Multielement Imaging Reveals the Diagenetic Features and Varied Water Redox Conditions of a Lacustrine Dolomite Nodule

The genesis of dolostone has long been puzzling for more than two centuries. Although much work has been done on investigating the process of dolomitization, little emphasis has been put on examining the diagenetic water redox condition with the wealthy geochemical information preserved in primary dolomite, which is believed to archive the aqueous environment as well as biotic and/or abiotic effects during formation. In situ interpretation with high resolution is a prerequisite in refined research of dolomite. Here, we reported the multielement imaging results of a lacustrine dolomite nodule with the host black shale from the Songliao Basin, northeast of China. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) with a spatial resolution down to 10 μm was used for in situ scanning. Two key parameter settings of the μ-XRF, including single-point exposure time and spatial resolution, were optimized to achieve a better result in a reasonable scanning time scale. The final imaging data graphically revealed dynamic variation of elemental distributions, including elements enriched in dolomite (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn), clastic quartz (Si), and clay minerals (e.g., Al and K) and redox-sensitive trace elements (e.g., Cr, Mo, V, and U). The well-preserved laminated structures inside the nodule and the features with a magnesium-rich core wrapped with an iron-concentric outer layer and a manganese-concentric shell together indicated its primary form as dolomite and a gradual transformation into ankerite as well as manganese-ankerite. The elemental variation indicates a varied bottom water redox condition, which involved from sulfidic to ferruginous and manganous zones. Here, we propose that the intermittent supplies of sulfate and Fe-/Mn-oxidized minerals interrupting the black shale deposition while favoring dolomitization might be brought by the oxidized and salted seawater. And this lacustrine dolomite is expected to be a potential fingerprint mineral in tracking the seawater intrusions to the Songliao Basin which happened 91 million years ago.

Response to the Variation of Clay Minerals During ASP Flooding in the Saertu Oilfield in the Songliao Basin

In this paper, the variation of clay minerals and their influence on reservoir physical properties and residual oil before and after ASP flooding are analyzed. The results show that the total amount of clay minerals in reservoirs decreases after ASP flooding in the ultra-high-water-cut-stage reservoirs of the Naner Zone in the Saertu Oilfield, Songliao Basin. Therein, the illite content reduces, while the content of illite smectite mixed-layer and chlorite increases. The content of kaolinite varies greatly. The content of kaolinite decreases in some samples, while it increases in other samples. The clay minerals block the pore throat after ASP flooding. As a result, the pore structure coefficient and the seepage tortuosity increase, the primary intergranular pore throat shrinks, and the pore–throat coordination number decreases. Nevertheless, the dissolution of clay minerals reduces the pore–throat ratio and increases porosity and permeability. The variation of clay minerals after ASP flooding not only intensifies the reservoir heterogeneity but also affects the formation and distribution of residual oil. The residual oil of the oil–clay mixed adsorption state is a newly formed residual oil type related to clay, which accounts for 44.2% of the total residual oil reserves, so it is the main occurrence form of the oil in reservoirs after ASP flooding. Therefore, the exploitation of this type of residual oil has great significance to enhance the oil recovery in ultra-high-water-cut-stage reservoirs.

Study on the pore structure and fractal characteristics on shale rock and isolated organic matter in lacustrine shales from the Changling fault depression in the Songliao Basin, China

The stock of shale gas in the Shahezi shale reservoir in Changling fault depression, Songliao basin is believed to be worth exploring. To conduct an in-depth study on the pore structure and fractal characterization of organic matter (OM) can help better understand the pore system of shale reservoir, which has implications for the exploration of lacustrine shale. In order to demonstrate the nanoscale pore structure and irregularity of the isolated OM, we collected a large number of samples and then conducted a series of laboratory experiments, such as the XRD, SEM, CO2, and N2 adsorption experiments conducted to determine the pore structure parameters and reveal their heterogeneity according to FHH theory. As suggested by the experimental results, the pore volume of the isolated OM ranges between 0.034 and 0.056 cm3/g, which is approximately 0.90-3.06 times that of bulk shale samples. As for the fractal dimensions D1 (2.594 on average) and D2 (2.657 on average) of bulk shale, they are larger as compared to isolated OM, indicating that inorganic minerals can make a significant difference to the heterogeneity of shale pores. The fractal dimensions (D1 and D2) of bulk shales show a close correlation with the parameters of pore structure, while there is no significant correlation observed between the dimensions of isolated OM and its parameters. In addition, thermal maturity and solid bitumen have only limited impact on the OM pore structure of isolated OM samples. Then, we conducted a further research to reveal that the insoluble OM macerals derived from terrestrial higher plants can be used to explain the difference in pore structure and heterogeneity between isolated OM samples. Therefore, we arrived at the conclusion that the composition of macerals depends on the exact pore structure and fractal characteristics of isolated OM samples with similarity in thermal maturity

Porosity Evolution In Lacustrine Organic-Matter-Rich Shales With High Claly Minerals Content

Pore structure is a major factor affecting the storage space and oil-bearing properties of shales. Mineralogy, organic matter content, and thermal evolution complicate the pore structures of lacustrine shales. In this study, the porosity evolution of organic-matter-rich shales from the Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in the Songliao Basin, Northeast China, are investigated using thermal simulation experiments and in-situ scanning electron microscope analysis. Three findings were obtained as follows: 1) The pore system of shales from the Nenjiang Formation is dominated by inter-granular dissolution pores of plagioclase and intra-granular pores of illite-smectite mixed layers. Few organic-matter pores are observed. 2) New pores developing during thermal evolution are primarily organic matter pores and clay mineral pores, with diameters greater than 18 nm. Clay mineral pores with diameters of 18–50 nm are the principal contributors to porosity at temperatures between the low maturity stage and the oil-generation window, and organic matter pores with diameters of greater than 50 nm comprise the majority of pores generated between the gas-generation window and the high-/over-mature stages. 3) Porosity increases continuously with maturity, and the pore system varies at different maturity stages. Porosity evolution is controlled by illite content and organic matter abundance. Total pore volume correlates positively with illite content but negatively with organic matter abundance. These findings could provide guidance on shale oil evaluation in the Songliao Basin and assist in the ‘sweet-spotting’ of lacustrine shale systems across China.