scholarly journals Quantitative Characterization of Pore Space for the Occurrence of Continental Shale Oil in Lithofacies of Different Types: Middle Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation in Southeastern Sichuan Basin of the Upper Yangtze Area

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Xiangfeng Wei ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
Qianwen Li ◽  
Dongfeng Hu ◽  
Zhihong Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Shale Oil ◽  
Multiple Series ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Southeastern Sichuan Basin ◽  
Yangtze Area

In addition to marine and marine-continental transitional strata, the continental ones are also widely distributed in various oil and gas-bearing basins in China. The continental shale generally provides favorable material bases for hydrocarbon generation, such as wide distribution, large thickness, multiple series of strata, high TOC content, nice organic matter type, and moderate thermal evolution. Part of such shale contains shale oil, but the pore space characteristics for the occurrence of this oil are not thoroughly studied. In order to accurately and quantitatively characterize the pore space where the continental shale oil in different types of lithofacies occurs, we sampled the rock cores from the Middle Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation in the southeastern Sichuan Basin of the Upper Yangtze Area. The TOC content and mineral composition were analyzed, and we also carried out experiments on CO2 and N2 adsorptions, high-pressure mercury injection, and wash oil. Results show significant differences in pore space characteristics for the occurrence of shale oil in different types of lithofacies. In organic-rich mixed and clayey mudstones with the highest TOC content, the free shale oil, occupying the largest reservoir space, mainly occurs in macropores and mesopores, and the adsorbed shale oil, occupying the largest reservoir space, mainly occurs in mesopores. In the organic-bearing clayey mudstone, which has a higher TOC content, the free shale oil takes a larger reservoir space and mainly occurs in macropores, followed by mesopores, and the absorbed one, occupying a larger reservoir space, mostly occurs in micropores and then the mesopores. The organic-bearing mixed mudstone has a moderate TOC content, in which the free shale oil occupies a smaller reservoir space and primarily occurs in mesopores, followed by macropores, and the absorbed one, which takes a larger reservoir space, all occurs in mesopores. In the fine sandstone, the free shale oil occupies a smaller reservoir space and primarily occurs in mesopores, while the absorbed one occupies a smaller reservoir space and all occurs in mesopores.

scholarly journals Formation pressure evolution and its causes for the reservoirs of the upper Triassic Xujiahe formation in the northeast portion of the Sichuan basin, China

2021 ◽  
pp. 014459872110124
Author(s):  
Cunjian Zhang ◽  
Jingdong Liu ◽  
Youlu Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Upper Triassic ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Formation Pressure ◽  
Xujiahe Formation ◽  
The Sichuan Basin ◽  
Early Late

Overpressure is one of the most important factors for oil and gas charging in petroliferous basins. Research on overpressure evolution and its formation mechanisms is of great significance for predicting formation pressures in oil and gas reservoirs before drilling. However, research methods addressing overpressure evolution are not without issues. Based on the measured formation pressures and fluid inclusions, the evolution of the formation pressures in the Xujiahe Formation in the northeast part of the Sichuan Basin was investigated by PVT and basin simulations and the causes of overpressure were also analyzed. The results show that overpressure in the continental strata began to develop at the bottom of the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation. The pressure coefficients of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation range from 1.01 to 1.90, and belong to the normal pressure and overpressure regimes. The present-day overpressure of the Xujiahe Formation is mainly caused by hydrocarbon generation and tectonic compression. The tight reservoirs are conducive to the formation and preservation of overpressure. The pressures in the Xujiahe Formation experienced two evolution processes, namely an “increase-decrease-increase” (eastern area) process and an “increase-decrease” (western area) process. Overpressure began to develop in the Middle Jurassic(J2) period. Due to the hydrocarbon generation taking place, the formation pressures increased rapidly from the Middle Jurassic(J2) period to the early Late Cretaceous (the early part of K2) period. The degree of development of overpressure in the western part of the study area was greater than that in the eastern part of the study during the critical charging period (J3–K1). Since the early Late Cretaceous, the formation pressure has gradually decreased due to tectonic uplift and erosion. From the Oligocene (E3) period to the present, the formation pressures have increased again in local areas due to tectonic compression.

Comparative analysis of shale reservoir characteristics in the Wufeng-Longmaxi (O3w-S1l) and Niutitang (Є1n) Formations: A case study of wells JY1 and TX1 in the southeastern Sichuan Basin and its neighboring areas, southwestern China

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. SN31-SN45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruyue Wang ◽  
Zongquan Hu ◽  
Chuanxiang Sun ◽  
Zhongbao Liu ◽  
Chenchen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Tectonic Deformation ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Reservoir Characteristics ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
Methane Sorption ◽  
Shale Reservoir ◽  
Southeastern Sichuan Basin

A systematic comparative analysis of shale reservoir characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi (O3 w-S1 l) and Niutitang (Є1 n) Formations in southeastern Sichuan Basin and its neighboring areas was conducted with respect to mineralogy, organic geochemistry, pore structure, methane sorption, brittleness, and fractures. Results indicate that (1) organic matter (OM)-hosted pores that are hundreds of nanometers to micrometers in size in the Longmaxi shale are well-developed in migrated OM rather than in the in situ OM, and they are the dominant reservoir spaces. Furthermore, the total organic carbon (TOC), brittleness, organic pores, and bedding fractures have good synergistic development relationships. However, there are fewer OM-hosted pores in the Niutitang shale; they are smaller in size, usually less than 30 nm, and have a more complicated pore structure. The intergranular pores in cataclastic organic-inorganic mineral fragments are the dominant reservoir spaces in the Niutitang shale and are coupled with stronger methane sorption and desorption capacities. (2) The piecewise correlation between TOC and brittleness indicates the significant differences in pore and fracture characteristics. When the TOC [Formula: see text], the TOC, brittleness, organic/inorganic pores, and fractures synergistically develop; when the TOC [Formula: see text], even though the increase in ductility reduces the number of fractures, the lower cohesive strength, internal friction angle, and weaker surfaces of interlayer fractures and cataclastic minerals promote the development of slip fractures, which significantly improves the fracture effectiveness and reservoir spaces for free and absorbed shale gas. (3) The Longmaxi, Wufeng, and Niutitang shales formed and evolved in different evolutionary stages. With the evolution of hydrocarbon generation, diagenesis, tectonic deformation, and pressure, the size and proportion of OM-hosted pores gradually decrease. At the same time, the complexity of the pore-fracture structure, the methane adsorption/desorption capacity, and the proportion of inorganic pores and fractures increase.

“Exploring petroleum inside source kitchen”: Shale oil and gas in Sichuan Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 934-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caineng Zou ◽  
Zhi Yang ◽  
Shasha Sun ◽  
Qun Zhao ◽  
Wenhua Bai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Shale Oil ◽  
Source Kitchen

scholarly journals Phase States of Hydrocarbons in Chinese Marine Carbonate Strata and Controlling Factors for Their Formation

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 753-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhijun ◽  
Liu Quanyou ◽  
Qiu Nansheng ◽  
Ding Feng ◽  
Bai Guoping
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Tarim Basin ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Ordos Basin ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Oil Accumulation ◽  
The Ordos Basin ◽  
Accumulation History

Chinese marine strata were mainly deposited before the Mesozoic. In the Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos Basins, the marine source rocks are made of sapropelic dark shale, and calcareous shale, and they contain type II kerogen. Because of different burial and geothermal histories, the three basins exhibit different hydrocarbon generation histories and preservation status. In the Tarim Basin, both oil and gas exist, but the Sichuan and Ordos Basins host mainly gas. The Tarim Basin experienced a high heat flow history in the Early Paleozoic. For instance, heat flow in the Late Cambrian varied between 65–75 mW/m2, but it declined thereafter and averages 43.5mW/m2 in the current time. Thus, the basin is a “warm to cold basin”. The Sichuan Basin experienced an increasing heat flow through the Early Paleozoic to Early Permian, and peaked in the latest Early Permian with heat flows of 71–77 mW/m2. Then, the heat flow declined stepwise to the current value of 53.2 mW/m2. Thus, it is a generally a high heat flow “warm basin”. The Ordos Basin has a low heat flow for most of its history (45–55 mW/m2), but experienced a heating event in the Cretaceous, with the heat flow rising to 70–80 mW/m2. Thus, this basin is a “cold to warm basin”. The Tarim Basin experienced three events of hydrocarbon accumulations. Oil accumulation formed in the late stage of Caledonian Orogeny. The generation and accumulation of oil continued in the Northern and Central Tarim (Tabei and Tazhong) till the late Hercynian Orogeny, during which, the accumulated oil cracked into gas in the Hetianhe area and Eastern Tarim (Tadong). In the Himalaya Orogeny, oil cracking occurred in the entire basin, part of the oil in the Tabei and Tazhong areas and most of the oil in the Hetianhe and Tadong areas are converted into gas. In the Sichuan Basin, another triple-episode generation and accumulation history is exhibited. In the Indosinian Orogeny, oil accumulation formed, but in the Yanshanian Orogeny, part of the oil in the eastern Sichuan Basin and most of the oil in the northeastern part was cracked into gas. In the Himalayan Orogeny, oil in the entire basin was converted into gas. The Ordos Basin experienced a double-episode generation and accumulation history, oil accumulation happened in the early Yanshanian stage, and cracked in the late stage. In general, multiple phases of heat flow history and tectonic reworking caused multiple episodes of hydrocarbon generation, oil to gas cracking, and accumulation and reworking. The phases and compositions of oil and gas are mainly controlled by thermal and burial histories, and hardly influenced by kerogen types and source rock types.

scholarly journals Hydrocarbon accumulation patterns of Shaximiao Formation in Longgang, Sichuan Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 01045
Author(s):  
WANG Zhiguo ◽  
JIN Wei ◽  
CHENG De’an
Keyword(s):  
Black Shale ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Hydrocarbon Accumulation ◽  
Bottom Part ◽  
Porosity And Permeability ◽  
Made In ◽  
Low Porosity

Recent years, progress has been made in hydrocarbon exploration of Shaximiao Formation in Sichuan Basin. The Shaximiao formation is fluvial facies deposit, the reservoir is channel sandstone with a low porosity and permeability, oil and gas generate from black shale of the Lianggaoshan formation and the Da’anzhai section of Ziliujing formation. In Longgang, immigration channel is the key condition of accumulation of Shaximiao formation. There are two kinds of immigration channels, fractures caused by hydrocarbon generation overpressure release and faults. Oil generated from Lianggaoshan shale immigrated to the sandstone of bottom part of Sha1, oil and gas generated from Da’anzhai black shale immigrated to upper part sandstone though faults. There is no water in the reservoir. Channel sandstone and source faults interpretation is the key point of exploration success.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale Oil Reservoir Under the Control of Lithofacies: A Case Study of the Dongyuemiao Member of Jurassic Ziliujing Formation, Sichuan Basin

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Zhongbao Liu ◽  
Haikuan Nie ◽  
Xinping Liang ◽  
Qianwen Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specific Surface ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Specific Surface Area ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Total Pore Volume ◽  
Nitrogen Adsorption ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Shale Oil ◽  
Lacustrine Shale

The lacustrine shale in the Dongyuemiao Member of the Fuling area, Sichuan Basin, is widely distributed and has huge shale oil resource potential. It is one of the important replacement areas for shale oil exploration in China. To investigate the key shale oil evaluation well, Well FY10, in the Fuling area, X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineral analysis, Rock-Eval, argon ion polishing-scanning electron microscope (SEM), Mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and low pressure nitrogen adsorption were launched to determine the heterogeneity of the pore system in the lacustrine shale of the Dongyuemiao Member. The mineral composition exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity, and the shale can be divided into two main lithofacies: argillaceous shale and mixed shale. The porosity ranges from 2.95 to 8.43%, and the permeability ranges from 0.05 to 1.07 × 10−3 μm2. The physical properties of mixed shale are obviously better than those of argillaceous shale. Inorganic mineral pores, such as linear pores between clay minerals and calcite dissolution pores, are mainly developed, while a small amount of organic pores can be observed. The average total pore volume (Vp) is 0.038 ml/g with an average specific surface area of 5.38 m2/g. Mesopores provide the main Vp (average 61.72%), and micropores provide mostly specific surface area. TOC imposes a strong controlling effect on the development of micropores. Clay minerals are the main contributors to mesopores and macropores. The organic-inorganic interaction during the process of diagenesis and hydrocarbon generation controls the formation of shale pore systems.

Unconventional Shale Play in Oman: Preliminary Assessment of the Shale Oil / Shale Gas Potential of the Silurian Hot Shale of the Southern Rub al-Khali Basin

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal A. Madi ◽  
Elhadi M. Belhadj
Keyword(s):  
Source Rock ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Shale Oil ◽  
Lower Silurian ◽  
History Of ◽  
Oil Gas

Abstract Oman's petroleum systems are related to four known source rocks: the Precambrian-Lower Cambrian Huqf, the Lower Silurian Sahmah, the Late Jurassic Shuaiba-Tuwaiq and the Cretaceous Natih. The Huqf and the Natih have sourced almost all the discovered fields in the country. This study examines the shale-gas and shale-oil potential of the Lower Silurian Sahmah in the Omani side of the Rub al Khali basin along the Saudi border. The prospective area exceeds 12,000 square miles (31,300 km2). The Silurian hot shale at the base of the Sahmah shale is equivalent to the known world-class source rock, widespread throughout North Africa (Tannezouft) and the Arabian Peninsula (Sahmah/Qusaiba). Both thickness and thermal maturities increase northward toward Saudi Arabia, with an apparent depocentre extending southward into Oman Block 36 where the hot shale is up to 55 m thick and reached 1.4% vitrinite reflectance (in Burkanah-1 and ATA-1 wells). The present-day measured TOC and estimated from log signatures range from 0.8 to 9%. 1D thermal modeling and burial history of the Sahmah source rock in some wells indicate that, depending on the used kinetics, hydrocarbon generation/expulsion began from the Early Jurassic (ca 160 M.a.b.p) to Cretaceous. Shale oil/gas resource density estimates, particularly in countries and plays outside North America remain highly uncertain, due to the lack of geochemical data, the lack of history of shale oil/gas production, and the valuation method undertaken. Based on available geological and geochemical data, we applied both Jarvie (2007) and Talukdar (2010) methods for the resource estimation of: (1) the amount of hydrocarbon generated and expelled into conventional reservoirs and (2) the amount of hydrocarbon retained within the Silurian hot shale. Preliminary results show that the hydrocarbon potential is distributed equally between wet natural gas and oil within an area of 11,000 square mile. The Silurian Sahmah shale has generated and expelled (and/or partly lost) about 116.8 billion of oil and 275.6 TCF of gas. Likewise, our estimates indicate that 56 billion of oil and 273.4 TCF of gas are potentially retained within the Sahmah source rock, making this interval a future unconventional resource play. The average calculated retained oil and gas yields are estimated to be 6 MMbbl/mi2 (or 117 bbl oil/ac-ft) and 25.3 bcf/mi2 (or 403 mcf gas/ac-ft) respectively. To better compare our estimates with Advanced Resources International (EIA/ARI) studies on several Silurian shale plays, we also carried out estimates based on the volumetric method. The total oil in-place is 50.2 billion barrels, while the total gas in-place is 107.6 TCF. The average oil and gas yield is respectively 7 MMbbl/mi2 and 15.5 bcf/mi2. Our findings, in term of oil and gas concentration, are in line or often smaller than all the shale oil/gas plays assessed by EIA/ARI and others.

scholarly journals The Fluid Evolution of Ancient Carbonate Reservoirs in Sichuan Basin and Its Implication for Shale Gas Exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenzhu Zhou ◽  
Xiaolan Chen ◽  
Haiyang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Source Rock ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Generation Stage ◽  
Dengying Formation

Sichuan Basin is the only successful basin for shale gas exploration in China. In addition to the main shale in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi formation, the lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi shale is an important potential formation. However, it was once considered that shale gas is difficult to enrich because of its poor sealing conditions and hydrocarbon migration to adjacent reservoirs. With the increasing research on hydrocarbon generation and reservoir in shale of Qiongzhusi Formation in recent years, it has become an important exploration target in Sichuan Basin. The enrichment of oil and gas is closely related to fluid activities. Limited by the degree of exploration, there is little analysis of fluid activities in Qiongzhusi Formation, and there is little analysis of shale gas enrichment potential from the perspective of fluid. The hydrocarbon generated from Qiongzhusi shale in the rift could migrate laterally to the uplift area and form a reservoir in Dengying Formation. The fluid activities from source rock to reservoir are basically the same. Therefore, this paper reconstructed the history of hydrocarbon activities in Dengying reservoirs based on fluid inclusion analysis. Then the fluid activity process in Qiongzhusi shale was studied, and its enrichment conditions of shale gas was discussed. The results show that the hydrocarbon activities of Dengying Formation can be divided into three stages: 1) oil charging stage, 2) oil cracking gas generation stage and 3) gas reservoir adjustment stage. The first stage is under normal pressure, and the second and third stages developed overpressure with pressure coefficients of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. High pressure coefficient is an important indicator of shale gas enrichment. Because the source rock of Qiongzhusi Formation has always been the main source rock of Dengying Formation, it can supply hydrocarbon to Dengying Formation only with overpressure in gas generation stage. Therefore, overpressure in the last two stages of gas generation indeed existed. As long as the sealing condition of shale itself is not particularly poor, shale gas “sweet points” would be formed. Therefore, the thick shale in Deyang-Anyue rift is the focus of shale gas exploration in Qiongzhusi Formation.

scholarly journals Diagenesis and kerogen release in oil- and gas-bearing shales

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C63-C63
Author(s):  
Kenneth Littrell ◽  
Lawrence Anovitz ◽  
Gernot Rother ◽  
David Cole ◽  
Greggory McPherson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Oil Shale ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Organic Chemical ◽  
Shale Oil ◽  
Eagle Ford Shale ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Solid Mixture ◽  
Rock Microstructure

The microstructure of pore space in sedimentary rocks and its evolution during reaction with pore- or fracture-contained fluids is a critically important factor controlling fluid flow properties in geological formations, including the migration and retention of water, gases and hydrocarbons. The size, distribution and connectivity of these confined geometries (pores, fractures, grain boundaries), collectively dictate how fluids of various chemistries migrate into and through these micro- and nano-environments, wet, and ultimately react with the solid surfaces. In order to interpret the time-temperature-pressure-fluid flow history of any geological system, the physical and chemical "fingerprints" of this evolution preserved in the rock must be fully explored over widely different length scales from the nanoscale to the macroscale. We are experimentally investigating these reaction-controlled changes in rock microstructure by conducting in-situ heating experiments on samples of the Garfield oil shale. Oil shale, an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock, contains significant amounts of kerogen (a solid mixture of organic chemical compounds) from which liquid hydrocarbons can be extracted. Pyrolysis (heating shale in the absence of oxygen) converts the kerogen in the oil shale to shale oil (synthetic crude oil) and oil shale gas and a solid residue. Through SANS, we clearly observe these kerogen and oxidation release at lower temperatures followed by pore structure reordering and finally enlargement at higher temperatures. These results are compared with preliminary results tracking the natural diagenesis of the commercially-important Eagle Ford shale formations across the oil/gas boundary.

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