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Fruitful achievements have been made in shale gas exploration in the middle and deep areas from the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation to the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, and in the research on shale reservoir characteristics and main controlling factors. As the key direction of current shale exploration, the deep and ultra-deep areas are limited by drilling and other factors, and the research on reservoir development characteristics and differences with the middle and deep shale reservoirs is insufficient. In order to clarify the characteristics of the deep and ultra-deep shale reservoirs of the Wufeng-Longmaxi formatiosns, four typical shale gas wells at the depth of 2 000-6 000 m in the southeastern Sichuan exploration area were selected to systematically carry out a comparative study of deep and ultra-deep shale reservoir development characteristics and differences, and the causes of pore development were discussed. The results show that: (1) With a burial depth of less than 6 000 m, the shale reservoirs of the Wufeng-Longmaxi formations are effective reservoirs with high porosity, and the porosity has no obvious change with the change of burial depth. However, there are certain differences in the morphology, structure and connectivity of organic matter pores, that is, with the increase of burial depth, the size of organic matter pores relatively decreases, and the pore connectivity deteriorates; (2) It has been clarified that biogenic silica is the foundation of pore development, and fluid overpressure is the key to maintaining reservoir pores. Under the combined action of biogenic silica and biogenic silica, the deep and ultra-deep shale reservoirs with high porosity and high quality can be developed and maintained; (3) Based on the research of reservoir development, shale gas exploration will be extended to 6 000 m, which provides a clear direction for shale gas exploration in the next step. It is preliminarily assessed that the deep and ultra-deep shale gas (buried depth of 4 000-5 000 m) resources in the Wufeng-Longmaxi formations in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas exceed 2×1012 m3.

Based on anatomy of key areas and data points and analysis of typical features of shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member, basic characteristics of key interfaces, mainly bentonite layers, in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation—Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas and the relationship between these key interfaces with the deposition of organic-rich shale have been examined systematically. The Wufeng Formation—Longmaxi Formation has four types of marker beds with interface attributes, namely, the characteristic graptolite belt, Guanyinqiao Member shell layer, section with dense bentonite layers, and concretion section, which can be taken as key interfaces for stratigraphic division and correlation of the graptolite shale. The shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member is the most standard key interface in Wufeng Formation—Longmaxi Formation, and can also be regarded as an important indicator for judging the depositional scale of organic-rich shale in key areas. There are 8 dense bentonite sections of two types mainly occurring in 7 graptolite belts in these formations. They have similar interface characteristics with the shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member in thickness and natural gamma response, and belong to tectonic interfaces (i.e., event deposits). They have three kinds of distribution scales: whole region, large part of the region, and local part, and can be the third, fourth and fifth order sequence interfaces, and have a differential control effect on organic-rich shale deposits. The horizon the characteristic graptolite belt occurs first is the isochronous interface, which is not directly related to the deposition of organic-rich shale. Concretions only appear in local areas, and show poor stability in vertical and horizontal directions, and have no obvious relationship with the deposition of the organic-rich shale.

Based on core, thin section, scanning electron microscopy observations, X-ray diffraction analysis, as well as carbon and oxygen isotopes and energy spectrum analysis of carbonate rocks, the quartz, feldspar, pyrite, carbonate and clay minerals in shale of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi formations of Sichuan Basin were effectively characterised and classified, and the influences of their diagenetic evolution sequence on the development of shale reservoir were discussed. The results showed that good material basis and unique diagenetic sequence were the key factors for the formation of high-quality shale reservoirs. (1) Framboidal/euhedral pyrite, bio-quartz and microbial dolomite were mainly formed from the syngenetic stage to the A-substage of early diagenetic stage. They were both destructive and constructive for maintaining the original pores in shale, and the constructive supporting framework of which was critical for the formation of high-quality shale reservoir. The rigid framework formed by these early-formed minerals and terrigenous debris facilitated the maintenance of original pores and the reservoir stimulation of shale gas exploitation. (2) The co-evolution of hydrocarbon generation and diagenesis promoted the development of reservoir spaces. In the A-substage of middle diagenetic stage, the production and consumption of organic acids, the dissolution/alteration of unstable minerals (feldspar and carbonate minerals), clay mineral conversion and oil generation from kerogen were synchronic, which provided favorable space for the charging and retention of liquid hydrocarbons during the oil generation period. From the B-substage of middle diagenetic stage to the late diagenetic stage, the shale gas/organic pore generation and pressure increase of kerogen and retained hydrocarbon cracking promoted the development of organic pores and micro-fractures, which was conducive to the enrichment and high production of shale gas.

The characteristics of a shale gas reservoir and the potential of a shale gas resource of Ordovician-Silurian age in the north of the central Yangtze area were determined. Core samples from three wells in the study area were subjected to thin-section examination, scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance testing, X-ray diffraction mineral analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) testing, maturity testing, gas-bearing analysis, and gas component and isothermal adsorption experiments. A favorable segment of the gas shale reservoir was found in both the Wufeng Formation and the lower part of the Longmaxi Formation; these formations were formed from the late Katian to early Rhuddanian. The high-quality shale layers in wells J1, J2, and J3 featured thicknesses of 54.88 m, 48.49 m, and 52.00 m, respectively, and mainly comprised carbonaceous and siliceous shales. Clay and brittle minerals showed average contents of 37.5% and 62.5% (48.9% quartz), respectively. The shale exhibited type II kerogens with a vitrinite reflectance ranging from 1.94% to 3.51%. TOC contents of 0.22%-6.05% (average, 2.39%) were also observed. The reservoir spaces mainly included micropores and microfractures and were characterized by low porosity and permeability. Well J3 showed generally high gas contents, i.e., 1.12-3.16 m/t (average 2.15 m/t), and its gas was primarily methane. The relatively thick black shale reservoir featured high TOC content, high organic material maturity, high brittle mineral content, high gas content, low porosity, and low permeability. Shale gas adsorption was positively correlated with TOC content and organic maturity, weakly positive correlated with quartz content, and weakly negatively correlated with clay content. Therefore, the Wufeng and Longmaxi formations in the north of the central Yangtze area have a good potential for shale gas exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the Valongo Anticline, northern Portugal, the Upper Ordovician-age Sobrido Formation records glacioeustatic sea-level changes and glacially-influenced depositional environments on the north Gondwana platform associated with the Hirnantian glaciation. New stratigraphic data from the Sobrido Formation, taking into account lateral facies variations not exposed in the type section, allow for a better understanding of Hirnantian glacial sedimentary processes, sea-level changes and palaeogeography. The lower member of the Sobrido Formation is composed of quartzites alternating with siltstones and mudstones. The transition to the upper member is most commonly an erosional contact marked by a ferruginous horizon. The lowermost part of the upper member contains a thinly laminated and rhythmically-bedded mudstone that is capped by a thin (mm-scale) shelly bed and overlain by massive diamictites. Laterally, conglomerate beds that have erosion bases are rhythmically interbedded with slates and diamictites that sometimes contain outsized mudstone clasts. The uppermost part of the upper member is very variable in thickness laterally and contains massive to laminated diamictite beds intercalated with quartzites, conglomerates and slates. Massive diamictites commonly exhibit thin horizons with Fe-oxides and occasionally manganese, phosphate and oolitic chamosite. The lower member of the Sobrido Formation is interpreted as ice-proximal outwash that is transitional laterally to subaqueous ice-contact fans formed by debris and mass flows. Erosion followed by chemical weathering of the lower member and variably within the lowermost part of the upper member is interpreted as a response to sea-level fluctuations and development of spatially-variable anoxic conditions and groundwater migration within isolated marine basins. Facies within the upper member of the Sobrido Formation are interpreted as ice-distal (laminated diamictites) and ice-proximal deposits (massive diamictites, quartzites and conglomerates). Groove casts and hummocky cross-stratification within quartzite beds suggest deposition in a shallow shelf setting. The Upper Ordovician–Lower Silurian transition is locally marked by a ferruginous horizon. Black basal quartzites are interpreted to record development of an erosional unconformity during Silurian sea-level rise. In other areas a chloritoid layer indicates proximity to dry land. These palaeoenvironmental interpretations suggest dynamic changes in sedimentary and geochemical processes in response to sea level and related palaeogeographic changes during the Upper Ordovician and transitional to the Lower Silurian on the north Gondwana platform. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Data obtained using different methods: paleontological, sedimentological, event stratigraphy and C-isotope chemostratigraphy of a unique succession of the Upper Ordovician and lower Silurian, located on the western slope of the Subpolar Urals, are presented in this work. The data obtained made it possible to revise some existing ideas about the texture of the Upper Ordovician succession and clarify the position of the Ordovician-Silurian boundary in the region. In addition, the Upper Ordovician Yaptiknyrd Formation was correlated with the synchronous formations in Scotland and Estonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation of the uppermost Boda Core Member of the Boda Limestone is reassessed and the beds assigned to the upper Katian. This is based on the identification of the brachiopod species Brevilamnulella kjerulfi (Kiær) and Amphiplecia tardicostata Wright & Jaanusson from the highest beds in the unit. The former species is overwhelmingly abundant in the uppermost beds of the Boda Core Member in Osmundsberget quarry, forming an almost monospecific coquina. Also occurring in the coquina, is Clorilamnulella osmundsbergensis gen. et sp. nov., which ranges into the overlying Hirnantian Glisstjarn Formation. The new genus is here regarded as a transitional form between Brevilamnulella and Clorinda. The oldest occurrence of this latter genus is here revised and not found in rocks older than the Aeronian. Instead, previous Rhuddanian occurrences of 'Clorinda' are transferred to Clorilamnulella based on a dorsal cardinalia that differs from both that of Brevilamnulella, as well as that of Clorinda. Moreover, gigantic shells of a new species of Brevilamnulella, B. umbosulcata sp. nov, are described from the nearby Solberga quarry where the species occurs in great abundance in a local fossil pocket, that also is correlated with the upper Katian. These new virgianid and clorindoid occurrences, together with previously described occurrences of Holorhynchus and Costilamnulella, demonstrate that during the late Katian, the Boda Limestone was a virgianid hotspot crucial in the evolution of the earliest pentameroid family, the Virgianidae, as well as a possible early cradle for the evolution of the hitherto exclusively Silurian superfamily, the Clorindoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]