Progress, geological characteristics and resource potential of continental shale oil exploration and development in China

Abstract

To clarify the current status and resource potential of continental shale oil exploration and development in China, this paper systematically analyzes its geological characteristics, resource distribution and development status based on measured data from 13 major petroliferous basins. The results show that China's shale oil is dominated by continental lacustrine deposits, with source rocks characterized by high organic matter abundance and moderate maturity, and reservoirs featured by low porosity, low permeability and dominated by nanopores. A three-level sweet spot classification system is established to clarify the spatial distribution of high-quality, potential and general sweet spots. The total geological resource of shale oil in China is 53.39 billion tons, and the five major basins account for 86.42%, forming a resource pattern of "leading in the east, supporting in the central and western regions, and supplementing in offshore areas". In terms of development, a three-level gradient model of large-scale development, pilot test and exploration evaluation has been constructed, three national demonstration zones have been built, and the annual output exceeded 8.50 million tons in 2025. The research results can provide theoretical support for efficient exploration and cost-effective development of continental shale oil.