Abstract
Hydrocarbon-producing lacustrine basins are widely developed in the world, and China has a large number of lacustrine basins that have developed since the early Permian. The organic-rich shale-dominated heterogeneous source rock intervals in Chinese lacustrine basins generally contain frequent thin interbeds of stratigraphically associated sandstone, siltstone, marl, dolomite, and limestone. The concept of “Hybrid Plays” as put forth in this article recognizes this pattern of alternating organic-rich shale and organic-lean interbeds and existence of mixed unconventional and conventional plays. Hybrid Plays in lacustrine source rock intervals present a unique closed petroleum system hosting continuous hydrocarbons. The interbedded organic-lean siliciclastic and/or carbonate plays are efficiently charged with hydrocarbons via short migration pathways from the adjacent organic-rich shale that is often also a self-sourced play. We assert “Hybrid Plays” provide the most realistic exploration model for targeting multiple-stacked and genetically related very tight shale, tight and conventional plays together in the entire source rock interval rather than individual plays only. The Hybrid Play model has been proven and works for a wide variety of lacustrine rift, sag and foreland basins in China.
Highlights
Lacustrine shales play significant roles in providing source rock in a number of producing lacustrine basins in China, SE Asia, Brazil and Africa (Hu 1982; Kelts 1988; Katz 1990; Carroll 1998; Bohacs et al 2000; Doust and Sumner 2007; Katz and Lin 2014)
Widespread and worldclass source rock intervals in these lacustrine basins commonly consist of very thick and regionally distributed organic-rich shale source rocks (TOC abundance up to 36%) and thin, organic-lean siltstone, sandstone, and/or carbonate interbeds within it, making the organic-rich shale interval juxtaposed with organic-lean facies
The Middle Permian lacustrine mixed siliciclastic siltstone and carbonates associated with shale source rocks are present in the Junggar and Santanghu foreland basins in NW China
Summary
Lacustrine shales play significant roles in providing source rock in a number of producing lacustrine basins in China, SE Asia, Brazil and Africa (Hu 1982; Kelts 1988; Katz 1990; Carroll 1998; Bohacs et al 2000; Doust and Sumner 2007; Katz and Lin 2014). The studies are based on regional geologic overviews, data observations and interpretation of lithofacies, geochemistry, mineralogy, log responses and well tests, evaluation of petroleum systems for lacustrine source rock intervals, and production analysis of both organic-rich shales, and organic-lean siliciclastic and carbonate interbeds. This integrated approach will help to better characterize and understand the types of shale-related mixed resource plays and their potentials in the China lacustrine basins and stimulate further exploration and study of lacustrine basins all over the world
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