Abstract: The environment plays a fundamental role in the development of karst reservoirs and affects the scale and strength of karst bodies. Strengthening the study of sedimentary environments can be beneficial to the exploration and prediction of high-quality karst reservoirs. In order to deeply understand the sedimentary characteristics of the Middle and Lower Ordovician in Tahe area, the sedimentary environment is finely identified and divided by using core, logging, seismic and regional macro-sedimentary data on the basis of field survey. At the same time, the petrological and petrographic indicators, such as rock color, type and combination, structure, paleontology, geochemical characteristics, and so on, are also used to identify sedimentary environments. The results show that the rock types in the study area are mainly granular limestone, micritic limestone, biological limestone and transitional rocks. There are five types of sedimentary environments developed in total. The Penglaiba Formation is dominated by restricted and semi-restricted platform, and the Yingshan Formation is dominated by semi-restricted platform and open platform, while the Yijianfang Formation is dominated by open platform, platform margin and submerged platform. A total of 11 seismic facies are developed, which have an obvious corresponding relationship with various sedimentary facies. In general, the study area is dominated by platform facies, with obvious differences in space-time evolution. Vertically, the sea waterbody gradually deepens from the Penglaiba Formation to the Yijianfang Formation, and the sedimentary environment gradually changes from restricted to open platform. Laterally, the main body of the study area is dominated by open platform and platform margin, and gradually transits to slope and basin facies from east and south to the outside of the study area. Based on previous data, the evolution model of the study area is established. This model shows that the sedimentary environment has evolved gradually from restricted platform of the Lower Ordovician Penglaiba Formation →semi-restricted platform → open platform of the Middle and Lower Ordovician Yingshan Formation → platform margin of the Middle Ordovician Yijianfang Formation → submerged platform of the late Yijianfang Formation and the Tumuxiuke Formation.

Key words: Tahe area, Middle and Lower Ordovician, sedimentary environment, seismic facies, evolution model