1 Introduction CHEN Xu and WANG Itongyan 1.1 Shale Gas Development in the United States 1.2 Major Shale Gas Fields in the World 1.3 Shale Gas Development in China References 2 Geological Setting of the Ordovician and Silurian Strata of the Yangtze Platform CHEN Xu, ZHANG Yuandong, LI Yue, and FAN Junxuan References 3 Ordovician to Silurian Shale Gas-Bearing Strata from the Yangtze Region CHEN Xu, WANG Hongyan, LIANG Feng, CHEN Qing, LOU Chao, ZHOU Zhi, WANG Wenhui, LI Jia, and LIU Dexun 3.1 Upper Yangtze: Sichuan Basin and Periphery 3.2 Middle Yangtze: Three Gorges Region 3.3 Lower Yangtze Platform and Chiangnan Transitional Belt References 4 Distribution Pattern of the Ordovician-Silurian Shale Gas-Bearing Strata in the Yangtze Region CHEN Xu, WANG Hongyan, NIE Haikuan, and WU Jin 4.1 Sweet Beds and Their Distribution of the Ordovician to Silurian Shale Gas Strata in the Yangtze Region 4.2 Early Silurian Disaster Graptolites and Their Rich Organic Horizons in the Yangtze Region 4.3 Shale Gas Enrichment and Highly Productive Interval in the Yangtze Region 4.4 Case Study of Weiyuan-Changning Shale Gas Field 4.5 Case Study of Fuling Shale Gas Field References 5 Regional and Global Correlation of the Latest Ordovician to Early Silurian Shale Gas-Bearing Strata CHEN Xu, CHEN Qing, ZHANG Di, WANG Hongyan, LIANG Feng, LI Jia, and SUN Shasha 5.1 Regional Correlation of the Wufeng and Lungmachi Formations in the Yangtze Region 5.2 A Global Correlation of Two Black Shales Through the Ordovician and Silurian Boundary References 6 Paleogeography and Paleoenvironment Across the Ordovician- Silurian Transition in the Yangtze Region CHEN Qing, CHEN Jitao, LI Wenjie, and SHI Zhensheng 6.1 Research History 6.2 Distribution Patterns of Black Shales During the Ordovician-Silurian Transition in South China 6.3 Microfacies Analyses of the Shale Gas Drill Cores in Weiyuan and Luzhou Areas 6.4 Sedimentary Processes During the Late Ordovician to Early Silurian 6.5 Bioevents and Environmental Change from the Late Ordovician to Early Silurian References 7 Gamma Log Responses Through the Ordovician-Silurian Black Shale Graptolite Zonal Succession in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Regions ZHAO Qun, LI Chao, SUN Shasha, and GUO Wei 7.1 Theoretical Basis 7.2 Curve Characteristics of GR Logs in Black Shale Graptolite Zones 7.3 Global Nature of the GR 7.4 Correlation Between the Himantian Isotope Carbon Excursion and Graptolite Biozones in the Ordovician-Silurian Transition of the Xike-1 Drillcore in Guizhou References 8 Volcanic Ash Deposition and Organic Matter Enrichment in the Black Shales of the Wufeng-Lungmachi Formations in the Yangtze Region QIU Zhen and GE Xiangying 8.1 Study Background 8.2 Overview of the Geologic Setting and Deposition of Volcanic Ash 8.3 Study Method and Sample Collection 8.4 Characteristics and Source of Volcanic Ash (K-Bentonite) 8.5 Contribution of Volcanic Ash Deposits to the Enrichment of Organic Matter 8.6 Prospecting References Appendix Plates and Explanation CHEN Xu, WANG Weijuan, and LIN Changmu Reference