The newly discovered Yanchang gas field in the Ordos Basin, central China

Abstract

The Yanchang gas field is located in the Ordos Basin of central China to the southeast of the Yishan Slope, covers an exploration area of 2.6×10⁴ km² and has approximately 3.5×10¹¹ m³ of gas reserves. The gas field is dominated by lithologic gas reservoirs but also has a few structural gas reservoirs. Sand bodies were deposited in the Carboniferous Benxi Formation around offshore barrier islands and in distributary channel fillings in the delta front of the P₁ s ₂ and P₁ s ₁ divisions of the Permian Shanxi Formation. The P₂ h ₈ division of the Shihezi Formation contains the main reservoirs. The depths of the reservoirs are between 1 970 and 3 500 m. The Yanchang gas field can be classified as a typical tight sandstone gas reservoir filed because its porosity is lower than 10% and permeability lower than 1 mD. The discovery and development of the Yanchang gas field has led to a great increase in total natural gas reserves in the Ordos Basin. Its exploration has improved methods of locating large gas fields in deep-water depositional environments in the south part of the basin.

Keywords

Yanchang gas field / Ordos Basin / Central China / tight gas reservoir / lithologic reservoir / gas in coal-bearing strata

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