis of seismic data interpretation, well logging, and core data, combining to the relative sea-level curve of variation, we hold the point that plenty of reef developed in Dongsha Massif, and the growth corresponded to the relative sea-level curve of variation and areal structure evolution period. The relative sea-level cycling variation and the complicated structure evolution made reefs in the study area with good characteristics, and they became potential gas and oil reservoirs.