Simulation of paleotectonic stress fields and quantitative prediction of multi-period fractures in shale reservoirs: A case study of the Niutitang Formation in the Lower Cambrian in the Cen'gong block,South China

Reservoirs where tectonic fractures significantly impact fluid flow are widespread. Industrial-level shale gas production has been established from the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in the Cen'gong block, South China; the practice of exploration and development of shale gas in the Cen'gong block shows that the abundance of gas in different layers and wells is closely related to the degree of development of fractures. In this study, the data obtained from outcrop, cores, and logs were used to determine the developmental characteristics of such tectonic fractures. By doing an analysis of structural evolution, acoustic emission, burial history, logging evaluation, seismic inversion, and rock mechanics tests, 3-D heterogeneous geomechanical models were established by using a finite element method (FEM) stress analysis approach to simulate paleotectonic stress fields during the Late Hercynian—Early Indo-Chinese and Middle-Late Yanshanian periods. The effects of faulting, folding, and variations of mechanical parameters on the development of fractures could then be identified. A fracture density calculation model was established to determine the quantitative development of fractures in different stages and layers. Favorable areas for shale gas exploration were determined by examining the relationship between fracture density and gas content of three wells. The simulation results indicate the magnitude of minimum principal stress during the Late Hercynian — Early Indo-Chinese period within the Cen'gong block is −100 ∼ −110 MPa with a direction of SE-NW (140°–320°), and the magnitude of the maximum principal stress during the Middle-Late Yanshanian period within the Cen'gong block is 150–170 MPa with a direction of NNW-SSE (345°–165°). During the Late Hercynian — Early Indo-Chinese period, the mechanical parameters and faults play an important role in the development of fractures, and fractures at the downthrown side of the fault are more developed than those at the uplifted side; folding plays an important role in the development of fractures in the Middle-Late Yanshanian period, and faulting is a secondary control. This 3-D heterogeneous geomechanical modelling method and fracture density calculation modelling are not only significant for prediction of shale fractures in complex structural areas, but also have a practical significance for the prediction of other reservoir fractures.     

Kilometer-scale fault-related thermal anomalies in tight gas sandstones

Upper Carboniferous sandstones make one of the most important tight gas reservoirs in Central Europe. This study integrates a variety of geothermometers (chlorite thermometry, fluid inclusion microthermometry and vitrinite reflection measurements) to characterize a thermal anomaly in a reservoir outcrop analog (Piesberg quarry, Lower Saxony Basin), which is assumed responsible for high temperatures of circa 300 °C, deteriorating reservoir quality entirely. The tight gas siliciclastics were overprinted with temperatures approximately 90–120 °C higher compared to outcropping rocks of a similar stratigraphic position some 15 km to the west. The local temperature increase can be explained by circulating hydrothermal fluids along the fault damage zone of a large NNW-SSE striking fault with a displacement of up to 600 m in the east of the quarry, laterally heating up the entire exposed tight gas sandstones. The km-scale lateral extent of this fault-bound thermal anomaly is evidenced by vitrinite reflectance measurements of meta-anthracite coals (VR_rot ∼ 4.66) and the temperature-related diagenetic overprint. Data suggest that this thermal event and the associated highest coalification was reached prior to peak subsidence during Late Jurassic rifting (162 Ma) based on K-Ar dating of the <2 μm fraction of the tight gas sandstones. Associated stable isotope data from fluid inclusions, hosted in a first fracture filling quartz generation (T ∼ 250 °C) close to lithostatic fluid pressure (P ∼ 1000 bars), together with authigenic chlorite growth in mineralized extension fractures, demonstrate that coalification was not subject to significant changes during ongoing burial. This is further evidenced by the biaxial reflectance anisotropy of meta-anthracite coals. A second event of quartz vein formation occurred at lower temperatures (T ∼ 180 °C) and lower (hydrostatic) pressure conditions (P ∼ 400 bars) and can be related to basin inversion. This second quartz generation might be associated with a second event of illite growth and K-Ar ages of 96.5–106.7 Ma derived from the <0.2 μm fraction of the tight gas sandstones.This study demonstrates the exploration risk of fault-bound thermal anomalies by deteriorating entirely the reservoir quality of tight gas sandstones with respect to porosity and permeability due to the cementation with temperature-related authigenic cements. It documents that peak temperatures are not necessarily associated with peak subsidence. Consequently, these phenomena need to be considered in petroleum system models to avoid, for example, overestimates of burial depth and reservoir quality.     

中国上石炭统滑石板阶

滑石板阶一名最初见于项礼文等 ( 1980 )的文章 ,阶名源自同名岩石地层单位——滑石板组 ,典型剖面位于贵州省盘县县城以东约 30 km的滑石板村。岩性以浅灰色厚层灰岩为主 ,局部夹白云岩 ,厚 315 .4 6 m。底界以化石 Pseudostaffella antiqua的始现为标志 ,顶界止于化石 Profusulinella priscoidea带之底。滑石板阶包含 2个带 Pseudostaffella antiqua- P. antiqua posterior带和 Pseudostaffella composita- P. paracompressa带 ;2个菊石带Reticuloceras guizhouense带及 Branneroceras branneri- Grastrioceras cf. cumbriensis带 ,还包含腕足类 Choristitesmansuyi- Plicatifera chaoi组合带。牙形刺仅在下部找到 ,归属于 N eognathodus symmetricus带。滑石板阶大致相当于国际地层表中的巴什基尔阶 ( Bashkirian)中部     

Multiple controls on the paleoenvironment of the Early Cambrian marine black shales in the Sichuan Basin,SW China: Geochemical and organic carbon isotopic evidence

In order to understand the paleoenvironment of the Early Cambrian black shale deposition in the western part of the Yangtze Block, geochemical and organic carbon isotopic studies have been performed on two wells that have drilled through the Qiongzhusi Formation in the central and southeastern parts of Sichuan Basin. It shows that the lowest part of the Qiongzhusi Formation has high TOC abundance, while the middle and upper parts display relative low TOC content. Redox-sensitive element (Mo) and trace elemental redox indices (e.g., Ni/Co, V/Cr, U/Th and V/(V + Ni)) suggest that the high-TOC layers were deposited under anoxic conditions, whereas the low-TOC layers under relatively dysoxic/oxic conditions. The relationship of the enrichment factors of Mo and U further shows a transition from suboxic low-TOC layers to euxinic high-TOC layers. On the basis of the Mo-TOC relationship, the Qiongzhusi Formation black shales were deposited in a basin under moderately restricted conditions. Organic carbon isotopes display temporal variations in the Qiongzhusi Formation, with a positive excursion of δ¹³C_org values in the lower part and a continuous positive shift in the middle and upper parts. All these geochemical and isotopic criteria indicate a paleoenvironmental change from bottom anoxic to middle and upper dysoxic/oxic conditions for the Qiongzhusi Formation black shales. The correlation of organic carbon isotopic data for the Lower Cambrian black shales in different regions of the Yangtze Block shows consistent positive excursion of δ¹³C_org values in the lower part for each section. This excursion can be ascribed to the widespread Early Cambrian transgression in the Yangtze Block, under which black shales were deposited.     

下扬子下寒武统岩相古地理及烃源岩条件研究

以下扬子下寒武统为研究对象,利用野外露头、岩心、岩石微观分析、有机地球化学等资料,在地层对比基础上,开展了下扬子下寒武统岩相古地理研究及烃源岩条件评价。结果表明：下扬子下寒武统主要发育硅质岩、硅质泥页岩、碳质泥页岩、灰质泥页岩、泥灰岩、白云岩6种岩石类型;地层可划分为3段,其中安吉-石台-上海地区三段发育齐全,其他地区一段大部分缺失,二段存在不同程度缺失;沉积相主要发育盆地、陆棚、斜坡、台地边缘、局限台地5种类型;烃源岩主要分布于石台-安吉、滁州-盐城、德兴-桐庐盆地相及周边陆棚相,石台-安吉地区是烃源岩发育最有利区,泥岩厚度300~700m,TOC为3%~9%,平均4.5%~5.76%;德兴-桐庐地区泥岩厚度200~400m,TOC为3%~9%,平均4.96%;滁州-盐城凹陷泥岩厚度50~200m,TOC为2%~4%。下扬子下寒武统烃源岩干酪根类型全部为Ⅰ型,有机质组分主要为腐泥组,以藻类体为主,含少量腐泥无定形体。下扬子下寒武统烃源岩均处于过成熟演化阶段,总体上由皖南盆地区向两侧台地逐渐降低,九江、景德镇、黄山及开化淳安地区受火山岩影响Ro在4.0%以上;安庆-溧阳-南通以南,湖州-苏州以西处于盆地、陆棚及斜披部位,埋深大,Ro为3.0%~4.0%;潜山、南陵、无为、金坛及苏北中新生代凹陷由于后期埋深较大,Ro在3.0%以上;其他区域Ro为2.0%~3.0%。     

鄂尔多斯盆地北部塔巴庙地区下石盒子组盒3段储层特征及有利区块预测

根据野外剖面、钻井岩芯和测井等资料,系统地对塔巴庙地区下石盒子组盒3段储集砂体的岩石学特征、孔隙类型、成岩作用以及物性进行了详细的分析。研究表明,储集层的成分和结构成熟度低;主要孔隙类型有粒间孔、粒内溶孔、晶间溶孔、铸模孔和粒缘缝;孔隙度为0.7%~18.69%,平均值为7.82%;渗透率为0.008×10^-3μm²~23.01×10^-3μm²,平均值为1.111×10^-3μm²,属于物性中-偏低的微孔-溶孔型组合型储集岩。影响储集层的主控因素包括:(1)河道控制了优质储层的分布范围和规模;(2)成岩期早期环边绿泥石胶结、溶蚀等建设性成岩作用是形成储层的基础;(3)成岩相扩大了储层的分布范围,改善了储层的物性。在上述研究的基础上,结合储集砂体的沉积微相特征、物性平面展布特征、储集砂体成岩相特征,在研究区内圈定了Ⅱ、Ⅲ两类有利勘探区块,为研究区下一步的勘探、开发提供了科学依据。     

酒西盆地青南凹陷柳沟庄-窟窿山地区下白垩统震积岩的发现及意义

在甘肃省酒西盆地青南凹陷柳沟庄-窟窿山地区下白垩统下沟组及中沟组地层序列中,首次发现发育一套地震事件沉积物,是一套含微裂缝或同生变形构造及振动液化泄水构造等震积特征的泥质白云岩、白云质泥岩及泥质粉砂岩的组合.本区震积作用及震积岩的主要识别标志为振动液化卷曲变形及其伴生构造、重荷模及伴生构造、脆性和塑性两类沉积物相间的滑塌变形作用及滑塌岩、软沉积物的液化作用及泄水构造、层内阶梯状断层及地裂缝.柳沟庄-窟窿山地区下白垩统震积岩的发现,填补了本区震积岩研究的空白,反映了本区在早白垩世存在一个强烈的构造活动时期,可以推测其影响范围可能还会波及青南凹陷的其他地区,也有望在酒西盆地类似环境的其他凹陷发现震积岩,开辟震积岩研究的新领域.区域构造背景的研究同样表明,青南凹陷青西Ⅰ号同生断裂带及509断阶带的强烈构造活动正是本区早白垩世震积作用的直接诱发因素,为本区震积岩的存在提供了科学依据.     

山东济宁许厂煤矿下组煤瓦斯与二氧化碳开发利用前景及存在的问题

许厂煤矿下组煤中蕴藏着较为丰富的瓦斯、二氧化碳资源。下组煤位于瓦斯风化带内,含瓦斯、二氧化碳和氮气等气体,瓦斯含量与埋藏深度呈正相关关系,主要存在低含量瓦斯、二氧化碳抽采率、二氧化碳资源化转换等技术方面的问题。从国家相关优惠政策、资源优势、煤与煤层气一体化开发技术、近水平长钻孔定向钻进技术、煤层压裂造缝技术、煤层注气增产技术和瓦斯、二氧化碳气体提纯技术等关键技术的发展程度,结合煤矿的下组煤层的开采方案,认为许厂煤矿有着较好的煤炭与瓦斯、二氧化碳一体化开发利用前景。     

华南下/中奥陶统界线附近笔石动物群的图形对比研究

在下/中奥陶统界线附近笔石的生物地层学研究基础上,笔者选择了华南地区奥陶系台地相、盆地相和位于二者之间的过渡相等不同沉积相区5条典型地层剖面,开展了华南下/中奥陶统界线附近笔石动物群的图形对比研究,通过这项研究,进一步明确了华南奥陶系下/中奥陶统界线附近笔石动物群的延限和不同相区笔石动物群的精确对比关系,为开展不同相区之间地层的精确对比奠定了基础。     

广西隆安下石炭统都结微生物岩微相特征与沉积环境研究

广西隆安县都结乡发育的微生物岩产于下石炭统都安组中—上部地层,分布广、厚度大,是中国南方早石炭世报道较少的碳酸盐岩建造类型,具有较高的研究价值。该微生物岩以颗粒灰岩和粘结岩为主,生物含量丰富,包括微生物、有孔虫、棘皮类、钙球、腕足等。通过岩相分析,可识别出以下8种微相类型:MF1含亮晶胶结物的泥晶包壳生屑灰岩、MF2含腕足似球粒灰岩、MF3无纹层似球粒颗粒灰岩、MF4集合颗粒灰岩、MF5细密纹层状粘结岩、MF6内碎屑鲕粒灰岩、MF7鲕粒灰岩、MF8白云质鲕粒灰岩。伴随海平面升降变化,都结微生物岩沉积环境先后经历了FZ1台地边缘浅滩相、FZ2开阔台地相与FZ3局限台地相这三种沉积相带之间往复变化的沉积相模式。结合前人基础地质资料,该沉积相模式表明该微生物岩发育于低纬度孤立碳酸盐岩台地浅水环境,并经历了初期、主体时期和消亡期3个发育阶段,海平面虽伴有小幅波动,但整体呈下降趋势。微生物岩发育于晚古生代冰期与谢尔普霍夫生物灭绝事件前夕,该时期南盘江盆地微生物岩的富集与后生动物礁的缺失相耦合,海洋生态系统中生物组成发生显著变化。在此基础上,本文从微生物岩的角度初步探讨了冈瓦纳大陆冰川作用对北半球低纬度地区的影响。