Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 491-503.doi: 10.11743/ogg20190305

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

“Chemo-sedimentary facies” analysis: An effective method to study fine-grained sedimentary rocks

Liu Keyu1,2, Liu Chang3   

  1. 1. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum(East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China;
    2. Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China;
    3. Oil and Gas Survey, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2018-12-19 Revised:2019-03-06 Online:2019-06-28 Published:2019-04-26

Abstract: Fine-grained sedimentary rocks,a key rock type bearing shale oil and gas,are characterized by fine grain size,colour uniformity and strong heterogeneity.Traditional sedimentological study based on visual observation and optical images alone becomes inadequate to precisely characterize such fine-grained rocks.Therefore,a "chemo-sedimentary facies" model for analyzing fine core-scale samples is established based on the high-resolution(down to 30 μm measurement intervals) 2D inorganic geochemical element mapping of rock slabs obtained by in-situ XRF scanning and optical images.Through the model,it is possible to unambiguously recognize the rock compositions and sedimentary fabrics.And then certain environment-sensitive elemental parameters(ratios) can be calculated in situ from individual chemo-sedimentary facies at millimeter-centimeter scales for the effective interpretation of depositional environment and provenance of fine-grained sediments,as well as their origin.Meanwhile,the method also avoids information interference in the conventional bulk compositional analyses whereby homogenized sample powders are often used.In conclusion,the method can help to establish more fine-scale sedimentary facies models and to provide reliable data for the exploration and development of tight and shale oil & gas.

Key words: 2D-XRF scanning, nonorganic geochemical element, chemo-sedimentary facies, fine-grained sedimentary rock, depositional environment, shale oil, shale gas, Lucaogou Formation, Jimusaer sag

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