Geological Conditions and Prospect Forecast of Shale Gas Formation in Qiangtang Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The presence of shale gas has been confirmed in almost every marine shale distribution area in North America. Formation conditions of shale gas in China are the most favorable for marine, organic-rich shale as well. But there has been little research focusing on shale gas in Qiangtang Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where a lot of Mesozoic marine shale formations developed. Based on the survey results of petroleum geology and comprehensive test analysis data for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, for the first time, this paper discusses characteristics of sedimentary development, thickness distribution, geochemistry, reservoir and burial depth of organic-rich shale, and geological conditions for shale gas formation in Qiangtang Basin. There are four sets of marine shale strata in Qiangtang Basin including Upper Triassic Xiaochaka Formation (T(3)x), Middle Jurassic Buqu Formation (J(2)b), Xiali Formation (J(2)x) and Upper Jurassic Suowa Formation (J(3)s), the sedimentary types of which are mainly bathyal-basin facies, open platform-platform margin slope facies, lagoon and tidal-flat facies, as well as delta facies. By comparing it with the indicators of gas shale in the main U.S. basins, it was found that the four marine shale formations in Qiangtang Basin constitute a multi-layer distribution of organic-rich shale, featuring a high degree of thickness and low abundance of organic matter, high thermal evolution maturity, many kinds of brittle minerals, an equivalent content of quartz and clay minerals, a high content of feldspar and low porosity, which provide basic conditions for an accumulation of shale gas resources. Xiaochaka Formation shale is widely distributed, with big thickness and the best gas generating indicators. It is the main gas source layer. Xiali Formation shale is of intermediate thickness and coverage area, with relatively good gas generating indicators and moderate gas formation potential. Buqu Formation shale and Suowa Formation shale are of relatively large thickness, and covering a small area, with poor gas generating indicators, and limited gas formation potential. The shale gas geological resources and technically recoverable resources were estimated by using geologic analogy method, and the prospective areas and potentially favorable areas for Mesozoic marine shale gas in Qiangtang Basin are forecast and analyzed. It is relatively favorable in a tectonic setting and indication of oil and gas, shale maturity, sedimentary thickness and gypsum-salt beds, and in terms of mineral association for shale gas accumulation. But the challenge lies in overcoming the harsh natural conditions which contributes to great difficulties in ground engineering and exploration, and high exploration costs.