Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 392-406.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250205

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Controlling effects of lamina assemblages on shale oil enrichment for lacustrine carbonate-rich shales: A case study of shales in the Paleogene Shahejie Formation, Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

Junliang LI1(), Min WANG2,3(), Feng QIN1, Yong WANG1, Xiaoliang WEI1, Wei MENG1, Anchao SHEN2,3, Zhaojing SONG2,3, Changqi YU2,3, Junqian LI2,3, Jiaqi LIU2,3   

  1. 1.Exploration and Development Research Institute,Shengli Oilfield Branch Company,SINOPEC,Dongying,Shandong 257029,China
    2.State Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas,Qingdao,Shandong 266580,China
    3.School of Geosciences,China University of Petroleum (East China),Qingdao,Shandong 266580,China
  • Received:2024-11-26 Revised:2025-03-07 Online:2025-04-30 Published:2025-04-27
  • Contact: Min WANG E-mail:lijunliang.slyt@sinopec.com;wangm@upc.edu.cn

Abstract:

Breakthroughs have been achieved in the exploration of lacustrine shale oil. However, the dominant geological factors controlling the enrichment and high yield of shale oil remain unclear, restricting its efficient exploitation. The fine characterization of various laminae can reveal the major factors controlling shale oil enrichment. This study focuses on the carbonate-rich shales of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation in the Jiyang Depression. Using thin section observations and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), we analyze the reservoir spaces and oil-bearing properties of typical laminae and reveal the controlling effects of the lamina assemblages of shales on oil enrichment. The results indicate that carbonate-rich shales in the upper sub-member of the 4th member of the Shahejie Formation (Es4U) within the Jiyang Depression contain five lamina types: fibrous calcite laminae, micritic calcite laminae, very fine crystalline calcite laminae, clay-mineral-rich laminae, and mixed laminae. Major lamina assemblages include the combination of micritic calcite laminae, clay-mineral-rich laminae, and mixed laminae, and the combination of fibrous calcite laminae, very fine crystalline calcite laminae, clay-mineral-rich laminae, and mixed laminae. The clay-mineral-rich and mixed laminae, among others, exhibit high organic matter content, serving as the material basis for shale oil enrichment. Meanwhile, the very fine crystalline calcite laminae, with well-developed reservoir spaces, act as preferential storage media for shale oil. Additionally, the superposition of clay-mineral-rich laminae with very fine crystalline or micritic calcite laminae forms the optimal lamina configuration for shale oil enrichment. Therefore, the carbonate-rich shales with the clay-mineral-rich laminae and very fine crystalline or micritic calcite laminae assemblage serve as an important target for shale oil exploration and exploitation.

Key words: carbonate-rich shale, lamina assemblage, enrichment factor, shale oil, Shahejie Formation, Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

CLC Number: