Abstract
Organic-rich terrestrial shales, the most promising shale oil production layer, are widely distributed in major basins in China, and they are usually interbedded salt rocks. Understanding the role of salt rocks in the organic matter (OM) enrichment in shale sediments has important enlightenment for shale oil exploration. The shale of the third member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation (Es-3 shales) in the Dongpu depression of the Bohai Bay Basin is dominated by clay minerals, with a non-negligible proportion of gypsum, anhydrite, and halite. They contain abundant OM with a mean total organic carbon content of 1.26 wt %. The development of salt rocks revealed the arid and transiently humid climate during the Es-3 period and an evaporating environment with a shallow lake level at the Dongpu Ancient Lake Basin. OM enrichment was synthetically affected by the palaeoenvironment during the Es-3 period. The paleolake with a paleosalinity as high as 23.43 parts per thousand was nutritious and promoted the prosperity of salt loving organisms causing high paleoproductivity. The Es-3 shales were deposited under anoxic and dysoxic conditions in a deep lake, which provided good conditions for OM preservation. In addition, salt rocks itself are good caprocks to prevent the loss of shale oil. Under the dual guarantee of high productivity and good preservation conditions, OM is much enriched in the Es-3 shales. OM enrichment was synthetically affected by the palaeoenvironment during the Es-3 period. The horizontal difference of paleoclimate controlled the discrepancy of salinastones distribution, OM enrichment, paleosalinity, andpaleoproductivity in different saline surroundings of Dongpu Depression. The composite patterns of palaeoenvironmental variation affected the vertical anisotropic enrichment of OM. Seven stages were divided for the Es-3 period to reflect the effects of vertical anisotropy on OM enrichment. Stages I, V, and, VII deposited thick salt under an arid climate and provided a good seal-capping and preservation condition for the OM enriched in stages II, III, IV, and VI. The shale reservoirs deposited in stages III and IV were favorable for shale oil exploration.
NSTL
Elsevier