Pore structure evolution of lacustrine organic-rich shale from the second member of the Kongdian formation in the Cangdong Sag,Bohai Bay Basin,China

Pyrolysis experiments were conducted on lacustrine organic-rich shale from Cangdong Sag in Bohai Bay Basin,China,to investigate the impact of hydrocarbon generation on shale pore structure evolution.Thermal evolution is found to control the transformation of organic matter,hydrocarbon products characteristics,and pore structure changes.Furthermore,pore volume and specific surface area increase with increasing maturity.In low-mature stage,the retained oil content begins to increase,pore volumes show slight changes,and primary pores are occluded by the generated crude oil of high molecular weight and density.In the oil-window stage,the retained oil content rapidly increases and reaches maximum,and pore volumes gradually increase with increasing thermal maturity.At high mature stage,the retained oil content begins to decrease,and the pore volume increases considerably owing to the expulsion of liquid hydrocarbon.In over mature stage,natural gas content significantly increases and kerogen transforms to asphalt.Numerous organic pores are formed and the pore size gradually increases,resulting from the connection of organic pores caused the increasing thermal stress.This study lays a foundation for understanding variation of hydrocarbon products during the thermal evolution of lacustrine shales and its relationship with the evolution of shale reservoirs.

Energy Field Adjustment and Hydrocarbon Phase Evolution in Sinian-Lower Paleozoic, Sichuan Basin

The Sinian-Lower Paleozoic （also called the lower association） in Sichuan （四川） basin has undergone geologic evolution for several hundred million years. The subsidence history of the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic can be divided into four stages： the stable subsidence during Cambrian and Silurian; the uplift and denudation during Devonian and Carboniferous; the subsidence （main process） during Permian to Late Cretaceous; and the rapid uplift and denudation since Late Cretaceous. The later two stages could be regarded as critical factors for the development of oil and gas in the lower association. The evolution of energy field such as temperature, pressure, and hydrocarbon phase in the lower association during the deep burial and uplift in the third stage might be induced as follows： （1） super-high pressure was developed during oil-cracking, previous super-high pressure was sustained, or changed as normal pressure during late uplift; （2） temperature increased with deep burial during persistent subsidence and decreased during uplift in late stage; （3） as a response to the change of the energy field, hydrocarbon phase experienced a series of changes such as organic material （solid）, oil （liquid）, oil-cracking gas （gaseous） ＋ bitumen （solid） ＋ abnormal high pressure, gas cap gas with super-high pressure （gaseous） ＋ bitumen （solid） ＋ water soluble gas （liquid）, and gas in pool （gaseous） ＋ water soluble gas （liquid） ＋ bitumen （solid）. The restoration of hydrocarbon phase evolution is of important value for the exploration of natural gas in the Sinian-Lower Paleozoic in Sichuan basin.