Orderly distribution and differential enrichment of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Whole petroleum system and hydrocarbon accumulation model in shallow and medium strata in northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Crude oil mobility and its controlling factors in tight sand reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin, East China

Widespread development of bedding-parallel calcite veins in medium–high maturity organic-rich lacustrine shales (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Northern Songliao Basin, NE China): Implications for hydrocarbon generation and horizontal compression

Enrichment model and major controlling factors of below-source tight oil in Lower Cretaceous Fuyu reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Study on the Cretaceous turbidite and reservoir features in the Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Quantitative evaluation model of shale oil adsorption: A case study of the first member of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Gulong shale oil enrichment mechanism and orderly distribution of conventional– unconventional oils in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, NE China

Petrological characteristics and shale oil enrichment of lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary system: A case study of organic-rich shale in first member of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin, NE China

Enrichment and movability of lacustrine tight shale oil for the first member of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Sanzhao Sag, Songliao Basin, NE China: Insights from saturated hydrocarbon molecules

The organic-rich shale of the Qingshankou Formation (K2qn) is the most important target in the Songliao Basin. The relationship between lithofacies and source rock quality, however, is still controversial. Core observation, thin section identification, X-ray diffraction, organic geochemistry, and other analytical methods were adopted to investigate the petrology and its effects on hydrocarbon potential of the Qingshankou shale. Based on the differences in minerals, bioclastic, and fabric of laminae, four main lithofacies were defined as: (i) felsic shale (FS), (ii) clay shale (CS), (iii) bio-bearing shale (BS), and (iv) mixed shale (MS). The clay minerals content in the CS (average: 46.72 wt%) and MS (average: 41.11 wt%) was higher than that in FS (average: 39.97 wt%) and BS (average: 35.48 wt%). This classification allows the following comparative quantification of total organic carbon (TOC) content to be differentiated: CS > BS > MS > FS. Geochemical analysis indicated that the oil generation potential of the CS was the best, and the hydrocarbons generated from CS might migrate and accumulate in other lithofacies. All this knowledge could shed light on the lithofacies classification in shale systems with high clay mineral content, and may provide references for sweet spotting of the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin.

Decision letter for "Sequence stratigraphy in post‐rift river‐dominated lacustrine delta deposits: A case study from the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, northern Songliao Basin, northeastern China"

Shale oil is hosted in nanopores of organic-rich shales, so pore characteristics are significant for shale oil accumulation. Here we analyzed pore characteristics of 39 lacustrine shale samples of the Late Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation (K2qn) in the Songliao Basin, which is one of the main shale oil resource basins in China, using field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and low-pressure nitrogen adsorption. We accomplished fractal analysis, correlation analysis using correlation matrix and multidimensional scaling (MDS), and prediction of fractal dimensions, which is the first time to predict pore fractal dimensions of shales. Interparticle pores are highly developed in K2qn. These shales have mesoporous nature and slit-shaped pores. Compared with the second and third members (K2qn2,3), the first member of the Qingshankou Formation (K2qn1) has a larger average pore diameter, much smaller surface area, fewer micropores, simpler pore structure and surface indicated by smaller fractal dimensions. In terms of pore characteristics, K2qn1 is better than K2qn2,3 as a shale oil reservoir. When compared with marine Bakken Formation shales, lacustrine shales of the Qingshankou Formation have similar complexity of pore structure, but much rougher pore surface. This research can lead to an improved understanding of the pore system of lacustrine shales.

Petroleum exploration breakthrough and geological significance in Cretaceous Yingcheng and Denglouku formations of Shuangcheng area, northern Songliao Basin, NE China

Early Cretaceous volcanism in the northern Songliao Basin, NE China, and its geodynamic implication

Hydrocarbons exist in abundant quantity beneath the earth's surface. These hydrocarbons are generally classified as conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons depending upon their nature, geology, and exploitation procedure. Since the conventional hydrocarbons are under the depletion phase, the unconventional hydrocarbons have been a major candidate for current and future hydrocarbon production. Additionally, investment and research have increased significantly for its exploitation. Having the shift toward unconventional hydrocarbons, this study reviews in depth the technical aspects of unconventional hydrocarbons. This review brings together all the important aspects of unconventional reservoirs in single literature. This review at first highlights the worldwide unconventional hydrocarbon resources, their technical concept, distribution, and future supplies. A portion of this study also discusses the resources of progressive unconventional hydrocarbon candidates. Apart from this, this review also highlights the geological aspects of different unconventional hydrocarbon resources including tight, shale, and coalbed methane. The petrophysical behavior of such assists including the response to well logs and the discussion of improved correlation for petrophysical analysis is a significant part of this detailed study. The variation in geology and petrophysics of unconventional resources with conventional resources are also presented. In addition, the latest technologies for producing unconventional hydrocarbons ranging from fractured wells to different fluid injections are discussed in this study. In the end, the latest machine learning and optimization techniques have been discussed that aids in the optimized field development planning of unconventional reservoirs.