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Rare earth element (REE) and Y concentrations, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios were analyzed in 33 carbonate samples from the Paleogene Shahejie Formation in the Qikou depression, eastern China, with the goal of determining depositional environments and post-depositional conditions of carbonates in the region. The REE and Y concentrations were normalized to the post-Archean Australian shale (PAAS) standard. The La*PAAS/Yb*PAAS ratios of 0.35-1.52, where *PAAS indicates values for the PAAS standard, show light REE enrichment and heavy REE depletion in most samples. Values of La*PAAS (0.775-1.284) and Ce*PAAS (0.822-1.224), coupled with a relatively flat REE distribution, indicate that the Shahejie carbonates were deposited in lacustrine environments. Values of Y anomalies (1.009-1.527) and Y/Ho ratios (28.43-45.00) in the Shahejie Formation are greater than those of lacustrine carbonates and closer to those of marine carbonates, indicating that diagenetic fluids were probably influenced by seawater. In the carbonates from Well Kou-42, Eu anomalies (1.171-1.604), 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.708 001-0.710 893), and high homogenization temperatures (104-151 ºC) suggest that the carbonates were affected by hydrothermal fluids. The REEs and Sr isotope ratios show that the carbonates from the Shahejie Formation in the Qikou depression were deposited in lacustrine environments, and were influenced by seawater and hydrothermal fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paleozoic Wufeng-Longmaxi shale is one of the main horizons for shale gas exploration in Sichuan Basin. Outcrop, core and thin section observations, X-ray diffraction analysis, trace element geochemistry and other methods have been used to understand the sedimentary characteristics and identify hydrocarbon source rocks in suitable sedimentary paleoenvironments in the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in northern Guizhou Province. The thickness of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation ranges from 20 to 200 m and it was mainly deposited on a deep-water shelf. The TOC content is high, up to 5.75%. The main non-organic minerals are detrital quartz and clay minerals, with a little plagioclase feldspar, potassium feldspar, calcite, dolomite and pyrite. There is also biogenic microcrystalline quartz. Six lithofacies have been identified: siliceous shale, clay shale, calcareous shale, silty shale, carbonaceous shale, and muddy siltstone. Using biological Ba, V/(V+Ni), TOC, V/Cr, B, Sr/Ba and other indicators, we estimate primary productivity, redox conditions and paleosalinity and show that the early stage of Wufeng-Longmaxi deposition occurred under strong anoxic conditions, high paleosalinity and yielded a high TOC content and an excellent potential shale gas source. The anoxic environment was destroyed at the late stages of Wufeng-Longmaxi deposition, the TOC content decreased, so that it is likely to be a high quality source rock. Organic pores acted as the key reservoir space in the shales, and the pores are mainly mesopose, with most pore diameters less than 20 nm. The siliceous shale has high TOC content and brittle mineral (quartz) content making it an important exploration target for shale oil and gas exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the porosity controlling factors for tight sandstone reservoir in the Daniudi gas field, Ordos Basin based on an integrated petrographic, petrophysical and geostatistical analyses, and proposed a comprehensive prediction model for reservoir porosity. Compaction was found to be a key factor for causing reservoir densification. The degree of sandstone compaction appears to be affected by grain sizes and sorting. Under normal compaction conditions (e.g., cement content less than 6%, and with no dissolution), the variation in reservoir porosity with burial depth can be well correlated with grain compositions, grain sizes, and sorting. Based on qualitative examination of the controlling factors for reservoir porosities, geostatistics were used to quantify the effects of various geological parameters on reservoir porosities. A statistical model for comprehensive prediction of porosity was then established, on the assumption that the present reservoir porosity directly relates to both normal compaction and diagenesis. This model is easy to use, and has been validated with measured porosity data. The porosity controlling factors and the comprehensive porosity prediction can be used to quantify effects of the main controlling factors and their interaction on reservoir property evolution, and may provide a reference model for log interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the sedimentary and tectonic background of the Termit Basin, this paper focuses on the Upper Cretaceous Yogou Formation and uses organic geochemistry, logging, oil testing and seismic data to analyze the primary control factors of the hydrocarbon accumulation and establish corresponding model in order to predict favorable exploration target zones of hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study demonstrates that the Upper Cretaceous Yogou Formation is a self-generation and self-accumulation type reservoir. The Yogou Formation hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Koulele area are controlled by four factors: (1) the source rock is controlled by a wide range of YS1-YS2 marine shale, (2) the sandstone reservoir is controlled by the YS3 underwater distributary channel and storm dunes, (3) migration of hydrocarbons is controlled by faults and the regional monocline structure, and (4) the accumulation of hydrocarbons is controlled by lateral seal. The structures in the western Koulele area are primarily reverse fault-blocks with large throws, and the structures in the east are dominantly fault-blocks with small throws (co-rotating and reverse) and a fault-nose. In the western Koulele area, where the facies are dominated by storm dunes on a larger scale, it is easier to form lithologic reservoirs of sandstone lens. In the eastern Koulele area, high-quality channel sandstone reservoirs, fault-blocks with small throws, and the monocline structure benefit for the formation of updip pinch out lithologic traps, fault lithologic reservoirs and fault-nose structural reservoirs. Future exploration targets should be focused in the western storm dunes zone and eastern distributary channel sand zone with small fault-blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conception of special geologic bodies has been applied in this study to define and illustrate economic oil and gas reservoirs in sandbodies, which is helpful for hydrocarbon forecast and exploration. Using the comprehensive analysis of drilling, logging, seismic, seismic attribute extraction, and logging constrained inversion in 3D data volume, the special geologic bodies of the Shahejie Formation (P s ) in northern Qikou sag, which have good hydrocarbon potential, are identified and described under the constraint of sequence stratigraphic framework. The dimensions, geometry, and spatial distribution features of the special geologic bodies, as well as their inner architectures and sequence-structure patterns, are also ascertained. The geologic bodies evolved from relative centralization in the middle part of the lacustrine basin in the early stage of P s Formation, to several dispersive isolated parts in the later stage. This shows a small cycle interval (~2.5 Ma) at the end of the whole transgressive depositional process of P s1 (~7.5 Ma) during the expansion of the lake and relative lake level rise, with the control of sediments supply and fault-related subsidence, which effect the evolution of the sedimentary system. According to the relevance and regularity of the geologic bodies' development, different types of potential profitable reservoir traps, including the lithologic lenticular traps, lithologic updip pinchout traps, and structural-lithologic composite traps, can be preserved in the study area. In addition, the internal architecture models provide scientific basis for further hydrocarbon exploration in the frontier basin without enough data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbonates in the Middle Ordovician Ma submember of the Majiagou Formation in the northern Ordos Basin are partially to completely dolomitized. Two types of replacive dolomite are distinguished: (1) type 1 dolomite, which is primarily characterized by microcrystalline (<30 µm), euhedral to subhedral dolomite crystals, and is generally laminated and associated with gypsum-bearing microcrystalline dolomite, and (2) type 2 dolomite, which is composed primarily of finely crystalline (30-100 μm), regular crystal plane, euhedral to subhedral dolomite. The type 2 dolomite crystals are truncated by stylolites, indicating that the type 2 dolomite most likely predated or developed simultaneously with the formation of the stylolites. Stratigraphic, petrographic, and geochemical data indicate that the type 1 dolomite formed from near-surface, low-temperature, and slightly evaporated seawater and that the dolomitizing fluids may have been driven by density differences and elevation-related hydraulic head. The absence of massive depositional evaporites in the dolomitized intervals indicates that dolomitization was driven by the reflux of slightly evaporated seawater. The δO values (−7.5 to −6.1 ‰) of type 1 dolomite are slightly lower than those of seawater-derived dolomite, suggesting that the dolomite may be related to the recrystallization of dolomite at higher temperatures during burial. The type 2 dolomite has lower δO values (−8.5 to −6.7 ‰) and Sr concentration and slightly higher Na, Fe, and Mn concentrations and Sr/Sr ratios (0.709188-0.709485) than type 1 dolomite, suggesting that the type 2 dolomite precipitated from modified seawater and dolomitic fluids in pore water and that it developed at slightly higher temperatures as a result of shallow burial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neoproterozoic successions in the Aksu region, NW China, which lies unconformably on the Precambrian Aksu Group basement, comprises the Qiaoenbrak, Yuermeinak, Sugetbrak, and Chigebrak formations (from bottom to top). The two lowermost units include two distinct glacial diamictites, which indicate distinct episodes of glaciations. We report the major and trace element (including rare earth element) data for the Qiaoenbrak, Yuermeinak, and Sugetbrak formations to identify the paleoclimatic perturbations. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) values show variations from Qiaoenbrak to Yuermeinak, then Sugetbrak formations. The diamictites have relatively lower chemical index of alteration values (45.23-59.64) than inter-, post- and non-glacial sediments (48.28-66.96). This result supported the condition that the diamictites underwent relatively weak chemical weathering from a dry-cold sedimentary environment, which is associated with the sedimentary facies description. The lower Neoproterozoic successions recoded at least two glaciations, one is Qiaoenbrak glaciation and the other is Yuermeinak glaciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]