Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China)
Shale oil has become a global hotspot of unconventional exploration and development. In this study, the latest drill core and experiment analyses of the Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin were used to evaluate its lithofacies classification, sedimentary environment, pore types, por...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/385 |
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| author | Ningliang Sun Wenyuan He Jianhua Zhong Jianbo Gao Pengpeng Sheng |
| author_facet | Ningliang Sun Wenyuan He Jianhua Zhong Jianbo Gao Pengpeng Sheng |
| author_sort | Ningliang Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shale oil has become a global hotspot of unconventional exploration and development. In this study, the latest drill core and experiment analyses of the Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin were used to evaluate its lithofacies classification, sedimentary environment, pore types, pore-throat structure characterization, and shale oil potential. Lithofacies classification was determined according to the total organic carbon (TOC) content, sedimentary structure, and rock mineral content. Laminae genesis and micro-sedimentary structures indicate the deposition of fine-grained sedimentary rocks (FGSRs) in a semi-deep to deep lacustrine environment; however, evidence also suggests partial reworking by storm events and bottom current flows. FGSRs mostly comprise type I kerogen, with small amounts of type II<sub>1</sub>. The average vitrinite reflectance of the FGSRs was 1.37%, indicating middle to high stages of thermal maturation within the oil generation window. The N<sub>2</sub> adsorption experiment indicated that silty mudstone (SM), silty fine mixed sedimentary rock (SFMR), and argillaceous fine mixed sedimentary rock (AFMR) had ink-bottle-shaped and slit-shaped pores, and the lithofacies were dominated by mesopores, accounting for 77.4%, 71.9%, and 80.8% of the total pore volume, respectively. Mercury injection capillary pressure analysis indicated that SM and SFMR had an average pore-throat radius of 0.01–0.04 μm, whereas AFMR and CM were dominated by nanopores, mainly distributed in the range of 0.004–0.0063 μm. Based on the comprehensive studies of TOC content, pore development, and brittleness, we concluded that organic-rich laminated SM and SFMR should be the focus of shale oil exploration of the Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin, followed by organic-rich or organic-moderate laminated and layered AFMR, as well as calcareous fine mixed sedimentary rocks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:07:59Z |
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| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:07:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-100e39442cab42b6b5c8668d5b0a5bd92023-11-17T12:47:51ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-03-0113338510.3390/min13030385Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China)Ningliang Sun0Wenyuan He1Jianhua Zhong2Jianbo Gao3Pengpeng Sheng4Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Safe Mining of Deep Metal Mines, School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, ChinaChina National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd. (CNODC), Beijing 100034, ChinaSchool of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, ChinaSchool of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, ChinaExploration and Development Research Institute of Daqing Oilfield Co., Ltd., Daqing 163318, ChinaShale oil has become a global hotspot of unconventional exploration and development. In this study, the latest drill core and experiment analyses of the Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin were used to evaluate its lithofacies classification, sedimentary environment, pore types, pore-throat structure characterization, and shale oil potential. Lithofacies classification was determined according to the total organic carbon (TOC) content, sedimentary structure, and rock mineral content. Laminae genesis and micro-sedimentary structures indicate the deposition of fine-grained sedimentary rocks (FGSRs) in a semi-deep to deep lacustrine environment; however, evidence also suggests partial reworking by storm events and bottom current flows. FGSRs mostly comprise type I kerogen, with small amounts of type II<sub>1</sub>. The average vitrinite reflectance of the FGSRs was 1.37%, indicating middle to high stages of thermal maturation within the oil generation window. The N<sub>2</sub> adsorption experiment indicated that silty mudstone (SM), silty fine mixed sedimentary rock (SFMR), and argillaceous fine mixed sedimentary rock (AFMR) had ink-bottle-shaped and slit-shaped pores, and the lithofacies were dominated by mesopores, accounting for 77.4%, 71.9%, and 80.8% of the total pore volume, respectively. Mercury injection capillary pressure analysis indicated that SM and SFMR had an average pore-throat radius of 0.01–0.04 μm, whereas AFMR and CM were dominated by nanopores, mainly distributed in the range of 0.004–0.0063 μm. Based on the comprehensive studies of TOC content, pore development, and brittleness, we concluded that organic-rich laminated SM and SFMR should be the focus of shale oil exploration of the Qingshankou Formation in the northern Songliao Basin, followed by organic-rich or organic-moderate laminated and layered AFMR, as well as calcareous fine mixed sedimentary rocks.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/385geochemicalpore-throat structuresedimentary environmentshale oilQingshankou formation |
| spellingShingle | Ningliang Sun Wenyuan He Jianhua Zhong Jianbo Gao Pengpeng Sheng Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) Minerals geochemical pore-throat structure sedimentary environment shale oil Qingshankou formation |
| title | Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) |
| title_full | Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) |
| title_fullStr | Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) |
| title_short | Lithofacies and Shale Oil Potential of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks in Lacustrine Basin (Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China) |
| title_sort | lithofacies and shale oil potential of fine grained sedimentary rocks in lacustrine basin upper cretaceous qingshankou formation songliao basin northeast china |
| topic | geochemical pore-throat structure sedimentary environment shale oil Qingshankou formation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/385 |
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