Two stages power generation test of the hot dry rock exploration and production demonstration project in the Gonghe Basin,northeastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau,China

The Hot Dry Rock(HDR)is considered as a clean and renewable energy,poised to significantly contribute to the global energy decarbonization agenda.Many HDR projects worldwide have accumulated valuable experience in efficient drilling and completion,reservoir construction,and fracture simulation.In 2019,China Geological Survey(CGS)initiated a demonstration project of HDR exploration and production in the Gonghe Basin,aiming to overcome the setbacks faced by HDR projects.Over the ensuing four years,the Gonghe HDR project achieved the first power generation in 2021,followed by the second power generation test in 2022.After establishing the primary well group in the initial phase,two directional wells and one branch well were drilled.Noteworthy progress was made in successfully constructing the targeted reservoir,realizing inter-well connectivity,power generation and grid connection,implementing of the real-time micro-seismic monitoring.A closed-loop technical validation of the HDR exploration and production was completed.However,many technical challenges remain in the process of HDR industrialization,such as reservoir fracture network characterization,efficient drilling and completion,multiple fracturing treatment,continuous injection and production,as well as mitigation of induced seismicity and numerical simulation technology.

Resource Potential and Exploration Techniques of Stratigraphic and subtle Reservoirs in China

The onshore oil and gas exploration has stepped into a new stage in China, with equal attention paid to both stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs and structural reservoirs. In the past few years, the increases in oil reserves in most basins were found mainly in the stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs. Latest resource evaluation shows that the onshore stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs in China account for 42% of the total remaining resource, the highest in the four major exploration regions. Therefore, these reservoirs will be the most practical, potential and prevalent fields for long-lasting oil and gas exploration in onshore China. Among PetroChina's annual oil geologic reserves of 4.3 × 108t^4.6× 108t, the stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs account for more than 50%. In such basins as Songliao, Ordos, Bohai Bay, Junggar, Tarim, Sichuan and Erlian basins, stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs with geologic reserves ranging from 5×107t to 3×108t were discovered, including Ansai, Jing'an, Daqingzijing, Liuxi, well-21 area in Shinan, and Hadexun. Stratigraphic and subtle reservoirs in the four types of inland basins differ from each other in the formation conditions and the distribution patterns. While continental basins are controlled by unconformity surface, maximum flooding surface and fracture surface, the Paleozoic marine basins are influenced by paleouplift, unconformity surface, and fluctuation of the sea level. Through exploration practices and research, PetroChina has formed its own technique series focused on 3-D seismics and sequence stratigraphy.

Exploration Potential of Marine Source Rocks Oil-Gas Reservoirs in China

So far, more than 150 marine oil-gas fields have been found onshore and offshore about 350. The marine source rocks are mainly Paleozoic and Mesozoic onshore whereas Tertiary offshore. Three genetic categories of oil-gas reservoirs have been defined for the marine reservoirs in China： primary reservoirs, secondary reservoirs and hydrocarbon-regeneration reservoirs. And three exploration prospects have also been suggested： （1） Primary reservoirs prospects, which are chiefly distributed in many Tertiary basins of the South China Sea （SCS）, the Tertiary shelf basins of the East China Sea （ECS） and the Paleozoic of Tarim basin, Sichuan basin and Ordos basin. To explore large-middle-scale even giant oil-gas fields should chiefly be considered in this category reservoirs. These basins are the most hopeful areas to explore marine oil-gas fields in China, among which especially many Tertiary basins of the SCS should be strengthened to explore. （2） Secondary reservoirs prospects, which are mainly distributed in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic of the Tarim basin, Sichuan basin, Qiangtang basin and Chuxiong basin in western China, of which exploration potential is less than that of the primary reservoirs. （3） Hydrocarbon-regeneration reservoirs prospects, which are chiefly distributed in the Bohai Bay basin, North Jiangsu-South Yellow Sea basin, southern North China basin, Jianghan basin, South Poyang basin in eastern China and the Tarim basin in western China, of which source rocks are generally the Paleozoic. And the reservoirs formed by late-stage （always Cenozoic） secondary hydrocarbon generation of the Paleozoic source rocks should mainly be considered to explore, among which middle-small and small oil-gas fields are the chief exploration targets. As a result of higher thermal evolution of Paleozoic and Mesozoic source rocks, the marine reservoirs onshore are mainly gas fields, and so far marine oil fields have only been found in the Tarim basin. No other than establishing corresponding marine oil-gas exploration and development strategy and policy, sufficiently enhancing cognition to the particularity and complexity of China＇s marine petroleum geology, and applying new thoughts, new theories and new technologies, at the same time tackling some key technologies, it is possible to fast and effectually exploit and utilize the potential huge marine oil-gas resources of China.

Reservoir characteristics,formation mechanisms and petroleum exploration potential of volcanic rocks in China

Characterized by complex lithology and strong heterogeneity, volcanic reservoirs in China developed three reservoir space types： primary pores, secondary pores and fractures. The formation of reservoir space went through the cooling and solidification stage （including blast fragmentation, crystallization differentiation and solidification） and the epidiagenesis stage （including metasomatism, filling, weathering and leaching, formation fluid dissolution and tectonism）. Primary pores were formed at the solidification stage, which laid the foundation for the development and transformation of effective reservoirs. Secondary pores were formed at the epidiagenesis stage, with key factors as weathering and leaching, formation fluid dissolution and tectonism. In China, Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic rocks developed in the Songliao Basin and Bohai Bay Basin in the east and Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks developed in the Junggar Basin, Santanghu Basin and Ta- rim Basin in the west. There are primary volcanic reser- voirs and secondary volcanic reservoirs in these volcanic rocks, which have good accumulation conditions and great exploration potential.

Geologic Characteristics of Volcanic Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Exploration Directions in China

Volcanic rocks are distributed widely in China, which are important exploration targets. By analyzing many discovered volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs all over the world, the authors summarized the geologic characteristics of the formation of volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in China, and gave further exploration directions and advices. （1） There are mainly Carboniferous-Permian, Jurassic-Cretaceous, Paleogene-Neogene volcanic rocks in oil- and gas-bearing basins in China, which are mainly distributed in the Junggar Basin, Songliao Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, etc. There are mainly intermediate rocks and acidic rocks in east China, and intermediate rocks and basic rocks in west China. They primarily develop in intracontinentai rift settings and island arc environments. （2） Porefissure reservoirs are distributed widely in basins, which are volcanic rocks mainly in explosive and effusive facies. （3） Volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs are chiefly near-source lithostratigraphic hydrocarbon reservoirs, and the oil and gas accumulation is predominantly controlled by lithotypes, faults and structural positions. （4） Deep-seated oil and gas reservoirs in the Songliao Basin and Carboniferous volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Junggar Basin are potential giant volcanic gas provinces, the volcanic hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Bohai Bay Basin and Santanghu Basin are favorable for oil and gas reserves increase, and volcanic rocks in the Turpan Basin, Sichuan Basin, Tarim Basin have exploration potentiality. （5） The technology series of oil and gas exploration in volcanic rocks have been preliminarily formed.

Oil／Gas Accumulation Characteristics and Exploration Methods of the Deltaic Lithologic Reservoirs in Northern Shaanxi Area

There are large deltaic systems in the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the northern Shaanxi area of the Ordos Basin, and developed two sets of good source-reservoir-caprock assemblages and many sets of oil-bearing beds. Exploration experience demonstrates that the formation and distribution of the reservoir were controlled by the generative depression of the Yanchang Formation, and deltaic reservoir sand body is the material basis for large-scale oilfields. In addition, secondary laumontite in a low permeable area was dissolved and then a high permeable area was formed. The updip lithologic variety of reservoir sand bodies is favorable to the formation of subtle lithologic traps, and the deltaic reservoirs are characterized by large multi-beds of oil-generation and abundant hydrocarbon resources. In this paper, the petroleum geologic settings of the studied area are analyzed, and the accumulation characteristics and exploration methods of lithologic reservoirs are summarized. It is of theoretical significance for the study of the exploration theories of lithologic reservoirs, and also expedites the exploration steps of deltaic reservoirs in the northern Shaanxi area.

Geological conditions, reservoir evolution and favorable exploration directions of marine ultra-deep oil and gas in China

By analyzing the structural background,petroleum geological conditions,and typical regional(paleo) oil and gas reservoirs in marine ultra-deep oil and gas regions in China,this paper reveals the evolution processes of the marine ultra-deep oil and gas reservoirs and the key controlling factors of accumulation.The marine ultra-deep oil and gas resources in China are buried at depth of greater than 6000 m,and are mainly distributed in the Precambrian and Lower Paleozoic strata in the Sichuan,Tarim and Ordos cratonic basins.The development of marine ultra-deep source rocks in China is controlled by cratonic rifts and cratonic depressions with the background of global supercontinent breakup-convergence cycles.The source rocks in Sichuan Basin have the most developed strata,followed by Tarim Basin,and the development strata and scale of Ordos Basin needs to be further confirmed.The marine ultra-deep reservoir in China is dominated by carbonate rocks,and the reservoir performance is controlled by high-energy sedimentary environment in the early stage,superimposed corrosion and fracture in the later stage.The regional caprocks are dominated by gypsum salt rocks,shale,and tight carbonate rock.The ultra-deep oil and gas fields in China have generally experienced two stages of oil-reservoir forming,cracking(or partial cracking) of paleo-oil reservoirs,and late finalization of cracked gas(or highly mature to over mature oil and gas).The oil and gas accumulation is controlled by static and dynamic geological elements jointly.Major hydrocarbon generation center,high quality and large-scale reservoir resulted from karstification of high energy facies belt,thick gypsum rock or shale caprock,and stable trapping and preservation conditions are the key factors for accumulation of ultra-deep oil and gas.We propose three favorable exploration directions,i.e.the areas around intracratonic rift and intracratonic depression,and craton margin.

Research Advances and Exploration Significance of Large-area Accumulation of Low and Medium Abundance Lithologic Reservoirs

In recent years, a series of large low and medium abundance oil and gas fields are discovered through exploration activities onshore China, which are commonly characterized by low porosity-permeability reservoirs, low oil/gas column height, multiple thin hydrocarbon layers, and distribution in overlapping and connection, and so on. The advantageous conditions for large-area accumulation of low-medium abundance hydrocarbon reservoirs include： （1） large （fan） delta sandbodies are developed in the hinterland of large flow-uncontrolled lake basins and they are alternated with source rocks extensively in a structure like ＂sandwiches＂; （2） effective hydrocarbon source kitchens are extensively distributed, offering maximum contact chances with various sandbodies and hydrocarbon source rocks; （3） oil and gas columns are low in height, hydrocarbon layers are mainly of normal-low pressure, and requirements for seal rock are low; （4） reservoirs have strong inheterogeneity and gas reservoirs are badly connected; （5） the hydrocarbon desorption and expulsion under uplifting and unloading environments cause widely distributed hydrocarbon source rocks of coal measures to form large-area reservoirs; （6） deep basin areas and synclinal areas possess reservoir-forming dynamics. The areas with great exploration potential include the Paleozoic and Mesozoic in the Ordos Basin, the Xujiahe Formation in Dachuanzhong in the Sichuan basin, deep basin areas in the Songliao basin etc. The core techniques of improving exploration efficiency consist of the sweetspot prediction technique that focuses on fine characterization of reservoirs, the hydrocarbon layer protecting and high-speed drilling technique, and the rework technique for enhancing productivity.

Accumulation and exploration of petroleum reservoirs in west slope of northern Songliao Basin, China

On the basis of the present situation of oil and gas exploration and geological research of the west slope in the northern Songliao Basin, the factors controlling reservoir formation, oil and gas migration and accumulation, have been re-examined from the aspects of structure, deposition and reservoir formation. The results show that:(1) The west slope is a gentle slope which overlaps to the west, and nose structure is developed near the hydrocarbon generation depression, which is in the dominant direction area of hydrocarbon migration. A series of NE structural belts are developed on the slope and are favorable places for oil and gas accumulation.(2) The west slope can be further divided into the upper slope and the lower slope, and there are many kinds of oil and gas reservoirs, including structural, structural-lithologic and lithologic ones. In the upper slope, the major oil layer is Sartu controlled by structure;in the lower slope, multi-layers are oil-bearing, and the oil reservoirs are mostly composite ones.(3) Faults, unconformity surfaces and continuous sand bodies are the main channels of oil and gas migration;structure, sand body and fault jointly control the oil and gas enrichment in the slope;and the matching relationship between micro-amplitude and sand body, small fault and sand body control the oil and gas accumulation. On the basis of the above research, fine identification and effectiveness evaluation technology of composite trap has been developed through extensive study. Combination traps were identified by multiple technologies, including fault classification, micro-amplitude structure identification, fine sedimentation research, and lithologic trap identification by waveform indication inversion;and then the configuration relationship between fault and sand body, structural amplitude and sand body were analyzed to set up the evaluation criteria of effective traps. According to the criteria, the traps were selected to enhance the exploration success rate.

Formation of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic reservoirs in the offshore Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on the geological and geophysical data of Mesozoic oil-gas exploration in the sea area of Bohai Bay Basin and the discovered high-yield volcanic oil and gas wells since 2019,this paper methodically summarizes the formation conditions of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic oil and gas reservoirs in the Bohai Sea.Research shows that the Mesozoic large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices in the Bohai Sea are the material basis for the formation of large-scale volcanic reservoirs.The upper subfacies of effusive facies and cryptoexplosive breccia subfacies of volcanic conduit facies of volcanic vent-proximal facies belts are favorable for large-scale volcanic reservoir formation.Two types of efficient reservoirs,characterized by high porosity and medium to low permeability,as well as medium porosity and medium to low permeability,are the core of the formation of large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.The reservoir with high porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intermediate-felsic vesicular lava or the cryptoexplosive breccia superimposed by intensive dissolution.The reservoir with medium porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intense tectonism superimposed by fluid dissolution.Weathering and tectonic transformation are main formation mechanisms for large and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs in the study area.The low-source“source-reservoir draping type”is the optimum source-reservoir configuration relationship for large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.There exists favorable volcanic facies,efficient reservoirs and source-reservoir draping configuration relationship on the periphery of Bozhong Sag,and the large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices close to strike-slip faults and their branch faults are the main directions of future exploration.

Electrical structure identification of deep shale gas reservoir in complex structural area using wide field electromagnetic method

To fully exploit the technical advantages of the large-depth and high-precision artificial source electromagnetic method in the complex structure area of southern Sichuan and compensate for the shortcomings of the conventional electromagnetic method in exploration depth,precision,and accuracy,the large-depth and high-precision wide field electromagnetic method is applied to the complex structure test area of the Luochang syncline and Yuhe nose anticline in the southern Sichuan.The advantages of the wide field electromagnetic method in detecting deep,low-resistivity thin layers are demonstrated.First,on the basis of the analysis of physical property data,a geological–geoelectric model is established in the test area,and the wide field electromagnetic method is numerically simulated to analyze and evaluate the response characteristics of deep thin shale gas layers on wide field electromagnetic curves.Second,a wide field electromagnetic test is conducted in the complex structure area of southern Sichuan.After data processing and inversion imaging,apparent resistivity logging data are used for calibration to develop an apparent resistivity interpretation model suitable for the test area.On the basis of the results,the characteristics of the electrical structure change in the shallow longitudinal formation of 6 km are implemented,and the transverse electrical distribution characteristics of the deep shale gas layer are delineated.In the prediction area near the well,the subsequent data verification shows that the apparent resistivity obtained using the inversion of the wide field electromagnetic method is consistent with the trend of apparent resistivity revealed by logging,which proves that this method can effectively identify the weak response characteristics of deep shale gas formations in complex structural areas.This experiment,it is shown shows that the wide field electromagnetic method with a large depth and high precision can effectively characterize the electrical characteristics of deep,low-resistivity thin layers in complex structural areas,and a new set of low-cost evaluation technologies for shale gas target layers based on the wide field electromagnetic method is explored.

Geological characteristics of unconventional tight oil reservoir (10^(9) t): A case study of Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, northern Songliao Basin, NE China

The Daqing exploration area in the northern Songliao Basin has great potential for unconventional oil and gas resources,among which the total resources of tight oil alone exceed 109 t and is regarded as an important resource base of Daqing oilfield.After years of exploration in the Qijia area,Songliao Basin,NE China,tight oil has been found in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation.To work out tight oil’s geological characteristics,taking tight oil in Gaotaizi oil layers of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin as an example,this paper systematically analyzed the geological characteristics of unconventional tight oil in Gao3 and Gao4 layers of the Qijia area,based on the data of the geological survey,well drilling journey,well logging,and test.It is that three sets of hydrocarbon source rocks(K2qn1,K2qn2+3,and K2n1)develop in the examined area,and exhibit excellent type I and II kerogens,high organic matter abundance,and moderate maturity.The reservoir is generally composed of thin-bedded mudstone,siltstone,and sandstone,and presents poor porosity(average 8.5 vol.%)and air permeability(average 4 mD).The main reservoir space primarily includes intergranular pores,secondary soluble pores,and intergranular soluble pores.Three types of orifice throats were identified,namely fine throat,extra-fine throat,and micro-fine throat.The siltstone is generally oil-bearing,the reservoirs with slime and calcium become worse oil-bearing,and the mudstone has no obvious oil-bearing characteristics.The brittleness indices of the sandstone in the tight oil reservoir range from 40%to 60%,and those of the mudstone range from 40%to 45%,indicating a better brittleness of the tight oil reservoir.Based on the study of typical core hole data,this paper gives a comprehensive evaluation of the properties of the tight oil and establishes a tight oil single well composite bar chart as well as the initial evaluation system with the core of properties in the tight oil reservoir.This study has theoretical guiding significance and practical application value for tight oil exploration and evaluation in the Qijia area.

Formation Conditions and Exploration-favoring Areas of Subtle Reservoirs in West Taibei Sag

At the initial stage of subtle reservoir exploration in the shallow to medium formations of the Taibei Sag, Tuha Basin, so far, three kinds of subtle reservoirs (stratigraphic, lithologic and structural-lithologic reservoirs) have been found. Since both the amount and reserve of the discovered subtle reservoirs are small, a great exploration potential remains in the Taibei Sag. The shallow to medium formations in the west of the Taibei Sag were divided into three second-order sequences and ten third-order sequences, of which the rising cyclothems of SQ(J2q) and SQ8 (J2s2) datum level are major exploration targets for the subtle reservoirs (lithologic). The depositional systems of Qiquanhu and Subashi braided river delta were developed there, where the sedimentary sand body is dominated by the regional slopes and slope break belts. There are four main modes the formation of lithologic traps: deltaic front onlap on the slope belt, deltaic front toplap on the slope break belt, lately tilted frontal sand body and sublacustrine fan—slope fan on the slope break belt, of which the first three modes are the major styles of the formation of subtle reservoirs. Major targets for subtle reservoir exploration in the near future include Putaogou Member on the north slope of Huoyanshan, the east slope of Pubei, the nose-like palaeohigh regions of Huobei, Subashi and Lianmuqin, around the Shengbei secondary sag.

Geological reservoir and resource potential(10^(13)m^(3))of gas hydrates in the South China Sea

A detailed understanding of the distribution and potential of natural gas hydrate(NGHs)resources is crucial to fostering the industrialization of those resources in the South China Sea,where NGHs are abundant.In this study,this study analyzed the applicability of resource evaluation methods,including the volumetric,genesis,and analogy methods,and estimated NGHs resource potential in the South China Sea by using scientific resource evaluation methods based on the factors controlling the geological accumulation and the reservoir characteristics of NGHs.Furthermore,this study compared the evaluation results of NGHs resource evaluations in representative worldwise sea areas via rational analysis.The results of this study are as follows:(1)The gas hydrate accumulation in the South China Sea is characterized by multiple sources of gas supply,multi-channel migration,and extensive accumulation,which are significantly different from those of oil and gas and other unconventional resources.(2)The evaluation of gas hydrate resources in the South China Sea is a highly targeted,stratified,and multidisciplinary evaluation of geological resources under the framework of a multi-type gas hydrate resource evaluation system and focuses on the comprehensive utilization of multi-source heterogeneous data.(3)Global NGHs resources is n×10^(15)m^(3),while the NGHs resources in the South China Sea are estimated to be 10^(13)m^(3),which is comparable to the abundance of typical marine NGHs deposits in other parts of the world.In the South China Sea,the NGHs resources have a broad prospect and provide a substantial resource base for production tests and industrialization of NGHs.

Reservoir characteristics of the first member of Middle Permian Maokou Formation in Sichuan Basin and its periphery and inspirations to petroleum exploration,SW China

Based on a large number of field outcrops and cores taken systematically from boreholes,by microscopic observa-tion,physical property analysis,mineralogy analysis,geochemical analysis etc.,reservoir characteristics of the first member of Middle Permian Maokou Formation in Sichuan Basin("Mao 1 Me mber"for short)are analyzed.(1)Rhythmic limestone-marl reservoirs of this member mostly exist in marl layers are a set of tight carbonate fracture-pore type reservoir with low porosity and low permeability,with multiple types of storage space,mainly secondary dissolution pores and fissures of clay minerals.(2)The clay minerals are mainly diagenetic clay minerals,such as sepiolite,talc and their intermediate products,aliettite,with hardly terrigenous clay minerals,and the reservoir in different regions have significant differences in the types of clay minerals.(3)The formation of high quality tight carbonate reservoir with limestone-marl interbeds is related to the differential diagene-sis in the early seawater burial stage and the exposure karstification in the early diagenetic stage.It is inferred through th e study that the inner ramp of southwestern Sichuan Basin is more likely to have sweet spots with high production,while the outer ramp in eastern Sichuan Basin is more likely to have large scale contiguous reservoir with low production.

Theoretical Progress and Key Technologies of Onshore Ultra-Deep Oil/Gas Exploration

Oil/gas exploration around the world has extended into deep and ultra-deep strata because it is increasingly difficult to find new large-scale oil/gas reservoirs in shallow–middle buried strata. In recent years, China has made remarkable achievements in oil/gas exploration in ultra-deep areas including carbonate and clastic reservoirs. Some (ultra) large-scale oil and gas fields have been discovered. The oil/gas accumulation mechanisms and key technologies of oil/gas reservoir exploration and development are summarized in this study in order to share China’s experiences. Ultra-deep oil/gas originates from numerous sources of hydrocarbons and multiphase charging. Liquid hydrocarbons can form in ultradeep layers due to low geothermal gradients or overpressures, and the natural gas composition in ultra-deep areas is complicated by the reactions between deep hydrocarbons, water, and rock or by the addition of mantle- or crust-sourced gases. These oils/gases are mainly stored in the original highenergy reef/shoal complexes or in sand body sediments. They usually have high original porosity. Secondary pores are often developed by dissolution, dolomitization, and fracturing in the late stage. The early pores have been preserved by retentive diageneses such as the early charging of hydrocarbons. Oil/gas accumulation in ultra-deep areas generally has the characteristics of near-source accumulation and sustained preservation. The effective exploration and development of ultra-deep oil/gas reservoirs depend on the support of key technologies. Use of the latest technologies such as seismic signal acquisition and processing, low porosity and permeability zone prediction, and gas–water identification has enabled the discovery of ultra-deep oil/gas resources. In addition, advanced technologies for drilling, completion, and oil/gas testing have ensured the effective development of these fields.

Distribution characteristics, exploration and development, geological theories research progress and exploration directions of shale gas in China

The shale gas resources in China have great potential and the geological resources of shale gas is over 100×10^(12)m^(3),which includes about 20×10^(12)m^(3) of recoverable resources.Organic-rich shales can be divided into three types according to their sedimentary environments,namely marine,marine-continental transitional,and continental shales,which are distributed in 13 stratigraphic systems from the Mesoproterozoic to the Cenozoic.The Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have the highest geological resources of shale gas,and the commercial development of shale gas has been achieved in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in these areas,with a shale gas production of up to 20×10^(9)m^(3) in 2020.China has seen rapid shale gas exploration and development over the last five years,successively achieving breakthroughs and important findings in many areas and strata.The details are as follows.(1)Large-scale development of middle-shallow shale gas(burial depth:less than 3500 m)has been realized,with the productivity having rapidly increased;(2)breakthroughs have been constantly made in the development of deep shale gas(burial depth:3500-4500 m),and the ultradeep shale gas(burial depth:greater than 4500 m)is under testing;(3)breakthroughs have been made in the development of normal-pressure shale gas,and the assessment of the shale gas in complex tectonic areas is being accelerated;(4)shale gas has been frequently discovered in new areas and new strata,exhibiting a great prospect.Based on the exploration and development practice,three aspects of consensus have been gradually reached on the research progress in the geological theories of shale gas achieved in China.(1)in terms of deep-water fine-grained sediments,organic-rich shales are the base for the formation of shale gas;(2)in terms of high-quality reservoirs,the development of micro-nano organic matter-hosted pores serves as the core of shale gas accumulation;(3)in terms of preservation conditions,weak structural transformation,a moderate degree of thermal evolution,and a high pressure coefficient are the key to shale gas enrichment.As a type of important low-carbon fossil energy,shale gas will play an increasingly important role in achieving the strategic goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality.Based on the in-depth study of shale gas geological conditions and current exploration progress,three important directions for shale gas exploration in China in the next five years are put forward.

Application and development trend of artificial intelligence in petroleum exploration and development

Aiming at the actual demands of petroleum exploration and development,this paper describes the research progress and application of artificial intelligence(AI)in petroleum exploration and development,and discusses the applications and development directions of AI in the future.Machine learning has been preliminarily applied in lithology identification,logging curve reconstruction,reservoir parameter estimation,and other logging processing and interpretation,exhibiting great potential.Computer vision is effective in picking of seismic first breaks,fault identification,and other seismic processing and interpretation.Deep learning and optimization technology have been applied to reservoir engineering,and realized the real-time optimization of waterflooding development and prediction of oil and gas production.The application of data mining in drilling,completion,and surface facility engineering etc.has resulted in intelligent equipment and integrated software.The potential development directions of artificial intelligence in petroleum exploration and development are intelligent production equipment,automatic processing and interpretation,and professional software platform.The highlights of development will be digital basins,fast intelligent imaging logging tools,intelligent seismic nodal acquisition systems,intelligent rotary-steering drilling,intelligent fracturing technology and equipment,real-time monitoring and control of zonal injection and production.

Enrichment characteristics and exploration directions of deep shale gas of Ordovician-Silurian in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas,China

The enrichment characteristics of deep shale gas in the Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi formations in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas are investigated through experiments under high temperature and high pressure,including petrophysical properties analyses,triaxial stress test and isothermal adsorption of methane experiment.(1)The deep shale reservoirs drop significantly in porosity and permeability compared with shallower shale reservoirs,and contain mainly free gas.(2)With higher deviatoric stress and axial strain,the deep shale reservoirs have higher difficulty fracturing.(3)Affected by structural location and morphology,fracture characteristics,geofluid activity stages and intensity,deep shale gas reservoirs have more complicated preservation conditions.(4)To achieve the commercial development of deep shale gas reservoirs,deepening geological understanding is the basis,and exploring reservoir simulation technology befitting the geological features is the key.(5)The siliceous shale and limestone-bearing siliceous shale in the Metabolograptus persculptus-Parakidograptus acuminatus zones(LM1-LM3 graptolite zones)are the high-production intervals for deep shale gas and the most favorable landing targets for horizontal drilling.Deeps water areas such as Jiaoshiba,Wulong,Luzhou and Changning with deep shale reservoirs over 10 m thickness are the most favorable areas for deep shale gas enrichment.It is recommended to carry out exploration and development practice in deep-water shale gas areas deposited deep with burial depth no more than 5000 m where the geological structure is simple and the shale thickness in the LM1-LM3 graptolite zone is greater than 10 m.It is better to increase the lateral length of horizontal wells,and apply techniques including high intensity of perforations,large volume of proppant,far-field and near-wellbore diversions to maximize the stimulated deep reservoir volume.

Geological characteristics and co-exploration and co-production methods of Upper Permian Longtan coal measure gas in Yangmeishu Syncline, Western Guizhou Province, China

Coal measure gas(also known as coal-bearing unconventional gas)is the key field and development direction of unconventional natural gas in recent years.The exploration and evaluation of coal measure gas(coalbed methane,coal shale gas and coal measure tight sandstone gas)from single coalbed methane has greatly expanded the field and space of resource evaluation,which is of positive significance for realizing the comprehensive utilization of coal resources,maximizing the benefits and promoting the innovation of oil and gas geological theory and technological advances in exploration and development.For the first time,in Yangmeishu Syncline of Western Guizhou Province,the public welfare coalbed methane geological survey project of China Geological Survey has been carried out a systematic geological survey of coal measure gas for the Upper Permian Longtan Formation,identified the geological conditions of coal measure gas and found high quality resources.The total geological resource quantity of coalbed methane and coal shale gas is 51.423×109 m3 and the geological resource abundance is up to 566×106 m3/km2.In this area,the coal measures are characterized by many layers of minable coal seams,large total thickness,thin to the medium thickness of the single layer,good gas-bearing property of coal seams and coal measure mudstone and sandstone,good reservoir physical property and high-pressure coefficient.According to the principle of combination of high quality and similarity of key parameters of the coal reservoir,the most favorable intervals are No.5-2,No.7 and No.13-2 coal seam in Well YMC1.And the pilot tests are carried out on coal seams and roof silty mudstone,such as staged perforation,increasing hydraulic fracturing scale and"three gas"production.The high and stable industrial gas flow with a daily gas output of more than 4000 m3 has been obtained,which has realized the breakthrough in the geological survey of coal measure gas in Southwest China.Based on the above investigation results,the geological characteristics of coal measure gas in the multi-thin-coal-seam-developed area and the coexploration and co-production methods,such as the optimization method of favorable intervals,the highefficiency fracturing and reservoir reconstruction method of coal measures,and the"three gas"drainage and production system,are systematically summarized in this paper.It will provide a reference for efficient exploration and development of coal measure gas in similar geological conditions in China.