Gulong shale oil enrichment mechanism and orderly distribution of conventional–unconventional oils in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation,Songliao Basin,NE China

Through the study of organic matter enrichment,hydrocarbon generation and accumulation process of black shale of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin,the enrichment mechanism of Gulong shale oil and the distribution of conventional–unconventional oil are revealed.The Songliao Basin is a huge interior lake basin formed in the Early Cretaceous under the control of the subduction and retreat of the western Pacific plate and the massive horizontal displacement of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Northeast China.During the deposition of the Qingshankou Formation,strong terrestrial hydrological cycle led to the lake level rise of the ancient Songliao Basin and the input of a large amount of nutrients,resulting in planktonic bacteria and algae flourish.Intermittent seawater intrusion events promoted the formation of salinization stratification and anoxic environment in the lake,which were beneficial to the enrichment of organic matters.Biomarkers analysis confirms that the biogenic organic matter of planktonic bacteria and algae modified by microorganisms plays an important role in the formation of high-quality source rocks with high oil generation capability.There are four favorable conditions for the enrichment of light shale oil in the Qingshankou Formation of the Gulong Sag,Songliao Basin:the moderate organic matter abundance and high oil potential provide sufficient material basis for oil enrichment;high degree of thermal evolution makes shale oil have high GOR and good mobility;low hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency leads to a high content of retained hydrocarbons in the source rock;and the confinement effect of intra-layer cement in the high maturity stage induces the efficient accumulation of light shale oil.The restoration of hydrocarbon accumulation process suggests that liquid hydrocarbons generated in the early(low–medium maturity)stage of the Qingshankou Formation source rocks accumulated in placanticline and slope after long-distance secondary migration,forming high-quality conventional and tight oil reservoirs.Light oil generated in the late(medium–high maturity)stage accumulated in situ,forming about 15 billion tons of Gulong shale oil resources,which finally enabled the orderly distribution of conventional–unconventional oils that are contiguous horizontally and superposed vertically within the basin,showing a complete pattern of“whole petroleum system”with conventional oil,tight oil and shale oil in sequence.

Key factors controlling shale oil enrichment in saline lacustrine rift basin:implications from two shale oil wells in Dongpu Depression,Bohai Bay Basin

Comparative analyses of petroleum generation potential,reservoir volume,frackability,and oil mobility were conducted on 102 shale cores from the Dongpu Depression.Results show the shale has high organic matter contents composed of oil-prone type I and type II kerogens within the oil window.Various types of pores and fractures exist in the shale,with a porosity of up to 14.9%.The shale has high brittle mineral contents,extensive fractures,and high potential for oil mobility due to high seepage capacity and overpressure.Although the petroleum generation potential of the shale at Well PS18-8 is relatively greater than that at Well PS18-1,oil content of the latter is greater due to the greater TOC.The porosity and fracture density observed in Well PS18-1 are greater and more conducive to shale oil enrichment.Although the shales in Wells PS18-1 and PS18-8 have similar brittle mineral contents,the former is more favorable for anthropogenic fracturing due to a higher preexisting fracture density.Besides,the shale at Well PS18-1 has a higher seepage capacity and overpressure and therefore a higher oil mobility.The fracture density and overpressure play key roles in shale oil enrichment.