Basic properties and exploitation strategies of source rock strata

Abstract

Source rock strata are filled and aggregated with large-scale continuous hydrocarbon resources, including significant volumes of in-place retained, short-distance migrated and potentially generated hydrocarbons. Source rock strata simultaneously possess the properties of reservoirs and hydrocarbon source rocks, known as source-reservoir coexisting systems. Reservoir properties refer to the physical properties concerning the storage and transmission of oil and gas, while hydrocarbon source rock properties refer to the physicochemical properties related to governing the generation, retention and expulsion of oil and gas in the source rock strata. These properties fundamentally determine the technical path for the successful exploitation of petroleum and natural gas in the source rock strata. With regard to reservoir properties, in-depth research and development of the advanced energy-storing fracturing technology can aid the construction of complex fracture networks to overcome the limitations in the connectivity properties of source rock strata. Focusing on the hydrocarbon source rock properties, an underground in-situ conversion technology should be created and developed to alleviate the shortcomings of organic matter quantity and maturity properties of the source rock strata. Furthermore, selecting the appropriate exploitation path based on the property characteristics can promote the achievement of commercial and sustainable development of oil and gas in the source rock strata.

Document Type: Perspective

Cited as: Yang, Z., Zou, C., Fan, Y., Wu, S., Liu, H., Wei, Q. Basic properties and exploitation strategies of source rock strata. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 10(2): 77-83. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.11.02

References

Baillie, J., Risk, D., MacKay, K. Methane emissions from conventional and unconventional oil and gas production sites in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Environmental Research Communications, 2019, 1(1): 011003.

Ben-Ammar, S., Riahi, S., Layeb, M. Source rock characterization of the upper Barremian, Albian and Cenomanian-Turonian organic-rich strata outcropping in Oued Bazina area, NE of Thibar diapir: Northern Tunisia. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2020, 13(24): 1282.

Cai, J., David, A. W., Hadi, H., et al. Multiscale and multi-physics influences on fluids in unconventional reservoirs: Modeling and simulation. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2022, 6(2): 91-94.

Cardott, B. J., Landis, C. R., Curtis, M. E. Post-oil solid bitumen network in the Woodford Shale, USA-A potential primary migration pathway. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2015, 139: 106-113.

Chalmers, G. R. L., Silva, P. L., Bustin, A. A., et al. Geology and geochemistry of the hydrocarbon compositional changes in the Triassic Montney Formation, Western Canada. Energies, 2022, 15(22): 8677.

Curtis, M. E., Cardott, B. J., Sondergeld, C. H., et al. Development of organic porosity in the Woodford Shale with increasing thermal maturity. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2012, 103: 26-31.

Fan, Y., Liu, K., Pu, X., et al. Morphological classification and three-dimensional pore structure reconstruction of shale oil reservoirs: A case from the second member of Paleogene Kongdian Formation in the Cangdong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2022a, 49(5): 1085-1097.

Fan, Y., Liu, K., Yu, L., et al. Assessment of multi-scale pore structures and pore connectivity domains of marine shales by fractal dimensions and correlation lengths. Fuel, 2022b, 330(1): 125463.

Feng, Q., Xu, S., Xing, X., et al. Advances and challenges in shale oil development: A critical review. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2020, 4(4): 406-418.

Hanson, A. D., Ritts, B. D., Moldowan, J. M. Organic geochemistry of oil and source rock strata of the Ordos Basin, north-central China. AAPG Bulletin, 2007, 91(9): 1273-1293.

Hein, F. J., Ambrose, W. A., Hackley, P., et al. Unconventional Energy Resources: 2017 Review. Natural Resources Research, 2019, 28(4): 1661-1751.

Jarvie, D. M. Components and processes affecting producibility and commerciality of shale resource systems. Geological Acta, 2014, 12(4): 307-325.

Jia, C., Pang, X., Song, Y. The mechanism of unconventional hydrocarbon formation: Hydrocarbon self-containment and intermolecular forces. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2021, 48(3): 437-452.

Jiao, F., Zou, C., Yang, Z. Geological theory and exploration & development practice of hydrocarbon accumulation inside continental source kitchens. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2020, 47(6): 1147-1159.

Jin, Z. Hydrocarbon accumulation and resources evaluation: Recent advances and current challenges. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 8(1): 1-4.

Kinley, T. J., Cook, L. W., Breyer, J. A., et al. Hydrocarbon potential of the Barnett Shale (Mississippian), Delaware Basin, west Texas and southeastern New Mexico. AAPG Bulletin, 2008, 92(8): 967-991.

Larson, T. E., Loucks, R. G., Sivil, J. E., et al. Machine learning classification of Austin Chalk chemofacies from high-resolution x-ray fluorescence core characterization. AAPG Bulletin, 2023, 107(6): 907-927.

Loucks, R. G., Larson, T. E., Zheng, C., et al. Geologic characterization of the type cored section for the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk Group in southern Texas: A combination fractured and unconventional reservoir. AAPG Bulletin, 2020, 104(10): 2209-2245.

Loucks, R. G., Peng, S. Matrix reservoir quality of the Upper Cretaceous Austin Chalk Group and evaluation of reservoir-quality analysis methods; northern onshore Gulf of Mexico, USA. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2021, 134: 105323.

Milliken, K. L., Zhang, T., Chen, J., et al. Mineral diagenetic control of expulsion efficiency in organic-rich mudrocks, Bakken Formation (Devonian-Mississippian), Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2021, 127: 104869.

Muther, T., Qureshi, H. A., Syed, F. I., et al. Unconventional hydrocarbon resources: geological statistics, petrophysical characterization, and field development strategies. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2022, 12(6): 1463-1488.

Silva, P. L., Bustin, R. M. Basin-wide unconventional potential of the Doig Formation, Triassic of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2023, 155: 106394.

Song, Y., Li, Z., Hong, F. The concept and the accumulation characteristics of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Petroleum Science, 2015, 12(4): 563-572.

Soto-Kerans, P., Loucks, R. G., Kerans, C. Deeper-water deposition in intrashelf basins: Example from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) upper Glen Rose Formation in the Houston trough, eastern Texas. AAPG Bulletin, 2021, 105(7): 1405-1434.

Vedachalam, N., Srinivasalu, S., Atmanand, M. A. Review of unconventional hydrocarbon resources in major energy consuming countries and efforts in realizing natural gas hydrates as a future source of energy. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2015, 26: 163-175.

Wood, J. M., Sanei, H., Curtis, M. E., et al. Solid bitumen as a determinant of reservoir quality in an unconventional tight gas siltstone play. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2015, 150: 287-295.

Yang, Z., Zou, C., Wu, S., et al. From source control theory to source-reservoir coexisting system: On the theoretical understanding and practice of source rock strata oil and gas geology in China. Acta Geological Sinica, 2021, 95(3): 618-631. (in Chinese)

Yang, Z., Zou, C., Wu, S., et al. Reservoir fracturing or hydrocarbon generating?–on the reservoir and source rock properties of source rock strata oil and gas. Acta Geological Sinica, 2022a, 96(1): 183-194. (in Chinese)

Yang, Z., Zou, C., Wu, S., et al. Characteristics, Types, and Prospects of Geological Sweet Sections in Giant Continental Shale Oil Provinces in China. Journal of Earth Science, 2022b, 33(5): 1260-1277.

Zou, C., Yang, Z., Dong, D., et al. Formation, Distribution and Prospect of Unconventional Hydrocarbons in Source Rock Strata in China. Earth Science, 2022, 47(5): 1517- 1533. (in Chinese)

Zou, C., Yang, Z., Zhang, G., et al. Theory, Technology and Practice of Unconventional Petroleum Geology. Journal of Earth Science, 2023, 34(4): 951-965.