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Distribution characteristics, organic matter development characteristics, gas-bearing characteristics, reservoir characteristics, and preservation conditions of the Shahezi Formation shale of Lower Cretaceous in the Lishu fault depression, Songliao Basin, NE China, are analyzed using organic geochemical, whole rock, and SEM analysis data, and CO2 and N2 adsorption and high-pressure mercury injection experiment data in combination with the tectonic and sedimentation evolution of the region to reveal the geological conditions for enrichment and resource potential of continental shale gas. The organic-rich shale in the Lower Cretaceous of the Lishu fault depression is mainly developed in the lower submember of the second member of the Shahezi Formation (K1sh21 Fm.) and is thick and stable in distribution. The shale has high TOC, mainly types II1 and II2 organic matter, and is in the mature to the over-mature stage. The volcanic activity, salinization, and reduction of the water environment are conducive to the formation of the organic-rich shale. The shale reservoirs have mainly clay mineral intergranular pores, organic matter pores, carbonate mineral dissolution pores, and foliated microfractures as storage space. The pores are in the mesopore range of 10–50 nm, and the microfractures are mostly 5–10 μm wide. Massive argillaceous rocks of lowland and highstand domains are deposited above and below the gas-bearing shale separately in the lower submember of the K1sh21 Fm., act as the natural roof and floor in the process of shale gas accumulation and preservation, and control the shale gas enrichment. Based on the above understandings, the first shale gas exploration well in Shahezi Formation was drilled in the Lishu fault depression of Songliao Basin. After fracturing, the well tested a daily gas production of 7.6×104 m3 marking a breakthrough in continental shale gas exploration in the Shahezi Formation (K1sh Fm.) of the Lishu fault depression in Songliao Basin. The exploration practice has reference significance for the exploration of continental shale gas in the Lower Cretaceous of Songliao Basin and its periphery.

Pure shales in the first member of Qingshankou Formation (simplified as Qing 1 Member) in the southern Songliao Basin, i.e., the semi-deep and deep lacustrine shales, are characterized by a high content of clay minerals and poor hydrocarbon mobility, making the development of shale oil difficult. According to the drilling and testing results, the shale of Qing 1 Member can be classified into 3 lithofacies, i.e., bedded argillaceous shale, laminated diamictite shale, and interbedded felsic shale. The TOC and brittle minerals control the enrichment of shale oil, of them, TOC controls the total oil content, in other words, the total oil content increases with the increase of TOC; while the laminae made up of brittle minerals contain a large number of bigger intergranular pores which are favorable enrichment space for movable shale oil. In consideration of the origins of the 3 lithofacies, two shale oil enrichment models are classified, i.e., the deep lacustrine high-TOC bedded argillaceous shale (Model-I) and the semi-deep lacustrine moderate-high-TOC laminated diamictite shale (Model-II). In the Model-I, the shale is characterized by high hydrocarbon generation ability, high total oil content, abundant horizontal bedding fractures, and vertical and high angle fractures locally; the complex fracture network formed by horizontal bedding fractures and vertical fractures improve the storage capacity and permeability of the shale reservoir, increase the enrichment space for movable oil. In the Model-II, the shale is characterized by good hydrocarbon generation ability and fairly high total oil content, and as the brittle laminae contain large intergranular pores, the shale has a higher movable oil content. Based on the two models, shale oil sweet-spot areas of 2880 km2 in the southern Songliao Basin are favorable for further exploration. Aimed at the difficulties in reservoir fracturing of the lacustrine shale with a high content of clay minerals, the composite fracturing technology with supercritical carbon dioxide was used in the shale oil reservoir for the first time, realizing large-scale volume fracturing in shale with a high content of clay minerals and strong heterogeneity, marking a breakthrough of oil exploration in continental shale with a high content of clay minerals in China.