Enrichment Mechanism of Organic Matter in the Marine-Continental Transitional Shale of the Taiyuan Formation in Ordos Basin, China: Control of the Paleoenvironment

Area of Science:

• Geochemistry and Sedimentology
• Petroleum Geology
• Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction

Background:

• Limited understanding of factors controlling organic matter enrichment in transitional shale.
• Need for integrated geochemical and sedimentological analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate paleoenvironmental controls on organic matter enrichment in transitional shale.
• Analyze sedimentary microfacies and their impact on organic matter accumulation.

Main Methods:

• Petrological and sedimentological analyses
• Geochemical analysis (major and trace elements, TOC)
• Kerogen identification and SEM analysis

Main Results:

• Identified seven sedimentary microfacies within transitional shale.
• Established a depositional model influenced by glacial cycles.
• Flood lake and supratidal wetland environments are most favorable for organic matter enrichment.

Conclusions:

• Sedimentary environment evolution, driven by glaciation, is key to organic matter enrichment.
• Understanding microfacies aids in identifying organic-rich intervals for shale gas exploration.