Influence of the depositional environment on the formation of organic-rich marine shale: A case study of the first discovery of Anisian shale in the Sichuan Basin

The Leikoupo Formation, which was deposited during the Anisian stage in the central Sichuan Basin, has produced significant amounts of conventional gas but there have been few studies on its unconventional resources. Organic-rich shale in the Leikoupo Formation was discovered for the first time in the wells of CT1 and JY1 in the central Sichuan region, but information on its sedimentary environment and climate evolution is scarce. A series of lithofacies, organic geochemistry and inorganic geochemistry analyses were used to analyse core samples of CT1 and JY1 to estimate their vertical changes. The organic matter characteristics, the sedimentary environment and the factors controlling the Leikoupo Formation shale in the Sichuan basin were revealed. The organic-rich shale of the Lei3-2 sub-member was formed in a semi-restricted lagoon environment. The sedimentary environment was dysoxic-anoxic, with high palaeoproductivity, a warm and humid to semi-arid and semi-humid climate. The vertical sea level decreased for a short period, led to an increase in oxygen content in the mixed shale, clayey shale and calcareous shale that were sequentially deposited from bottom to top. In the vertical direction, the palaeo-productivity and aridity decreased, and there was an increase in the salinity and terrigenous debris input. All of these corresponded well with TOC. According to Mo-TOC and Mo–U patterns, the mixed shale was characterised by the highest values of MoEF, UEF and MoEF/UEF, followed by clayey shale and calcareous shale, which indicated mixed shale was deposited in a moderately restricted water condition, which progressively became more restricted during the deposition of clayey shale and calcareous shale with the fall of relative sea level. Biomarker compounds (steranes, terpanes), Tmax and other pyrolysis parameters indicated that the organic matter had reached the stage of high-to over-maturity. The gammacerane to C30 hopane in the ratio indicated that it was the bottom water in which it was deposited was sratified. •The first discovery of Lei3-2 sub-member shale in the Sichuan Basin.•The shale has good original hydrocarbon generation potential.•The shale was formed in a semi-confined environment.•Lithological changes reflect variations in sedimentary environment and sea level.