Lower Paleozoic shale gas exploration potential in the central Yangtze area, China

Shale gas is different from the conventional natural gas that has been already exploited widely. Because of prominent characteristics in mechanism for hydrocarbon accumulation and occurrence, identification and evaluation on shale gas are different from the previous patterns for evaluation on the conventional gas accumulation, which use thickness, depth, TOC and maturity as important indicators. In comparison with the typical shale gas produced in the east of U.S., such as in the Appalachia basin, Enshi-Jianshi, Sangzhi-Shimen in the western Hunan-Hubei area in China are favorable exploration areas for the Lower Cambrian and Silurian shale gases.