Exploration and development potential of the low-maturity continental shale gas in the Fuxin Basin

Kang, Yongshang; Rao, Quan; Zhao, Qun; Wang, Hongyan

doi:10.1016/j.ngib.2019.03.002

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The Patala Formation possesses suitability for shale‐gas potential in terms of lithostratigraphic thickness, lithologic attributes and TOC contents. The optimal thickness of a formation to be considered as a profitable target for horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing or stimulation for development of shale‐gas play is ≥45 m (Jarvie, 2012; Kang et al, 2019; Zhang et al, 2020), which is the case for the Patala Formation. Likewise, higher TOC contents and thermal maturity of such targeted intervals further intensifies its shale‐gas production capacity that is required for long‐term potential of a shale‐gas system.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shale‐gas exploration and development in drilling technology enabled the United States to produce approximately 50% of its natural gas from shale‐gas reservoirs, and the trend is increasing in other parts of the world (e.g. China) (Chen et al, 2019; Jarvie, 2012; Kang, Rao, Zhao, & Wang, 2019). However, despite technological advances and economic viability, the optimal exploration and extraction of shale‐gas is still in its early stage of success in many parts of the world because of associated exploration challenges and difficulties in reservoir assessment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…mudstones) constitute 2/3rd of the sedimentary rocks, yet they are amongst the least understood, due to their ultra‐fine grained nature, micro‐texture, OM types, complex pore network and heterogeneous composition. Consequently, shale‐gas reservoirs are very complex compared to conventional reservoirs (Bernard & Horsfield, 2014; Jadoon et al, 2017; Kang et al, 2019; Liu et al, 2020). These complexities of shales primarily relate to their variegated palaeo‐depositional environment(s) and superimposed diagenetic alterations, which consequently influence sediment types, OM influx and pore size distribution within reservoir intervals (Lazar, Bohacs, Macquaker, Schieber, & Demko, 2015; Moore et al, 2020; Schicker, Gier, Schieber, & Krois, 2021; Yoon, Joe, Koh, Woo, & Lee, 2018; Zhang et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Depositional and diagenetic constraints on the quality of shale‐gas reservoirs: A case study from the Late Palaeocene of the Potwar Basin (Pakistan, Eastern Tethys)

et al. 2022

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Unconventional shale‐gas reservoir assessment concurs numerous exploration challenges, often related to their complex lithology, which reflects secular changes in depositional environment(s) as well as spatially variable diagenetic overprinting. This study combines a range of methods (sedimentological, petrographical, CL‐microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, TOC (total organic carbon), TON (total organic nitrogen) and δ13Corg and δ15Norg stable isotopes) to address the controls of lithofacies, palaeo‐depositional environment(s) and diagenesis on the shale‐gas reservoir potential of the Late Palaeocene Patala Formation in the Potwar Basin of Pakistan. This formation records sediment accumulation in a shallow, mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate shelf environment. Sedimentological and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses show that the formation is primarily composed of an alternation of carbonaceous, siliceous, calcareous and argillaceous mudstone lithofacies. Detrital assemblages, including grains of quartz, apatite, calcite, chlorite, as well as organic matter (OM) and clay minerals with auxiliary (authigenic) pyrite, dominate the formation. High terrigenous influx is represented by the abundance of siliciclastics and terrigenous OM. The δ13Corg and δ15Norg proxies reflect dysoxic to anoxic palaeo‐environmental conditions, which promoted preservation of mixed marine and terrigenous OM, a setting considered to be indicative for high shale‐gas potential. The organic‐rich siliceous and carbonaceous mudstone lithofacies are considered to be the most prospective intervals, while calcareous and argillaceous mudstones are considered least promising in terms of reservoir quality. Spatially variable eo‐, meso‐ and telo‐diagenetic features such as compaction, cementation, stylolitization, dissolution and re‐precipitation are superimposed upon the depositional fabric, which locally affected the reservoir quality of the Patala Formation. The results of this study strongly suggest that the organic‐ and quartz‐rich mudstone lithofacies constitute “sweet spots” whose occurrence in space and time may be traced to design a strategy for shale‐gas exploration in the Potwar Basin of Pakistan and in analogous settings elsewhere.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Depositional and diagenetic constraints on the quality of shale‐gas reservoirs: A case study from the Late Palaeocene of the Potwar Basin (Pakistan, Eastern Tethys)

et al. 2022

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“…Previous studies have shown that mudstones of the Shahai Formation were mainly composed of clay minerals, quartz, feldspar and carbonate minerals, with pyrite present in small amounts or absent. Identified clay minerals include mixed-layer illite-smectite, illite, chlorite and little kaolinite (Chen et al 2018;Kang et al 2019). Mudstones contain abundant chemical weathering products derived from their source rocks, allowing the chemical weathering history in the source area to be revealed (Garzanti et al 2013).…”

Section: Materials and Analytical Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continental chemical weathering during the Early Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE1b): a case study from the Fuxin fluvio-lacustrine basin, Liaoning Province, NE China

Shao

Lan

et al. 2020

J. Palaeogeogr.

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This study focuses on Early Cretaceous mudstones from the Shahai and Fuxin formations in the Fuxin continental basin. We analyse chemical weathering, land surface temperatures and palaeoclimates based on chemical weathering indices, and emphasize the implications of continental chemical weathering on nutrient fluxes into lakes and oceans. According to Cr and Ni abundance, Al 2 O 3-TiO 2 , La/Sc-Th/Co and V-Ni-Th×10 plots, as well as rare earth element (REE) analysis, mudstone samples from the Shahai and Fuxin formations were derived from the same type of provenance comprising mainly felsic igneous rocks. Chemical weathering trends reflected by the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Weathering Index of Parker (WIP) and the Mafic Index of Alteration for Oxidative weathering environments (MIA (O)) are consistent with each other and allow the geological succession to be divided into four stages. Land surface temperatures of the Shahai and Fuxin formations are estimated based on the linear relationship of CIA to temperature, and also can be divided into four stages consistent with those determined from chemical weathering trends. During Stage A (early part of the late Aptian) chemical weathering and land surface temperatures were relatively low and showed characteristic high fluctuations, while Stage B (latest Aptian) represented a transitional period where weathering rates and temperatures increased, and high amplitude fluctuations continued. Conditions changed markedly in Stage C (early Albian) with very high and stable weathering, and warm, humid climates, while in Stage D (middle and late Albian) conditions returned to low chemical weathering and land surface temperatures. These stages of chemical weathering and land surface temperature fluctuations represent responses to global climate fluctuations during the Early Cretaceous, with the early Albian high weathering intensities and warm, humid climates combining to create high nutrient levels that would have flushed through rivers into lakes and ultimately oceans. This correlates stratigraphically with the development of Early Cretaceous black shales during Ocean Anoxic Event 1b, showing the importance of continental weathering regimes as a causal mechanism for lake and ocean anoxia.

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“…These deposits are rich in freshwater bivalves and ostracod fossils, and are common in scale deposits. Among these deposits, the second member of the Da'anzhai Member is a semi-deep to deep lake deposit, and is the main mudstone development interval in this section [59,60].…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Types and Quantitative Characterization of Microfractures in the Continental Shale of the Da’anzhai Member of the Ziliujing Formation in Northeast Sichuan, China

et al. 2021

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A number of wells in the Sichuan Basin of China have tested industrial gas flow pressure arising from the shale of the Da’anzhai section of the Ziliujing Formation, revealing good exploration potential. Microfractures in shales affect the enrichment and preservation of shale gas and are important storage spaces and seepage channels for gas. In order to increase productivity and to reduce the risks associated with shale gas exploration, the types, connectivity, and proportion of microfractures in the Da’anzhai Member have been studied in this work by core and thin section observations, micro-CT, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and high-pressure mercury intrusion. The results show that four types of fractures have developed in the shale of the Da’anzhai section: microfractures caused by tectonic stress, diagenetic shrinkage fractures of clay minerals, marginal shrinkage fractures of organic matter, and microfractures inside mineral particles. Among these, structural fractures and organic matter contraction fractures are the main types and are significant for shale reservoirs and seepage. The structural microfractures are mainly opened and are well-developed in the shale, with a straight shape, mainly between bedding, with the fracture surface being curved, fully opened, and mainly tensile. Organic matter fractures often develop on the edge of the contact between organic matter and minerals, presenting a slit-like appearance. The fractures related to bedding in the shale are particularly developed, with larger openings, wider extensions, intersecting and expanding, and forming a three-dimensional interconnected pore-fracture system. Based on image recognition, generally speaking, microfractures account for about 20% of the total pore volume. However, the degree of the microfractures’ development varies greatly, depending upon the structural environment, with the proportion of microfractures in fault-wrinkle belts and high-steep zones reaching 40% to 90% of the total pore space. On the other hand, micro-fractures in areas with underdeveloped structures account for about 10% of the total pore space.

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Exploration and development potential of the low-maturity continental shale gas in the Fuxin Basin

Cited by 11 publications

References 7 publications

Depositional and diagenetic constraints on the quality of shale‐gas reservoirs: A case study from the Late Palaeocene of the Potwar Basin (Pakistan, Eastern Tethys)

Depositional and diagenetic constraints on the quality of shale‐gas reservoirs: A case study from the Late Palaeocene of the Potwar Basin (Pakistan, Eastern Tethys)

Continental chemical weathering during the Early Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE1b): a case study from the Fuxin fluvio-lacustrine basin, Liaoning Province, NE China

Types and Quantitative Characterization of Microfractures in the Continental Shale of the Da’anzhai Member of the Ziliujing Formation in Northeast Sichuan, China

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