| Summary: | Quaternary biogenic gas reservoirs are extensively developed in the Sanhu Depression of the Qaidam Basin, where the largest domestic biogenic gas production base has been built up. In recent years, however, the exploration of biogenic gas there encounters a variety of difficulties, such as the identification of true and false seismic abnormality, the determination of micro-relief structure and the identification and description of lithologic traps, which are the bottlenecks restricting its exploration breakthrough. In this paper, hydrocarbon accumulation patterns of biogenic gas were studied. Then, based on fine structure interpretation results, combined with laboratory experiments, the sealing capacity, distribution range, formation time and genesis of salt crust were discussed, and the salt crust covered hydrocarbon accumulation pattern of biogenic gas was put forward. Finally, combined with the conditions of source rocks and reservoirs, the exploration prospect of salt crust covered biogenic gas reservoirs was predicted. And the following research results were obtained. First, the Quaternary in the Sanhu Depression is composed of sandstone–mudstone interbeds of shore-shallow lake facies, with superior conditions of source rocks and reservoirs. Many source–reservoir–caprock assemblages are vertically formed. The biogenic gas has the characteristics of dynamic hydrocarbon accumulation, i.e., continuous migration, accumulation, diffusion and re-accumulation. Second, under the effect of Himalayan movement, the climate changes frequently and the salinity of the ancient lake is zoned in the Sanhu Depression. A freshwater area is formed at the inlet of the river in the south and a brine area is formed in the north. Under the influence of evaporation, the phreatic water in the north is salinized continuously, and a set of extensively distributed salt crust with steady thickness and a strong sealing capacity is formed at the eastern part of Lingjian fault. Third, the biogenic gas generated by dark mudstone of lacustrine facies in the depression center migrates laterally and vertically to Lingjian fault zone and gets accumulated under the sealing of salt crust. In conclusion, high-quality source rocks and reservoirs and the salt crust with a strong sealing capacity in the Sanhu Depression constitute a good spatial–temporal configuration relationship of source rocks, reservoirs and cap rocks, so salt crust covered biogenic gas reservoirs can be formed to provide abundant natural gas resources with a broad exploration prospect. Keywords: Qaidam Basin, Sanhu Depression, Quaternary, Biogenic gas, Hydrocarbon accumulation condition, Source–reservoir–caprock assemblage, Salt crust covered, Exploration potential
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