Abstract
The dynamic evolution of Paleozoic paleo-uplifts and the migration of erosion centers fundamentally controlled the development and preservation of deep to ultra-deep hydrocarbon systems in the southwestern Tarim Basin, yet their multistage evolutionary processes and tectonic driving mechanisms remain poorly constrained. This study integrates high-resolution 2D–3D seismic interpretation, balanced cross-section restoration, quantitative erosion reconstruction, drilling and logging data, and zircon U–Pb geochronology to reconstruct the formation, modification, and superposed evolution of Paleozoic paleo-uplifts from the Caledonian to Hercynian. The results reveal a systematic migration of erosion centers from the southwestern basin margin northward and subsequently eastward toward the Bachu Uplift, recording a progressive transition of the regional tectonic regime from Proto-Tethyan plate-margin subduction–collision to intraplate far-field stress transmission. The Hetian paleo-uplift experienced a two-stage evolution, evolving from a continental-margin tectonic uplift into an inherited intraplate uplift before undergoing superposed modification by the Maixi and Bachu uplifts, which fundamentally reorganized the pre-existing paleogeomorphology and erosion architecture. These multistage tectonic interactions generated structural transition zones that preferentially controlled reservoir development, hydrocarbon migration pathways, and trap distribution, identifying the Hetian–Maixi–Bachu transition belt as the most prospective domain for deep hydrocarbon accumulation. This study establishes a new dynamic framework linking multistage erosion-center migration, paleo-uplift superposition, and hydrocarbon accumulation, providing a process-based tectono-geomorphic model for understanding deep petroleum systems and guiding exploration of ultra-deep reservoirs in the Tarim Basin.
