Skip to main content
Log in

Comprehensive thermal maturity assessment in shales: a case study on the upper cretaceous Qingshankou formation (Songliao Basin, NE China)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Songliao Basin is the largest Early Cretaceous lacustrine rift basin of northeast China and hosts tremendous conventional and unconventional petroleum resources. However, the distribution of shale oil is not well constrained, as production from source rock reservoirs requires certain thermal maturity cut-offs (vitrinite reflectance of > 0.8%Rr). In this study, the thermal maturity of the Qiangshankou Formation along the Southern Uplift and in the Central Depression of the Songliao Basin was evaluated by combining traditional and advanced petrographic and geochemical maturity proxies with clay mineralogical investigations. The Qingshankou Formation is one of the major source rocks of the region, but previous studies encountered difficulties in obtaining reliable maturity data, mainly due to strongly shifted Tmax values. Equally, Tmax determined during this study showed apparent shifting likely caused either by retained solid bitumen or by variations in kerogen type. In contrast, the measured vitrinite reflectance shows a reliable depth trend, meeting the shale oil cut-off maturity of 0.8%Ro at a drilling depth of ~ 2300 m, which is only reached in the Central Depression of the basin. The vitrinite reflectance trend is supported by changes in clay mineralogy, such as the progressing ordering of I/S mixed layers (“Reichweite”), increasing illitization, decreasing detrital kaolinite and correspondingly increasing authigenic chlorite contents. Maturity-related biomarker proxies are only partly valid; while the methylphenanthrene index (MPI-1) and the trimethylnaphthalene ratio (TNR-1) show reliable maturity trends even over short depth intervals, other established proxies (e.g. based on alkylbiphenyls) proved insensitive to changes from immature to peak oil mature and are, therefore, not recommended for further use in studies on Qingshankou Fm. shales. In summary, the combination of various maturity parameters improves the understanding of shale oil distribution in the central Songliao Basin, providing valuable insights for studies on similar unconventional targets in the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berger G, Velde B, Aigouy T (1999) Potassium sources and illitization in Texas Gulf Coast shale diagenesis. J Sediment Res 69:151–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai X (1995) An application of basin simulation technique in Songliao Basin. Acta Pet Sin 16:22–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Camp W (2014) Diagenesis of organic-rich shale: views from foraminifera penetralia, Eagle Ford Formation, Maverick Basin, Texas. In: AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Denver, CO, July 20–22, AAPG Datapages Search and Discovery Article #51054.

  • Cao Q, Zhou W, Deng H, Chen W (2015) Classification and controlling factors of organic pores in continental shale gas reservoirs based on laboratory experimental results. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 27:1381–1388

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Watanabe K, Kusuda H, Kusaka E (2011) Mabuchi Crack growth in Westerly granite during a cyclic loading test. Eng Geol 117:189–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Clementz D (1979) Effect of oil and bitumen saturation on source-rock pyrolysis. AAPG Bull 63:2227–2232

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellisanti F, Pini G, Baudin F (2010) Use of Tmax as a thermal indicator in orogenic successions and comparsion with clay mineral evolution. Clay Miner 45:115–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewing K, Sanei H (2009) Analysis of large thermal maturity datasets: examples from the Canadian Arctic Islands. Int J Coal Geol 77:436–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Espitalié J, Deroo G, Marquis F (1985) La pyrolyse Rock-Eval et ses applications. Deuxième partie. Revue de l’Institut français du Pétrole 40:755–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng Z, Jia C, Xie X, Zhang S, Feng Z (2010) Cross TA. Tectonostrati-graphic units and stratigraphic sequences of the nonmarine Songliao Basin. Northeast China Basin Res 22:79–95

    Google Scholar 

  • George C, Ahmedm M (2002) Use of aromatic compound distributions to evaluate organic maturity of the Proterozoic middle Velkerri Formation, McArthur Basin, Australia. In: Keep M, Moss SJ, editors. The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia, October 20th–23rd. Perth: Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.

  • George C, Ruble T, Dutkiewicz A, Eadington P (2001) Assessing the maturity of oil trapped in fluid inclusions using molecular geochemistry data and visually-de-termined fluorescence colours. Appl Geochem 16:451–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves P, Mendonça Filho J, Mendonça J, da Silva T, Flores D (2013) Paleoenvironmental characterization of a Jurassic sequence on the Bombarral sub-basin (Lusitanian basin, Portugal): Insights from palynofacies and organic geochemistry. Int J Coal Geol 113:27–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackley P, Lewan M (2018) Understanding and distinguishing reflectance measurements of solid bitumen and vitrinite using hydrous pyrolysis: implications to petroleum assessment. AAPG Bull 10:1119–1140

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackley P, Ryder R, Trippi M, Alimi H (2013) Thermal maturity of northern Appalachian Basin Devonian shales: insights from sterane and terpane biomarkers. Fuel 106:455–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Han Y, Mahlstedt N, Horsfield B (2015) The Barnett Shale: compositional fractionation associated with intraformational petroleum migration, retention, and expulsion. AAPG Bull 99:2173–2202

    Google Scholar 

  • Herron S, Letendre I, Dufour M (1988) Source rock evaluation using geochemical information from wireline logs and cores. AAPG Bull 72:1007 [abs.].

  • Hillier S (1993) Origin, diagenesis, and mineralogy of chlorite minerals in Devonian Lacustrine Mudrocks, Orcadian Basin, Scotland. Clays Clay Miner 41:240–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillier S, Matyas J, Matter A, Vasseur G (1995) Illite/smectite diagenesis and its variable correlation with vitrinite reflectance in the Pannonian basin. Clays Clay Minerals 43:174–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman J, Hower J (1979) Clay mineral assemblages as low grade metamorphic geothermo meters: application to the thrust faulted disturbed belt of Montana. In: Scholle PA, Schluger PS (eds) Aspects of Diagenesis. Society for Sedimentary Geology Special Publication 26:55–79.

  • Horsfield B, Dembicki H, Ho T (1983) Some potential applications of pyrolysis to basin studies. J Geol Soc 140:431–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou Y, Wang F, He S, Dong T, Wu S (2017) Properties and shale oil potential of saline lacustrine shales in the Qianjiang depression, Jianghan Basin, China. Marine Pet Geol 86:1173–1190

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutton A, Cook A (1980) Influence of alginite on the reflectance of vitrinite from Joadja, NSW, and some other coals and oil shales containing alginite. Fuel 59:711–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvie D (2012b) Shale resource systems for oil and gas: part 1-Shale oil resource systems. In: Breyer, J. (Ed.), Shale Reservoirs–Giant Resources for the 21st Century. AAPG Memoir 97:1–19.

  • Jarvie D, Lundell L (2001) Kerogen type and thermal transformation of organic matter in the miocene monterey formation. Columbia University Press.

  • Jarvie D, Hill R, Ruble T, Pollastro R (2007) Unconventional shale-gas systems: the Mississippian Barnett Shale of north-central Texas as one model for thermogenic shale-gas assessment. AAPG Bull 91:475–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvie D, Jarvie B, Weldon W, Maende A (2012) Components and processes impacting production success from unconventional shale resource systems. Energy Fuel 20:295–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawka O, Simoneit B (1987) Survey of hydrothermally-generated petroleums from the Guaymas Basin spreading center. Org Geochem 11:311–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Klett T, Ahlbrandt T, Schmoker J, Dolton G (1997) Ranking of the World’s Oil and Gas Provinces by Known Petroleum Volumes. US Geological Survey.

  • Kus J, Khanaqa P, Mohialdeen I, Kaufhold S, Babies H, Meßner J, Blumenberg M (2016) Solid bitumen, bituminite and thermal maturity of the Upper Jurassic-lower cretaceous Chia Gara Formation Kirkuk Oil Field, Zagros Fold Belt, Kurdistan. Iraq Int J Coal Geol 165:28–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Langford FF, Blanc-Valleron M-M (1990) Interpreting Rock-Eval pyrolysis data using graphs of pyrolyzable hydrocarbons versus total organic carbon. AAPG Bull 74:799–804

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Wang Y, Hu H, Wang H, Zhang H, Li Y, Zhu X (2015a) Shale reservoir characteristics of qing-1 member of cretaceous Qingshankou formation in northern Songliao Basin. Xinjing Pet Geol 36:20–24 ((In Chinese with English abstract))

    Google Scholar 

  • Li W, Lu S, Xue H, Zhang P, Hu Y (2015b) Oil content in argillaceous dolomite from the Jianghan Basin, China: application of new grading evaluation criteria to study shale oil potential. Fuel 143:424–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Wang D, Liu L, Liu W, Wang P, Du X, Yang G (1993) Sedimentary characteristics of the Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin. Acta Geol Sinica, English Edition 6:167–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Dong Q, Ye S, Zhu J, Guo W, Li D, Liu R, Zhang H, Du J (2006) The situation of oil shale resources in China. J Jilin Univ (Earth Sci Edition) 36:869–876

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Yang H, Dong Q, Zhu J, Guo W, Ye S, Liu R, Meng Q, Zhang H, Gan S (2009) Oil Shale in China. Petroleum Industry Press (in Chinese with English abstract).

  • Liu Z, Meng Q, Dong Q, Zhu J, Ye S, Liu R, Jia J (2017) Characteristics and resource potential of oil shale in China. Oil Shale 34:15–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Shi J, Fu X, Lyu Y, Sun X, Gong L, Bai Y (2018) Petrological characteristics and shale oil enrichment of lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary system: a case study of organic-rich shale in first member of Cretaceous Qingshankou formation in Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin, NE China. Petrol Exploration Dev 45:884–894

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Wang H, Fu X, Bai Y, Bai L, Jia M, He B (2019) Lithofacies and depositional setting of a highly prospective lacustrine shale oil succession from the upper cretaceous Qingshankou formation in the Gulong sag, northern Songliao Basin, northeast China. AAPG Bull 103:405–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Yang Y, Li J, Chi Y, Li J, Fu X (2020a) Stress sensitivity of tight reservoirs and its effect on oil saturation: a case study of Lower Cretaceous tight clastic reservoirs in the Hailar Basin, Northeast China. J Petrol Sci Eng 184:106484

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Xu X, Liu K, Bai J, Liu W, Chen S (2020b) Pore-scale oil distribution in shales of the Qingshankou formation in the Changling Sag, Songliao Basin. NE China Marine Petrol Geol 120:104553

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Q, George S, Xu Y, Zhong N (2016) Organic geochemical characteristics of the Mesoproterozoic Hongshuizhuang formation from northern China: implications for thermal maturity and biological sources. Org Geochem 99:23–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Mastalerz M, Drobniak A, Stankiewicz A (2018) Origin, properties, and implications of solid bitumen in source-rock reservoirs: a review. Int J Coal Geol 195:14–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Misch D, Sachsenhofer R, Bechtel A, Gratzer R, Gross D, Makogon V (2015) Oil/ gas-source rock correlations in the Dniepr-Donets Basin (Ukraine): new insights into the petroleum system. Mar Pet Geol 67:720–742

    Google Scholar 

  • Misch D, Gross D, Mahlstedt N, Makogon V, Sachsenhofer R (2016b) Shale gas/shale oil potential of Upper Visean Black Shales in the Dniepr-Donets Basin (Ukraine). Mar Pet Geol 75:203–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Misch D, Mendez-Martin F, Hawranek G, Onuk P, Gross D, Sachsenhofer R (2016a) SEM and FIB-SEM investigations on potential gas shales in the Dniepr-Donets Basin (Ukraine): pore space evolution in organic matter during thermal maturation. In: IOP Conference Series 109:012010, https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/109/1/012010.

  • Misch D, Klaver J, Gross D, Rustamov J, Sachsenhofer R, Schmatz J, Urai J (2018) Pore space characteristics of Upper Visean “Rudov Beds”: insights from BIB-SEM and organic geochemical investigations. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 484:24

    Google Scholar 

  • Misch D, Klaver J, Gross D, Mayer-Kiener V, Mendez-Martin F, Schmatz J, Sachsenhofer R (2018) Factors controlling shale microstructure and porosity: a case study on Upper Visean Rudov Beds from the Ukrainian Dniepr-Donets Basin. AAPG Bull. https://doi.org/10.1306/05111817295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of China (2009) The new round of national petroleum resource evaluation. China Land Press Beijing

  • Moldowan J, Sundararaman P, Schoell M (1986) Sensitivity of biomarker properties to depositional environment and/or source input in the Lower Toarcian of SW-Germany. Org Geochem 10:915–926

    Google Scholar 

  • Moldowan J, Fago F, Carlson R, Young D, Duvne G, Clardy J (1991) Rearranged hopanes in sediments and petroleum. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 55:33–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore D, Reynolds J (1997) X-Ray diffraction and the identification and analysis of clay minerals, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumeister S, Gratzer R, Algeo T, Bechtel A, Gawlick H, Newton RJ, Sachsenhofer RF (2015) Oceanic response to Pliensbachian and Toarcian magmatic events: implications from an organic-rich basinal succession in the NW Tethys. Global Planetary Change 126:62–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson M, Small J (1988) Illite-smectite diagenesis and palaeotemperatures in Northern North Sea Quaternary to Mesozoic shale sequences. Clay Miner 23(2):109–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Peltonen C, Marcussen Ø, Bjørlykke K, Jahren J (2009) Clay mineral diagenesis and quartz cementation in mudstones: the effects of smectite to illite reaction on rock properties. Mar Petrol Geol 26:887–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters K, Cassa M (1994) Applied source rock geochemistry. In: Magoon LB, Dow WG (eds) The petroleum system–from source to trap. American association of petroleum geologists.

  • Peters K, Walters C, Moldowan J (2005) The biomarker guide, Biomarkers and Isotopes in Petroleum Exploration and Earth History. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press:1–50.

  • Pollastro R (1993) Considerations and applications of the illite/smectite geothermometer in hydrocarbon-bearing rocks of Miocene to Missisippian Age. Clays Clay Minerals 41:119–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Price L, Barker C (1985) Suppression of vitrinite reflectance in amorphous rich kerogen–a major unrecognized problem. J Pet Geol 8:59–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Radke M (1988) Application of aromatic compounds as maturity indicators in source rocks and crude oils. Mar Pet Geol 5:224–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Radke M, Willsch H, Welte D (1980) Preparative hydrocarbon group type determination by automated medium pressure liquid chromatography. Anal Chem 52:406–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman H, Kennedy M, Lohr S, Dewhurst D (2017) Clay-organic association as a control on hydrocarbon generation in shale. Org Geochem 105:42–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Seifert W, Moldowan J (1986) Use of biological markers in petroleum exploration. Methods Geochem Geophys 24:261–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Littke R, Weniger P, Ostertag-Henning C, Nelskamp S (2015) Shale oil potential and thermal maturity of the Lower Toarcian Posidonia Shale in NW Europe. Int J Coal Geol 150:127–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Strobl S, Sachsenhofer R, Bechtel A, Gratzer R, Gross D, Bokhari S, Liu R, Liu Z, Meng Q, Sun P (2014) Depositional environment of oil shale within the Eocene Jijuntun formation in the Fushun Basin (NE China). Mar Pet Geol 56:166–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Synnott D, Sanei H, Pedersen P, Dewing K, Ardakani O (2016) The effect of bacterial degradation on bituminite reflectance. Int J Coal Geol 162:34–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor G, Teichmülle M, Davis A, Diessel C, Littke R, Robert P (1998) Organic petrology. Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Uysal T, Golding S, Audsley F (2000) Clay mineral authigenesis in the late permian coal measures, Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia. Clays Clay Min 48:351–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Uysal T, Glikson M, Golding S, Audsley F (2000) The thermal history of the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia: vitrinite reflectance and clay mineralogy of Late Permian coal measures. Tectonophysics 323:105–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Varajao A, Meunier A (1996) Burial and thermal conditions of diagenesis in the lower Cretaceous Barra de Itiuba formation, Sergipe-Alagoas basin, Brazil. Bullet Soc Geol 167:597–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Velde B, Vasseur G (1992) Estimation of the diagenetic smectite to illite transformation in time-temperature space. Am Mineralogist 77:967–976

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuković N, Životić D, Mendonca Filho JG, Kravić-Stevović T, Hámor-Vidó M, de Oliveira MJ, Stojanović K (2016) The assessment of maturation changes of humic coal organic matter—Insights from closed-system pyrolysis experiments. Int J Coal Geol 154–155:213–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X (2007) Tectonic Evolution of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basins in the Northeastern China and its Relations with Oil-Gas Occurrence. Geological Publishing House. (in Chinese).

  • Worden R, Morad S (2003) Clay minerals in sandstones: Controls on formation, distribution and evolution, in R. H. Worden and S. Morad, eds., Clay cements in sandstones: International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication 34:3–41.

  • Wust R, Nassichuk B, Brezovski R, Hackley P, Willment N (2013) Vitrinite reflectance versus pyrolysis Tmax data: Assessing thermal maturity in shale plays with special reference to the Duvernay shale play of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Alberta. https://doi.org/10.2118/167031-MS

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S, Horsfield B (2020) Critical review of the uncertainty of Tmax in revealing the thermal maturity of organic matter in sedimentary rocks. Int J Coal Geol 225:103500

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Gao R, Guo Q, Liu Y (1985) Forming, Migration and Accumulation of the Non-marine Petroleum Reservoir in the Songliao Basin. Heilongjiang Scientific and Technology Press (in Chinese).

  • Zhang M, Zhao L (2018) Thermal maturity of the Permian Lucaogou Formation organic-rich shale at the northern foot of Bogda Mountains, Junggar Basin (NW China): effective assessments from organic geochemistry. Fuel 211:278–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P, Xu Y, Meng Q, Liu Z, Zhang J, Shen L, Zhang S (2020) Sequence stratigraphy and geochemistry of oil shale deposits in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou formation of the Songliao Basin, NE China: implications for the geological optimization of in situ oil shale conversion processing. Energies 13:2964

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Littke R, Zieger L, Hou D, Froidl F (2020) Depositional environment, thermal maturity and shale oil potential of the Cretaceous Qingshankou formation in the eastern Changling Sag, Songliao Basin, China: an integrated organic and inorganic geochemistry approach. Int J Coal Geol 332:103621

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y, Littke R (1999) Numerical simulation of the thermal maturation, oil generation and migration in the Songliao Basin, Northeastern China. Mar Pet Geol 16:771–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziegs V, Noah M, Poetz S, Horsfield B, Hartwig A, Rinna J, Skeie J (2018) Unravelling maturity- and migration-related carbazole and phenol distributions in Central Graben crude oils. Mar Pet Geol 94:114–130

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. Günter Nobis and Mrs. Doris Gross  for their support during the laboratory work. We are also grateful to the chief editor, Prof. Wolf-Christian Dullo and two reviewers, Prof. Ralf Littke and Prof. Bo Liu for their suggestions and comments, which significantly improved the quality of the manuscript. We acknowledge support from the China Geological Survey (Grant DD2019139-YQ19JJ04, Grant DD20189606), the Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 41872103), as well as the Evaluation of In-Situ Development Resources and Dynamic Geological Parameters of Oil Shale in Jilin Province project (Grant 20180201077SF) and Jilin University & Jilin Province co-construction project (Grant SXGJSF2017-5). Zhang Penglin was supported by a 12-monthscholarship granted by the National Construction of High-quality University Projects of Graduates from China Scholarship Council (CSC) (No. 201906170223).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingtao Meng.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, P., Misch, D., Meng, Q. et al. Comprehensive thermal maturity assessment in shales: a case study on the upper cretaceous Qingshankou formation (Songliao Basin, NE China). Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 110, 943–962 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02000-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02000-4

Keywords

Navigation