Enrichment and Exploration Potential of Shale Gas in the Permian Wujiaping Formation, Northeastern Sichuan Basin

Long Wen, Lurui Dang, Jirong Xie, Benjian Zhang, Jungang Lu (), Haofei Sun, Ying Ming, Hualing Ma, Xiao Chen, Chang Xu, Liang Xu and Lexin Yuan
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Long Wen: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Lurui Dang: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Jirong Xie: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Benjian Zhang: Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Jungang Lu: National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Haofei Sun: Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Ying Ming: Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Hualing Ma: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Xiao Chen: Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Chang Xu: Exploration and Development Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Liang Xu: Shale Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Lexin Yuan: National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: The high-yield industrial gas from Sichuan Basin’s Wujiaping (P 3 w ) shale reveals a new unconventional exploration play. Due to the strong heterogeneity of shale gas, its enrichment and exploration potential remain unclear. Geochemical and other experiments conducted on this layer have shown that: (1) The third member of the P 3 w (P 3 w 3 ) shale has optimal quality, with large thickness and wide distribution. The average TOC value is 6.09%, and the organic matter type is II 1 ~II 2 . (2) Shale gas in the P 3 w is supplied by organic-rich shale; enrichment is promoted by siliceous/clay shale interbedding, with storage in organic matter pores and fractures. (3) Comparative analyses with the Wufeng–Longmaxi shales (O 3 w -S 1 l ) show that P 3 w 3 is the layer with the greatest potential for shale gas exploration.

Keywords: shale gas; enrichment factors; exploration prospects; Wujiaping Formation; Permian; Sichuan Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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