Formation and Distribution of Petroleum Resources in Clastic Rocks Based on the Whole Petroleum System Theory: Mineralogical and Petrological Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

The Whole Petroleum System (WPS) theory has emerged as a transformative framework in petroleum geology, redefining our understanding of how hydrocarbon resources accumulate and distribute within sedimentary basins. As defined by Magoon and Dow (1994), a petroleum system "includes all the elements and processes needed for an oil and gas accumulation to exist" [1]. The WPS concept extends this classical view by unifying both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources into a single coherent geological framework [2]. It encompasses all geological elements and processes—from hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in effective source rocks to continuous unconventional accumulation and conventional trap filling, through to post-accumulation alteration—within a natural system. At its core, the WPS theory adopts the perspective of "source–reservoir coupling and orderly accumulation," shifting away from the traditional "source rock-to-trap" paradigm.

This Special Issue focuses specifically on the formation and distribution of petroleum resources in clastic rocks under the framework of the WPS theory, with particular emphasis on mineralogical and petrological perspectives. Clastic sequences represent one of the four principal WPS types identified in recent classifications, where reservoirs are governed by diagenesis dominated by typical tightening laws [3]. Despite the universal principles underlying hydrocarbon accumulation patterns within a WPS, the specific characteristics vary considerably across actual geological settings, reflecting a dialectical relationship between theoretical universality and geological particularity. This variation is particularly pronounced in clastic reservoirs, where diagenesis exerts a decisive control on porosity and permeability evolution, directly influencing both conventional buoyancy-driven hydrocarbon accumulation depths and the distribution of deep unconventional tight hydrocarbon resources.

We invite contributions that explore how “organic matter enrichment” in clastic source rocks is influenced by mineralogical factors, including the catalytic effects of clay minerals and organic–inorganic interactions that govern hydrocarbon generation processes. Understanding the mechanisms of source–reservoir coupling—the spatial and temporal relationships between source rocks and reservoirs—is fundamental to predicting hydrocarbon accumulation patterns within a WPS. The WPS framework defines the orderly distribution of conventional, tight, and shale reservoirs, providing a theoretical basis for the integrated evaluation, exploration, and exploitation of both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources.

This Special Issue aims to provide new case studies and deeper insights into the WPS in clastic rocks. We welcome original research articles, case studies, and comprehensive reviews that address the role of mineralogical controls on organic matter enrichment, the impact of diagenetic processes on reservoir quality evolution, and the mechanisms of source–reservoir coupling and hydrocarbon accumulation within clastic sequences.

References

1. Magoon, L.B.; Dow, W.G. The Petroleum System—From Source to Trap. American Association of Petroleum Geologists 1994. https://doi.org/10.1306/M60585
2. Jia, C.; Wang, Z.; Zhao, W.; Jiang, L. Innovative development and exploration practices of the Whole Petroleum System theory. World Petroleum Industry 2026, 33(1), 21–38.
   https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.20114/j.issn.1006-0030.20251128001
3. Jia, C.; Pang, X.; Song, Y.; Cui, X.; Hu, Y.; Xu, Z.; Jiang, L.; Pu, T.; Jiang, F.; Shen, B. Four basic types of whole petroleum systems and their major plays. Oil & Gas Geology 2025, 46(4), 1019–1038.
   https://doi.org/10.11743/ogg20250401

Prof. Dr. Yaohui Xu
Dr. Yang Li
Dr. Bingbing Shi
Guest Editors

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