In China, marine and land transitional fine-grained rocks (shale, mudstone, and so on) are widely distributed and are known to have large accumulated thicknesses. However, shale gas explorations of these types of rock have only recently been initiated, thus the research degree is very low. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to improve the research data regarding the gas accumulation theory of marine and continental transitional fine-grained rock, as well as investigate the shale gas generation potential in the Late Paleozoic fine-grained rock masses located in the Huanghebei Area of western Shandong Province. The hydrocarbon generation characteristics of the epicontinental sea coal measures were examined using sedimentology, petrography, geochemistry, oil and gas geology, tectonics, and combined experimental testing processes. The thick

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Borehole pressure relief method is one of the most effective ways of rock burst prevention in coal mines. The measured results of borehole pressure relief at no. 8939 longwall face in Xinzhouyao coal mine, China, are presented here. The analyses identify the pressure relief magnitudes in coal mass around the boreholes with different diameters, spacing, and drilling time. This research has established that the best pressure relief of the rib coal can be achieved by using φ108 mm borehole with 0.7 m interval after 288 hours. The strain relief is acceptable after 288–360 hours of drilling, while the best result is achieved after 432 hours. It is also the first time to monitor the borehole pressure relief in a coal mine on-site using Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) distributed fibre-optic sensing. The method implemented in this research provides new ways to improve stress relief design and minimize the rock burst occurrence for mine practitioners.

Coal-measure shale gas is considered to be an important unconventional oil and gas resource in coal measures. At the present time, coal-measure shale gas has not been well studied. However, in recent years, such potential resources have received increasing attention. In this research investigation, the coal measures of the Permo-Carboniferous Period in North China’s Huanghebei Coalfield were taken as the research object in order to evaluate the enrichment conditions and resource potential of the coal-measure shale gas. The results were as follows: 1) A variety of sedimentary environments were developed during the Late Paleozoic Era in the Huanghebei Coalfield region. Lagoon sediment had mainly developed in the Taiyuan Formation, which was conducive to the high-intensity development of shale. In addition, interdistributary bay-floodplain sediment had developed in the Shanxi Formation, which was also favorable to the development of shale; 2) The average value of the total organic carbon (TOC) in the shale of the Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations in the study area was found to be more than 2%. The main type of organic matter was Type II kerogen, followed by Type III kerogen. Furthermore, the thermal evolution degree of the organic matter was considered to be in the mature stage, which indicated a good hydrocarbon generation potential; 3) The gas bearing intervals of the shale in the Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations in the study area were mainly variegated shale, mudstone, carbonaceous shale, and silty mudstone (shale), which belong to the categories of ultra-low permeability and low porosity reservoirs; 4) The average gas content of mud shale in the Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations ranges between 0.645 and 3.34 m3/t. The shale tends to have large burial depths and well-developed caprock, which is conducive to the preservation of shale gas; 5) This study’s comprehensive analysis results showed that the mud shale in the Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations have good hydrocarbon generation potential. A favorable area was delineated in the middle of the Huanghebei Coalfield, and a NE-trending belt distribution was evident along the Pandian-Qihe-Biaobaisi. In summary, the three delineated perspective areas were determined to be the Dulangkou-Zhaoguan prospect area; Yuchengnan prospect area; and Sangzidian prospect area, respectively.

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