美國非傳統能源的頁岩氣開發自1995 年液裂技術成功而有所突破，明顯改變美國能源結構並舒緩能源需求。然而台灣地區能源需求大，構造與破碎帶造成地層傾斜且不連續，煤層氣、頁岩氣、與傳統儲集層油氣資源均不可忽視。申請人過去數年在出磺坑背斜構造進行多項相關研究，對苗栗地區油氣潛能已有相當程度的了解，可惜受限地表露頭，研究重點集中在較淺層的石底與南莊層，為針對整體中新世煤系地層進行研究，有必要將重心延伸到深層的木山層。位於出磺坑背斜西北約10公里的錦水背斜，長15公里，寬6公里，呈東北西南走向，東翼較陡，傾角約20~30o；西翼較緩，傾角約15~20o，為一南北兩端傾沒的不對稱背斜構造，深部被東西向的赤崎子斷層與老田寮斷層截切為三地塊，自日治時代即生產天然氣與凝結油，若能對比位置與年代相近的出磺坑背斜構造之深層有機質沉積特性，定有助於苗栗地區之油氣潛能評估工作。木山層於虎山溫泉附近的上島剖面與雪霸國家公園入口處有出露，雖困難到達，但值得採集。本計畫擬採集中新統木山層野外露頭與井下岩樣共約15樣，使用申請人與中油公司探採所地化組現有設備，進行黏土礦物XRD、生物標記、TOC、熱裂分析、岩石薄片岩像、煤素質成分與鏡煤素反射率量測等，據以比較錦水與出磺坑構造之有機質型態與成熟度特性對油氣潛能之關聯，研究成果可對煤層沉積環境及煤層氣與頁岩氣之生產潛能進行評估解釋。 ;Recovery of shale gas was successful in USA since 1995 due to technical breakthrough, which leads to a drastic change in global energy demand and supply. Coal-bearing formation can be a target for both sequestration and enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) recovery. Therefore, characteristics of deposited organic material need to be examined in advance. This issue needs also be concerned in Taiwan concerning both energy demand and GHS emission. Western Foothill Belt of Taiwan includes three Miocene coal-bearing formations: namely Mushan, Shihti and Nanchuang Formations from bottom up. Based on previous middle-late Miocene studies, this project will focus on early Miocene Mushan Formation of Chinshui Anticline. CS Anticline is located about 10km NW of Chuhuangkeng Anticline, trending NE-SW with 15km in length and 6km in width, both anticlines produce oil and gas for a long time. Around 15 sandstone and coal samples from field outcrops, cores and/or drilled cuttings will be collected in this study. Analyses include petrographic maceral composition, vitrinite reflectance, biomarker, XRD of clay mineral, total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval Pyrolysis, and petrographic thin section analysis will be performed to examine the relationships among them. The characteristics of organic material in Mushan Formation will be compared for Chinshui and Chuhuangkeng anticlines. The results will be valuable to evaluate the recovery potential of shale gas and/or coal gas in the NW Western Foothill Belt of Taiwan.
