scholarly journals The characteristics of hydrocarbon generation, reserving performances of fine-grained rock, and preservation conditions of coal measure shale gas of an epicontinental sea basin: A case study of the Late Palaeozoic shale gas in the Huanghebei Area of Western Shandong

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 453-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Li ◽  
Zengxue Li ◽  
Huaihong Wang ◽  
Dongdong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Coal Seam ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Late Paleozoic ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Average Content ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Geological Structures ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Western Shandong

In China, marine and land transitional fine-grained rocks (shale, mudstone, and so on) are widely distributed and are known to have large accumulated thicknesses. However, shale gas explorations of these types of rock have only recently been initiated, thus the research degree is very low. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to improve the research data regarding the gas accumulation theory of marine and continental transitional fine-grained rock, as well as investigate the shale gas generation potential in the Late Paleozoic fine-grained rock masses located in the Huanghebei Area of western Shandong Province. The hydrocarbon generation characteristics of the epicontinental sea coal measures were examined using sedimentology, petrography, geochemistry, oil and gas geology, tectonics, and combined experimental testing processes. The thick fine-grained rocks were found to have been deposited in the sedimentary environments of the tidal flats, barriers, lagoons, deltas, and rivers during the Late Paleozoic in the study area. The most typical fine-grained rocks were located between the No. 5 coal seam of the Shanxi Formation and the No. 10 coal seam of the Taiyuan Formation, with an average thickness of 84.8 m. These formations were mainly distributed in the western section of the Huanghebei Area. The total organic carbon content level of the fine-grained rock was determined to be 2.09% on average, and the higher content levels were located in the western section of the Huanghebei Area. The main organic matter types of the fine-grained rock were observed to be kerogen II, followed by kerogen III. The vitrinite reflectance ( Ro) of the fine-grained rock was between 0.72 and 1.25%, which indicated that the gas generation of the dark fine-grained rock was within a favorable range, and the maturity of the rock was mainly in a medium stage in the northern section of the Huanghebei Area. It was determined that the average content of brittle minerals in the fine-grained rock was 55.7%. The dissolution pores and micro-cracks were the dominating pores in the fine-grained rock, followed by intergranular pores and intercrystalline pores. It was also found that both the porosity and permeability of the fine-grained rock were very low in the study area. The desorption gas content of the fine-grained rock was determined to be between 0.986 and 4.328 m3/t, with an average content of 2.66 m3/t. The geological structures were observed to be simple in the western section of the Huanghebei Area, and the occurrence impacts on the shale gas were minimal. However, the geological structures were found be complex in the eastern section of the study area, which was unfavorable for shale gas storage. The depths of the fine-grained rock were between 414.05 and 1290.55 m and were observed to become increasingly deeper from the southwestern section to the northern section. Generally speaking, there were found to be good reservoir forming conditions and great resource potential for marine and continental transitional shale gas in the study area.

scholarly journals Coupling between Source Rock and Reservoir of Shale Gas in Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin, South China

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2679
Author(s):  
Yuying Zhang ◽  
Shu Jiang ◽  
Zhiliang He ◽  
Yuchao Li ◽  
Dianshi Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Rock ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Potential Zone ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Longmaxi Formation ◽  
Siliceous Shale ◽  
Organic Pores

In order to analyze the main factors controlling shale gas accumulation and to predict the potential zone for shale gas exploration, the heterogeneous characteristics of the source rock and reservoir of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin were discussed in detail, based on the data of petrology, sedimentology, reservoir physical properties and gas content. On this basis, the effect of coupling between source rock and reservoir on shale gas generation and reservation has been analyzed. The Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation black shale in the Sichuan Basin has been divided into 5 types of lithofacies, i.e., carbonaceous siliceous shale, carbonaceous argillaceous shale, composite shale, silty shale, and argillaceous shale, and 4 types of sedimentary microfacies, i.e., carbonaceous siliceous deep shelf, carbonaceous argillaceous deep shelf, silty argillaceous shallow shelf, and argillaceous shallow shelf. The total organic carbon (TOC) content ranged from 0.5% to 6.0% (mean 2.54%), which gradually decreased vertically from the bottom to the top and was controlled by the oxygen content of the bottom water. Most of the organic matter was sapropel in a high-over thermal maturity. The shale reservoir of Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation was characterized by low porosity and low permeability. Pore types were mainly <10 nm organic pores, especially in the lower member of the Longmaxi Formation. The size of organic pores increased sharply in the upper member of the Longmaxi Formation. The volumes of methane adsorption were between 1.431 m3/t and 3.719 m3/t, and the total gas contents were between 0.44 m3/t and 5.19 m3/t, both of which gradually decreased from the bottom upwards. Shale with a high TOC content in the carbonaceous siliceous/argillaceous deep shelf is considered to have significant potential for hydrocarbon generation and storage capacity for gas preservation, providing favorable conditions of the source rock and reservoir for shale gas.

Reservoir Forming Conditions of Paleogene Shale Gas and Oil in Liaohe Depression

2014 ◽  
Vol 926-930 ◽  
pp. 4344-4347
Author(s):  
Qi Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Production Test ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Oil Resources ◽  
Strong Adsorption ◽  
Material Conditions ◽  
Total Hydrocarbons ◽  
High Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Liaohe Depression

According to the data on the geology, geochemistry, experimental analysis and production test of Liaohe Depression, the reservoir forming conditions of shale gas and oil were analyzed in this study. It is found that the Paleogene shale in the sedimentary basin has an extensive distribution, large thickness, high organic carbon content and wide variation scope of maturity of organic matter. It provides the material conditions for the formation of shale gas and oil. The shales have developed micropores and fractures, which provide favorable reservoir space for the free hydrocarbons. Due to the strong adsorption ability of shale, the gas logging abnormal of total hydrocarbons is usually present in the shale. A huge reserve of shale gas and oil resources is indicated. The shale reservoir usually has a high content of brittle minerals, so the fracturing technique can be applied for development. Therefore, the Paleogene strata in Liaohe Depression contain abundant shale gas and oil and the associated tight gas and oil resources. The shale gas and oil in the hydrocarbon generation sag and the surrounding shales and the interbed are the new deposits under the deep exploitation of Liaohe Depression. The shale gas and oil in the West Sag has the highest potential.

scholarly journals Upper Paleozoic Transitional Shale Gas Enrichment Factors: A Case Study of Typical Areas in China

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Feiteng Wang ◽  
Shaobin Guo
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Ordos Basin ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Upper Permian ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Coal Seams ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Upper Paleozoic ◽  
Southwestern Guizhou ◽  
Pore Evolution

Based on the shale gas research experience in North America, large-scale geological evaluations have been conducted in China to determine the enrichment characteristics of deep marine shale gas, leading to the discovery of the Fuling, Changning and Weiyuan shale gas fields. However, research on Upper Paleozoic transitional shale gas remains limited, restricting the subsequent exploration and development. Therefore, taking the Lower Permian Shanxi and Pennsylvanian Taiyuan Formations in the northeastern Ordos Basin and the Upper Permian Longtan Formation in southwestern Guizhou as examples, gas logging, gas desorption, thermal simulation, maximum vitrinite reflectance (Rmax), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to study the influence of lithological associations, sedimentary facies, gas generation thresholds, and pore evolution on transitional shale gas, and then Upper Paleozoic transitional shale gas enrichment factors of the northeastern Ordos Basin and southwestern Guizhou were analysed. The results show that carbonaceous mudstone adjacent to coal seams presents a high gas content level, and is primarily developed in swamps in the delta plain environment, and swamps and lagoons in the barrier coastal environment. The gas generation threshold maturity (Rmax) of transitional shale is 1.6% and the corresponding threshold depths of the northeastern Ordos Basin and southwestern Guizhou are estimated to be 2265 m and 1050 m. Transitional shale pore evolution is jointly controlled by hydrocarbon generation, clay minerals transformation, and compaction, and may have the tendency to decrease when Rmax < 1.6% or Rmax > 3.0%, but increase when Rmax ranges between 1.6% and 3.0%, while the main influential factors of pore evolution differ in each period. Continuous distribution of transitional shale gas enrichment areas can be formed along the slope adjacent to coal seams with a moderate maturity range (1.6%–3.0%) in the northeastern Ordos Basin, and transitional shale gas can be enriched in the areas adjacent to coal seams with a moderate maturity range (1.6%–3.0%), abundant fractures, and favorable sealing faults in southwestern Guizhou.

scholarly journals Deflating the shale gas potential of South Africa’s Main Karoo basin

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiel de Kock ◽  
Nicolas Beukes ◽  
Elijah Adeniyi ◽  
Doug Cole ◽  
Annette Götz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Carbonaceous Shale ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Karoo Basin

The Main Karoo basin has been identified as a potential source of shale gas (i.e. natural gas that can be extracted via the process of hydraulic stimulation or ‘fracking’). Current resource estimates of 0.4–11x109 m3 (13–390 Tcf) are speculatively based on carbonaceous shale thickness, area, depth, thermal maturity and, most of all, the total organic carbon content of specifically the Ecca Group’s Whitehill Formation with a thickness of more than 30 m. These estimates were made without any measurements on the actual available gas content of the shale. Such measurements were recently conducted on samples from two boreholes and are reported here. These measurements indicate that there is little to no desorbed and residual gas, despite high total organic carbon values. In addition, vitrinite reflectance and illite crystallinity of unweathered shale material reveal the Ecca Group to be metamorphosed and overmature. Organic carbon in the shale is largely unbound to hydrogen, and little hydrocarbon generation potential remains. These findings led to the conclusion that the lowest of the existing resource estimates, namely 0.4x109 m3 (13 Tcf), may be the most realistic. However, such low estimates still represent a large resource with developmental potential for the South African petroleum industry. To be economically viable, the resource would be required to be confined to a small, well-delineated ‘sweet spot’ area in the vast southern area of the basin. It is acknowledged that the drill cores we investigated fall outside of currently identified sweet spots and these areas should be targets for further scientific drilling projects.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of the Micropore Structure between the Transitional and Marine Shales in China

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Pengfei Jiao ◽  
Genshun Yao ◽  
Shangwen Zhou ◽  
Zhe Yu ◽  
Shiluo Wang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Ordos Basin ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Type I ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Longmaxi Formation ◽  
Micropore Structure ◽  
Marine Shale ◽  
Longmaxi Shale

To compare the micropore structure of marine-continental transitional shale with marine shale, organic geochemical, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments were conducted on shale samples from the Shanxi Formation in the eastern Ordos Basin and the Longmaxi Formation in the southern Sichuan Basin. The results show that Shanxi Formation shale has a smaller specific surface area and pore volume than Longmaxi Formation shale; therefore, the transitional shales fail to provide sufficient pore spaces for the effective storage and preservation of natural gas. Both the transitional and marine shales are in an overmature stage with high total organic carbon content, but they differ considerably in pore types and development degrees. Inorganic pores and fractures are dominantly developed in transitional shales, such as intragranular pores and clay mineral interlayer fractures, while organic nanopores are rarely developed. In contrast, organic pores are the dominant pore type in the marine shales and inorganic pores are rarely observed. The fractal analysis also shows that pore structure complexity and heterogeneity are quite different. These differences were related to different organic types, i.e., type I of marine shale and type III of transitional shale. Marine Longmaxi shale has experienced liquid hydrocarbon cracking, gas generation, and pore-forming processes, providing good conditions for natural gas to be preserved. However, during the evolution of transitional Shanxi shale, gas cannot be effectively preserved due to the lack of the above evolution processes, leading to the poor gas-bearing property. The detailed comparison of the micropore structure between the transitional and marine shales is of great importance for the future exploitation of marine-continental transitional shale gas in China.

scholarly journals Fracture characteristics from outcrops and its meaning to gas accumulation in the Jiyuan Basin, Henan Province, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1309-1323
Author(s):  
Changyan Sun ◽  
Xianbo Su ◽  
Heng Yang ◽  
Feng Li
Keyword(s):  
Oil Shale ◽  
Vitrinite Reflectance ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Fracture Density ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Fracture Characteristics ◽  
Gas Accumulation

AbstractThe target Oil-Shale Member (TOSM) in the Upper Triassic Tanzhuang Formation in the Jiyuan Basin is about 140 m thick and its burial depth is generally between 3,000 and 7,000 m. This paper presents a study of fractures in outcrop analogs for the TOSM based on outcrop observations and experimental measurements. The role of fractures in gas accumulation in the Jiyuan Basin was also analyzed. Also, a workflow used in building discrete fracture models based on the outcrop observed data is described. Results show that the average total organic carbon content and vitrinite reflectance of the oil shale are 4.13 and 1.33%, respectively, with the organic matter type dominated by sapropel-humics (II1), indicating high potential for shale gas generation. Fracture characteristics showing mostly vertical or intersect the bedding at high angles, and partially unfilled. The fracture lengths and widths range from a few centimeters to several hundred meters, and 0.05 to 0.5 cm, respectively, and the average linear fracture density is 6.3 m. In addition, the average brittle-mineral content of the oil shale is 53.7%, indicating that the oil shale in the TOSM has strong fracability. The hydrocarbon generation occurred twice in the TOSM. The primary reservoir formed by the first hydrocarbon generation was destroyed by fractures and tectonic uplift, and partial hydrocarbon migrated to the Paleogene along the second-phase fractures to form a secondary reservoir. The gas formed by the second hydrocarbon generation was mainly migrated into the fracture network of the TOSM.

Petroleum Geochemistry of the Loperot-1 Well in Lokichar Basin, Kenya

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Katithi ◽  
David O. Opar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Source Rock ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Mature Stage ◽  
Type I ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Gas Targets

ABSTRACT The work reports an in-depth review of bulk and molecular geochemical data to determine the organic richness, kerogen type and thermal maturity of the Lokhone and the stratigraphically deeper Loperot shales of the Lokichar basin encountered in the Loperot-1 well. Oil-source rock correlation was also done to determine the source rocks’ likelihood as the source of oil samples obtained from the well. A combination of literature and geochemical data analyses show that both shales have good to excellent potential in terms of organic and hydrogen richness to act as conventional petroleum source rocks. The Lokhone shales have TOC values of 1.2% to 17.0% (average 5.16%) and are predominantly type I/II organic matter with HI values in the range of 116.3 – 897.2 mg/g TOC. The Lokhone source rocks were deposited in a lacustrine depositional environment in episodically oxic-dysoxic bottom waters with periodic anoxic conditions and have Tmax values in addition to biomarker signatures typical of organic matter in the mid-mature to mature stage with respect to hydrocarbon generation and immature for gas generation with Ro values of 0.51 – 0.64%. The Loperot shales were shown to be possibly highly mature type II/III source rocks with TOC values of 0.98% – 3.18% (average 2.4%), HI of 87 – 115 mg/g TOC and Ro of 1.16 – 1.33%. The Lokhone shale correlate well with the Loperot-1 well oils and hence is proposed as the principal source rock for the oils in the Lokichar basin. Although both source rocks have good organic richness to act as shale gas plays, they are insufficiently mature to act as shale gas targets but this does not preclude their potential deeper in the basin where sufficient gas window maturities might have been attained. The Lokhone shales provide a prospective shale oil play if the reservoir suitability to hydraulic fracturing can be defined. A basin wide study of the source rocks thickness, potential, maturation and expulsion histories in the Lokichar basin is recommended to better understand the present-day distribution of petroleum in the basin.

scholarly journals Hydrocarbon generation potential evaluation of coal shale gas of Permo-Carboniferous in Jiyang Depression

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingping Li ◽  
Dawei Lv ◽  
Huiyong Wang ◽  
Changyong Lu
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Maturity Stage ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Gas Generation ◽  
Jiyang Depression ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation Potential ◽  
Hydrocarbon Source Rocks ◽  
Generating Capacity

This paper studied the residual strata distribution of Carboniferous-Permian in Jiyang Depression, the organic geochemical characteristics of shale and the correlation of hydrocarbon-generating potential of shale by applying geochemistry, petroleum geology and coal geology, for study hydrocarbon generation potential of Permo-Carboniferous coal shale in Jiyang Depression. The results show that the thickness of Carboniferous-Permian residual strata in Jiyang Depression is generally 200-800 m, the thickest can reach 900 m; coal shale has good organic matter abundance and is type III kerogen, which is conducive to gas generation, and organic matter maturity reaches maturity-higher maturity stage; Benxi Formation and Taiyuan Formation have better hydrocarbon generation potential; medium to good hydrocarbon source rocks can be found in every sag of Shanxi Formation hydrocarbon source rocks, but the scope is limited, and the overall evaluation is still medium. Compared with other areas in China, it is found that the hydrocarbon-generating capacity of coal-bearing shale of Carboniferous-Permian in Jiyang Depression is generally at a medium level, which has a certain shale gas exploration potential.

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.

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