Symbiotic Combination and Accumulation of Coal Measure Gas in the Daning–Jixian Block, Eastern Margin of Ordos Basin, China

Abstract

Coal measure gas resources, including coalbed methane (CBM), shale gas, and tight gas are abundant in the Daning–Jixian Block. The complexity of the source–reservoir–cap relationship in the coal measure strata leads to unclear symbiotic characteristics and gas accumulation, which in turn, restrict the exploration and exploitation of the coal measure gas. In this study, the enrichment and accumulation of coal measure gas are discussed and summarized in detail. The results show that there are eight lithofacies and six reservoir combinations in the superposed strata of the coal measures in the study area. Controlled by the tidal flat-lagoon facies, the “sand-mud-coal” type mainly distributes in P1s2 and P1t, showing a good gas indication. Based on the variation of the total hydrocarbon content, key strata, and pressure coefficient of the coal measure gas reservoir, four superposed gas-bearing systems are identified in the vertical direction. According to the relationship between the gas-bearing system and gas reservoir, the enrichment of coal measure gas in the study area can be divided into three modes, including an intra-source enrichment mode, a near-source migration enrichment mode, and a far-source migration enrichment mode. The symbiotic accumulation of a coal measure gas model is further proposed, that is, an “Adjacent to co-source reservoir” type superimposed coalbed methane and shale gas reservoir model, a “Three gas symbiosis” superimposed reservoir model in the local gas-bearing system, and a “Co-source far reservoir” tight sandstone gas reservoir model. Clarifying the symbiotic relationship of coal measure gas reservoirs is beneficial to the exploration and further production of unconventional gas in the study area.