Characteristics of shale and main controlling factors of shale gas enrichment of Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in western Hubei

We conducted some detailed studies of shale characteristics, physical properties, mineral composition, pore structure and gas content, and further offered a preliminary discussion about the shale gas enrichment regularity of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in the western Hubei by combining outcrop and core descriptions, gas logging, seismic cross section, mineralogical analysis, organic geochemical analysis with site desorption data. The black shale of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in Yichang and Zigui area was deposited mainly on a deep water shelf. The average TOC content is~3.2% and the organic matter is over-mature. The samples are dominated by clay minerals with quartz the second. The greater the effective thickness and total thickness of the shale in a single layer, the better the gas-bearing capacity of the shale.