Geochemical characteristics of residual gas released from crushed shale from the Shuijingtuo Formation in Yichang, western Hubei—indication for gas-bearing capacity of shale

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.5.41

Abstract

Abstract:

In this paper, 13 shale samples from the Lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation of well Liuxi ZK003, Yichang area, western Hubei Province were collected for the degassing experiment where residual shale gas released from the crushed shale samples were analyzed. Combined with results on TOC content and mineral composition in shale samples as well as characteristics of desorbed nitrogen-rich shale gas from adjacent area (well ZD1), the origin and source of nitrogen in the Cambrian shale gas were discussed. The total residual gas content in shale samples ranged between 1.45-14.75 μL.STP/g, varying greatly according to the abundance of carbonate minerals. The residual gas was dominated by nitrogen and methane with relative respective abundances of 7.92%-86.27% and 10.10%-90.88%, where the nitrogen abundance was obviously controlled by TOC and clay mineral contents in shale and negatively correlated with residual gas content. The residual gas was mainly hosted in the closed pores of calcite, dolomite, clay minerals and organic matter; whilst nitrogen released from organic matter and amino-clay minerals, under increasing thermal maturation, was the main source of nitrogen in the organic-rich shale formation. In addition, geological processes such as continuous tectonic uplift and denudation might not only cause shale gas leakage, but also lead to nitrogen enrichment in shale. The comparison of nitrogen contents and nitrogen isotopic compositions in Lower Paleozoic marine shale gas from different regions of southern China revealed that the nitrogen content in Cambrian shale gas (2.69%-98.92%) was much higher compared to the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation (0.01%-9.30%), and the ¹⁵N_N2 value in the Shuijingtuo shale gas was obviously higher compared to other areas (¹⁵N_N2=1.5‰-12.7‰). This enrichment of nitrogen might be related to nitrogen released from high temperature pyrolysis of amino-clay minerals.

Key words: shale gas, nitrogen, geochemical characteristics, residual gas, Yichang area, Shuijingtuo Formation

CLC Number:

P593

MENG Kang, SHAO Deyong, ZHANG Liuliu, LI Liwu, ZHANG Yu, LUO Huan, SONG Hui, ZHANG Tongwei. Geochemical characteristics of residual gas released from crushed shale from the Shuijingtuo Formation in Yichang, western Hubei—indication for gas-bearing capacity of shale[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2023, 30(3): 14-27.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 (a) Simplified geological map of the Yichang area (modified after [10]) showing the location of sampling sites, and (b) lithologic column of well Liuxi ZK003

Fig.2 Experimental setup for rock degassing

Fig.3 Comparison of relative abundances (b) and contents (b) of gas components in residual gas from four parallel degassing experiments on crushed shales from the Niutitang Formation, Youyang section, southeastern Chongqing

Fig.4 Gas compositions in residual gas release from crushed shale samples

Fig.5 Contents (a) and relative abundances (b) of gas components in residual gas released from crushed shale samples after corrections for atmospheric and water contamination

Fig.6 Modes of residual gas occurrences within pores of shale rock

Fig.7 Correlations between residual gas content and (a) TOC or (b-d) mineral contents in shale samples

Fig.8 TOC, main mineral and residual gas profiles for the Shuijingtuo shale formation

Fig.9 Cross-plot of TOC and clay contents in shale samples

Fig.10 Correlation between N2 content and residual/desorbed gas contents in the Shuijingtuo shale formation of wells Liuxi ZK003 (blue dot) and Zidi 1 (orange dot), Yichang area

Fig.11 (a) Distribution of typical Lower Paleozoic marine shale gas wells in southern China (basemap modified from [51]), and (b) comparison of nitrogen contents in shale gas from different regions

Fig.12 Identification of nitrogen origin for Lower Paleozoic marine shale gas in southern China (basemap parameters modified after [58])

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