Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.2
3.0
Journals
Energies
Special Issues
Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration
energies-logo
Submit to Energies Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H1: Petroleum Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 6163

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kelai Xi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 257099, China
Interests: deposition of fine-grained sediments; tight oil reservoirs; shale oil reserviors and deep to ultra-deep reservoirs
Prof. Dr. Tian Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Interests: deposition of fine-grained sediments; diagenesis of clastic rocks; synergistic diagenetic evolution of sandstones and mudstones

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, with the increasing demand for energy resources, the petroleum industry worldwide has shifted from conventional to unconventional resources. Unlike their conventional counterparts, unconventional oil and gas sources encounter complicated geological processes during their formation. Unconventional oil and gas reservoirs are characterized by fine-grained sediments, extremely low porosity and permeability as well as multiple stages of diagenetic alterations. In addition, oil and gas accumulation processes are not controlled by buoyancy, but rather reservoir heterogeneity. Thus, theories and technologies in unconventional oil and gas exploration are different to those developed for conventional ones. Novel approaches or workflows and integrated investigations with a particular emphasis on this subject are therefore necessary. This Special Issue will present innovative studies in this field demonstrating research on the following topics, among others:

  • Advanced theories and technologies of tight oil and gas exploration;
  • Advanced theories and technologies of shale oil and gas exploration;
  • Advanced theories and technologies of deep oil and gas exploration.

Prof. Dr. Kelai Xi
Prof. Dr. Tian Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • deposition of fine-grained sediments
  • tight sandstone diagenesis
  • pore–throat structures in tight sandstones
  • shale oil and gas reservoir characterization
  • organic–inorganic interaction in shales
  • deep to ultra-deep sandstone reservoir formation
  • unconventional oil and gas reservoir evaluation
  • unconventional oil and gas accumulation mechanisms

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 12274 KiB  
Article
Geological Environment and Controlling Factors of Panlongdong Karst Cave in Northeastern Sichuan Basin
by Deqin Ma, Jingchun Tian, Shun Fu, Qingshao Liang and Jian Li
Energies 2023, 16(14), 5514; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16145514 - 20 Jul 2023
Viewed by 867
Abstract
The karst landforms in northeastern Sichuan Basin are widely developed, but the understanding of the geological characteristics, controlling factors, and spatiotemporal evolution process of karst caves is still unclear. The research object of this study is the Panlongdong karst cave in the northeastern [...] Read more.
The karst landforms in northeastern Sichuan Basin are widely developed, but the understanding of the geological characteristics, controlling factors, and spatiotemporal evolution process of karst caves is still unclear. The research object of this study is the Panlongdong karst cave in the northeastern Sichuan Basin. An outcrop geological survey was carried out, 14C isotope dating of stalactite was performed, carbon and oxygen isotope analysis was completed, and the formation process was identified. The interior of this cave is covered with karst sediments, and its original rocks are the Permian Wujiaping and Changxing formations, with secondary dissolution that has developed. The rock types, geological structure (fault, joint), and climate are the main factors behind the formation of the Panlongdong karst cave. The sedimentation of biogenic reefs and carbonate rocks is a fundamental geological condition for the development of karst processes. The geological structures provide channels for the dissolution of atmospheric precipitation. From 43.5 ka.B.P., six continuous changes in climate have intensified the formation of karst landforms. Warm, humid, and cold dry climate conditions have repeatedly occurred, and carbonate rocks have experienced varying degrees of karstification under the influence of climate. Through the four stages of structural breakup and surface dissolution, secondary cranny dissolution, selective dissolution, and detachment of rock mass and karst sediment formation, the Panlongdong karst cave was ultimately formed. The formation process of the Panlongdong karst cave is of great significance for understanding the evolution of the paleoenvironment in the northeastern Sichuan Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5598 KiB  
Article
Pore Structure Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Tight Reservoirs Controlled by Different Provenance Systems: A Case Study of the Chang 7 Members in Heshui and Xin’anbian of the Ordos Basin
by Ling Xiao, Ling Bi, Tao Yi, Yutian Lei and Qinlian Wei
Energies 2023, 16(8), 3410; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16083410 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1546
Abstract
The evaluation of pore structure is critical in understanding reservoir characteristics. This study aims to analyze the microscopic pore structure characteristics of tight reservoirs from various provenances through physical property analysis, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and constant−rate mercury injection. The [...] Read more.
The evaluation of pore structure is critical in understanding reservoir characteristics. This study aims to analyze the microscopic pore structure characteristics of tight reservoirs from various provenances through physical property analysis, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and constant−rate mercury injection. The pore throat parameters of the Chang 7 reservoir were analyzed and compared to those of the Xin’anbian and the Heshui areas. The results show that intergranular pores dominate the pore type of the Chang 7 reservoir in the Xin’anbian area, followed by feldspathic dissolution pores, with high-necked and tubular throat content caused by weak compaction and dissolution, respectively. On the other hand, feldspar dissolution pores dominate the pore type of the Chang 7 reservoir in the Heshui area, followed by intergranular pores, with a high content of tube−bundle throats caused by dissolution and flake−bent flake throats caused by compaction. The difference in pore parameters between the two blocks is minimal, but the difference in throat parameters is significant. Under the same permeability conditions, the throat radius distribution range of the Chang 7 reservoir samples in the Heshui area is narrower than that in the Xin’anbian area, with tiny throats contributing significantly to reservoir permeability. Sedimentary hydrodynamic conditions and diagenesis are the primary reasons for the differences in the pores, throats, and pore structure parameters of the Chang 7 tight reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 14373 KiB  
Article
Diagenetic Evolution and Its Impact on Reservoir Quality of Tight Sandstones: A Case Study of the Triassic Chang-7 Member, Ordos Basin, Northwest China
by Wei Yu, Feng Wang, Xianyang Liu, Jingchun Tian, Tian Yang, Zhaocai Ren and Li Gong
Energies 2023, 16(5), 2217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16052217 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1412
Abstract
The Upper Triassic Chang-7 Member of the Ordos Basin contains typical tight sandstone reservoirs. Reservoir quality is affected by diagenesis, which is a critical factor in tight oil exploration. In this study, the Chang-7 Member tight sandstones were studied by a variety of [...] Read more.
The Upper Triassic Chang-7 Member of the Ordos Basin contains typical tight sandstone reservoirs. Reservoir quality is affected by diagenesis, which is a critical factor in tight oil exploration. In this study, the Chang-7 Member tight sandstones were studied by a variety of experimental methods, including thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to determine the reservoir characteristics and diagenesis and discuss their influences on the reservoir quality. The Chang-7 Member sandstones are mainly lithic arkose and feldspathic litharenite with an average porosity and permeability of 7.17% and 0.13 mD, respectively. The pore type is mainly primary intergranular pores, and the secondary pores are feldspar dissolved pores, which are relatively developed, with pore radii of 2–20 µm. Diagenesis of Chang-7 Member tight reservoirs mainly includes compaction, quartz cementation, carbonate cementation, clay mineral cementation, and dissolution. The diagenetic stage develops into Mesodiagenesis A. The average porosity loss from compaction and cementation of sandstone in the Chang-7 Member is 15.93% and 18.67%, respectively. With the increase in burial depth, the porosity and permeability of the reservoir gradually decrease. In mesodiagenesis, the authigenic illite and carbonate cementation compacts the reservoir. The acid fluid carried by the two stages of oil and gas filling during diagenesis dissolved feldspar and carbonate cement, which plays a certain role in transforming the tight reservoir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 11503 KiB  
Article
Origin of Calcite Cements in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs of Chang 8 Member of the Yanchang Formation in Zhijing-Ansai Area, Ordos Basin, China
by Zehan Zhang, Kelai Xi, Honggang Xin, Chunming Yang, Hui Zhao, Youcheng Wang, Weidong Dan and Bin Luo
Energies 2022, 15(24), 9544; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15249544 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1632
Abstract
Calcite cement is a common type of cementation in tight sandstone reservoirs of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation Chang 8 Member in the Zhijing-Ansai area of the Ordos Basin, which has significant influence on reservoir densification and heterogeneity. Calcite cements affect the quality [...] Read more.
Calcite cement is a common type of cementation in tight sandstone reservoirs of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation Chang 8 Member in the Zhijing-Ansai area of the Ordos Basin, which has significant influence on reservoir densification and heterogeneity. Calcite cements affect the quality of the reservoir conspicuously. The characteristics and origins of calcite were investigated using a series of approaches from the perspective of petrography and geochemistry, including thin section observation and identification, cathode luminescence, scanning electron microscopy, AMICS analysis, LA-ICP-MS elements analysis, and carbon and oxygen isotopes analysis. The results of all analytical tests indicated that calcite cements can be divided into two types according to their occurrence and origins. Type-I calcite cements mainly occur in sandstone reservoirs near the sandstone–mudstone interface or the sandstone layers adjacent to mudstone. Generally, there is no chlorite coating around them, and they appear dark orange under cathode luminescence. The carbon source of Type-I calcite cements may be related to the compaction and drainage of mudstone. Type-II calcite cements are formed in the early stage, and their carbon source may be related to the compaction and drainage of the adjacent mudstone. Type-II calcite cements are surrounded by chlorite coating primarily present in the interior of fine-grained sandstone, showing as bright yellow under cathode luminescence. Decarboxylation of organic matter in the source rocks may provide a crucial source of carbon for Type-II calcite cements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Theories and Technologies of Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop