Differences in shale gas accumulation process and its significance in exploration of Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Northeast Yunnan

• Published in: Frontiers of earth science Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 343 - 359
• Main Authors: Chen, Shangbin, Wang, Huijun, Wang, Yang, Jiang, Tianguo, Zhang, Yingkun, Gong, Zhuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accumulation; Anticlines; Denudation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Exploration; Free energy; Geochronology; Heat of formation; Hydrocarbons; Natural gas exploration; Physical properties; Preservation; Research Article; Reservoir sedimentation; Reservoirs; Sedimentary rocks; Shale; Shale gas; Silurian; Synclines; Temperature data; Thermal evolution; China; Yunnan China; shale gas; exploration significance; northeast Yunnan; Longmaxi Formation (Fm.); accumulation process
• ISSN: 2095-0195; 2095-0209
• DOI: 10.1007/s11707-021-0913-x

The study and exploration practice of shale gas accumulation has focused on the static system comparison, key parameters analysis, reservoir characteristics, enrichment mode etc. However, the research on dynamic recovery from the original hydrocarbon generation of shale gas to the present gas reservoir is still lacking. The burial history of shale gas reservoir can reflect the overall dynamic process of early formation and later transformation of shale gas reservoir. It controls the material basis of shale gas, the quality of reservoir physical properties, preservation conditions, gas content and formation energy, which is the core and foundation of shale gas accumulation process research. Herein, based on the five typical wells data in the Northeast Yunnan, including geochronological data, measured R o values, core description records, well temperature data, paleoenvironment, paleothermal, etc., the burial history, thermal evolution history and hydrocarbon generation history of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation were systematically restored via back stripping method and EASY% R o model. The results show that 1) the differences in the burial history of marine shale in Longmaxi Formation can be divided into syncline type and anticline type. 2) The shale gas accumulation process can be divided into four stages, namely the source-reservoir-cap sedimentation period, initial accumulation period, main accumulation period, and adjustment period. 3) Based on the characteristics of burial history and preservation conditions, the areas with wide and gentle anticline, far away from the denudation area, and buried deeply with good fault sealing ability are priority structural locations for the shale gas exploration in northeast Yunnan.