Quartz Cementation in the Lower Paleozoic Shales,Middle Yangtze Region,South China:Implications for Shale Reservoir Properties

As one of the most important constitutes of shales/mudstones,quartz has received increasing interests in the last decades,because productive shale gas successions are generally rich in quartz content.This study critically documents quartz types,silica source for quartz cementation and effect of quartz cementation on reservoir quality in the Lower Paleozoic shales,Middle Yangtze region,South China,including the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation and the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi formations.Our results suggest that high-resolution scanning electron microscopy combined with cathodoluminescene techniques are necessary for identifying quartz types in shales.Integrations of high-resolution imaging technique and detailed geochemical analysis are able to document silica source for quartz cementation and silica diagenetic processes.Six types of quartz can be identified in the Paleozoic shales,primarily including detrital quartz silt,siliceous skeletons,quartz overgrowth,microcrystalline quartz(matrix-dispersed microquartz and aggregated microquartz),silica nanospheres and fracture-filling quartz veins.Dissolution of siliceous skeletons provides the principal silica sources for authigenic quartz formation in the Paleozoic shales.Authigenic quartz has dual effects on porosity development.Quartz overgrowth definitely occupies interparticle pores and possibly squeeze spaces,whereas aggregated microquartz can form rigid framework that is favorable for generating and preserving intercrystalline pores and organic pores.

Three evolutionary stages of the collision orogenic deformation in the Middle Yangtze Region

A discussion of collision orogenic deformation has been made for the Middle Yangtze Region. Based on its deformation assemblage orders, three developing stages are classified successively as compression thrust uplift, strike-slip escape rheology and tension extension inversion. The collision orogenesis of the studied region has been divided into three developing periods of initial, chief and late orogeny. Based on the data from Wugong Mts., Jiuling Mts. and Xuefeng Mts.,for each stage, its variation of stress and strain axes, the conversion of joint fractures and their relative tectonic evolution are described, models are plotted and corresponding explanations are made for the rock chronology dating value in the same tectonic period.

Research on Outcrop Sequence Stratigraphy of Permian in Middle-Lower Yangtze Region

According to the latest International Chronostratigraphic Scheme (ICS, 2000), the Permian in the Middle Lower Yangtze region of South China can be divided into three series and nine stages relevant to the traditional six stages of South China. From Assellian to Changxingian of Permian, 44 Ma in age range, the strata are composed of 14 third order sequences, each of which is 3.14 Ma in average age range. There is one third order sequence of Zisongian, equivalent to middle and upper Chuanshan Formation or equal to Asselian and two thirds of Sakmarian. There are two third order sequences, corresponding to Liang shan Formation or Zhenjiang Formation and upper Chuanshan Formation, which are assigned to Longlingian, coinciding with Artinskian and one third of Sakmarian. In addition, three third order sequences, equal to Qixia Formation, are attributed to Chihsian, corresponding to Kubergandian and one third of Roadian. Four third order sequences, comprising Gufeng, Maokou, Yanqiao, Yinping and Wuxue formations, are assigned to Maokouan, equivalent to two thirds of Roadian, Wordian and Capitanian. Two third order sequences, equal to Longtan Formation or Wujiaping Formation, are included in Wuchiapingian. Other two third order sequences, corresponding to Changxing Formation or Dalong Formation, are assigned to Changhsingian. In brief, these above third order sequences can be incorporated into 4 sequences sets.

Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Late Permian Wujiaping Age in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region,China

The lithofacies palaeogeography of the Late Permian Wujiaping Age in Middle and Upper Yangtze Region was studied based on petrography and the ＂single factor analysis and multifactor comprehensive mapping＂ method. The Upper Permian Wujiaping Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region is mainly composed of carbonate rocks and clastic rocks, with lesser amounts of siliceous rocks, pyroclastic rocks, volcanic rocks and coal. The rocks can be divided into three types, including clastic rock, clastic rock-limestone and limestone-siliceous rock, and four fundamental ecological types and four fossil assemblages are recognized in the Wujiaping Stage. Based on a petrological and palaeoecological study, six single factors were selected, namely, thickness （m）, content （%） of marine rocks, content （%） of shallow water carbonate rocks, content （%） of biograins with limemud, content （%） of thinbedded siliceous rocks and content （%） of deep water sedimentary rocks. Six single factors maps of the Wujiaping Stage and one lithofacies palaeogeography map of the Wujiaping Age were composed. Palaeogeographic units from west to east include an eroded area, an alluvial plain, a clastic rock platform, a carbonate rock platform where biocrowds developed, a slope and a basin. In addition, a clastic rock platform exists in the southeast of the study area. Hydro- carbon source rock and reservoir conditions were preliminarily analyzed based on lithofacies palaeogeography. Sedimentary environments have obvious controls over the development of the resource rocks. With regard to the abundance of organic matter, the hydrocarbon potential of the coastal swamp environment is the best, followed by the basin environment and the carbonate rock platform. The gas reservoir types of the Wujiaping Stage can be classified as conventional and unconventional gas reservoirs, like coal bed gas and shale gas; all of them have well exploration prospects.

Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Upper Permian Changxing Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region,China

Based on the petrological study,according to single factor analysis and multifactor comprehensive mapping method,the quantitative lithofacies palaeogeography of the Upper Permian Changxing Stage of the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region was studied.The Changxing Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region is mainly composed of carbonate rocks;in addition,clastic and siliceous rocks occur with rare coals and pyroclastic rocks.Lithofacies can be divided into five types,including clastic rock assemblage,clastic rock-limestone assemblage,limestone assemblage,limestone-siliceous rock assemblage,and siliceous rock-clastic rock assemblage.Four fundamental ecological types and five fossil assemblages were recognized in the Changxing Stage.On the basis of the petrological and palaeoecological study,eight single factors were chosen including thickness,content of marine rocks,content of shallow water carbonate rocks,content of bioclasts with limemud matrix,content of bioclasts with sparry cement,distribution of reefs,content of thin bedded siliceous rocks and content of deep water sedimentary rocks.And eight single factor maps and one lithofacies paleogeographic map of the Changxing Stage were compiled.Paleoenvironments from west to east include an erosional area,fluvial plain,clastic platform,carbonate platform and reefs that developed there,slope and basin,low energy organic banks,and high energy organic banks.Sedimentary environments have an obvious control on the development of the source rocks,and the excellent source rocks are developed in the Dalong Formation.Changxing Stage reservoirs should be dominated by the reef and platform surrounding the GuangyuanLiangping Basin rim area,and is the most favorable exploration area of the reef petroleum reservoirs of the Changxing Formation.