Lithofacies Paleogeography and Geological Survey of Shale Gas

This is an open access book. This book presents new theory and methods on compiling lithofacies paleogeographic maps as a key tool for guiding geological survey on shale gas. The fundamental goal of the shale gas geological survey is to find the ‘dessert’ area. It is therefore suggested that the lithofacies paleogeographic study and the technique of mapping should be a solid scientific basis for shale gas exploration. It takes Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin and its adjacent area as an example to illustrate how to find the ‘dessert’ area of shale gas in geological survey phase by compiling lithofacies paleogeographic map. It’s a valuable reference for both scientific research and teaching courses in the fields of sedimentary lithofacies, paleogeography, stratigraphy, and oil and gas.

Dr. Chuanlong Mou is a senior researcher at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey (CCGS). He is currently responsible for managing CCGS’s research in Comprehensive Investigation of Geological structure and Deep Oil & Gas in Sichuan Basin and several oil-gas exploration projects from business corporations. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in sedimentology at Chengdu University of Technology, China, in 1993. He has engaged in the research of sedimentology, lithofacies paleogeography, and mineral geology for more than 30 years. His main research interests include comprehensive study of sedimentary facies, lithofacies palaeogeographic mapping, sequence stratigraphy, and geological survey for oil-gas exploration. Dr. Chuanlong Mou is also a pluralistic professor and a doctoral supervisor at Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shandong University of Science and Technology, and Chengdu University of Technology, China. He has published more than 100 papers in many peer-reviewed journals asthe main author or the co-author, covering elementary geology field, as well as mineral geology field. He has also authored a number of books and chapters. He has won four National or Provincial Science and Technology Award.

Dr. Xiuping Wang is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey (CCGS). She studied with Dr. Chuanlong Mou between 2010 and 2015 and obtained her Ph.D. degree in mineral resource prospecting and exploration major at Shandong University of Science and Technology. She is currently cooperating with Dr. Chuanlong Mou and responsible for the research of lithological characteristics, sedimentary environment, and diagenesis and reservoir assessment in the research team. She is fond of geological field work and identification work of rocks and minerals. Her main research interests include mineral composition analysis and diagenesis of sedimentary rocks, compiling lithofacies paleogeographic map and geological survey for oil-gas exploration. She has published more than 30 papers in many peer-reviewed journals as the main author or the co-author, covering sedimentology field, as well as oil & gas geology field. She has also authored three books and chapters.

Mr. Qiyu Wang is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey (CCGS). He obtained his Master's degree in sedimentology at Chengdu University of Technology, China, in 2011. He is now under Dr. Chuanlong Mou’s direct in mineral resource prospecting and exploration major at Shandong University of Science and Technology. He is currently cooperating with Dr. Chuanlong Mou, Dr. Xiuping

Wang and responsible for managing CCGS’s research in Comprehensive Investigation of Geological structure and Deep Oil & Gas in Sichuan Basin and several oil-gas exploration projects from business corporations. His main research interests include comprehensive study of sedimentary facies, lithofacies palaeogeographic mapping, analysis of sedimentary basin, and geologicalsurvey for oil-gas exploration. He has published more than 20 papers in many peer-reviewed journals as the main author or the co-author in the field of geology, such as Earth Sciences, Journal of Paleogeography. He has also authored 2 books and a number of chapters.

Dr. Xiangying Ge is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey (CCGS). She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Mineral Resource Prospecting and Exploration at China University of Geosciences, Beijing, in 2020, and now is responsible for the sedimentary facies, paleogeography, and of Wufeng-Longmaxi formations during the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian period in Sichuan Basin. Her main research interests include comprehensive study of sedimentary facies, lithofacies paleogeographic mapping, paleoclimate, and geological survey for oil-gas exploration. She has published more than 40 papers in many peer-reviewed journals as the main author or the co-author, covering sedimentary geology field as well as geochemistry field.

Mr. Bowen Zan is a joint training Ph.D. student of China University of Geosciences and Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, working with Prof. Chuanlong Mou on analysis of paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic conditions during Ordovician-Silurian transition and Cryogenian since 2018. He earned a Master’s degree at the Chengdu University of Technology in 2014. His academic research has focused on shale gas reservoir, organic matter accumulation, and authigenic minerals formation in marine sediments (e.g., barite and pyrite). With regard to research productivity, he has published 7 papers in international science journals and Chinese core journals as the main author or the co-author.

Dr. Kenken Zhou is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey(CCGS). He is currently responsible for the study on sedimentary facies, paleogeography of Wufeng-Longmaxi formations during the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian period in Sichuan Basin. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, in 2015. His main research interests include comprehensive study of sedimentary facies, lithofacies paleogeographic mapping, and geological survey for oil-gas exploration. He has published more than 30 papers in many peer-reviewed journals as the main author or the co-author.

Mr. Chen Xiaowei is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey (CCGS). He majored in sedimentary geology and graduated from Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology. He has been working for Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey since August 2008. He has strong research interest in stable isotope geochemistry, marine carbonate rocks, paleogeography, and paleoenvironment. He has published more than 30 papers in different journals as the first author or the co-author.

Ms. Wei Liang is a senior engineer at Chengdu Center of China Geological Survey(CCGS). She is an on-the-job doctor learning from Dr. Chuanlong Mou in mineral resource prospecting and exploration major at Shandong University of Science and Technology. She is currently engaged in the sedimentary facies and paleogeography research of mixed sediments during Cambrian in South China. Her main research interests include comprehensive study of sedimentary facies, lithofacies palaeogeographic mapping, and sedimentary survey for oil-gas exploration and sandstone uranium deposit. She has published more than 20 papers in many peer-reviewed journals as the main author or the co-author in the field of geology, such as Geological Review, Journal of Paleogeography.