Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China

The distribution of denudation areas has brought huge risks to the exploration and development of deep buried shale gas resources. The reservoir characterization and exploration potential near denudation areas is of great significance to the evaluation of hydrocarbon favorable areas. In this study,...

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Main Authors: Li Yuegang, Chen Weiming, Pu Junwei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-07-01
Series:Open Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0837
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author Li Yuegang
Chen Weiming
Pu Junwei
author_facet Li Yuegang
Chen Weiming
Pu Junwei
author_sort Li Yuegang
collection DOAJ
description The distribution of denudation areas has brought huge risks to the exploration and development of deep buried shale gas resources. The reservoir characterization and exploration potential near denudation areas is of great significance to the evaluation of hydrocarbon favorable areas. In this study, we integrated total organic carbon content, X-ray diffraction mineralogical composition, scanning electron microscope, elemental geochemistry, and low-temperature N2 adsorption to characterize macro-reservoir parameters and micropore structure. Based on the abundant experimental data presented above, the origin of the pay zone in the near denudation area is clarified, and the exploration potential is addressed. The vertical variation characteristics of shale reservoir parameters near the denudation area are consistent in other regions and are controlled by global sea level changes. The main production layer is Longmaxi Formation 1st Section–Wufeng Formation. Compared to commercial pay zone of other areas, gas-rich shale near the denudation area has the characteristics of high porosity and high content of carbonate minerals. The large amount of carbonate minerals provides a material basis for the development of inorganic pores (dissolution pores and intergranular pores), making the shale near the denudation area have a larger mesoporous pore volume, and thus forming a high-porosity reservoir. The shale reservoirs near the denudation area in the study area have a high content of brittle minerals, which is conducive to hydraulic fracturing. The stable structural conditions are beneficial to the preservation of shale gas. Therefore, they have good exploration and development potential.
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issn 2391-5447
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spelling doaj-art-a767515361dc40d29c412bbc3148578f2025-08-20T03:12:34ZengDe GruyterOpen Geosciences2391-54472025-07-011718072810.1515/geo-2025-0837Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, ChinaLi Yuegang0Chen Weiming1Pu Junwei2Chongqing Shale Gas Exploration and Development Co., Ltd, Chongqing, 401147, ChinaChongqing Shale Gas Exploration and Development Co., Ltd, Chongqing, 401147, ChinaChongqing Shale Gas Exploration and Development Co., Ltd, Chongqing, 401147, ChinaThe distribution of denudation areas has brought huge risks to the exploration and development of deep buried shale gas resources. The reservoir characterization and exploration potential near denudation areas is of great significance to the evaluation of hydrocarbon favorable areas. In this study, we integrated total organic carbon content, X-ray diffraction mineralogical composition, scanning electron microscope, elemental geochemistry, and low-temperature N2 adsorption to characterize macro-reservoir parameters and micropore structure. Based on the abundant experimental data presented above, the origin of the pay zone in the near denudation area is clarified, and the exploration potential is addressed. The vertical variation characteristics of shale reservoir parameters near the denudation area are consistent in other regions and are controlled by global sea level changes. The main production layer is Longmaxi Formation 1st Section–Wufeng Formation. Compared to commercial pay zone of other areas, gas-rich shale near the denudation area has the characteristics of high porosity and high content of carbonate minerals. The large amount of carbonate minerals provides a material basis for the development of inorganic pores (dissolution pores and intergranular pores), making the shale near the denudation area have a larger mesoporous pore volume, and thus forming a high-porosity reservoir. The shale reservoirs near the denudation area in the study area have a high content of brittle minerals, which is conducive to hydraulic fracturing. The stable structural conditions are beneficial to the preservation of shale gas. Therefore, they have good exploration and development potential.https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0837organic-rich shalepore structuredenudation areareservoir characterizationordoviciansilurianexploration potential
spellingShingle Li Yuegang
Chen Weiming
Pu Junwei
Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
Open Geosciences
organic-rich shale
pore structure
denudation area
reservoir characterization
ordovician
silurian
exploration potential
title Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
title_full Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
title_fullStr Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
title_full_unstemmed Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
title_short Reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area: A case study of Ordovician–Silurian marine shale, China
title_sort reservoir characterization and exploration potential of shale reservoir near denudation area a case study of ordovician silurian marine shale china
topic organic-rich shale
pore structure
denudation area
reservoir characterization
ordovician
silurian
exploration potential
url https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2025-0837
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AT chenweiming reservoircharacterizationandexplorationpotentialofshalereservoirneardenudationareaacasestudyofordoviciansilurianmarineshalechina
AT pujunwei reservoircharacterizationandexplorationpotentialofshalereservoirneardenudationareaacasestudyofordoviciansilurianmarineshalechina