Prospects of Carboniferous Shale Gas Exploitation in the Eastern Qaidam Basin

Acta Geologica Sinica - Tập 88 Số 2 - Trang 620-634 - 2014
Yingjie Li1, Yanling SUN1, Yan Zhao1, Chun Chang1, Qingchun Yu1, Yinsheng Ma2
1School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
2Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

Tóm tắt

Abstract:Shale gas is a resource of emerging importance in the energy field. Many countries in the world have been making big financial investments in this area. Carboniferous shale in the eastern Qaidam Basin shows good exploration prospects, but limited research and exploration work for shale oil and gas resources has been undertaken. Geochemical analyses were performed on shale derived from the Upper Carboniferous Hurleg Formation in the eastern Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, and secondary electron imaging capability of a Field Emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM) was used to characterize the microstructure of the shale. The reservoir and exploitation potential of the studied shale was assessed by comparison with research results obtained from the Barnett Formation shale in Fort Worth Basin, North America and the Basin shale of Sichuan province. The results indicate that the eastern Qaidam Basin Carboniferous shale is high‐quality source rock. There are four major microstructural types in the study area: matrix intergranular pores, dissolution pores, intergranular pores, and micro‐fractures. The size of the micropores varies from 6–633 nm, the majority of which is between 39–200 nm, with a relatively small number of micro‐scale pores ranging from 0.13–1 μm. The pore characteristics of the studied shales are similar to the North American and Sichuanese shales, indicating that they have good reservoir potential. No micropores are present in the organic matter, which is induced by its composition; instead we found an important lamellar structure in the organic matter. These micropores and microfractures are abundant, and are connected to natural visible cracks that form the network pore system, which controls the storage and migration of shale gas. This connectivity is favorable for shale gas exploitation, providing great scientific potential and practical value.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1306/06190606018

10.1016/j.orggeochem.2010.09.008

Curtis J.B., 2002, Fractured shale‐gas systems, AAPG Bulletin, 86, 1921

Curtis M.E. Ambrose R.J. Sondergeld C.H. andRai C.S. 2011.Transmission and scanning electron microscopy investigation of pore connectivity of gas shales on the nanoscales.SPE144391 North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition 14–16 June The Woodlands Texas USA.

Clarkson C.R. andErtekin T. 2010.A new model for gas matrix flow using the dynamic‐slippage concept.AAPG Hedberg Conference December 5–10 2010 Austin Texas:1–5.

Hongliang Duan, 2006, Evaluation of carboniferous hydrocarbon source rocks in the eastern Qaidam basin, Geological Bulletin of China, 25, 1135

Faraj B.B., 2004, Gas potential of selected shale formations in the western Canadian sedimentary basin, Canadian Resources, 10, 21

10.1306/06300504094

10.1016/S1876-3804(12)60017-2

10.1016/S1876-3804(13)60006-3

10.1306/12190606068

10.2118/09-08-16-DA

Liming Ji, 2012, Micro‐pore characteristics and methane adsorption properties of common clay minerals by electron microscope scanning, Acta Petrolei Sinica, 33, 249

Fujie Jiang, 2012, The main progress and problems of shale gas study and the potential prediction of shale gas exploration, Earth Science Frontiers, 19, 198

Shujing Jiao, 2012, Scanning electron microscope analysis of porosity in shale, Journal of Chinese Electron Microscopy Society, 31, 432

10.2110/jsr.2009.092

Zhiping Li, 2012, Dynamic characteristics of shale gas flow in nanoscale pores, Natural Gas Industry, 32, 50

Wenbin Lin, 2013, North American shale gas policy research findings, Journal of Tinghua University, 53, 437

Chenglin Liu, 2012, Evidence for the carboniferous hydrocarbon generation in Qaidam basin, Acta petrolei sinica, 33, 925

10.1016/j.petrol.2013.08.045

Yinsheng Ma, 2012, The progress of Carboniferous oil and gas investigation and assessment in Qaidam basin, Acta Geoscientica Sinica, 33, 135

10.1016/j.coal.2012.08.004

Mark E.C. Ray J. andCarl H. 2011.Investigation of the relationship between organic porosity and thermal maturity in the Marcellus Shale.SPE144370 North American Unconventional Gas Conference and Exhibition 14–16 June The Woodlands Texas USA.

Milner M. McLin R. andPetriello J. 2010.Imaging texture and porosity in mudstones and shales: comparison of secondary and ion‐milled backscatter SEM methods.SPE 138975 Canadian Unconventional Resources and International Petroleum Conference 19–21 October Calgary Alberta Canada.

10.1306/09170404042

10.1016/j.orggeochem.2005.08.013

10.1306/03301110145

10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.06.004

10.1063/1.1559936

Schieber J. 2010.Common themes in the formation and preservation of intrinsic porosity in shales and mudstones illustrated with examples across the Phanerozoic.SPE132370 Unconventional Gas Conference 23–25 February Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Sondergeld C.H. Ambrose R.J. andRai C.S. 2010.Microstructural studies of gas shale.SPE131711 Unconventional Gas Conference 23–25 February Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA.

10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2011.05.010

Wang F.P. andReed R.M. 2009.Pore networks and fluid flow in gas shale. SPE 124253.

10.1016/j.fuel.2013.09.046

Chengming Yin, 2013, Geophysical characteristics and explanations of carboniferous in Qaidam basin, Process in Geophysics, 28, 1869

Jianliang Zhang, 2008, Petroleum geologic conditions and exploration prospects of carboniferous in the east of Qaidam basin, Petroleum geology & experiment, 30, 144

10.1016/j.orggeochem.2012.03.012

10.1016/S1876-3804(11)60001-3

Caineng Zou, 2011, First discovery of nano‐pore throat in oil and gas reservoir in China and its scientific value, Acta Petrologica Sinica, 27, 1857

Caineng Zou, 2012, New advance in unconventional petroleum exploration and research in China, Bulletin of Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 31, 313

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Acta Geologica Sinica

Tập 88 Số 2

620-634

Thông tin tác giả