Abstract:

Shale oil is liquid hydrocarbon formed in the effective source rocks with free phase(condense oil), adsorbed and dissolved phase(dissolved in gas, kerogen and residual water). According to hydrocarbon phase, genesis and exploration procedures of hydrocarbon within the shale, the shale oil and gas are classified into two groups and eight classes. Based on the shale oil characteristics in China, the shale oil forming conditions and distribution law were concluded. Large scale distribution of effective shales, development of organic rich shales in deep waterhalf deep water with thermal maturity, and good matrix physical properties are the necessary conditions for the formation of shale oil. Furthermore, we created the shale oil development mode in the continental faulted lake basin, and pointed out that the probability volumetric calculation method can be used to assess shale oil resource, and also put forward the parameter system and criteria for shale oil prospective area, favorable area and target area. The success in shale oil development has significant impact on the energy consumption structure in China.

Key words:  shale oil, forming conditions, distribution, resource assessment, target choice criteria