Geological difference and its significance of marine shale gases in South China

Abstract Organic-rich marine shales are developed in both the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation and the Ordovician Wufeng Formation–Silurian Longmaxi Formation in South China, but are different in the drilling results of shale gas exploration. Comparing the differences in shale gas formation conditions between Qiongzhusi and Wufeng-Longmaxi has practical and theoretical significance. This study reveals: (1) in the Sichuan Basin, the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation has slightly higher TOC than the Qiongzhusi Formation, whereas Qiongzhusi Formation has some local high TOC areas outside of the Sichuan Basin; (2) the Qiongzhusi Formation has much higher thermal evolution degree than the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation; (3) with undeveloped organic pores, the Qiongzhusi Formation has a 1/3 to 1/2 porosity of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation; (4) Qiongzhusi shale has a lower gas content, only 1/2 of that in Wufeng-Longmaxi shale; (5) the Qiongzhusi Formation is mainly composed of siliceous shale and the silica is hot water origin, whereas the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation consists mainly of calcareous siliceous shale and the silica is biogenic origin; (6) the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation has overpressure, while the Qiongzhusi Formation is normal in pressure. The reasons for the differences are: (1) different sedimentary environments affect TOC and shale thickness; (2) the Qiongzhusi Formation is over-mature, which caused depletion of hydrocarbon generation, organic carbonization, porosity reduction, and gas content drop; (3) the bad roof and floor conditions of the Qiongzhusi Formation are not good for shale gas preservation; (4) Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation is located in the slope and syncline accompanied with overpressure, and is in favor of preservation and high production of shale gas; (5) the uranium content in the Qiongzhusi Formation is twice that of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, which is the main reason of its higher thermal evolution degree. It is concluded that shale gas enrichment in the marine shale in South China requires favorable geological conditions: organic-rich intervals, moderate thermal evolution, rich organic pores, high gas content, good roof and floor preservation conditions, and moderate burial depth. The Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation has better shale gas enrichment conditions and higher resource potential, whereas the Qiongzhusi Formation has poorer shale gas accumulation conditions and limited favorable areas.