Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 47-61.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250104

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Accumulation conditions and exploration potential of coal-rock gas (CRG) in the Cretaceous Shahezi Formation, northern Songliao Basin

Xuefeng BAI1,2(), Jiamin LU1,2, Junhui LI1,2, Lidong SUN1,2, Liang YANG1,2, Jiajun LIU1,2, Jinshuang XU1,2, Xiang ZHOU1,2(), Xiaomei LI1,2, Guozheng LI1,2   

  1. 1.National Key Laboratory for Green Mining of Multi-resource Collaborative Continental Shale Oil,Daqing,Heilongjiang 163712,China
    2.Exploration and Development Research Institute,Daqing Oilfield of CNPC,Daqing,Heilongjiang 163712,China
  • Received:2024-04-22 Revised:2024-07-19 Online:2025-02-28 Published:2025-03-03
  • Contact: Xiang ZHOU E-mail:bxf@petrochina.com.cn;zhouxiang2206@163.com

Abstract:

The deeply buried Shahezi Formation in the Songliao Basin exhibits considerable coal-bearing rock thickness and abundant coal-rock gas (CRG) resources, establishing itself as an important CRG exploration target in the northern Songliao Basin. Based on the analyses of seismic, geological, and geochemical data, we investigate the coal-forming environment, hydrocarbon generation and evolution, reservoir-forming mechanisms, and CRG accumulation conditions and patterns in the formation. Accordingly, the enrichment patterns and future exploration targets of CRG are proposed in the downfaulted Songliao Basin. The results indicate the presence of extensive peat swamps in multiple downfaulted sediments during the deposition of the Shahezi Formation, with the significantly thick coal seams developed within providing a sound material basis for generating the CRG. Both the coal and mudstone characterized by high abundance and high maturity in the Shahezi Formation serve as source rocks for the enrichment and accumulation of CRG. The CRG in the Shahezi Formation features the coexistence of free and adsorbed gas, with the former accounting for 34.8 % to 43.3 % and the latter for 56.7 % to 65.2 %, as well as the deep anthracite exhibiting a gas content range of 33.83 ~ 36.56 cm3/t. The coal-bearing rocks in the Shahezi Formation contain a pore-fracture system consisting of organic pores and fractures, which provides effective spaces for CRG accumulation. The high breakthrough pressures of the reservoir-cap rock assemblages, consisting of coals and mudstones, and overpressured fluids within coal seams create favorable conditions for CRG preservation. Preliminary estimates suggest that the Shahezi Formation in the northern Songliao Basin boasts CRG resources of approximately 1.260×1012 m3, including 0.853 × 1012 m3 in the Xujiaweizi Fault Depression, and both the gentle slope zone on the east side of the Songzhan trough and the Xuxi trough are identified as the preferred targets for CRG exploration in the fault depression.

Key words: exploration potential, potential exploration target, accumulation condition, coal-rock gas (CRG), Shahezi Formation, Cretaceous, northern Songliao Basin

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