Open AccessProspect Conceiving of Joint Research and Development of Shale Gas and Coalbed Methane in China
Author(s) -
Shangbin Chen,
Yanming Zhu,
Meng Wang,
Li Wu,
Wang Huaimeng
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
energy and power engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1949-243X
pISSN - 1947-3818
DOI - 10.4236/epe.2011.33044
Subject(s) - coalbed methane , geology , permian , oil shale , structural basin , coal , petroleum engineering , china , maturity (psychological) , geochemistry , economic shortage , cretaceous , shale gas , source rock , mining engineering , paleontology , coal mining , geography , archaeology , psychology , developmental psychology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
Inspired by successful development of shale gas in USA and influenced by hydrocarbon resources shortage currently, China has strengthened shale gas research and accelerated its exploration process. In order to enrich coalbed methane (CBM) and shale gas geological theory and promote their development process, this paper compared shale gas with CBM in accumulation, distribution, reservoir and production. It expatiated on the background and significance of the combined research and development, and analyzed the geological foundation and future prospects. Our investigation demonstrated that there are many sets of coal-bearing strata in Shanxi formation of Permian system in Ordos in North China, Longtan formation of Upper Permian and Xujiahe formation of Upper Triassic in Southern Yangtze region, Xishanyao formation of Middle Jurassic in Turpan-Hami Basin and Junggar Basin in Northwest China, and Shahezi formation of Cretaceous in Songliao Basin in northeast China. In these regions, shales which are interbeded with coal seams have the characters of big thickness, continuous distribution, high content of organic matter, good parent material and high maturity, accord with the basic geological conditions to format shale gas and CBM reservoir and composite gas reservoir, thus form appropriate regions and layers to carry out joint research and exploration with good prospects for development