Estimation of the Shale Oil/Gas Potential of a Paleocene–Eocene Succession: A Case Study from the Meyal Area, Potwar Basin, Pakistan

The successful exploration and production of shale-gas resources in the United States and Canada sets a new possible solution towards the energy crisis presently affecting most countries of Asia. This study focuses on the use of well log and 2D seismic data for the characterization of the shale oil/gas potential of a Paleocene–Eocene succession — the Meyal area in the Potwar Basin of Pakistan. Two shaly plays are identified in Paleocene–Eocene strata in well logs using ΔLogR and modified ΔLogR cross-plot techniques. The results indicate that Paleocene shale(the Patala Formation) and the lower shaly part of Eocene limestone(Sakesar Formation) can be potentially mature source rocks. However, the thermal maturity modelling proves that only the Paleocene shale is mature. Our results also suggest that the maturity responses on ΔLogR models for the lower shaly part of the Eocene limestone are due to trapped hydrocarbons in the intra-formational fractures. Petroelastic/petrophysical analysis of the Patala Formation reveals two potential shale oil/gas zones on the basis of Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, Brittleness index and Total Organic Content at an exploitation depth of 3980–3988 m. This work can provide valuable insight for estimating shale oil/gas potential in highly deformed basins not only in Asia but in other parts of the world.     

Geochemical and Geological Characterization of Marine-Continental Transitional Shale: A Case Study in the Ordos Basin, NW China

The organic-rich shale of the Shanxi and Taiyuan Formation of the Lower Permian deposited in a marine-continental transitional environment are well developed in the Ordos Basin, NW China, which is considered to contain a large amount of shale hydrocarbon resources. This study takes the Lower Permian Shanxi and Taiyuan shale collected from well SL# in the Ordos Basin, NW China as an example to characterize the transitional shale reservoir. Based on organic geochemistry data, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observations, the desorbed gas contents of this transitional shale were systematically studied and the shale gas potential was investigated. The results indicate that the Lower Permian Shanxi and Taiyuan shale has a relatively high total organic carbon (TOC) (average TOC of 4.9%) and contains type III kerogen with a high mature to over mature status. XRD analyses show that an important characteristic of the shale is that clay and brittle minerals of detrital origin comprise the major mineral composition of the marine-continental transitional shale samples, while the percentages of carbonate minerals, pyrite and siderite are relatively small. FE-SEM observations reveal that the mineral matrix pores are the most abundant in the Lower Permian shale samples, while organic matter (OM) pores are rarely developed. Experimental analysis suggests that the mineral compositions mainly govern the macropore development in the marine-continental transitional shale, and mineral matrix pores and microfractures are considered to provide space for gas storage and migration. In addition, the desorption experiments demonstrated that the marine-continental transitional shale in the Ordos Basin has a significantly potential for shale gas exploration, ranging from 0.53 to 2.86 m3/t with an average value of 1.25m3/t, which is in close proximity to those of terrestrial shale (1.29 m3/t) and marine shale (1.28 m3/t). In summary, these results demonstrated that the Lower Permian marine-continental transitional shale in the Ordos Basin has a significantly potential for shale gas exploration.     

Genesis of the Taishanmiao Au Deposit in the Ningshan–Zhenan Ore Field, South Qinling Orogen, China: Evidence from Geochemical, Geochronological and S-Pb-H-O Isotopical Study

The Taishanmiao Au deposit is in the western part of the Ningshan–Zhenan ore field, in the South Qinling orogen. Based on geological and geochemical features, we propose that the Taishanmiao Au deposit is a magmatic-hydrothermal type of deposit. All samples have high SiO2, K2O + Na2O contents and differentiation index values, low CaO, MgO, P2O5, and TiO2 contents, are enriched in high field-strength elements, and depleted in large ion lithophile element. The stable isotope δ34S values of pyrite vary from 6.8%–7.8%, and the H-O isotopic compositions of quartz from quartz-pyrite veins indicate the ore-forming fluid is a mixture of a small amount of magmatic-hydrothermal solution and groundwater. Lead isotope ratios of pyrite and silicalite can show that the ore-forming materials were derived from a mixed source containing mantle and crustal materials. At the same time, the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of monzogranite is 198.4 ± 4.2 Ma. Combined with the regional geological background, the intracontinental extension in the late collisional orogeny and large-scale lithospheric thinning associated with mantle uplift may lead to large-scale mineralisation in the region.     

大港滩海区中浅层油岩地球化学特征及油气来源分析——以唐家河油田为例

通过唐家河油田中浅层各层系原油及滩海区所有层系烃源岩的碳同位素、色谱、色谱-质谱等地球化学分析,选取δ13C、合适的生物标志物参数,即G/C30H、O/C30H、Ts/Tm、ααR C27/C29、ααRC28/C29、C3122S/(S R)、C2920S/(S R)等进行油源综合对比。结果表明,唐家河油田中浅层各层系原油来源于深层沙三段及沙二段烃源岩,而沙一段和东营组的贡献不大。考虑到沙二段烃源岩厚度小,生油能力有限,唐家河油田沙三段烃源岩是最主要的油气来源。