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The Leikoupo Formation, which was deposited during the Anisian stage in the central Sichuan Basin, has produced significant amounts of conventional gas but there have been few studies on its unconventional resources. Organic-rich shale in the Leikoupo Formation was discovered for the first time in the wells of CT1 and JY1 in the central Sichuan region, but information on its sedimentary environment and climate evolution is scarce. A series of lithofacies, organic geochemistry and inorganic geochemistry analyses were used to analyse core samples of CT1 and JY1 to estimate their vertical changes. The organic matter characteristics, the sedimentary environment and the factors controlling the Leikoupo Formation shale in the Sichuan basin were revealed. The organic-rich shale of the Lei3-2 sub-member was formed in a semi-restricted lagoon environment. The sedimentary environment was dysoxic-anoxic, with high palaeoproductivity, a warm and humid to semi-arid and semi-humid climate. The vertical sea level decreased for a short period, led to an increase in oxygen content in the mixed shale, clayey shale and calcareous shale that were sequentially deposited from bottom to top. In the vertical direction, the palaeo-productivity and aridity decreased, and there was an increase in the salinity and terrigenous debris input. All of these corresponded well with TOC. According to Mo-TOC and Mo–U patterns, the mixed shale was characterised by the highest values of Mo EF , U EF and Mo EF /U EF , followed by clayey shale and calcareous shale, which indicated mixed shale was deposited in a moderately restricted water condition, which progressively became more restricted during the deposition of clayey shale and calcareous shale with the fall of relative sea level. Biomarker compounds (steranes, terpanes), Tmax and other pyrolysis parameters indicated that the organic matter had reached the stage of high-to over-maturity. The gammacerane to C 30 hopane in the ratio indicated that it was the bottom water in which it was deposited was sratified. • The first discovery of Lei3-2 sub-member shale in the Sichuan Basin. • The shale has good original hydrocarbon generation potential. • The shale was formed in a semi-confined environment. • Lithological changes reflect variations in sedimentary environment and sea level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary depositional and diagenetic processes exert very important influences on shale gas reservoirs. Rock electrical properties are an important basis for making reservoir prediction using the electromagnetic method (EM). However, there is still a lack of understanding about the impact of the sedimentary diagenesis process on shale electrical properties, this study focuses on the impact of diagenesis on rock properties. In this study, rock electrical properties are studied based on electromagnetic experiments. We systematically studied the lithofacies of different depositional paleoenvironments and diagenetic processes, and the influence of diagenetic evolution on the rock electrical properties was discussed, by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), and trace element (TE) geochemical analysis. Based on the study of mineral composition, grain assemblages and pore systems, we identified four lithofacies in the Longmaxi Formation: siliceous shale, siliceous-argillaceous mixed shale, silty shale and argillaceous shale. Redox proxies (U/Th, V/Cr, and Ni/Co) indicate that the siliceous shale was deposited in a relatively anoxic and reducing environment, indicating a deep-water shelf depositional paleoenvironment. The siliceous-argillaceous shale, silty shale and argillaceous shale were deposited under a relatively dysoxic-oxic environment, indicating a shallow-water shelf depositional paleoenvironment. The order of resistivity values of the lithofacies within the Longmaxi Formation is 36.78 Ω m (siliceous shale), 66.81 Ω m (siliceous-argillaceous mixed shale), 79.54 Ω m (silty shale), and 107.00 Ω m (argillaceous shale), and the resistivity decreases with an increase in porosity. The siliceous shale has the most abundant authigenic quartz, which filled the primary pores forming a rigid framework during the gas window, inhibited compaction, increased the distribution of organic matter (OM), and enhanced the development of OM pores. The high TOC content and high maturity of siliceous shale at the bottom of Longmaxi Formation make the OM pores more developed. Pyrite, conductive fluid and pore network under the main control of OM pores in shale form a conductive circuit when AC voltage is input, which increases the exchange capacity of cations and leads to the phenomenon of low resistivity. The interconnected OM pore network, both depositionally and diagenetically derived, affects the electrical properties of the Longmaxi shale. This study reveals that electrical properties of shale rocks and its variations can be impacted by the depositional environment and diagenetic processes. This work provides resistivity parameters for the electromagnetic exploration of shale gas under complex terrain conditions and provides a theoretical basis for later interpretation. • Shale lithfacies with different sedimentary environments and diagenetic processes have different electrical properties. • The shale of Longmaxi formation has the characteristics of high TOC content and low resistivity. • OM pores network is the fundamental factor affecting the electrical properties in Longmaxi shale. • It provides parameters of rock electricity for EM exploration of complex terrain and for inversion interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, characterised by a carbonate–evaporite succession, is one of the important pay layers in the eastern Sichuan Basin. Several diagenetic events were identified in this study, including meteoric dissolution, dolomitisation, anhydrite/gypsum replacement/cementation, TSR, BSR, and multiple calcite cementation (C1–C3). Dolomitisation and anhydrite/gypsum replacement/cementation are the major diagenetic events affecting reservoir porosity. The dolostone is composed of D1, D2, and D3 dolomite. D1 dolomite is very finely crystalline, dominating in the low-energy, restricted depositional facies. D2 dolomite is finely crystalline, constituting a major portion of the dolostones. D3 dolomite is depositional fabric retentive dolomite, including dolo-wacke-/packstone, dolo-grainstone, and dolo-boundstone. Four types of anhydrites (A1–A4) were identified in the core and thin sections. A1 is stratabound anhydrite. A2 is the anhydrite in dolostones, filling in the interparticle spaces in dolo-grainstone and the intraparticle spaces in dolo-wackestone. A3 is the anhydrite in limestones, which occurs non-fabric-selectively. A4 is the anhydrite filling in the fractures. The diagenetic anhydrites (A2–A4) are interpreted to postdate to major dolomitisation. D1 and D2 dolomites are characterised by δ13C VPDB values of −3.4–+7.3 ‰ and δ18O VPDB values of −4.7−-2.4 ‰. The REE patterns of D1–D3 dolomites are characterised by light rare earth element (LREE) depletion relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREE) ((Pr/Tm) N of 0.54–1.16, 0.81 ± 0.20), middle rare earth elements (MREE) enrichment (BSI values of 1.06–1.38, 1.26 ± 0.10), and negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* ratios of 0.74–0.94, 0.83 ± 0.07). The diagenetic anhydrites (A2–A4) show δ34S V-CDT values of +25.9–+45.7 ‰, similar to those of the stratabound anhydrite (+29.6–+43.0 ‰). The large variations in the δ13C VPDB values of D1 and D2 dolomites are attributed to methanogenesis and BSR. The δ18O VPDB values and REE characteristics of D1–D3 dolomites suggest that the carbonates are dolomitised by the mesohaline fluid. The δ34S V-CDT values of A1–A4 indicate that the diagenetic anhydrites are formed by redistribution in a closed system. The petrographical and geochemical data suggest that the Jialingjiang carbonate evolved in a closed system during burial diagenesis. Primary pores dominate in the Jialingjiang carbonate reservoirs, and the boundstone and grainstone show the best porosities based on the porosityversus lithofacies data. Therefore, we propose that the lithofacies, instead of the diagenetic events, are the key factors of the Jialingjiang carbonate. The resisting compaction of dolomitisation helps preserve the reservoir porosity, and anhydrite is the major diagenetic event destroying the reservoir porosity. • Lithofacies are the key factor of the reservoir qualities. • Petrography and geochemical work suggest the closed diagenetic systems. • Jialingjiang carbonate is dolomitized by mesohaline fluids predating diagenetic anhydrite. • Anhydrite selectively replace calcitic part in Jialingjiang carbonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are abundant natural gas resources in the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation in the Eastern Sichuan Basin (ESB). Important progress has been made in the study of reservoir characteristics and sedimentary facies of marine reef-beach facies in the Jialingjiang Formation. However, there are still differences in the understanding of its natural gas origin and gas source rocks, which greatly restricts the understanding of the reservoir forming process and formation mechanism of the gas reservoirs, so further study is urgently needed. Based on experimental tests of natural gas composition, stable isotopes, and noble gas isotopes with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) studies of source rocks and reservoir asphalt saturated hydrocarbons, the natural gas geochemical characteristics, genetic identification and gas-source comparison of the Jialingjiang Formation were studied. The results showed that (1) the natural gas of the Jialingjiang Formation was mainly hydrocarbon gas, and methane was dominant. The average drying coefficient was 99.266%, which is typical of high maturity dry gas reservoirs. The δ13C 1 , δ13C 2 and δ13C 3 values ranged from −36.00‰ to 24.80‰, −37.80‰–27.60‰ and −39.20‰–23.20‰, respectively. The δD 1 , δD 2 and δD 3 values were between −164.00‰ and −124.00‰, −162.00‰ and −111.00‰ and −173.21‰ and −71.00‰, respectively. (2) The natural gas has a crustal source origin, which was mainly oil-type thermogenic gas generated by secondary cracking of crude oil. The gas-generating parent material is mainly partial sapropelic kerogen and was in the sedimentary environment of salt to brackish water. (3) The natural gas was mainly generated by argillaceous source rocks of the Upper Permian Longtan Formation. (4) The natural gas accumulation in the Jialingjiang Formation has experienced three stages, including paleo-oil reservoir, paleo-gas reservoir and current gas reservoir. The results provide a basis for the exploration decision-making of natural gas in the Jialingjiang Formation in the ESB. [Display omitted] • The natural gas is mainly oil-type gas generated by cracking of crude oil. • Establish comprehensive geochemical tracer index to study gas-source comparison. • The ages of gas source rocks in the Jialingjiang Formation were 263.41–241.78 Ma. • The argillaceous rock of Longtan Formation is the main source rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine carbonate rock in the Changxing-Feixianguan Formation of Xuanhan-Daxian area, northeastern Sichuan, the Sichuan Basin holds abundant natural gas resource, where the dolomite includes two types, the one with original texture (grain dolomite, reef dolomite) and the one without original texture (idiomorphic to anhedral-crystal dolomite, porphyritic dolomite). The analysis on the isotopes of C, O, Sr and other geochemical features shows that the dolomitizing process happened in fluid rich in Mg2+ and lean in Ca2+ and brought in Fe2+, Mn2+ and took out Sr2+; with the rise of recrystallization, the Fe2+, Mn2+ contents tend to increase while δ18O PDB and Srcontent tend to decrease. According to the variation of 87Sr/86Sr and other geochemical features, it is considered that the dolomitizing fluid participating in the reservoir diagenesisis the high salinity sea water later than the end of Feixianguan stage, and the dolomitization takes place mainly through the multiple thermal convective cycle effect. The micritic dolomite is of evaporative dolomitization origin with the characteristics of high Sr2+, Na+ and low Mn2+ which reflects the open environment of the surface exposed in the quasi syngenetic period, while the reef dolomite is of high Mg/Ca dolomitizing fluid origin with the characteristics of lowSr2+, Na+ and Mn2+, whose diagenetic environment changed from near surface to shallow burial environment; crystalline dolomite is formed by metasomatism of low Mg/Ca dolomitizing fluid at deep burial depth and high temperature, with the increase of burial depth,in the high temperature and high pressure deep sealing system, its Fe2+ and Mn2+ elements increased while Sr2+ decreased. Through reconstruction of dynamic diagenesis-pore evolution, it is concluded that the low porosity of shallow beach grain dolomite is resulted from early compaction and medium-term cementation, yet the reservoir quality has been apparently improved by the later hydrocarbon dissolution; compared with shallow beach grain dolomite,the reef dolomite has smaller initial porosity, but stronger compressive capacity. The early compaction and medium-term cementation have less impact on the reef dolomite, and the later dissolution strength is slightly weaker than that of the granular dolomite, thus the change range of porosity is smaller than that of the grain dolomite; the micrite-silt dolomite mainly suffered porosity reduction caused by compaction, and the later burial dissolution and recrystallization are key to the quality improvement of this kind of dolomite reservoir. • There are two types of dolomite in the study area: the original fabric and without original fabric. • The high salinity marine source fluid of late period is involved in the dolomitization process of dolomite reservoir. • Dissolution is the key to the formation of high quality reservoir. • Compaction and cementation are the key factors to reduce the porosity of dolomite reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex lithology association along vertical direction results in thin layers with different interbed patterns of the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation (T 1 j), Sichuan Basin. The prediction of thin tight reservoirs in the Jialingjiang Formation is important for further oil and gas exploration. However, seismic data in the eastern Sichuan Basin has poor lateral continuity of seismic events because of strong interference noises, which makes it difficult to pick horizons. Moreover, low dominant frequency (<25 Hz), low seismic resolution, and weak response characteristics of strong transverse heterogeneity on logging parameters make it challenging for the thin reservoirs prediction. To tackle these issues, in this study, we propose a target-oriented workflow by integrating seismic data processing with interpretation to delineate the thin reservoirs and corresponding hydrocarbon production capacity. In the processing workflow, we first remove the noise interferences using the structure-oriented filtering (SOF), which can improve the effective information of seismic events and also preserve the features of fault structures. Second, we propose a novel method based on spectral shaping and sparse inversion to enhance the seismic resolution. Tests on filed data demonstrate that the effective information and resolution of processed seismic data are significantly enhanced. Then, in the seismic interpretation, fluid mobility and spectral decomposition are first used to delineate the spatial distribution of favorable reservoirs. Furthermore, multi-attribute integrated interpretation involving impedance analysis, reservoir thickness estimation and porosity inversion is used to evaluate the storage capacity and productivity of the thin reservoirs. The estimated impedance, reservoir thickness and porosity show good agreement with well information, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed method for accurately predicting thin reservoirs in this area. Multi-attribute integrated interpretation revealed that the favorable thin reservoirs are mainly developed from the northeast to the southwest in the study area, which can provide effective guidelines for future production well drilling and distribution delineations of a favorable reservoir in the Eastern Sichuan Basin. • Structure-oriented filtering (SOF) can remove noises and enhance the effective continuities and structural features. • A new resolution enhancement (RE) method improves the seismic resolution significantly and reduces the artifacts. • The target-oriented processing workflow can markedly improve the quality of the seismic data. • Multi-attribute analyses indicating the favorable thin reservoirs is developed for the target zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]