Structural detachment influences the shale gas preservation in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, Northern Guizhou Province

In order to reveal the restriction in shale gas enrichment of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in the northern Guizhou province, the influence model of detachment layer was established through field geological investigation, core observation, logging, sample analysis, and geological background data. The response relationship between the detachment layer and the shale gas enrichment model in different structural formats was analyzed. The results show that the thickness of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation’s detachment layer is influenced by the conditions near the fault zones and mineralogical characteristics. The lithofacies of the detachment layer shows mainly a combination of clay-rich shale facies. This indicates that lithofacies type is one of the main factors influencing the variation in slip layer thickness. The detachment layer exhibits distinct well logging response characteristics and is influenced by nitrogen enrichment. The development of detachment fractures allows atmospheric nitrogen to infiltrate shale gas. It leads to poor gas saturation in the shale gas. In addition, the overall tectonic deformation in the northern Guizhou province was found to gradually intensify from Northwest to Southeast, and there were two tectonic models: a slot-shift tape transition belt and a spacer type deformation belt. The influence of decollements on shale gas preservation was barely found in the northern Guizhou province. It is mainly controlled by buried depth of the target layer, conditions of the cover layer, structural type, and deformation intensity.