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A Comparative Study of Different Quality Oil Shales Developed in the Middle Jurassic Shimengou Formation, Yuqia Area, Northern Qaidam Basin, China

Author

Listed:
  • Yueyue Bai

    (SinoProbe Center-China Deep Exploration Center, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China)

  • Zhaojun Liu

    (Key-Laboratory for Oil Shale and Coexisting Minerals Mineralization & Exploration and Exploitation, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China)

  • Simon C. George

    (School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia)

  • Jingyao Meng

    (Geology and Mineral Resource Program, Virginia Department of Energy, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA)

Abstract

Oil shales are developed in the Shale Member of the Middle Jurassic Shimengou Formation in the Qaidam Basin, China. The oil shales can be classified into three quality groups (low-, medium-, and high-quality oil shales) through a comprehensive analysis protocol that includes Rock-Eval pyrolysis, total organic carbon (TOC) content, proximate analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), major and trace element analyses, and maceral analysis. The low-quality oil shales mainly contain type II 1 kerogen, the medium-quality oil shales mainly contain type I-II 1 kerogen, and the high-quality oil shales mainly contain type I kerogen. All are immature to early thermally mature. The oil yield of the oil shales is directly related to their quality and are positively correlated with TOC content and calorific value. All studied samples were deposited under anaerobic conditions but in different paleoenvironments. The low-quality oil shales were mainly deposited in fresh-water environments, whereas the high-quality oil shales were usually developed in highly saline and reducing environments. Salinity stratification and evidence of algal blooms that are conducive to organic matter enrichment were identified in both medium- and high-quality oil shales, the latter having the highest paleoproductivity and the best preservation conditions. In summary, shale quality is controlled by a combination of factors, including algal abundance, preservation conditions, the existence of algal blooms and salinity stratification, and paleoproductivity. This study reveals how these different factors affect the quality of oil shales, which might provide an in-depth explanation for the formation process of lacustrine oil shales.

Suggested Citation

  • Yueyue Bai & Zhaojun Liu & Simon C. George & Jingyao Meng, 2022. "A Comparative Study of Different Quality Oil Shales Developed in the Middle Jurassic Shimengou Formation, Yuqia Area, Northern Qaidam Basin, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:1231-:d:744412
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yu Song & Kai Zhu & Yinbo Xu & Qingtao Meng & Zhaojun Liu & Pingchang Sun & Xiang Ye, 2021. "Paleovegetational Reconstruction and Implications on Formation of Oil Shale and Coal in the Lower Cretaceous Laoheishan Basin (NE China): Evidence from Palynology and Terpenoid Biomarkers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhongcheng Li & Zhidong Bao & Zhaosheng Wei & Lei Li & Hailong Wang, 2022. "Geochemical Features of Lacustrine Shales in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of Changling Sag, Songliao Basin, Northeast China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, September.

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