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Exploration and Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources: Latest Advances and Prospects: 3rd Edition

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 September 2025 | Viewed by 445

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Energy and Environment, School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources such as coalbed methane, shale gas, shale oil, oil shale, and tight sandstone gas
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Guest Editor
School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: reservoir geomechanics; unconventional oil and gas geology; basin analysis
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Guest Editor
School of Energy, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 10083, China
Interests: unconventional resource exploration and exploitation, especially for resource of deep coalbed methane
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Guest Editor
General Prospecting Institute of China National Administration of Coal Geology, Beijing, China
Interests: coalbed methane geology; coal body structure; hydrogeochemistry; favorable area optimization; well site deployment; in-situ stress; reservoir stimulation technology; dynamic permeability
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Guest Editor
School of Vehicle and Energy, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Interests: unconventional resource exploration and exploitation; nanofluidics and nanorobotics for enhanced oil and gas recovery
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fossil fuels are important to both the global and Chinese economies, and “unconventional” oil and gas resources—resources that cannot be produced, transported, or refined using traditional techniques—are expected to play a larger role in helping the U.S. and China meet future energy needs. With rising energy prices, unconventional oil and gas resources have received renewed domestic attention in recent years. The efficient exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas needs the support of a series of geological and engineering studies, including those focused on exploration, evaluation, drilling, completion, and production. The aim of this Special Issue is to introduce the latest progress in unconventional oil and gas geology and engineering, especially for reservoir evaluation, geological enrichment factors, enrichment model, permeability integrated evaluation, and mechanism analysis.

Prof. Dr. Shu Tao
Dr. Wei Ju
Dr. Shida Chen
Dr. Zhengguang Zhang
Dr. Jiang Han
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • unconventional oil and gas
  • exploration and development
  • reservoir evaluation
  • seepage mechanism
  • hydrocarbon enrichment model
  • reservoir petrophysics

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 7278 KiB  
Article
Enrichment Geological Conditions and Resource Evaluation Methods for the Gas in Thinly Interbedded Coal Measures: A Case Study of the Chengzihe Formation in the Jixi Basin
by Jiangpeng Guo, Shu Tao, Caiqin Bi, Yi Cui, Bin Yu and Yijie Wen
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102584 - 16 May 2025
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Abstract
The Cretaceous Chengzihe Formation in the Jixi Basin hosts abundant coal measure gas resources. Analyzing the geological conditions for gas enrichment and evaluating its resource potential are essential for advancing unconventional gas exploration. However, studies on the geological conditions controlling the enrichment of [...] Read more.
The Cretaceous Chengzihe Formation in the Jixi Basin hosts abundant coal measure gas resources. Analyzing the geological conditions for gas enrichment and evaluating its resource potential are essential for advancing unconventional gas exploration. However, studies on the geological conditions controlling the enrichment of thinly interbedded coal measure reservoirs in the Chengzihe Formation and corresponding assessment methods remain lacking. Based on the analysis of source–reservoir–seal characteristics of the thinly interbedded coal measure gas system in the Jixi Basin, integrated with resource assessment and reservoir formation controls, this study systematically reveals the enrichment patterns and accumulation mechanisms. The results show that the accumulation of thinly interbedded coal measure gas depends on three key geological factors: the gas-generating capacity of high-quality source rocks, the widespread distribution and stacking of thinly interbedded reservoirs, and the sealing capacity of cap rocks. In addition, enrichment is influenced by multiple factors, including tectonic evolution history, magmatic intrusion, sedimentary microfacies, and hydrogeological processes. Among these, the development of sedimentary microfacies (interdistributary bay and peat swamp) plays a decisive role in controlling the spatial distribution and physical properties of the reservoirs, while other factors further shape gas enrichment through synergistic interactions. Finally, using the volumetric method, the estimated gas resources of thinly interbedded coal measure gas in the Chengzihe Formation are 1226.73 × 108 m3, with the upper member showing significant potential of 688.98 × 108 m3. Full article
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17 pages, 3398 KiB  
Article
Multilayer Gas-Bearing System and Productivity Characteristics in Carboniferous–Permian Tight Sandstones: Taking the Daning–Jixian Block, Eastern Ordos Basin, as an Example
by Ming Chen, Bo Wang, Haonian Tian, Junyi Sun, Lei Liu, Xing Liang, Benliang Chen, Baoshi Yu and Zhuo Zhang
Energies 2025, 18(9), 2398; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18092398 - 7 May 2025
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Abstract
The Carboniferous–Permian strata in the Daning–Jixian Block, located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin, host multiple sets of tight gas reservoirs. However, systematic research on the characteristics and gas production differences of multilayer tight sandstone gas-bearing systems remains limited. Based on [...] Read more.
The Carboniferous–Permian strata in the Daning–Jixian Block, located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin, host multiple sets of tight gas reservoirs. However, systematic research on the characteristics and gas production differences of multilayer tight sandstone gas-bearing systems remains limited. Based on geochemical signatures, reservoir pressure coefficients, and sequence stratigraphy, the tight sandstone gas systems are subdivided into upper and lower systems, separated by regionally extensive Taiyuan Formation limestone. The upper system is further partitioned into four subsystems. Depositional variability from the Benxi Formation to the He 8 Member has generated diverse litho-mineralogical characteristics. The Shan 1 and He 8 Members, deposited in low-energy delta-front subaqueous distributary channels with gentle topography, exhibit lower quartz content (predominantly feldspar lithic sandstone and lithic quartz sand-stone) and elevated lithic fragments, matrix, and clay minerals (particularly chlorite). These factors increase displacement and median pressures, resulting in inferior reservoir quality. By comparing and evaluating the gas production effects under different extraction methods, targeted optimization recommendations are provided to offer both theoretical support and practical guidance for the efficient development of this block. Full article
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