A new method for lithology identification of fine grained deposits and reservoir sweet spot analysis: A case study of Kong 2 Member in Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Based on systematic coring of 500 m of Kong 2 Member of the Paleogene Kongdian Formation in Cangdong sag of Bohai Bay Basin, identification and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analysis of over 1000 thin sections, a simplified method to quantitatively calculate contents of fine grained minerals with conventional logging data such as acoustic travel time (AC) and density log (DEN) has been proposed, and a quick lithologic identification “green mode” has been worked out in this study. By fitting the relationship between normalization of logging curves and mineral content measured by XRD, the mineral contents of sections or wells not cored can be calculated to identify lithology. With this method, several dolomite sweet spot intervals and one sandstone sweet spot interval have been found in the Kong 2 Member of Cangdong sag, where high production oil and gas flows have been tapped from drilled wells. The study shows that the dolomite is in band distribution and enriched in local parts of the study area. This method is applicable to lithologic identification of fine grained deposits in front delta-lake basin center, especially lithologic identification of mud and dolomite dominated fine grained deposits with low sand content of semi-deep, deep lake facies. Key words: fine grained deposits, lithologic identification, dolomite, tight oil, reservoir sweet spot, Paleogene Kongdian Formation, Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basi

Quantitative evaluation of lateral sealing of extensional fault by an integral mathematical-geological model

To evaluate the lateral sealing mechanism of extensional fault based on the pressure difference between fault and reservoir, an integral mathematical-geological model of diagenetic time on diagenetic pressure considering the influence of diagenetic time on the diagenetic pressure and diagenetic degree of fault rock has been established to quantitatively calculate the lateral sealing ability of extensional fault. By calculating the time integral of the vertical stress and horizontal in-situ stress on the fault rock and surrounding rock, the burial depth of the surrounding rock with the same clay content and diagenesis degree as the target fault rock was worked out. In combination with the statistical correlation of clay content, burial depth and displacement pressure of rock in the study area, the displacement pressure of target fault rock was calculated quantitatively. The calculated displacement pressure was compared with that of the target reservoir to quantitatively evaluate lateral sealing state and ability of the extensional fault. The method presented in this work was used to evaluate the sealing of F1, F2 and F3 faults in No.1 structure of Nanpu Sag, and the results were compared with those from fault-reservoir displacement pressure differential methods without considering the diagenetic time and simple considering the diagenetic time. It is found that the results calculated by the integral mathematical-geological model are the closest to the actual underground situation, the errors between the hydrocarbon column height predicted by this method and the actual column height were 0–8 m only, proving that this model is more feasible and credible

Development and exploration practice of the concept of hydrocarbon accumulation in rifted-basin troughs: A case study of Paleogene Kongdian Formation in Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basin

Based on the merged 3D seismic data, well logging, formation testing, analysis and testing data, the structural evolution, sedimentary reservoirs, thermal evolution of source rocks were investigated of Paleogene Kongdian Formation in the trough area of Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basin. A conventional-unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation pattern in the trough area of rifted basin was revealed. The reservoir forming elements in the trough area of Cangdong sag have a zonation feature in terms of reservoirs and source rocks. There are two types of reservoir forming models, primary trough and reformed trough. The formation and evolution of trough controlled the orderly distribution of conventional oil to unconventional oil in the trough. Particularly, structural reservoirs occur in the upper part of the trough, stratigraphic-lithologic reservoirs are likely to form in the delta front deposits at the outer ring of trough, the middle ring transitional belt is the favorable site for tight oil reservoirs, while the fine grain deposits zone in the inner ring is shale oil and gas exploration area. The study has pointed out the new domains and directions for searching reserves in the secondary exploration of mature oilfields. Key words: rifted basin, trough hydrocarbon accumulation, stratigraphic-lithologic reservoir, shale oil, orderly accumulation, Bohai Bay Basin, Cangdong sag, Paleogene Kongdian Formatio

Geological characteristics of shale rock system and shale oil exploration breakthrough in a lacustrine basin: A case study from the Paleogene 1st sub-member of Kong 2 Member in Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Abstract: A deep understanding of the basic geologic characteristics of the fine-grained shale layers in the Paleogene 1st sub-member of Kong 2 Member (Ek21) in Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basin, is achieved through observation of 140 m continuous cores and systematic analysis of over 1 000 core samples from two wells. Basic geological conditions for shale oil accumulation are proposed based on the unconventional geological theory of oil and gas. The shale rock system mainly developed interbedded formation of felsic shale, calcareous and dolomitic shale and carbonates; high quality hydrocarbon source rock formed in the stable and closed environment is the material base for shale oil enrichment; intergranular pores in analcite, intercrystalline pores in dolomite and interlayer micro-fractures make tight carbonate, calcareous and dolomitic shale and felsic shale effective reservoirs, with brittle mineral content of more than 70%; high abundance laminated shale rock in the lower section of Ek21 is rich in shale oil, with a total thickness of 70 m, burial depth between 2 800 to 4 200 m, an average oil saturation of 50%, a sweet spot area of 260 km2 and predicted resources of over 5×108 t. Therefore, this area is a key replacement domain for oil exploration in the Kongdian Formation of the Cangdong sag. At present, the KN9 vertical well has a daily oil production of 29.6 t after fracturing with a 2 mm choke. A breakthrough of continental shale oil exploration in a lacustrine basin is expected to be achieved by volume fracturing in horizontal wells. Key words: shale oil, fine grained deposits, horizontal well, volume fracturing, shale reservoir sweet spot, Paleogene Kongdian Formation, Cangdong sag, Bohai Bay Basi

Hydrocarbon phase limit and conversion process in the deep formation from Qikou Sag of Bohai Bay rift lacustrine basin, China

It is an important research direction for the prediction of hydrocarbon phase in the reservoir during the deep exploration of rift basins in eastern China. The typical lacustrine crude oil of Shahejie Formation in Qikou Sag was used for oil cracking to gas simulation experiment by the gold tube in this paper. Then, the kinetic parameters obtained from the experimental data were studied during the cracking reactions and the hydrocarbon phase conversion process under geological conditions. The results showed that the activation energy of the oil cracking to gas from the BH-28 lacustrine crude oil ranged from 250 kJ/mol to 270 kJ/mol with an average of EO = 255.47 kJ/mol, and the frequency factor was about A = 1014 s−1. It is higher than that of typical marine oil EO = 246.97 kJ/mol. Using these kinetic parameters, the simulated cracking process of the lacustrine oil of Shahejie Formation was far different from that of marine oil from western China under the same geological heating rate (3 °C/Ma). And the simulated oil cracking degree in Well Niudong-1 is 73.9%, almost the same with the conversion cracking degree (60%–75%) by concentrations of 3,4-dimethyldiamantane. The kinetics of oil cracking gas could be used to investigate the oil cracking degree easily, then to get the theoretical separate oil phase depth limit. By using this model, oil in Qikou Sag, as a theoretical separate phase destruction, occurs above 5700 m depth limit (RO is about 2.0%, reservoir temperature = 209 °C, with cracking transition C of 62.5%), and condensate gas destruction occurs above 6700 m depth limit (RO is about 3.2%, reservoir temperature = 240 °C, with C to 99%) under the geological conditions from Qikou Sag. Actually, the hydrocarbon phase is affected by many factors. For example, migration and changes of temperature and pressure conditions have great influence on phase conversion behavior. The injection of gas, originated from kerogen cracking gas and oil cracking gas in deeper, could increase GOR and the real separate phase depth would reduce

Quantitative Evaluation of Synsedimentary Fault Opening and Sealing Properties using Hydrocarbon Connection Probability Assessment

Hydraulic behaviors of faults in sedimentary basins have been paid close attention in studies of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation because of their important functions in basin hydraulic circulations. In previous studies, however, the function of faults in hydrocarbon migration is characterized by the sealing capacity of faults. In fact, sealing is only an impressive and time-dependent aspect of the hydraulic behavior of faults, which may act as seals during some periods and as pathways some time later. Therefore, in hydrocarbon migration studies, sealing indices may successfully be used in some cases but not in others. In this article, we introduce an empirical method (termed the fault-connectivity probability method) for assessing the hydraulic connecting capacity of a fault for hydrocarbon migration over geological time scales. The method is based on the recognition that observable hydrocarbon in reservoirs should result from the opening and closing behavior of the fault during the entire process of hydrocarbon migration. In practice, the cumulative petroleum migration through a segment of the fault zone is identified by the presence (or not) of hydrocarbon-bearing layers on both sides of the segment. Data from the Chengbei step-fault zone (CSFZ) in the Qikou depression, Bohai Bay Basin, northeast China, were used to develop this method. Fluid pressure in mudstones, normal stress perpendicular to fault plane, and shale gouge ratio are identified as the key factors representing fault-seal capacity. They are combined to define a nondimensional fault opening index (FOI). The values of FOI are calculated from the measured values of the key factors, and the relationship between FOI and fault-connectivity probability on any fault segment is established through statistical analysis. Based on the data from the CSFZ, when the FOI is less than 0.75, the fault-connectivity probability is 0; when FOI ranges from 0.75 to 3.25, the corresponding fault-connectivity probability increases from 0 to 1 following a quadratic polynomial relationship; when FOI is greater than 3.25, the fault-connectivity probability is 1. The values of fault-connectivity probability can be contoured on a fault plane to characterize the variations of hydraulic connective capacity on the fault plane. The applicability of this concept for other oil fields (in particular, the quantitative relationship between FOI and fault-connectivity probability) has still to be ascertained

Medium-deep clastic reservoirs in the slope area of Qikou sag, Huanghua depression, Bohai Bay Basin

To get a better understanding of the distribution pattern of favorable reservoir belts in the medium-deep clastic rocks in the Qikou sag of the Huanghua depression, and find out premium reservoir zone, the characteristics and controlling factors of the medium-deep reservoirs in the Qikou sag were analyzed. Comprehensive study into the structural setting, provenance, depositional system, and reservoir properties shows that the Paleogene in the Qikou sag has multi-sags and multi-slopes, with slopes accounting for over 70% of the total sag area. A number of large braided river (fan) delta front - gravity flow sand bodies matching with multi-slope zones lay a good material foundation for the formation of medium-deep effective reservoirs there. Generally buried at over 2500 m, the medium-deep clastic rocks are lithic feldspathic sandstone, with secondary pores and cracks as major reservoir space. Being in the medium diagenesis evolution stage, the medium-deep clastic rocks in the Qikou sag span over a large depth. Nine major factors affecting reservoir properties have been identified by mathematical geology. Although the medium-deep clastic rock interval is poor in physical properties and complex in pore structure, high sedimentation rate, medium geothermal field, high fluid pressure, high feldspar content, relatively high dissolution rate and early oil and gas charge have given rise to three to four belts with abnormally high porosity in it, which are all favorable hydrocarbon reservoir zones. Key words: slope area, medium-deep clastic, oil and gas reservoir, diagenetic evolution, Paleogene, Qikou sag, Bohai Bay Basi