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Through systematic comparison of the geological characteristics, resource distribution, and exploration and development status of global marine and continental shale oil, this paper deeply analyzes the key theoretical and technical issues that restrict the development of continental shale oil in China. It points out that the basic theoretical research areas, such as the enrichment and accumulation mechanisms of shale oil with different lithological combinations, and the multi-scale and multiphase flow mechanisms in nanoscale confined spaces, are relatively underdeveloped; the accuracy of sweet spot prediction cannot effectively guide the selection of target layers and the positioning of horizontal well trajectories, and geology-engineering integration practices remain insufficient. All these factors severely restrict the large-scale utilization of shale oil resources. Focusing on the progress in the study of continental shale oil in the Songliao Basin, Ordos Basin, Junggar Basin and Bohai Bay Basin of China, this paper systematically analyzes six bottleneck issues (genetic models of fine-grained sedimentary rocks, types and distribution of hydrocarbon-generating organic matter, hydrocarbon generation-expulsion models and potential, types and performance of reservoir spaces, parameter selection and evaluation techniques for sweet spots, and productivity laws and enhanced oil recovery), summarizes progress in theoretical and technological research, and discusses examples and directions for tackling key issues. It identifies six major challenges on geological theory and engineering technology confronting the shale oil revolution in China: hydrocarbon accumulation mechanisms, sweet spot identification, seepage law, fracturing modification, drainage and production technology and recovery enhancement. To address these, the study proposes to establish a shale oil classification scheme based on source-reservoir configuration, to promote the refined development model of “geology-engineering-geology spiral integration”, and build an efficient shale oil development technology system tailored to the continental geological conditions in China, providing theoretical and technical support for achieving large-scale and beneficial development.
ZHU et al. (Mon,) studied this question.