A quick comparison of Pliocene and Upper Miocene shale resources in northern, central and southern parts of Song Hong basin with reference to their gas potential

This research is a follow-up of more comprehensive PhD study on assessment shale gas resources in the northern Song Hong basin that was conducted at Asian Institute Technology (AIT). The basin, typical pull-apart Cenozoic had experienced post-extensional stage accompanied by seafloor spreading from Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene with its stratigraphy characterised fault-controlled syn-rift continental sequence followed post-rift marine sequence. In recent years, number fields have been discovered Oligocene-Eocene and Lower-Middle shales as major minor source rocks, respectively. On other hand, Pliocene shales, present north south generally considered seals, but not rocks some previous studies. July 2020, an exploration well (Ken Bau-2X) drilled Block 114 ENI, reaching total depth 3,658 m encountering pay about 110 several intervals sandstones interbedded confirming considerable accumulations Vietnam so far. interesting thing this only encounter or Middle-Lower sediments underlying absent very thin. Therefore, potential rock these should be area, particular reference petroleum system central basin.
 
 study, preliminary comparison northern, southern blocks based analysis results XRD, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, While many areas show low no hydrocarbon generation potential, deep thick center adjacent areas, deposited environment under special conditions abnormal pressure high geothermal gradient, can possibly generated released large amount hydrocarbons. Further geochemical analyses modelling for whole are recommended.