The current achievements and potential of ichnofabric

Abstract：Ichnofabric is sedimentary rock fabric resulting from biogenic reworking, which is generated by interaction of physical and biological processes.Ichnofabric analysis displays a rising significance on accurate environmental interpretation of sedimentary units in oil-bearing basin and precise recognition of depositional disconuities.The paper summarizes current achievements and potential of ichnofabric in four aspects:Nine key stratal surfacies can be differentiated by the different ichnofabrics and change in flow regime, omission, erosion (at all scales) , consolidation and lithification, subsidence, uplift, emersion.Each of these may be reflected in the biotic recolonization by animals and/or plants which typically accentuate the key stratal surface;detailed study and re-explanation of complex trace fossils and ichnofabrics depend on the study of complex of ichnofabric itself, diversity of function, diversity and complex of behaviour of tracemarkers and multiple juxtaposed reworking of different shape of tracemarkers;it it much important for study of complex ichnofabrics to exactly understand the process, mode of tracemaking and its depth and relationship between different tiers, especially need the three-dimensinal visualization analysis and computer simulation of ichnofabric;the facts of oil exploration show that study of trace fossils can not only be widely used in petroleum geology, but also by used in oil production, and the ichnofabrics can change the permeability of strata by different predicted methods.

Keyword：ichnofabric;3D visualization analysis and computer simulation;evaluation of reservoir;key stratal surface;