Jurassic source rocks in the Vienna Basin (Austria): Assessment of conventional and unconventional petroleum potential

The Upper Jurassic marlstones (Mikulov Fm.) and marly limestones (Falkenstein Fm.) are the main source rocks for conventional hydrocarbons in the Vienna Basin in Austria. In addition, the Mikulov Formation has been considered a potential shale gas play. In this paper, organic geochemical, petrographical and mineralogical data from both formations in borehole Staatz 1 are used to determine the source potential and its vertical variability. Additional samples from other boreholes are used to evaluate lateral trends. Deltaic sediments (Lower Quarzarenite Member) and prodelta shales (Lower Shale Member) of the Middle Jurassic Gresten Formation have been discussed as secondary sources for hydrocarbons in the Vienna Basin area and are therefore included in the present study.The Falkenstein and Mikulov formations in Staatz 1 contain up to 2.5 wt%TOC. The organic matter is dominated by algal material. Nevertheless, HI values are relative low (<400 mgHC/gTOC), a result of organic matter degradation in a dysoxic environment. Both formations hold a fair to good petroleum potential. Because of its great thickness (∼1500 m), the source potential index of the Upper Jurrasic interval is high (7.5 tHC/m²). Within the oil window, the Falkenstein and Mikulov formations will produce paraffinic-naphtenic-aromatic low wax oil with low sulfur content. Whereas vertical variations are minor, limited data from the deep overmature samples suggest that original TOC contents may have increased basinwards. Based on TOC contents (typically <2.0 wt%) and the very deep position of the maturity cut-off values for shale oil/gas production (∼4000 and 5000 m, respectively), the potential for economic recovery of unconventional petroleum is limited. The Lower Quarzarenite Member of the Middle Jurassic Gresten Formation hosts a moderate oil potential, while the Lower Shale Member is are poor source rock.     

Depositional evolution of a progradational to aggradational,mixed-influenced deltaic succession: Jurassic Tofte and Ile formations,southern Halten Terrace,offshore Norway

Predicting the hydrodynamics, morphology and evolution of ancient deltaic successions requires the evaluation of the three-dimensional depositional process regime based on sedimentary facies analysis. This has been applied to a core-based subsurface facies analysis of a mixed-energy, clastic coastal-deltaic succession in the Lower-to-Middle Jurassic of the Halten Terrace, offshore mid-Norway. Three genetically related successions with a total thickness of 100–300 m and a total duration of 12.5 Myr comprising eight facies associations record two initial progradational phases and a final aggradational phase. The progradational phases (I and II) consist of coarsening upward successions that pass from prodelta and offshore mudstones (FA1), through delta front and mouth bar sandstones (FA2) and into erosionally based fluvial- (FA3) and marine-influenced (FA4) channel fills. The two progradational phases are interpreted as fluvial- and wave-dominated, tide-influenced deltas. The aggradational phase (III) consists of distributary channel fills (FA3 and FA4), tide-dominated channels (FA5), intertidal to subtidal heterolithic fine-grained sandstones (FA6) and coals (FA7). The aggradational phase displays more complex facies relationships and a wider range of environments, including (1) mixed tide- and fluvial-dominated, wave-influenced deltas, (2) non-deltaic shorelines (tidal channels, tidal flats and vegetated swamps), and (3) lower shoreface deposits (FA8). The progradational to aggradational evolution of this coastal succession is represented by an overall upward decrease in grain size, decrease in fluvial influence and increase in tidal influence. This evolution is attributed to an allogenic increase in the rate of accommodation space generation relative to sediment supply due to tectonic activity of the rift basin. In addition, during progradation, there was also an autogenic increase in sediment storage on the coastal plain, resulting in a gradual autoretreat of the depositional system. This is manifested in the subsequent aggradation of the system, when coarse-grained sandstones were trapped in proximal locations, while only finer grained sediment reached the coastline, where it was readily reworked by tidal and wave processes.     

Influence of natural fractures on gas accumulation in the Upper Triassic tight gas sandstones in the northwestern Sichuan Basin,China

The Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the northwestern Sichuan Basin, China, is a typical tight gas sandstone reservoir that contains natural fractures and has an average porosity of 1.10% and air permeability less than 0.1 md because of compaction and cementation. According to outcrops, cores and image logs, three types of natural fractures, namely, tectonic, diagenetic and overpressure-related fractures, have developed in the tight gas sandstones. The tectonic fractures include small faults, intraformational shear fractures and horizontal shear fractures, whereas the diagenetic fractures mainly include bed-parallel fractures. According to thin sections, the microfractures also include tectonic, diagenetic and overpressure-related microfractures. The diagenetic microfractures consist of transgranular, intragranular and grain-boundary fractures. Among these fractures, intraformational shear fractures, horizontal shear fractures and small faults are predominant and significant for fluid movement. Based on the Monte Carlo method, these intraformational shear fractures and horizontal shear fractures improve the reservoir porosity and permeability, thus serving as an important storage space and primary fluid-flow channels in the tight sandstones. The small faults may provide seepage channels in adjacent layers by cutting through layers. In addition, these intragranular and grain-boundary fractures increase the connectivity of the tight gas sandstones by linking tiny pores. The tectonic microfractures improve the seepage capability of the tight gas sandstones to some extent. Low-dip angle fractures are more abundant in the T₃X³ member than in the T₃X² and T₃X⁴ members. The fracture intensities of the sandstones in the T₃X³ member are greater than those in the T₃X² and T₃X⁴ members. The fracture intensities do not always decrease with increasing bed thickness for the tight sandstones. When the bed thickness of the tight sandstones is less than 1.0 m, the fracture intensities increase with increasing bed thickness in the T₃X³ member. Fluid inclusion evidence and burial history analysis indicate that the tectonic fractures developed over three periods. The first period was at the end of the Triassic to the Early Jurassic. The tectonic fractures developed during oil generation but before the matrix's porosity and permeability reduced, which suggests that these tectonic fractures could provide seepage channels for oil migration and accumulation. The second period was at the end of the Cretaceous after the matrix's porosity and permeability reduced but during peak gas generation, which indicates that gas mainly migrated and accumulated in the tectonic fractures. The third period was at the end of the Eogene to the Early Neogene. The tectonic fractures could provide seepage channels for secondary gas migration and accumulation from the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation into the overlying Jurassic Formation.     

Oolitic shoal complexes characterization of the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Yuanba Gas Field,Northeast Sichuan Basin,China

The Yuanba Gas Field is the second largest natural gas reservoir in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China. The vast majority of the natural gas reserve is from the Permian Changhsingian reef complexes and Lower Triassic Feixianguan oolitic shoal complexes. To better understand this reservoir system, this study characterizes geological and geophysical properties, spatial and temporal distribution of the oolitic shoal complexes and factors that control the oolitic shoals character for the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Yuanba Gas Field. Facies analysis, well-seismic tie, well logs, seismic character, impedance inversion, and root mean square (RMS) seismic attributes distinguish two oolitic shoal complex facies – FA-A and FA-B that occur in the study area. FA-A, located in the middle of oolitic shoal complex, is composed of well-sorted ooids with rounded shape. This facies is interpreted to have been deposited in shallow water with relatively high energy. In contrast, FA-B is located in flanks of the oolitic shoal complex, and consists of poorly sorted grains with various shape (rounded, subrounded and subangular). The oolitic shoal complexes were mainly deposited along the platform margin. From the early Fei 2 Member period to the late Fei 2 Member period, the oolitic shoals complexes on the platform margin gradually migrated from the southwest to the northeast with an extent ranging from less than 100 km²–150 km² in the Yuanba Gas Field. The migration of oolitic shoals coincided with the development of a series of progradational clinoforms, suggesting that progradational clinoforms caused by sea-level fall maybe are the main reason that lead to the migration of oolitic shoals. Finally, this study provide an integrated method for the researchers to characterize oolitic shoal complexes by using well cores, logs, seismic reflections, impedance inversion, and seismic attribute in other basins of the world.     

Reservoir origin and characterization of gas pools in intrusive rocks of the Yingcheng Formation,Songliao Basin,NE China

In 2013, the first discovery of gas pools in well LS 208 in intrusive rocks of the Songliao Basin (SB), NE China was made in the 2nd member of the Yingcheng Formation in the Yingtai rift depression, proving that intrusive rocks of the SB have the potential for gas exploration. However, the mechanisms behind the origin of reservoirs in intrusive rocks need to be identified for effective gas exploration. The gas pool in intrusive rocks can be characterized as a low-abundance, high-temperature, normal-pressure, methane-rich, and lithologic pool based on integrated coring, logging, seismic, and oil test methods. The intrusive rocks show primary and secondary porosities, such as shrinkage fractures (SF), spongy pores (SP), secondary sieve pores (SSP), and tectonic fractures (TF). The reservoir is of the fracture–pore type with low porosity and permeability. A capillary pressure curve for mercury intrusion indicates small pore-throat size, negative skewness, medium–high displacement pressure, and middle–low mercury saturation. The development of fractures was found to be related to the quenching effects of emplacement and tectonic inversion during the middle–late Campanian. SP and SSP formed during two phases. The first phase occurred during emplacement of the intrusive rock in the late Albian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by organic acids. The second phase occurred between the early Cenomanian and middle Campanian, when the intrusions underwent alteration by carbonic acid. The SF formed prior to oil charging, the SSP + SP formed during oil charging, and the TF formed during the middle–late Campanian and promoted the distribution of gas pools throughout the reservoir. The intrusive rocks in the SB and the adjacent basins were emplaced in the mudstone and coal units, and have great potential for gas exploration.     

An ichnological-assemblage approach to reservoir heterogeneity assessment in bioturbated strata: Insights from the Lower Cretaceous Viking Formation,Alberta, Canada

Facies-scale trends in porosity and permeability are commonly mapped for reservoir models and flow simulation; however, these trends are too broad to capture bed and bed-set heterogeneity, and there is a need to up-scale detailed, bed-scale observations, especially in low-permeability reservoir intervals. Here we utilize sedimentology and ichnology at the bed- and bedset-scale to constrain the range of porosity and permeability that can be expected within facies of the Lower Cretaceous Viking Formation of south-central, Alberta, Canada.Three main facies were recognized, representing deposition from the middle shoreface to the upper offshore. Amalgamated, hummocky cross-stratified sandstone facies (Facies S_HCS) consist of alternations between intensely bioturbated beds and sparsely bioturbated/laminated beds. Trace fossil assemblages in bioturbated beds of Facies S_HCS are attributable to the archetypal Skolithos Ichnofacies, and are morphologically characterized by vertical, sand-filled shafts (VSS). Bioturbated beds show poor reservoir properties (max: 10% porosity, mean: 85.1 mD) compared to laminated beds (max 20% porosity, mean: 186 mD). Bioturbated muddy sandstone facies (Facies S_B) represent trace fossil assemblages primarily attributable to the proximal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. Four ichnological assemblages occur in varying proportions, namely sediment-churning assemblages (SC), horizontal sand-filled tube assemblages (HSF), VSS assemblages, and mud-filled, lined, or with spreiten (MLS) assemblages. Ichnological assemblages containing horizontal (max: 30% porosity, mean: 1.28 mD) or vertical sand-filled burrows (max: 10% porosity, mean: 2.2 mD) generally have better reservoir properties than laminated beds (max: 20% porosity, mean: 0.98 mD). Conversely, ichnological assemblages that consist of muddy trace fossils have lower porosity and permeability (max 10% porosity, mean: 0.89 mD). Highly bioturbated, sediment churned fabrics have only slightly higher porosity and permeability overall (max: 15% porosity, mean: 1.29 mD). Bioturbated sandy mudstone facies (Facies M_B) contain ichnofossils representing an archetypal expression of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. Four ichnological assemblages occur throughout Facies M_B that are similar to Facies S_B; SC, HSF, VSS, and MLS assemblages. The SC (max: 15% porosity, mean: 21.67 mD), HSF (max: 20% porosity, mean: 3.79 mD), and VSS (max: 25% porosity, mean: 7.35 mD) ichnological assemblages have similar or slightly lower values than the laminated beds (max: 20% porosity, mean: 10.7 mD). However, MLS assemblages have substantially lower reservoir quality (max: 10% porosity, mean: 0.66 mD).Our results indicate that the most likely occurrence of good reservoir characteristics in bioturbated strata exists in sand-filled ichnological assemblages. This is especially true within the muddy upper offshore to lower shoreface, where vertically-oriented trace fossils can interconnect otherwise hydraulically isolated laminated sandstone beds; this improves vertical fluid transmission. The results of this work largely corroborate previous findings about ichnological impacts on reservoir properties. Unlike previous studies, however, we demonstrate that the characteristics of the ichnological assemblage, such as burrow form and the nature of burrow fill, also play an important role in determining reservoir characteristics. It follows that not all bioturbated intervals (attributed to the same facies) should be treated equally. When upscaling bed-scale observations to the reservoir, a range of possible permeability-porosity values can be tested for model sensitivity and to help determine an appropriate representative elementary volume.     

下扬子烃源岩新层位——中下奥陶统

中下奥陶统通常主要作为储层看待,然而皖南地区的下奥陶统宁国组主要为一套富含笔石的灰黑色—黑色薄层硅质、碳质泥岩,属广海陆棚相至深海盆地相沉积;而中奥陶统胡乐组主要为一套同样富含笔石的深灰色薄层粉砂质泥岩和中厚层硅质泥岩,属深海陆棚相至盆地相沉积。二者分布范围相当,但宁国组厚度明显大于胡乐组。下奥陶统宁国组6个样品的岩石热解数据显示,恢复后的TOC均值为1.24%。根据上升流的识别标准,宁国组和胡乐组的岩性和岩相特征以及宁国组地球化学测试结果,推测皖南地区中下奥陶统可能是一套受上升流影响的中—好烃源岩。鉴于南黄海是下扬子的主体,建议加强南黄海中下奥陶统烃源岩的研究。     

珠江口盆地惠州凹陷恩平组源岩特征及勘探潜力

惠州凹陷是珠江口盆地已经证实的富生烃凹陷,存在文昌组和恩平组两套有效烃源岩,一直以来都是以文昌组中深湖相烃源岩为勘探重点。随着勘探的深入,惠州地区以恩平组为代表的浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩的贡献越来越明显,惠州凹陷东部新区基本都为浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩供烃,周边井钻探证实该套烃源岩已经成藏。通过构造-结构剖析、物源分析、地震相调研对比、沉积体系细致研究以及对浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩的特征分析,揭示了惠东地区浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩优势发育机理。经过计算,惠东新区浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩资源量为8.6亿t,占到惠东地区总资源量的3/4,具有较大的勘探潜力。在总结惠东新区浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩特征的基础上优选出惠东新区浅湖-沼泽相烃源岩最有利勘探区带。本次研究摆脱了惠州凹陷单一烃源岩勘探束缚,推动了新区勘探进程。     

济阳坳陷博兴洼陷西部沙三段层序地层

选取以基准面为参照面的高分辨率层序地层学的理论与分析技术,对博兴洼陷西部沙三段开展层序地层分析工作。在博兴洼陷沙三段识别出5个层序界面和4个较大规模的洪泛面,由此将研究层段划分为4个长期基准面旋回(相当于3级层序),并通过长期旋回内部次级转换面的识别,细分出8个中期旋回(大致相当于4级层序)。通过对比建立了研究区的高分辨率层序地层格架,并分析了各层序的地层发育特征。以层序格架为基础,探讨了研究区各层序的沉积演化特征,建立了辫状三角洲—浊积扇层序发育模式,认为研究区辫状三角洲和浊积扇均具有加积作用特点;斜坡区为辫状三角洲发育区,而洼陷区为浊积扇发育区;中期基准面旋回下降期辫状三角洲发育,上升期浊积扇发育;浊积扇体的发育规模与湖泛规模相关。综合分析认为,浊积扇是形成岩性圈闭的主要储集砂体类型,其发育的有利层位是MSC8、MSC7、MSC6、MSC5旋回的上升半旋回,岩性圈闭发育的有利区是博兴南部斜坡坡折带之下的洼陷区。     

大川中地区须家河组二、四段地震相与沉积相研究

四川盆地上三叠统须家河组油气勘探开始于20世纪40年代,其中须二段、须四段是主要探目的层段,也是盆地周边地区寻找新气源最有利层位之一。依据地震地层学方法和理论,结合钻井与测井资料,将大川中地区须家河组划分成7个地震层序边界,分别为SB1—SB7,与之对应6个最大湖泛面,分别为MFS1—MFS6,并对层序界面的地震反射特征进行了总结。利用地震反射内部结构、外部形态和反射波终止类型,在大川中地区须家河组须二段与四段内共识别出平行—亚平行、前积、丘状、透镜状及发散状地震反射特征等5种地震相,并对18条二维地震测线进行了剖面地震相的综合解释,编制了须二段与四段的地震相平面分布图。通过地震相与沉积相的转换,分别划分出冲积扇、扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲以及湖泊等沉积体系,编制了大川中地区须家河组二段与四段沉积相平面图,对大川中地区须家河组构造格局的演化规律进行了分析。