Gas bearing shale is widely developed in continental faulted basins in China. In the past

it was mainly studied as the gas source rock

and there was little research on its reservoir and influencing factors. It is urgent to carry out corresponding researches to clarify the main controlling factors of shale reservoir development in continental faulted basins. For the researches

the shale of Shahezi Formation in Xujiaweizi fault depression of Songliao Basin and Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin are selected

and the difference of reservoir characteristics between high over mature continental fault depression basin and marine gas shale is compared and studied by the experiments such as organic geochemistry

whole rock analysis

scanning electron microscope

low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and nuclear magnetic resonance. The research shows that the shale formation environment of Shahezi Formation is diverse

the organic matter type is mainly type Ⅲ

the clay mineral content is high

the cemented quartz is developed

the clay related pores and quartz intergranular pores are the main pore types

the specific surface area is small but the pore diameter is large

and the reservoir development is controlled by compaction

clay mineral transformation and coal seam development; Longmaxi Formation shale was formed in shelf environment. The type of organic matter is mainly type Ⅰ

with high abundance of organic matter and high content of biogenic quartz. Organic pores and clay related pores are the main pore types

and the type and maturity of organic matter mainly control the development of pores. On the whole

the shale reservoir development conditions of Shahezi Formation are slightly worse than those of Longmaxi Formation

but the plain swamp microfacies shale is developed close to the coal seam

the authigenic cemented quartz is developed

the proportion of Yimeng mixed layer is high

the reservoir has high organic matter abundance

good compressibility

large pore volume and specific surface area and good porosity development

which can be used as a potential favorable target for further evaluation and research.