Types and microstructures of pores in shales of the Ordovician Wulalike Formation at the western margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Shale samples from the Ordovician Wulalike Formation at the western margin of the Ordos Basin are studied to define the types, microstructures and connectivity of pores as well as the relationships between the pore structures and gas content of the samples by using experimental techniques such as high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), CO_(2) adsorption, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). The results show that the shale has 10 different lithofacies, typical mixed sedimentary characteristics, and poorly developed pores. The reservoir space mainly consists of intercrystalline pores, dissolution pores, intergranular pores, and micro-fissures, with organic pores occasionally visible. The pore size is mostly within 0.4–250 nm range but dominated by micropores and mesopores less than 20 nm, with pore numbers peaking at pore sizes of 0.5 nm, 0.6 nm, 0.82 nm, 3 nm, and 10 nm, respectively. The pores are poorly connected and macropores are rarely seen, which may explain the low porosity and low permeability of the samples. Samples with high content of organic matter and felsic minerals are potential reservoirs for oil and gas with their favorable physical properties and high connectivity. The pores less than 5 nm contribute significantly to the specific surface area and serve as important storage space for adsorbed gas.

Factors Influencing Fracture Propagation in Collaborative Fracturing ofMultiple HorizontalWells

Horizontal well-stimulation is the key to unconventional resource exploration and development.The development mode of the well plant helps increase the stimulated reservoir volume.Nevertheless,fracture interference between wells reduces the fracturing effect.Here,a 2D hydro-mechanical coupling model describing hydraulic fracture(HF)propagation is established with the extended finite element method,and the effects of several factors on HF propagation during multiple wells fracturing are analyzed.The results show that with an increase in elastic modulus,horizontal principal stress difference and injection fluid displacement,the total fracture area and the reservoir stimulation efficiency are both improved in all three fracturing technologies.After a comparison of the three technologies,the method of improved zipper fracturing is proposed,which avoids mutual interference between HFs,and the reservoir stimulation effect is improved significantly.The study provides guidance for optimizing the fracturing technology of multiple horizontal wells.

Evidence of the Near-Source Accumulation of the Tight Sandstone Gas in Northern Ordos Basin,North-Central China

The tight sandstone gas in Upper Paleozoic Formation of the northern Ordos Basin is a typical giant unconventional tight gas province. Evidences from geochemistry, reservoir geology and paleotectonic setting all verify that the present-day tight sandstone gas accumulation in the Ordos Basin is the result of near-source accumulation. The evidences are listed as following： tight sandstone gas is mainly distributed in the area with high gas-generating strength; gas composition was not subjected tofractionation; gas saturation significantly decreases with the distance away from the source rocks; gas isotopes suggest their origin is the same and maturity is consistent with in-place source rocks; reservoirs have experienced three types of densification digenesis, including intense compaction, siliceous cementation and calcareous cementation, which took place before the formation of a large amount of tight sandstone gas, forming tight reservoirs with low porosity and permeability, fine pore throat and great capillary resistance; the paleo-structural gradient ratio is small from the main hydrocarbon generation period to present. It is indicated the present distribution of tight sandstone gas in the northern Ordos Basin is the result of near-source and short-distance migration and accumulation.

Simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China: Mechanism and its field test

Based on the impact of the stress perturbation effect created by simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in the process of simultaneous hydraulic fracturing, a thorough research on the mechanism and adaptation of simultaneous fracturing of double horizontal wells in ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs was conducted by taking two adjacent horizontal wells(well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 located in Longdong area of China Changqing Oilfield) as field test wells. And simultaneous fracturing optimal design of two adjacent horizontal wells was finished and employed in field test. Micro-seismic monitoring analysis of fracture propagation during the stimulation treatment shows that hydraulic fractures present a pattern of complicated network expansion, and the well test data after fracturing show that the daily production of well Yangping-1 and well Yangping-2 reach105.8 t/d and 87.6 t/d, which are approximately 9.4 times and 7.8 times the daily production of a fractured vertical well in the same area, respectively. Field test reflects that simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells can enlarge the expansion area of hydraulic fractures to obtain a lager drainage area and realize the full stimulation of ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield. Therefore, simultaneous fracturing of two adjacent horizontal wells provides a good opportunity in stimulation techniques for the efficient development of ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China Changqing oilfield,and it has great popularization value and can provide a new avenue for the application of stimulation techniques in ultra-low permeability reservoirs in China.

Origin and depositional model of deep-water lacustrine sandstone deposits in the 7th and 6th members of the Yanchang Formation(Late Triassic),Binchang area,Ordos Basin,China

Sandstones attributed to different lacustrine sediment gravity flows are present in the 7th and 6th members of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, China. These differences in their origins led to different sandstone distributions which control the scale and connectivity of oil and gas reservoirs. Numerous cores and outcrops were analysed to understand the origins of these sandstones. The main origin of these sandstones was analysed by statistical methods, and well logging data were used to study their vertical and horizontal distributions. Results show that the sandstones in the study area accu- mulated via sandy debris flows, turbidity currents and slumping, and sandy debris flows predominate. The sand- stone associated with a single event is characteristically small in scale and exhibits poor lateral continuity. How- ever, as a result of multiple events that stacked gravity flow-related sandstones atop one another, sandstones are extensive overall, as illustrated in the cross section and isopach maps. Finally, a depositional model was developed in which sandy debris flows predominated and various other types of small-scale gravity flows occurred frequently, resulting in extensive deposition of sand bodies across a large area.

Vertical structure and dominating factors of sand body during Late Triassic Chang 9 time of Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin, NW China

Based on a synthetic geological study of drilling, well logging and core observations, two main genetic types of Chang 9sand body in Odors Basin were recognized, which included two effects, that is, delta environment and tractive current effects that lead to the development of mouth bar, distal bar, sheet sand and other sand bodies of subaerial and subaqueous distributary channel,natural levee, flood fan and delta front, and shore-shallow lake environment and lake flow transformation effects that result in the development of sandy beach bar, sheet sand and other sand bodies. Chang 9 sand body mainly developed five basic vertical structures, namely box shape, campaniform, infundibuliform, finger and dentoid. The vertical stacking patterns of multilayer sand body was complex, and the common shapes included box shape + box shape, campaniform + campaniform, campaniform + box shape, infundibuliform + infundibuliform, campaniform + infundibuliform, box shape + campaniform, box shape + infundibuliform,and finger + finger. Based on the analysis on major dominating factors of vertical structure of sand body, sedimentary environment,sedimentary facies and rise, fall and cycle of base level are identified as the major geological factors that control the vertical structure of single sand body as well as vertical stacking patterns and distribution of multistory sand bodies.

Pore throat structure heterogeneity and its effect on gas-phase seepage capacity in tight sandstone reservoirs:A case study from the Triassic Yanchang Formation,Ordos Basin

The microscopic heterogeneity of pore-throat structures in tight sandstone is a crucial parameter for understanding the transport mechanism of fluid flow.In this work,we firstly developed the new procedure to characterize the pore size distribution(PSD)and throat size distribution(TSD)by combining the nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),cast thin section(CTS),and constant-rate mercury injection(CRMI)tests,and used the permeability estimated model to verify the full-scale PSD and TSD.Then,we respectively analyzed the fractal feature of the pore and throat,and characterized the heterogeneity of pores and throats.Finally,we elaborated the effect of the pore and throat heterogeneity on the gas-phase seepage capacity base on the analysis of the simple capillary tube model and gas-flooding experiment.The results showed that(1)The PSD and TSD of the tight sandstone sample ranged from 0.01 to 10 mm and from 0.1 to 57 mm,respectively,mainly contributed by the micropores and mesopores.Meanwhile,the permeability estimated by the PSD and TSD was consistent with the experimental permeability,and relative error was lower than 8%.(2)The PSD and TSD exhibited multifractal characteristics,and singularity strength range,Δα,could be used as the indicator for characterizing the heterogeneity of pore and throat.Furthermore,the throat of the sample showed stronger heterogeneity than that the pore.(3)The throats played an important role for the fluid transport in the tight sandstone,and the effect of the throat heterogeneity on the gas-phase seepage capacity was different under the lower and higher injection pressure.The macropores and micropores maybe respectively become the preferential migration pathways at the lower and higher injection pressure.In the end,the identification plate was established in our paper,and could be described the relationship among the throat heterogeneity,injection pressure,permeability and flow path of the gas phase in the tight sandstone.

Clastic compaction unit classification based on clay content and integrated compaction recovery using well and seismic data

Compaction correction is a key part of paleogeomorphic recovery methods. Yet, the influence of lithology on the porosity evolution is not usually taken into account. Present methods merely classify the lithologies as sandstone and mudstone to undertake separate porositydepth compaction modeling. However, using just two lithologies is an oversimplification that cannot represent the compaction history. In such schemes, the precision of the compaction recovery is inadequate. To improve the precision of compaction recovery, a depth compaction model has been proposed that involves both porosity and clay content. A clastic lithological compaction unit classification method, based on clay content, has been designed to identify lithological boundaries and establish sets of compaction units. Also, on the basis of the clastic compaction unit classification, two methods of compaction recovery that integrate well and seismic data are employed to extrapolate well-based compaction information outward along seismic lines and recover the paleo-topography of the clastic strata in the region. The examples presented here show that a better understanding of paleo-geomorphology can be gained by applying the proposed compaction recovery technology.

Chemical Characteristics of Cr-spinel of Chromites in Kuda Ophiolite of Western Kunlun and Its Geological Implications

The Kuda ophiolite belongs to the early Paleozoic ophiolite belt in Western Kunlun Mountains and is composed of metamorphic peridotites,cumulate peridotites,mafic volcanic rocks and quartzites(Li et al.,

The Ocean Redox State Evolution and Its Controls during the Cambrian Series 1–2: Evidence from Lijiatuo Section, South China

Well-exposed Lijiatuo Section was chosen to explore the temporal evolution and controls of the oceanic redox state, primary productivity and seawater sulfate levels during the Cambrian Series 1-2, South China. This section consists of Xiaoyanxi Formation（Fm.） mudstones and Liuchapo Fm. cherts that deposited in the slope and basin environment. Five oxic-anoxic cycles were identified based on V/Sc, Th/U and the enrichment factors of Mo, U, V, Ni and Cu. The Middle-Upper Liuchapo Fm. and the Middle Xiaoyanxi Fm. were deposited under oxic-suboxic conditions, and the rest of the strata were under anoxic conditions. The Re/Mo ratio demonstrated that the oxic-suboxic conditions in the Middle Xiaoyanxi Fm. were accompanied by transient sulfidic conditions, and the rest of the section was underanoxic and non-sulfidic conditions. All the TOC and the enrichment factors of Ba, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd demonstrated that both the sinking and burial flux of organic matter（OM） in Liuchapo Fm. were lower than that in the overlying Xiaoyanxi Fm. The highest sinking and burial flux of OM in the Xiaoyanxi Fm. appeared at its lower parts; however, the lowest sinking and burial flux of OM in the Xiaoyanxi Fm. appeared in its middle parts. TOC/TS, TS and the vertical trend of δ^（34）S_（py） demonstrated that the seawater was dominated by low oceanic sulfate levels, which resulted in the absence of free H_2S. The rise of the atmospheric oxygen content may be the principal driver for the associated, transient suboxic-oxic and nearly sulfidic environment in the middle Xiaoyanxi Fm.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb age and geological implications of tuff at the bottom of Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin

A table tuff interlayer at the bottom of Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation,the Ordos Basin,may serve as an indicator for stratigraphic division and correlation.In this study,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating was performed on the tuff at the bottom of Chang-7 Member using samples from wells Luo-36 and Zhuang-211 in the southwest of the basin,which yielded weighted average 206Pb/238U ages of 241.3±2.4 and 239.7±1.7 Ma,respectively.The cathodoluminescence images and the U/Th element ratio of tuff indicate that the zircons are magmatogenic and their ages represent that of the sedimentation age of the tuff at the bottom of Chang-7,which is 239.7–241.3 Ma in age.This finding confirms presence of the Middle Triassic strata at the bottom of Yanchang Formation.Taking previous findings into account,we suggest restricing the Late Triassic Yanchang Formation sensu stricto to the interval from Chang-7 to Chang-1 and assigning the interval from Chang-10 to Chang-8 as the Tongchuan Formation.The tuff at the bottom of the Chang-7 Member of Yanchang Formation represents the sedimentary response to the Qinling orogenic event in the early Indosinian.This tectonic event resulted in major changes in paleogeomorphology and the sedimentary environment of the lake basin during deposition of the Yanchang Formation.During this period,extremely favourable conditions were present for subsequent hydrocarbon generation and pooling of lake basin.

Sulige Gas Field super project

Owner:Petro China Changqing Oilfield Company Design unit:Petro China Changqing Oilfield Company Construction unit:Petro China Changqing Oilfield Company,CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited,CNPC Greatwall Drilling Company。