Abstract:

The Sichuan Basin has rich resources of tight sandstone gas. Currently, research on the pore evolution of ultra-deep, ultra-tight sandstone reservoirs in the eastern slope of the western Sichuan Depression is relatively scarce. Using core observation, cast thin section identification, scanning electron microscopy, carbon-oxygen isotope analysis, and homogenization temperature of fluid inclusion, combined with burial history and thermal history, the coupling characteristics of pore evolution and oil and gas charge in the ultra-deep, ultra-tight sandstone reservoirs in the second member of Xujiahe Formation (hereinafter referred to as Xu 2 member) on the eastern slope of the western Sichuan Depression were clarified. The Xu 2 member reservoir is mainly composed of lithic sandstone and lithic quartz sandstone, with authigenic quartz and carbonates as the primary cementing materials. The storage space is dominated by intragranular pores. The densification period of the reservoir varies among different submembers. The upper submember is less resistant to compaction due to the presence of higher plastic materials like mudstone clasts, and it became compacted during the Middle to Late Jurassic. Subsequently, under continuous deep burial and the dual destructive effects of pressure dissolution and quartz, the middle and lower submembers became compacted during the Late Jurassic. At the end of the Cretaceous, tectonic uplift led to the formation of fractures that promoted the dissolution of the middle and lower submembers, increasing the reservoir porosity to around 5%, with a more significant increase in permeability. There were two main periods of oil and gas charge. The upper submember had a poorer coupling relationship, with early densification that was unfavorable for oil and gas charge and natural gas accumulation. In contrast, the main oil and gas charge period for the middle and lower submembers occurred prior to the densification of the reservoir, which was favorable for natural gas accumulation and reservoir formation. The Xu 2 member on the eastern slope of the western Sichuan Depression exhibits three “sweet spot” reservoir development modes: ancient trap+source fracture superposition, ancient trap+internal source rock+late fracture superposition, and ancient trap+source fracture+late fracture superposition. The study provides examples and theoretical guidance for understanding the evolution-oil and gas charge coupling characteristics of deeply buried ultra-tight sandstone reservoirs.

Key words: eastern slope of the western Sichuan Depression, Upper Triassic, Xujiahe Formation, pore evolution-oil and gas charge coupling, “sweet spot” reservoir