Abstract:

Australian onshore basins, being mainly of intracratonic basins deposited marine shales during Paleozoic and late Proterozoic. In order to identify the gas potential of these marine shales, the geological characteristics, geochemical indicators, distribution of favorable strata of eight Australian onshore basins were analyzed. The results show that the Paleozoic and late Proterozoic marine shales are good quality source rocks. In general, the average of total organic carbon values exceeds 2%; the kerogen is mainly of TypeⅠor Ⅱ; and maturity is high due to moderate buried depth. Some areas have shale gas exploration potential, especially in the west of McArthur Basin, the north and south of Georgina Basin, and the south of Canning Basin. 

Key words: Australian onshore basin, shale gas, marine shale, total organic carbon, geochemical indicator

摘要：

澳大利亚陆上盆地多为克拉通内裂谷盆地，为了明确其页岩气勘探潜力，特别是新元古代和古生代发育的海相地层的页岩气勘探潜力，从澳大利亚陆上8个盆地的地质特征入手，分析比较各个盆地有机地球化学指标，包括总有机碳、有机质类型及热成熟度等重要页岩气评价指标，并结合有利地层的分布进行研究。结果表明，现今残余的新元古代及古生代盆地发育的海相地层平均总有机质含量超过2%，为Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型干酪根，埋藏适中，热演化程度较高，具有页岩气勘探潜力。其中McArthur盆地的西部、Georgina盆地的北部和南部、Canning盆地的南部是最有希望获得页岩气突破的地区。

关键词: 澳大利亚陆上盆地, 页岩气, 海相泥页岩, 总有机碳, 地化指标