Controlling Factors of Organic-Rich Lacustrine Shale in the Jurassic Dongyuemiao Member of Sichuan Basin, SW China

Abstract

Organic-rich continental shale, widespread in the Sichuan Basin during the deposition of the Jurassic Dongyuemiao Member (J1d), is considered the next shale hydrocarbon exploration target in southern China. To identify a shale gas sweetspot and reduce exploration risk, it is of great significance to determine the organic matter (OM) enrichment mechanism of J1d shale. In this study, based on sedimentological characteristics and organic matter content, high-resolution major and trace elements were systematically analyzed to demonstrate terrigenous influx, paleoredox, paleosalinity, paleoproductivity, and paleoclimate. The 1st section interval of the J1d 1st submember is dominated by shallow lake subfacies, while the other intervals have the characteristic of semideep to deep lake subfacies. The 1st submember interval of J1d lacustrine shale is characterized by the warmest-humid paleoclimate, strongest weathering degree, highest terrigenous input, moderate paleoproductivity, and paleoredox condition. Within the Dongyuemiao 1st submember, the 4th section interval has the highest paleoproductivity and the most oxygen-deficient condition in bottom water. During the deposition period of the 2nd submember, the sedimentary environment turned to a cold-dry paleoclimate, weak weathering degree, low terrigenous input, low paleosalinity, and high paleoproductivity. Under the background of semideep and deep lake, the terrigenous OM input plays the most critical role in controlling OM enrichment. Moreover, the high primary productivity of lake surface water and the suboxic condition of lake bottom water contribute to the formation of relatively higher TOC lacustrine shale interval in the 4th section of 1st submember.