Unconventional shale gas potential of lower visean organic-rich formations in Glynsko-Solohivskyi petroleum region

Exploration of unconventional gas resources in Ukraine is highly relevant and important for achievement energy independence of Ukraine and Europe. Production of current oil & gas fields and alternative energy resources are not able to cover our needs nowadays. Now we can not fully fill these gaps by energy resources. In this article geological environments, age, mineralogy composition and maturity of unconventional shale and carbonate gas reservoirs of Lower Visean in one of the biggest field of Dnipro-Donets Basin (DDB) were studied. The hydrocarbon potential of two main target horizons V-23 and V-24-25 by using integrated approach of analyzing available core analysis data were performed.  The results of the geochemical analysis show that the maturity level of shale of the Rudov beds (V-23) appear in oil window (Ro~0.8%) which can generate oil in the early mature phase. Visean carbonates (V-24-25) have the similar level of maturity - (Ro~0.77%). Target rocks are characterized by high total organic content (TOC): average values vary from 2% for organic-rich carbonates to 5.6% for shales which indicates relatively good to excellent source rock generative potential. According to X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD) of black shale formation domination of silica minerals (54.6%), calcite and clays (25.6%) with minor amounts of albite, feldspar and pyrite were observed. Carbonate platform V-24-25 logically is characterized by much higher calcite content of 52.2 % with low amount of dolomite – 5.5%. Quite high quartz content is also observed – average value is of about 30.7%. Clay minerals are not identified in every sample, but average values are of about 18.9%, pyrite content – 6.8%. It shows that Visean target formation of Glynsko-Solohivsky Petroleum region is characterized by anoxic environment. This data verified that V-23 and V-24-25 horizons are the brittle formations and favorable for multistage fracking. Thin section analysis confirms our results from mineralogical point of view. The presence of fractures in core samples is additional indicator for hydraulic fracturing and producing gas from such unconventional reservoirs.  As a conclusion, the Lower Visean organic-rich formations V-23 and V-24-25 from Glynsko-Solohivsky Petroleum region are mature, are characterized by a high content of organic carbon, have enough thickness (30-120 m) and large areal extent. They should be regarded as a potential shale gas target.