Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2013, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4): 463-470.doi: 10.11743/ogg20130406

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Characteristics and patterns of shale gas accumulation in typical North American cratonic basins and their enlightenments

Yang Zhenheng1, Han Zhiyan1, Li Zhiming1, Nie Haikuan2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214151;
    2. Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083
  • Received:2013-01-20 Revised:2013-07-08 Online:2013-08-28 Published:2013-08-27

Abstract: Michigan Basin,Delaware Basin and Illinois Basin are the typical cratonic basins with shale gas plays in North America.This paper analyzed shale gas reservoir lithology,organic matter type,hydrocarbon generation,burial depth,thermal maturity,adsorbed gas content and the role of fracture in shale gas accumulation.We summarized two shale gas accumulation patterns:the Antrim shale gas accumulation pattern in Michigan Basin (A-pattern) and the Barnett shale gas accumulation pattern in Delaware Basin (B-pattern).The primary features of A-pattern is that,from the shallow periphery to the deep basin,biogenic gas,mixed gas and thermogenic gas occcur in sequence.The main characteristics of B-pattern are that the shale gas is of thermogenic origin and is indigenously generated and accumulated,Shale gas of different genetic types occur in areas with different thermal maturities.We suggested that the Barnett shale gas accumulation pattern(B-pattern)of Delaware Basin is of greater significance for shale gas exploration in China,and Antrim shale gas accumulation pattern in Michigan Basin (A-pattern) also cannot be ignored for shale gas exploration.

Key words: accumulation pattern, thermogenic gas, biogenic gas, shale gas, cratonic basin

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