Hydrocarbon Potential and Reservoir Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale: A Case of Lower Jurassic in the Western Qaidam Basin, NW China
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Geological Setting
3. Samples and Experimental Methods
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Characteristics of Organic Geochemistry
4.1.1. TOC Content
4.1.2. Organic Matter Type
4.1.3. Organic Matter Maturity
4.2. Reservoir Characteristics
4.2.1. Mineral Composition
4.2.2. Pore Structure
4.2.3. Pore Size, Specific Surface Area, and Pore Volume
4.3. Factors Affecting Reservoir Porosity
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- The Lower Jurassic lacustrine shale in the western Qaidam Basin exhibits significant hydrocarbon generation potential. The TOC content ranges from 1.71% to 4.49%, with an average of 2.98%. The kerogen belongs to type II–III. The Ro value ranges from 1.05% to 1.95%, with an average of 1.62%. The organic matter in the shale samples has reached the high thermal maturity stage (gas window).
- (2)
- The mineral composition of shales in the study area primarily consists of clay minerals, quartz, feldspar, and carbonate minerals, which is similar to the shale mineral composition found in American Ohio shale. The pore structure is characterized by open parallel plate slit pores and inclined slit pores, which is favorable for the migration of shale gas. The pore size distribution curve exhibits unimodal and bimodal distributions, with the bimodal distribution further divided into two types. Micropores and mesopores with pore sizes lower than 50 nm contribute to the majority of the specific surface area, and mesopores account for the highest proportion of pore volume.
- (3)
- The micropore, mesopore, macropore, and total pore volumes of lacustrine shale in the study area show a negative correlation with TOC content, indicating that the organic matter of shale is likely still in the first pyrolysis stage. No significant correlation is observed between pore volume and clay mineral content or between pore volume and brittle mineral content due to the complex interplay of several geological factors.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
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Sample No. | Depth/m | TOC/% | Ro/% | Tmax/°C | Liptinite/% | Vitrinite/% | Inertinite/% | TI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CX-1 | 5.50–6.50 | 2.25 | 1.75 | 437 | 75 | 12 | 13 | 15.5 |
CX-2 | 6.50–7.50 | 3.29 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-3 | 7.50–8.50 | 1.92 | - | 442 | 75 | 8 | 17 | 14.5 |
CX-4 | 8.50–9.50 | 2.44 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-5 | 9.50–10.50 | 3.10 | 1.89 | 516 | 77 | 9 | 14 | 17.8 |
CX-6 | 10.50–11.50 | 2.62 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-7 | 11.50–12.50 | 2.83 | - | 499 | 76 | 10 | 14 | 16.5 |
CX-8 | 12.50–13.50 | 3.36 | 1.54 | 408 | 74 | 11 | 15 | 13.8 |
CX-9 | 13.50–14.50 | 2.85 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-10 | 14.50–15.50 | 2.97 | 1.26 | 485 | 76 | 10 | 14 | 16.5 |
CX-11 | 15.50–16.50 | 2.89 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-12 | 16.50–17.50 | 3.29 | - | 473 | 77 | 8 | 15 | 17.5 |
CX-13 | 17.50–18.50 | 2.71 | 1.80 | 479 | 77 | 8 | 15 | 17.5 |
CX-14 | 18.50–19.50 | 2.59 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-15 | 19.50–20.50 | 3.61 | - | 528 | 72 | 12 | 16 | 11.0 |
CX-16 | 20.50–21.50 | 3.69 | 1.95 | 580 | 75 | 11 | 14 | 15.3 |
CX-17 | 21.50–22.50 | 3.74 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-18 | 22.50–23.50 | 3.62 | - | 570 | 76 | 10 | 14 | 16.5 |
CX-19 | 23.50–24.50 | 3.24 | 1.75 | 516 | 75 | 13 | 12 | 15.8 |
CX-20 | 24.50–25.50 | 1.71 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-21 | 25.50–26.50 | 3.27 | - | 560 | 80 | 10 | 10 | 22.5 |
CX-22 | 26.50–27.50 | 4.49 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-23 | 27.50–28.50 | 4.02 | 1.62 | 506 | 78 | 9 | 13 | 19.3 |
CX-24 | 28.50–29.50 | 3.02 | - | 504 | 77 | 8 | 15 | 17.5 |
CX-25 | 29.50–30.50 | 1.75 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
CX-26 | 30.50–31.50 | 2.24 | 1.05 | 471 | 73 | 11 | 16 | 12.3 |
Sample No. | Depth/m | Quartz/% | K-Feldspar/% | Plagio-Clase/% | Calcite/% | Dolomite/% | Pyrite /% | Clay Mineral/% | Halite/% | Anhydrite/% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CX-1 | 5.50–6.50 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 10 | 3 |
CX-2 | 6.50–7.50 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 7 | 6 |
CX-3 | 7.50–8.50 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 5 | 8 |
CX-4 | 8.50–9.50 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 4 | 3 |
CX-5 | 9.50–10.50 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 4 | 7 |
CX-6 | 10.50–11.50 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 13 | 9 |
CX-7 | 11.50–12.50 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 4 | 4 |
CX-8 | 12.50–13.50 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 6 | 3 |
CX-9 | 13.50–14.50 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 1 | 4 |
CX-10 | 14.50–15.50 | 29 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 6 | 9 |
CX-11 | 15.50–16.50 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 4 | 5 |
CX-12 | 16.50–17.50 | 24 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 5 | 2 |
CX-13 | 17.50–18.50 | 25 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 3 | 4 |
CX-14 | 18.50–19.50 | 29 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 2 |
CX-15 | 19.50–20.50 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 3 | 7 |
CX-16 | 20.50–21.50 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
CX-17 | 21.50–22.50 | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 0 | 0 |
CX-18 | 22.50–23.50 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 4 |
CX-19 | 23.50–24.50 | 28 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 1 | 1 |
CX-20 | 24.50–25.50 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1 | 2 |
CX-21 | 25.50–26.50 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 37 |
CX-22 | 26.50–27.50 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 0 |
CX-23 | 27.50–28.50 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 1 | 11 |
CX-24 | 28.50–29.50 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 |
CX-25 | 29.50–30.50 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1 | 9 |
CX-26 | 30.50–31.50 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 1 | 10 |
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Liu, B.; Wang, M.; Cao, Y.; Yan, Z. Hydrocarbon Potential and Reservoir Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale: A Case of Lower Jurassic in the Western Qaidam Basin, NW China. Water 2023, 15, 3104. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173104
Liu B, Wang M, Cao Y, Yan Z. Hydrocarbon Potential and Reservoir Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale: A Case of Lower Jurassic in the Western Qaidam Basin, NW China. Water. 2023; 15(17):3104. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173104
Chicago/Turabian StyleLiu, Bingqiang, Min Wang, Yupeng Cao, and Zhiming Yan. 2023. "Hydrocarbon Potential and Reservoir Characteristics of Lacustrine Shale: A Case of Lower Jurassic in the Western Qaidam Basin, NW China" Water 15, no. 17: 3104. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173104