Geological Characteristics and Resource Potential of the Leping Formation Shale Gas in the Qingjiang Basin, Southern Poyang Depression, China

ABSTRACT Despite limited geological data availability in the Qingjiang Basin (southern Poyang depression), evaluating the shale reservoir of the Permian Leping formation (LP FM) in the Fengcheng–Gao'an area is of great significance for identifying new shale gas exploration targets. To investigate its shale gas potential, this study builds upon previous research and conducts organic matter content, kerogen type, and maturity analyses, whole‐rock x‐ray diffraction (XRD) experiments, and low‐temperature gas adsorption experiments. The results show that the LP FM in the study area consists mainly of gray to gray‐black mudstone, shale, and siltstone, interbedded with coal seams. Vertically, the sedimentary environment experienced multiple cycles from deep to shallow, shallow to deep, and then deep to shallow. The mudstone and shale thickness in coastal‐shallow marine facies ranges from 40 to 85 m. Total organic carbon (TOC) content ranges from 0.37% to 13.52%, with an average of 2.12%. Kerogen is predominantly type II 2 and type III. Organic matter maturity (Ro) ranges from 1.2% to 1.8%, averaging 1.54%, indicating a high‐mature stage. The average brittle mineral content is 48%. Porosity is mainly concentrated around 7%, with an average permeability of 9 mD, indicating good porosity and permeability. The maximum desorbed gas content reaches 2.10 m 3 /t. Gas composition is dominated by methane and nitrogen, with a high dryness coefficient. Compared with the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation shale, the study area's dark mudstone/shale has greater thickness and good porosity/permeability. However, organic matter is dominated by Type II 2 –III kerogen with poorly developed organic pores, and faulting/uplift may have caused gas escape. Thus, deeply buried synclines with weak faulting are preferred targets. The Qujiang syncline (242 km 2 of high‐quality shale) holds an estimated 1043.44 × 10 8 m 3 of shale gas.