Laminae Characteristics and Their Relationship with Mudstone Reservoir Quality in the Qingshankou Formation, Sanzhao Depression, Songliao Basin, Northeast China

Lamination is the predominant and widely developed sedimentary structure in mudstones. Similar to organic pores in shale gas reservoirs, the inorganic pores in the laminae of shale oil reservoirs are equivalently important high-quality reservoir spaces and flow channels. The laminae characteristics are strongly heterogeneous, being controlled by both deposition and diagenesis. However, the origin of this diversity is poorly understood. A detailed examination of cores, thin sections, and scanning electron microscopy analyses were conducted on the lacustrine mudstone of the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin to study the influence of deposition and diagenesis on laminae characteristics and their relationship to reservoir quality. Three types of laminae are mainly developed, namely thick siliceous laminae, thin siliceous laminae, and thin siliceous and argillaceous mixed laminae. Deposition controls the type and distribution of laminae. The thin siliceous and argillaceous mixed laminae are controlled by climate-driven seasonal flux variations. The thick siliceous laminae and thin siliceous laminae are controlled by bottom current or gravity-driven transport processes due to increased terrestrial input. The thin siliceous laminae have the optimum reservoir properties, followed by the thin siliceous and argillaceous mixed laminae, while the thick siliceous laminae have the worst properties. Diagenesis controls the pore evolution of the laminae. Different laminae have different paths of diagenesis. The thin siliceous laminae are mainly cemented by chlorite, preserving some primary porosity. The clay mineral content of the thin siliceous and argillaceous mixed laminae is high, and the primary pores are mainly destroyed by the strong deformation of the clay minerals during compaction. The thick siliceous laminae are intensely cemented by calcite, losing most of the porosity. The present study enhances the understanding of reservoir characteristics in laminae and provides a reference for shale oil exploration.