Influences of different alkaline and acidic diagenetic environments on diagenetic evolution and reservoir quality of alkaline lake shales

Abstract

Thin section and argon-ion polishing scanning electron microscope observations were used to analyze the sedimentary and diagenetic environments and main diagenesis of the Permian Fengcheng Formation shales in different depositional zones of Mahu Sag in the Junggar Basin, and to reconstruct their differential diagenetic evolutional processes. The diagenetic environment of shales in the lake-central zone kept alkaline, which mainly underwent the early stage (Ro<0.5%) dominated by the authigenesis of Na-carbonates and K-feldspar and the late stage (Ro0.5%) dominated by the replacement of Na-carbonates by reedmergnerite. The shales from the marginal zone underwent a transition from weak alkaline to acidic diagenetic environments, with the early stage dominated by the authigenesis of Mg-bearing clay and silica and the late stage dominated by the dissolution of feldspar and carbonate minerals. The shales from the transitional zone also underwent a transition from an early alkaline diagenetic environment, evidenced by the formation of dolomite and zeolite, to a late acidic diagenetic environment, represented by the reedmergnerite replacement and silicification of feldspar and carbonate minerals. The differences in formation of authigenic minerals during early diagenetic stage determine the fracability of shales. The differences in dissolution of minerals during late diagenetic stage control the content of free shale oil. Dolomitic shale in the transitional zone and siltstone in the marginal zone have relatively high content of free shale oil and strong fracability, and are favorable “sweet spots” for shale oil exploitation and development.

Keywords

• shale diagenesis
• alkaline environment
• authigenic minerals
• dissolution
• Permian Fengcheng Formation
• Mahu Sag