Coupling between Source Rock and Reservoir of Shale Gas in Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin, South China

Abstract

In order to analyze the main factors controlling shale gas accumulation and to predict the potential zone for shale gas exploration, the heterogeneous characteristics of the source rock and reservoir of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin were discussed in detail, based on the data of petrology, sedimentology, reservoir physical properties and gas content. On this basis, the effect of coupling between source rock and reservoir on shale gas generation and reservation has been analyzed. The Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation black shale in the Sichuan Basin has been divided into 5 types of lithofacies, i.e., carbonaceous siliceous shale, carbonaceous argillaceous shale, composite shale, silty shale, and argillaceous shale, and 4 types of sedimentary microfacies, i.e., carbonaceous siliceous deep shelf, carbonaceous argillaceous deep shelf, silty argillaceous shallow shelf, and argillaceous shallow shelf. The total organic carbon (TOC) content ranged from 0.5% to 6.0% (mean 2.54%), which gradually decreased vertically from the bottom to the top and was controlled by the oxygen content of the bottom water. Most of the organic matter was sapropel in a high-over thermal maturity. The shale reservoir of Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation was characterized by low porosity and low permeability. Pore types were mainly <10 nm organic pores, especially in the lower member of the Longmaxi Formation. The size of organic pores increased sharply in the upper member of the Longmaxi Formation. The volumes of methane adsorption were between 1.431 m3/t and 3.719 m3/t, and the total gas contents were between 0.44 m3/t and 5.19 m3/t, both of which gradually decreased from the bottom upwards. Shale with a high TOC content in the carbonaceous siliceous/argillaceous deep shelf is considered to have significant potential for hydrocarbon generation and storage capacity for gas preservation, providing favorable conditions of the source rock and reservoir for shale gas.