Sinian gas sources and effectiveness of primary gas-bearing system in Sichuan Basin, SW China

Based on correlation between geochemical characteristics of Sinian and Cambrian source rocks and discovered gas reservoirs,paleoand the analysis on geological conditions of reservoir formation,the sources of natural gas in the Sinian of Sichuan Basin have been discussed to sort out the contribution of Sinian source rocks to the gas reservoirs and effectiveness of Sinian primary gas-bearing system.Through the analysis of natural gas composition,carbon and hydrogen isotopes and effectiveness of Sinian accumulation assemblages,it is concluded that:(1)The natural gas derived from the Sinian source rock is characterized by low ethane content,heavy ethane carbon isotope and light methane hydrogen isotope,and obviously different from the gas generated by the Cambrian source rock.(2)The gas reservoirs discovered in Sinian Dengying Formation are sourced by Sinian and Cambrian source rocks,and the Sinian source rock contributes different proportions to the gas in the 4th member and the 2nd member of the Dengying Formation,specifically,39%and 55%to the 4th member in marginal zone and intra-platform,54%and 68%to the 2th member in the marginal zone and intra-platform respectively.(3)The effectiveness of the Sinian primary gas-bearing system depends on the gas generating effectiveness of the source kitchen,reservoir and combination of gas accumulation elements.For high-over mature marine source rocks at the Ro of less than 3.5%,besides gas generated from the thermal cracking of liquid hydrocarbon,the kerogen still has some gas generation potential by thermal degradation.In addition,the Sinian microbial dolomite still preserves relatively good-quality reservoirs despite large burial depths,which match well with other basic conditions for gas accumulation in central Sichuan paleo-uplift,increasing the possibility of Sinian primary gas-bearing system.The research results confirm that the Sinian primary gas-bearing system is likely to form large-scale accumulation.

An alternative approach to match field production data from unconventional gas-bearing systems

Nowadays,the unconventional gas-bearing system plays an increasingly important role in energy market.The performances of the current history-matching techniques are not satisfied when applied to such systems.To overcome this shortfall,an alternative approach was developed and applied to investigate production data from an unconventional gas-bearing system.In this approach,the fluid flow curve obtained from the field is the superposition of a series of Gaussian functions.An automatic computing program was developed in the MATLAB,and both gas and water field data collected from a vertical well in the Linxing Block,Ordos Basin,were used to present the data processing technique.In the reservoir study,the automatic computing program was applied to match the production data from a single coal seam,multiple coal seams and multiple vertically stacked reservoirs with favourable fitting results.Compared with previous approaches,the proposed approach yields better results for both gas and water production data and can calculate the contributions from different reservoirs.The start time of the extraction for each gas-containing unit can also be determined.The new approach can be applied to the field data prediction and designation for the well locations and patterns at the reservoir scale.

Pore Connectivity of Deep Lacustrine Shale and its Effect on Gas-bearing Characteristics in the Songliao Basin:Implications from Continental Scientific Drilling

The lacustrine shale of deep Shahezi Formation in the Songliao basin has great gas potential,but its pore evolution,heterogeneity,and connectivity characteristics remain unclear.In this work,total organic carbon analysis,rock pyrolysis,X-ray diffraction field emission scanning electron microscopy,the particle and crack analysis system software,low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiment,fractal theory,high-pressure mercury injection experiment and nuclear magnetic resonance experiment were used to study the Shahezi shale from Well SK-2.The result indicated that the organic pores in Shahezi shale are not developed,and the intergranular and intragranular pores are mainly formed by illitedominated clay.As the burial depth increases,the pore size and slit-shaped pores formed by clay decrease,and dissolved pores in the feldspar and carbonate minerals and dissolved fractures in the quartz increase.The pore evolution is affected by clay,compaction,and high-temperature corrosion.Based on the pore structure characteristics reflected by the pore size distribution and pore structure parameters obtained by multiple experimental methods,the pore development and evolution are divided into three stages.During stageⅠandⅡ,the pore heterogeneity of the shale reservoirs increases with the depth,the physical properties and pore connectivity deteriorate,but the gas-bearing property is good.In stageⅢ,the pore heterogeneity is the highest,its gas generation and storage capacity are low,but the increase of micro-fractures makes pore connectivity and gas-bearing better.

Linear numerical calculation method for obtaining critical point,pore fluid,and framework parameters of gas-bearing media

Up to now, the primary method for studying critical porosity and porous media are experimental measurements and data analysis. There are few references on how to numerically calculate porosity at the critical point, pore fluid-related parameters, or framework-related parameters. So in this article, we provide a method for calculating these elastic parameters and use this method to analyze gas-bearing samples. We first derive three linear equations for numerical calculations. They are the equation of density p versus porosity Ф, density times the square of compressional wave velocity p Vp^2 versus porosity, and density times the square of shear wave velocity pVs^2 versus porosity. Here porosity is viewed as an independent variable and the other parameters are dependent variables. We elaborate on the calculation steps and provide some notes. Then we use our method to analyze gas-bearing sandstone samples. In the calculations, density and P- and S-velocities are input data and we calculate eleven relative parameters for porous fluid, framework, and critical point. In the end, by comparing our results with experiment measurements, we prove the viability of the method.

Types,Characteristics and Significances of Migrating Pathways of Gas-bearing Fluids in the Shenhu Area,Northern Continental Slope of the South China Sea

The first marine gas hydrate expedition in China has been conducted by Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey in the Shenhu Area, northern continental slope of the South China Sea. Previous study has analyzed the P-T conditions, geophysical anomalies and saturation calculations of these gas hydrates, but has not documented in detail the migration of gas-bearing fluids in the study area. Based on the interpretations of 2D/3D seismic data, this work identified two types of migration pathways for gas-bearing fluids in the Shenhu area, i.e., vertical and lateral pathways. The vertical pathways（largescale faults, gas chimneys and mud diapirs） presented as steep seismic reflection anomalies, which could be traced downward to the Eocene source rocks and may penetrate into the Late Miocene strata. The deeper gases/fluids might be allowed migrating into the shallower strata through these vertical conduits. However, the distributions showed distinct differences between these pathways. Large-scale faults developed only in the north and northeast of the Shenhu area, while in the drilling area gas chimneys were the sole vertical migration pathways. Since the Pliocene, normal faults, detachment faults and favorable sediments have constituted the lateral pathways in the Shenhu gas hydrate drilling area. Although these lateral pathways were connected with gas chimneys, they exerted different effects on hydrate formation and accumulation. Gas-bearing fluids migrated upward along gas chimneys might further migrate laterally because of the normal faults, thereby enlarging the range of the chimneys. Linking gas chimneys with the seafloor, the detachment faults might act as conduits for escaping gases/fluids. Re-deposited sediments developed at the early stage of the Quaternary were located within the gas hydrate stability zone, so hydrates would be enriched in these favorable sediments. Compared with the migration pathways（large-scale faults and mud diapirs） in the LW3-1 deep-sea oil/gas field, the migration efficiency of the vertical pathways（composed of gas chimneys） in the gas hydrate drilling area might be relatively low. Description and qualitative discrimination of migration pathways in the Shenhu gas hydrate drilling area are helpful to further understand the relationship between good-quality deep source rocks and shallow, mainly biogenicallyproduced, hydrates. As the main source rocks of the Baiyun sag, lacustrine mudstones in the Wenchang and Enping Formations may provide thermogenic methane. Gas chimneys with relatively low migration efficiency created the vertical pathways. Caused by the Dongsha tectonic movement, the release of overpressured fluids might reduce the vertical migration rates of the thermogenic methane. The thick bathyal/abyssal fine-grained sediments since the Late Miocene provided migration media with low permeability. These preconditions may cause carbon isotopic fractionation ofthermogenic methane during long-distance vertical migrations. Therefore, although geochemical analyses indicate that the methane forming gas hydrate in the Shenhu area was mainly produced biogenically, or was mixed methane primarily of microbial origin, thermogenic methane still contribute significantly.

The influence factors of gas-bearing and geological characteristics of Niutitang Formation shale in the southern margin of Xuefeng Mountain ancient uplift: A case of Well Huangdi 1

In order to evaluate the geological characteristics and gas-bearing factors of Niutitang Formation within the Lower Cambrian of northern Guizhou,the Huangping area located at the southern edge of the ancient uplift belt of Xuefeng Mountain was selected as the target area,and Well Huangdi 1 was drilled for the geological survey of shale gas.Through geological background analysis and well logging and laboratory analysis such as organic geochemical test,gas content analysis,isothermal adsorption,and specific surface area experiments on Well Huangdi 1,the results show that the Niutitang Formation is a deep-water shelf,trough-like folds and thrust fault.The thickness of black shale is 119.95 m,of which carbonaceous shale is 89.6 m.The average value of organic carbon content is 3.55%,kerogen vitrinite reflectance value is 2.37% and kerogen type is sapropel-type.The brittle mineral content is 51%(quartz 38%),clay mineral content is 38.3%.The value of porosity and permeability are 0.5%and 0.0014 mD,which the reservoir of the Niutitang Formation belongs to low permeability with characteristics of ultra-low porosity.The gas content is 0.09‒1.31 m^3/t with a high-value area and a second high-value area.By comparing with the geological parameters of adjacent wells in the adjacent area,the accumulation model of“sediment control zone,Ro control zone,structure controlling reservoir”in the study area is proposed.Therefore,deep-water shelf-slope facies,Ro is between high maturity-early stage of overmaturity and well-preserved zones in the Niutitang Formation in this area are favorable direction for the next step of shale gas exploration.

Study of A Geo-Acoustic Model of Gas-Bearing Sediment and Its Application in Sediment with Low Acoustic Veloctiy

A new geo-acoustic model for gas-bearing sediment is proposed based on the work of Dvorkin and Prasad, and Biot theory. Only five geophysical parameters： sediment mineral composition, free gas saturation, tortuosity （also known as the structure factor）, permeability, and porosity, are considered in the model. A benefit of this model is that we need only five parameters instead of ten parameters in the Blot＇ s formulas for acoustic velocity and attenuation calculation. Here the model is demonstrated with the in-situ experimental data collected from the Hangzhou Bay, China. The results of this study suggest that free gas content in sediment is the most critical condition resulting in a low acoustic velocity （compressional wave）. The respective contributions of the other four parameters in the model are also discussed.

Reservoir characteristics and genetic mechanisms of gas-bearing shales with different laminae and laminae combinations: A case study of Member 1 of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale in Sichuan Basin, SW China

Based on thin-section,argon-ion polished large-area imaging and nano-CT scanning data,the reservoir characteristics and genetic mechanisms of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale layers with different laminae and laminae combinations in the Sichuan Basin were examined.It is found that the shale has two kinds of laminae,clayey lamina and silty lamina,which are different in single lamina thickness,composition,pore type and structure,plane porosity and pore size distribution.The clayey laminae are about 100μm thick each,over 15%in organic matter content,over 70%in quartz content,and higher in organic pore ratio and plane porosity.They have abundant bedding fractures and organic matter and organic pores connecting with each other to form a network.In contrast,the silty laminae are about 50μm thick each,5%to 15%in organic matter content,over 50%in carbonate content,higher in inorganic pore ratio,undeveloped in bedding fracture,and have organic matter and organic pores disconnected from each other.The formation of mud lamina and silt lamina may be related to the flourish of silicon-rich organisms.The mud lamina is formed during the intermittent period,and silt lamina is formed during the bloom period of silicon-rich organisms.The mud laminae and silt laminae can combine into three types of assemblages:strip-shaped silt,gradating sand-mud and sand-mud thin interlayers.The strip-shaped silt assemblage has the highest porosity and horizontal/vertical permeability ratio,followed by the gradating sand-mud assemblage and sand-mud thin interlayer assemblage.The difference in the content ratio of the mud laminae to silt laminae results in the difference in the horizontal/vertical permeability ratio.

Methods of identifying gas-bearing reservoirs by logs and applications of volcanic formations

The authors generalized the methods how to identify and evaluate gas zones using logs,and put forward the methods of crossplots and overlays of porosity logs on the identification of volcanic gas-bearing reservoirs in the northern Songliao Basin with good results.This study provides technical clues in deep formations and offers references for other areas to identify oil and gas layers.

Deep learning CNN-APSO-LSSVM hybrid fusion model for feature optimization and gas-bearing prediction

Conventional machine learning(CML)methods have been successfully applied for gas reservoir prediction.Their prediction accuracy largely depends on the quality of the sample data;therefore,feature optimization of the input samples is particularly important.Commonly used feature optimization methods increase the interpretability of gas reservoirs;however,their steps are cumbersome,and the selected features cannot sufficiently guide CML models to mine the intrinsic features of sample data efficiently.In contrast to CML methods,deep learning(DL)methods can directly extract the important features of targets from raw data.Therefore,this study proposes a feature optimization and gas-bearing prediction method based on a hybrid fusion model that combines a convolutional neural network(CNN)and an adaptive particle swarm optimization-least squares support vector machine(APSO-LSSVM).This model adopts an end-to-end algorithm structure to directly extract features from sensitive multicomponent seismic attributes,considerably simplifying the feature optimization.A CNN was used for feature optimization to highlight sensitive gas reservoir information.APSO-LSSVM was used to fully learn the relationship between the features extracted by the CNN to obtain the prediction results.The constructed hybrid fusion model improves gas-bearing prediction accuracy through two processes of feature optimization and intelligent prediction,giving full play to the advantages of DL and CML methods.The prediction results obtained are better than those of a single CNN model or APSO-LSSVM model.In the feature optimization process of multicomponent seismic attribute data,CNN has demonstrated better gas reservoir feature extraction capabilities than commonly used attribute optimization methods.In the prediction process,the APSO-LSSVM model can learn the gas reservoir characteristics better than the LSSVM model and has a higher prediction accuracy.The constructed CNN-APSO-LSSVM model had lower errors and a better fit on the test dataset than the other individual models.This method proves the effectiveness of DL technology for the feature extraction of gas reservoirs and provides a feasible way to combine DL and CML technologies to predict gas reservoirs.

Study on the long-term performance of shield tunnel passing through the gas-bearing strata

When the shield tunnel passes through the gas-bearing strata,gas and water leakage may occur depending on the sealing performance of the segment joints.This process involves the complex multiphase seepage flow phenomenon in unsaturated soil.In this study,a fully coupled solid-liquid-gas model of the GIL Utility Tunnel was established to investigate the influence of the high-pressure gas on the mechanical properties of the tunnel segments and joints.The constitutive model of the Extended Barcelona Basic Model was imple-mented to simulate the effect of the seepage process on soil deformation.The results show that significant upward displacement occurred in the gas reservoir and its overlying strata,and the maximum displacement reached 30 mm.In addition,during the leakage of the gas and the water,an increase in the average soil effective stress was observed.It would induce a reduction in the suction and expansion of the yield surface.The tunnel tended to be stable from 20 years onwards,thus the soil deformation due to the water leakage only occurred at the early stage.In addition,the joint opening under the most unfavorable internal force combination was 0.69 mm,and the correspond-ing bolt stress was 119.5 MPa,which is below the yield limit.The results of this study help to understand the influence of high-pressure gas on tunnel safety and the sealing performance of the joints.

Geologic Characteristics of Gas Reservoirs in West Sichuan Foreland Basin

The foreland basin in West Sichuan is a tectonic unit that has undergone multi-periods tectonic movements of Indosinian-Yanshanian-Himalayan. Since late Triassic, it has been in a passive subsidence environment controlled by basin margin mountain systems and by the compression with abundant sediment sources. With the complex geologic setting, the main geologic characteristics of natural gas reservoir are listed as following： （1） Source rocks are coal-bearing mud and shale series with high to over maturity, and long and progressive hydrocarbon generation-displacement period. The key accumulation period is middle-late Yanshanian epoch. （2） There are three gas-bearing systems vertically, each of which has different reservoir mechanism, main-controlled factors and distribution law, so the exploration thoughts and techniques are also different. （3） Undergoing multi-period generation-migration-accumulation, oil and gas have encountered multi-period modification or destruction, and gas accumulation overpass multiple tectonic periods. So the trap type is complicated and dominated by combination traps. Because the main accumulation period of natural gas is early and the reservoir encountered the modification of strong Himalayan movement, there is great difference in the fullness degree of gas reservoirs and complicated gas-water relation. （4） Reservoir is tight to very tight, but reservoirs of relatively high quality developed under the super tight setting. （5） The key techniques for oil and gas exploration in west Sichuan foreland basin are the prediction of relatively favorable reservoirs, fractures and gas bearing; and the key techniques for oil and gas development are how to improve the penetration rate, reservoir protection and modification.

An analysis of the types and distribution characteristics of natural gas reservoirs in China

The natural gas reservoir beds of different areas in China can be divided into three kinds, clastic natural gas reservoir bed, carbonate natural gas reservoir bed and special natural gas reservoir bed. They have different combination patterns controlled by deposition, diagenesis and tectonism. Our analysis indicates that the natural gas reservoirs are mainly distributed in the Precambrian, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Tertiary-Quaternary. Craton basin, foreland basin and intracontinental rift basin which contain most of natural gas in China have special geological features and favorable accumulation conditions, and will be important exploration areas in the future.

An improved specimen preparation method for marine shallow gasbearing sand sediments and its validations

Instabilities of shallow gas-charged seabed are potential geological hazards in ocean engineering.In practice,the conventional field sampling techniques failed to obtain undisturbed gas-bearing sediments from the seabed for laboratory mechanical testing because of sensitive gas exsolution and escape from sediments.However,preparation of representative remoulded gas-charged specimens is a challenging issue,because it is rather difficult to quantitatively control the gas content and obtain uniform distribution of gas bubbles within the specimen.Given the above problems,this work proposes a reliable approach to reconstitute the high-saturation specimen of gas-charged sediments in the laboratory by an improved multifunction integrated triaxial apparatus(MITA).This apparatus is developed based on an advanced stress path triaxial system by introducing a temperature-controlled system and a wavemonitoring system.The temperature-controlled system is used to accurately mimic the in situ environments of sediments in the seabed.The wave-monitoring system is utilized to identify exsolution point of free gas and examine the disturbance of gas to specimens during gas exsolution.The detailed procedure of gassy specimen preparation is introduced.Then,the quality of prepared specimens using our improved apparatus is validated by the high-resolution micro-X-ray computed tomography(mCT)scanning test,from which bubble occurrence and size distribution within the gassy sand specimen can be obtained;and preliminary mechanical tests on gassy sand specimens with various initial saturation degrees are performed.The proposed specimen preparation procedure succeeds in proving the postulated occurrence state of gas bubbles in coarse-grained sediments and accurately controlling the gas content.

Numerical Simulation for Evolutionary History of Three-Dimensional Basin

Numerical simulation or evolutionary history of an oil and gas-bearing basin is to repeat geological and thermodyanomic history of basin evolution on a computer and then to quantitate petroleum generation,accumulation and migration.The mathemat-ical model describing geological and thermodynamic history of the basin evolution ischaracterised by an initial-boundary value problem of a system of nonlinear partial dif-ferential equations. In the present paper, a numerical method for three-dimensionalproblem and the analysis of its stability are established and a numerical result for apractical model is given, which shows that the abnormal pressure and paleo-temperat-ure computed are reasonable and display physical characteristics clearly as well.

Collapsing characteristics of gas-bearing cavitation bubble

The cavitation is directly related to the safety of many large water conservancy projects.There are two types of cavitation bubbles,one is generated by the gas nucleus,called the non gas-bearing cavitation bubble,and another is generated by the gas bubble,called the gas-bearing cavitation bubble.They have significantly different collapsing characteristics.This paper studies the cavitation bubbles,generated by a high voltage pulse bubble generation system,and discusses the gas-bearing cavitation bubble's characteristics a from the aspects of the collapse process,the cycle,the size and the collapse strength.It is shown that:(1) the collapse of the gas-bearing cavitation bubbles can be divided into two types:the centripetal collapse and the bisected collapse,(2) the cycle period and the size of the gas-bearing cavitation bubble increase significantly,and the increase norm has a certain relationship with the bubble diameter ratio,(3) the collapse strength of the gas-bearing cavitation bubble decreases significantly.The larger the bubble diameter ratio,the greater the effect will be.

Accumulation and exploration of continental shale gas resources of Cretaceous Shahezi Formation in Lishu fault depression,Songliao Basin,NE China

Distribution characteristics,organic matter development characteristics,gas-bearing characteristics,reservoir characteristics,and preservation conditions of the Shahezi Formation shale of Lower Cretaceous in the Lishu fault depression,Songliao Basin,NE China,are analyzed using organic geochemical,whole rock,and SEM analysis data,and CO_(2)and N_(2) adsorption and high-pressure mercury injection experiment data in combination with the tectonic and sedimentation evolution of the region to reveal the geological conditions for enrichment and resource potential of continental shale gas.The organic-rich shale in the Lower Cretaceous of the Lishu fault depression is mainly developed in the lower submember of the second member of the Shahezi Formation(K_(1)sh_(2)^(1) Fm.)and is thick and stable in distribution.The shale has high TOC,mainly types II_(1) and II_(2) organic matter,and is in the mature to the over-mature stage.The volcanic activity,salinization,and reduction of the water environment are conducive to the formation of the organic-rich shale.The shale reservoirs have mainly clay mineral intergranular pores,organic matter pores,carbonate mineral dissolution pores,and foliated microfractures as storage space.The pores are in the mesopore range of 10–50 nm,and the microfractures are mostly 5–10μm wide.Massive argillaceous rocks of lowland and highstand domains are deposited above and below the gas-bearing shale separately in the lower submember of the K_(1)sh_(2)^(1) Fm.,act as the natural roof and floor in the process of shale gas accumulation and preservation,and control the shale gas enrichment.Based on the above understandings,the first shale gas exploration well in Shahezi Formation was drilled in the Lishu fault depression of Songliao Basin.After fracturing,the well tested a daily gas production of 7.6×10^(4) m^(3),marking a breakthrough in continental shale gas exploration in the Shahezi Formation(K1 sh Fm.)of the Lishu fault depression in Songliao Basin.The exploration practice has reference significance for the exploration of continental shale gas in the Lower Cretaceous of Songliao Basin and its periphery.

Shale gas accumulation conditions and gas-bearing characteristics of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in Well Changye-1 in northwestern Hunan Province

To evaluate the accumulation conditions and gas-bearing properties of shale gas in the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation,northwestern Hunan Province,the first shale gas parameter well(Well Changye-1)that takes the Niutitang Formation as the target horizon in the Hunan Province was selected preferably and drilled,cumulatively revealing the thickest dark shale horizon of the Niutitang Formation among the single-well drillings in China,with a true vertical thickness of 674.5m.Through analyzing the core samples in terms of organic geochemistry,rock mineralogy and reservoir properties,the black shale horizons in the Niutitang Formation of Well Changye-1 have high organic carbon content(average 3.9%),moderate maturity(equivalent Ro average 2.6%),high brittle mineral content(quartz content average 50.1%),low clay mineral content(average 32.4%),low porosity(1.7%)and low permeability(1.32×10^(-3)mD),and well-developed meso to micro-pores and fractures,indicating good conditions for shale gas accumulation.Field desorption and laboratory isothermal adsorption measurements on core samples show that Well Changye-1 has good gas-bearing properties,and gas content generally increases with depth.The black shale horizons at the depth of 1100-1250m have an average organic carbon content up to 10.1%,total gas content of 0.5-2.1m^(3)/t and 3.7-6.4m^(3)/t,and this is the most favorable depth for shale gas development,indicating that the Niutitang Formation has good a prospect for shale gas exploration.Due to huge sedimentary thickness,the black shale in the middle-lower part of the Niutitang Formation should be given priority for exploration.

Characteristics of Coalbed Methane Resources of China

The paper deals with the coalbed methane gas-bearing characteristics such as the gas content, theoretical gas saturation, gas concentration and abundance, as well as coal reservoir characteristics such as the adsorption, desorption and permeability of China's coal reservoirs. The paper also introduces the resources of coalbed methane with a gas content ≥ 4 m3/t and their distribution in China.