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