Yuhong Lei

Joint processing and integrated interpretation of EM and seismic data—an effective method for detecting complicated reservoir targets

In China it has become common to integrate several geophysical techniques when exploring for reservoirs in complex geologic areas. Conventional seismic cannot provide a good image below igneous rock, salt domes, and/or complex and deeply dipping structures, and it has major limitations in determining if a reservoir trap contains hydrocarbons and in mapping the range and scope of a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. EM techniques, on the other hand, have recently progressed to the point that they can solve specific E&P problems. EM instrumentation has improved and many new methods have been developed (e.g., high-power time-frequency and borehole-to-surface methods). Processing and interpretation techniques (e.g., joint inversion, constrained inversion, and comprehensive and integrated interpretation) also have improved.

Hydrocarbon generation characteristics of Chang7 shale in the Ordos Basin and its geological significance

ABSTRACT Pyrolysis experiment in a confined system was conducted on shale samples from Ordos Basin. The hydrocarbon products in pyrolysis experiment show special characteristics. Results show that the DT005 exhibits a strong tendency of generating shorter chain hydrocarbons than HJF shale. This may be one of the leading factors resulting in shale gas generation in the southeastern Ordos Basin.

A quantitative method for characterizing transport capability of compound hydrocarbon carrier system

The occurrence of hydrocarbon migration in petroliferous basins depends on the balance of driving force and resistance of carriers, which restricts mostly the quantity and positions of hydrocarbon accumulation. The driving forces of hydrocarbon migration have been quantitatively studied, whereas the migration pathways and carriers were only qualitatively discussed up to now. Establishing a compound hydrocarbon carrier system and quantitatively characterizing its transport capability are significant for understanding the dynamic process of hydrocarbon migration and revealing the hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics. It has become an innovatory trend and also a difficult topic in study of hydrocarbon migration. In this article, a method is described for using displacement pressure to quantitatively characterize the transport capability of the compound carrier system, which composed of sandstone carriers, unconformities and faults. When the weathered and leached zone rarely developed, the basal conglomerate or transgressive sandstone of unconformities can be treated as part of sandstone carriers. An empirical relationship among core porosity, air permeability, and the pore aperture radius corresponding to a mercury saturation of 10% (r10) can be obtained by multiple regression. Using porosity and permeability inversed by seismic data, the displacement pressure of sandstone carriers can be calculated by the empirical relationship and Washburn Equation. Displacement pressure of fault plane can be estimated by the regression formula between fault opening index (FOI) and hydrocarbon column height it can support. This method is applied in the eastern part of south slope in Dongying (东营) depression, Bohai (渤海) Bay Basin, China, to quantitatively characterize the transport capability of the compound carrier system of Shahejie (沙河街) Formation. The results have good agreement with data from drilling wells. This method may be a step further in study of compound hydrocarbon carrier system in petroliferous basins. It may provide the basis of coupling expulsion quantity, migration driving force and hydrocarbon carrier system to simulate hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. Therefore this will help predict hydrocarbon migration pathways and the locations of hydrocarbon accumulation.

Origin of shale gas in the Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China

ABSTRACT The Chang 7 Member shale gas of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, is a representative of continental shale gas in China. The Chang 7 shale is currently in the oil window, suggesting it should primarily be producing oil, but an exploratory well found high levels of gas production. In addition, the methane carbon isotopic composition (δ13C1) of Chang 7 shale gas is generally depleted in 13C relative to that calculated by Ro, according to the δ13C-Ro equation. It is uncertain whether Chang 7 shale gas has mixed with biogenic gas or early thermogenic gas. In this study, over 100 samples of fresh shale cores were collected from the Yanchang Formation, and on-site gas desorption experiments and experimental analysis were carried out. Measured shale gas content was considerable, and was found to be proportional to the abundance of organic matter. Through comprehensive evaluation of the gas composition and δ13C1, it was concluded that there was no biogenic gas contribution to the shale gas in the study area. The negative δ13C1 of shale gas was due to the different formation mechanisms of shale gas and conventional natural gas. Methane in shale gas reservoirs is the result of methane accumulation at all stages, which increases the shale gas content.

Identification and distribution of fractures in the Zhangjiatan shale of the Mesozoic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin

AbstractThe natural fractures in mud or shale directly affect the quality and efficiency of shale gas reservoirs, and fracture identification and prediction play an important role in drilling shale gas wells and making plans for reservoir stimulation. We adopted ant tracking technology for 3D poststack reflective seismic waves to identify the size and distribution of high-angle structural fractures in the Zhangjiatan shale of the Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, which is a typical continental shale. The parameters for ant tracking fractures are extracted from the investigation on outcrop, cores, and image logs. The prestack seismic diffractive wave imaging technique for the super-resolution identification of mid- and small-scale breakpoints can be used as the constraint conditions for ant tracking. The identified result of high-angle fractures was validated by the image logging and drilling gas logging results. The geologic and logging data indicate that the Zhangjiatan shale is mainly characterized...

Study on the distribution of extractable organic matter in pores of lacustrine shale: An example of Zhangjiatan Shale from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China

AbstractShale oil and gas have been discovered in the lacustrine Zhangjiatan Shale in the southern Ordos Basin, China. To study the distribution of extractable organic matter (EOM) in the Zhangjiatan Shale (Ro ranges from 1.25% to 1.28%), geochemical characterization of core samples of different lithologies, scanning electron microscope observations, low-pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption, and helium pycnometry were conducted. The content and saturation of the EOM in the pores were quantitatively characterized. The results show that the distribution of the EOM in the shale interval is heterogeneous. In general, the shale layers have a higher EOM content and saturation than siltstone layers. The total organic content and the original storage capacity control the EOM content in the shale layers. For the siltstone layers, the EOM content is mainly determined by the original storage capacity. On average, 75% of the EOM occurs in the mesopores, followed by 14% in the macropores, and 11% in the micropores. The EOM ...

Diagenesis and Fluid Flow Variability of Structural Heterogeneity Units in Tight Sandstone Carrier Beds of Dibei, Eastern Kuqa Depression

Tight sand gas plays an important role in the supply of natural gas production. It has significance for predicting sweet spots to recognize the characteristics and forming of heterogeneity in tight sandstone carrier beds. Heterogeneity responsible for spatial structure, such as the combination and distribution of relatively homogeneous rock layers, is basically established by deposition and eodiagenesis that collectively affect the mesogenesis. We have investigated the structural heterogeneity units by petrofacies in tight sandstone carrier beds of Dibei, eastern Kuqa Depression, according to core, logging, and micropetrology. There are four types of main petrofacies, that is, tight compacted, tight carbonate-cemented, gas-bearing, and water-bearing sandstones. The brine-rock-hydrocarbon diagenesis changes of different heterogeneity structural units have been determined according to the pore bitumen, hydrocarbon inclusions, and quantitative grain fluorescence. Ductile grains or eogenetic calcite cements destroy the reservoir quality of tight compacted or tight carbonate-cemented sandstones. Rigid grains can resist mechanical compaction and oil emplacement before gas charging can inhibit diagenesis to preserve reservoir property of other sandstones. We propose that there is an inheritance relationship between the late gas and early oil migration pathways, which implies that the sweet spots develop in the reservoirs that experienced early oil emplacement.

Diagenetic Heterogeneity of Deep Sandstones and Its Relationship to Oil Emplacement: A Case Study from the Middle Jurassic Toutunhe Formation in the Fukang Sag, Central Junggar Basin (NW China)

The Middle Jurassic Toutunhe Formation at depths of approximately 4000–6000 m has increasingly come into focus as a current deep reservoir target in the central Junggar Basin (NW China). Based on petrography, SEM, stable isotopes, and fluid inclusion analyses, the goals of this study were to investigate the effect of depositional lithofacies on sandstone diagenetic heterogeneity and to examine the relationship between diagenetic evolution and oil charge within a heterogeneous reservoir. Grain size controls the overall abundance of cement and porosity and reservoir properties through its effect on ductile lithic sand grains and hence on mechanical compaction. Early diagenetic calcite cement is an exception to this trend. Ductile lithic-rich, very fine-grained sandstones featured compaction of easily deformed, clay-rich grains, resulting in a very rapid loss of porosity during burial. In contrast, dissolution and cementation occurred as well as ductile compaction in the fine-grained sandstones. Two episodes of oil charge occurred in the relatively coarser-grained sandstone lithofacies. Diagenesis progressed alternately with oil emplacement, and some diagenetic alterations and oil charge occurred simultaneously. Ductile lithic-rich, highly compacted sandstones and tightly calcite-cemented sandstones can create permeability barriers embedded in permeable reservoir sandstones, probably resulting in heterogeneous flow.

Geometry, kinematics and dynamic characteristics of a compound transfer zone: the Dongying anticline, Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China

Abstract The Dongying anticline is an E-W striking complex fault-bounded block unit which located in the central Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin. The anticline covers an area of approximately 12 km2. The overlying succession, which is mainly composed of Tertiary strata, is cut by normal faults with opposing dips. In terms of the general structure, the study area is located in a compound transfer zone with major bounding faults to the west (Ying 1 fault) and east (Ying -8 and -31 faults). Using three-dimensional seismic data, wireline log and checkshot data, the geometries and kinematics of faults in the transfer zone were studied, and fault displacements were calculated. The results show that when activity on the Ying 1 fault diminished, displacement was transferred to the Ying -8, Ying -31 and secondary faults so that total displacement increased. Dynamic analysis shows that the stress fields in the transfer zone were complex: the northern portion was a left-lateral extensional shear zone, and the southern portion was a right-lateral extensional shear zone. A model of potential hydrocarbon traps in the Dongying transfer zone was constructed based on the above data combined with the observed reservoir rock distribution and the sealing characteristics of the faults. The hydrocarbons were mainly expulsed from Minfeng Sag during deposition periods of Neogene Guantao and Minghuazhen Formations, and migrated along major faults from source kitchens to reservoirs. The secondary faults acted as barriers, resulting in the formation of fault-bound compartments. The high points of the anticline and well-sealed traps near secondary faults are potential targets. This paper provides a reservoir formation model of the low-order transfer zone and can be applied to the hydrocarbon exploration in transfer zones, especially the complex fault block oilfields in eastern China.