Research paperProperties and shale oil potential of saline lacustrine shales in the Qianjiang Depression, Jianghan Basin, China

- The shales are characterized by high TOC content, oil prone kerogen, early-mature stage, and strong heterogeneity.
- Both inorganic pores and micro-factures gave birth to high porosity and permeability.
- The brittle intervals frequently alternated with ductile intervals.
- The Eq33x section has both great potential of producible oil resource and high content of brittle minerals.

The geochemical and petrographic characteristics of saline lacustrine shales from the Qianjiang Formation, Jianghan Basin were investigated by organic geochemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low pressure nitrogen adsorption analysis. The results indicate that: the saline lacustrine shales of Eq3 member with high oil content are characterized by type I and type II oil-prone kerogen, variable TOC contents (1.0-10.0 wt%) and an early-maturity stage (Ro ranges between 0.41 and 0.76%). The mineral compositions of Eq3 saline shale show strong heterogeneity: brittle intervals with high contents of quartz and carbonate are frequently alternated with ductile intervals with high glauberite and clay contents. This combination might be beneficial for oil accumulation, but may cause significant challenges for the hydraulic stimulation strategy and long-term production of shale oil. The interparticle pores and intraparticle pores dominate the pore system of Eq3 shale, and organic matter hosted pores are absent. Widely distributed fractures, especially tectonic fractures, might play a key role in hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. The pore network is contributed to by both large size inorganic pores and abundant micro-factures, leading to a relatively high porosity (2.8-30.6%) and permeability (0.045-6.27 md) within the saline shale reservoir, which could enhance the flow ability and storage capacity of oil. The oil content (S1 × 100/TOC, mg HC/g TOC and S1, mg HC/g rock) and brittleness data demonstrate that the Eq33x section has both great potential for being a producible oil resource and hydraulic fracturing. Considering the hydrocarbon generation efficiency and properties of oil, the mature shale of Eq3 in the subsidence center of the Qianjiang Depression would be the most favorable zone for shale oil exploitation.