Pore-scale mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores:New method and insights

A new method is proposed to analyze the pore-scale mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores,which is based on the Hydrocarbon Vapor Adsorption(HVA)and Pore Calculation Model(PCM).First,the basic principle of the HVA-PCM method is introduced,and the experimental/mathematical analysis processes are given.Then,the HVA-PCM method is applied to shale samples to analyze the mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores.The results provide insights into the pore-scale oil storage mechanisms,oil storage structure,oil film thickness,oil distribution within different sized pores,and the oil storage state.Finally,the advantages and limitations of the HVA-PCM method are discussed,and suggestions for further improvement are proposed.Overall,the HVA-PCM method is a powerful tool for extracting quantitative information on the light oil storage in shale nanopores.

An overview of the geology and production of the Fuling shale gas field,Sichuan Basin,China

The Fuling shale gas field in China is the largest shale gas field as well as the largest of its type discovered in any Lower Paleozoic formation.In this study,the geology and production of the upper and lower gas layers in the Fuling shale gas field are evaluated in terms of structure,shale quality,fault,initial production,and estimated ultimate recovery(EUR).The shale in the lower gas layer of the Jiaoshiba anticline is a high-quality reservoir,where the space is dominated by organic pores in kerogen,and the gas content is high.The shale gas wells reveal relatively high initial production and EUR.However,the shale in the upper gas layer of the Jiaoshiba anticline has reservoir space mainly composed of clay mineral pores and organic pores within bitumen,and the gas content is low.In terms of structure,primary gas migration may occur in the upper gas layer,resulting in free gas accumulation in the structural high,where the development effects are generally better than those in the structural low.The lower gas layer in the Pingqiao anticline,is the main interval for shale gas accumulation and development due to the high-quality shale.Under the influence of faults,the efficiency of exploration wells emplaced on top of the anticline is much lower a compared with those in the flanks.The residual synclines close to the Sichuan Basin,including the Baima and Baitao anticlines,are characterized by more recent uplifts,larger area,greater distance from the deep and large faults,and early fracture closure.Therefore,we recommend that the shale gas exploration and development should be carried out preferentially in areas close to the center of the residual synclines,featuring relatively high-pressure coefficient and moderate burial depth.

Carbon isotope evidence for shale gas preservation conditions and large methane release over million years:A case study of shale gas reservoirs of Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin

Although carbon isotope reversal and its reasons in shale gas reservoirs have been widely recognized,the application of the reversal is yet to be investigated.A study on high-maturity shale from Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin not only reveals the relationship between the degree of isotopes inversion and the production capacity(e.g.,estimated ultimate recovery(EUR))of the gas well but also indicates the preservation conditions of shale gas reservoirs.(1)Although there are differences in gas isotopes in different shale gas reservoirs,the isotope fractionation of shale gas is small during the production stage of gas wells,even when the wellbore pressure drops to zero.The main cause of the difference in carbon isotopes and their inversion degree can be the uplift time during the Yanshan period and the formation pressure relief degree of shale gas reservoirs in distinct structural positions.Thus,carbon isotope inversion is a good indicator of shale gas preservation condition and EUR of shale gas wells.(2)The degree of carbon isotope inversion correlates strongly with shale gas content and EUR.The calculation formula of shale-gas recoverable reserves was established using△δ^(13)C(δC_(1)-δC_(2))and EUR.(3)The gas loss rate and total loss amount can be estimated using the dynamic reserves and isotopic difference values of gas wells in various shale gas fields,which also reflects the current methane loss,thereby demonstrating great potential for evaluating global methane loss in shales.

Enrichment mechanism and resource potential of shale-type helium:A case study of Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin

China’s helium resource is highly dependent on overseas imports.Organic-rich and U/Th-rich shale reservoirs generally contain helium,and although the helium content is low,the total reserve is large.Therefore,the effective development and utilisation of shale-type helium resources is a realistic way to improve the security of helium resources in China.In this study,the generation mechanism,helium source and content,migration modes and pathways,controlling factors of enrichment,distribution pattern,and resource potential of the helium were analysed,using the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery.Furthermore,countermeasures were proposed for shale-type helium exploration and development.The results show that the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale has a high content of U and Th and a good ability to generate helium.The helium is generated by a typical crustal source of helium and is characterised by self-generation,self-storage,and wide distribution.The helium resource potential is a product of its content and the resources of the associated natural gas.The continuous supply of helium and effective preservation are the main geological factors that control the enrichment of shale-type helium.The preliminary evaluation results show that the reserves of helium in proven shale gas reserves are 10.8×10^(8)m^(3)in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,where the extra-large helium fields are likely to be discovered.Additionally,0.0912×10^(8)m^(3)of helium was produced,along with the annual production of shale gas.To avoid the waste of helium and to improve the self-supply ability,it is suggested that research on the resource potential,enrichment mechanism,and distribution pattern of shale-type helium should be carried out as soon as possible,and helium extraction techniques for helium-bearing natural gas should be studied.

Dispositional characteristics of Ordovician Wufeng Formation and Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas

According to data of gas wells and typical sections of Wufeng Formation and Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin,shale of various graptolite zones were analyzed to determine depositional environment,lithology and thickness characteristics of the graptolite shale interval of WF2-WF3 in the lower part of Wufeng Formation,the graptolite shale interval of WF4 in Guanyinqiao Member of Wufeng Formation and the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4 in the bottom of Longmaxi Formation,and characteristics of shale horizontal distribution were also investigated.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of WF2-WF3,the study area was less affected by the Guangxi movement,the depositional environment was the deep water of open sea,where black shale was mainly deposited;the sedimentation center was developed in northeast Guizhou-northeast Sichuan and south Sichuan,the maximum thickness was from 4 to 6 m in the sedimentation center.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of WF4,the depositional environment in the study area changed greatly due to global sea level fall and enhanced Guangxi movement;the central Sichuan paleouplift,the central Guizhou paleouplift and the Jiangnan-Xuefeng palaeouplift were further expanded,and the area of the sedimentary basin decreased;the depositional environment was mainly carbonate bioclastic shoal of shallow sea,and partially deep sea which only was distributed in the Shizhu-Fuling-Wuxi area in east and northeast Sichuan and the Gongxian-Yongchuan area in south Sichuan;sediments of shallow water were dominated by limestone and argillaceous limestone with abundant Hirnantia,sediments of deep water were dominated by calcareous mudstone and shale with Hirnantia.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4,due to rise of global sea level and Guangxi movement,the sedimentary area was larger than that in the depositional period of Guanyinqiao Member,and the sedimentary environment mainly was stagnant deepwater;thickness of black shale in the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4 was large,and the maximum thickness was over 20 m.Furthermore,control of the central Sichuan paleouplift,the central Guizhou paleouplift and the Jiangnan-Xuefeng paleouplift on black shale was discussed,and control of the Zhiliujing underwater highland/uplift,Huayingshan highland and Dingshan highland as well as western Hubei-Hunan underwater highland/uplift on shale deposition and preservation was also investigated.

Depositional environment of shale in Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations, Sichuan Basin

Formation of organic-rich shale was controlled by depositional processes and environment condition.According to petrology,mineralogy,fossil composition and sedimentary structure,seven lithofacies of shale were identified in the Wufeng Formation to Longmaxi Formation,e.g.,siliceous shale,silty shale,argillaceous shale,calcareous shale,shell-bearing argillaceous limestone/calcareous mudstone,siltstonefine sandstone and bentonite.For shale in the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations,the depositional mode was not only the suspension deposition under the low-energy hydrodynamic condition,but also the biogenic deposition,the storm deposition and the bottom current deposition indicated by large amount of siliceous biological fossils,biological detritus with size graded structure,silt laminations,lenticular bedding,ripple cross-bedding and other sedimentary structures.Trace element analysis suggested that the siliceous shale in theWufeng Formation and the lower part of Longmaxi Formation was developed in the oxygen-dysoxic/anoxic depositional environment,which was rich in organic matters;then due to influence of the sea level gradually decline and bottom current,the silty and argillaceous shales were formed,and the oxygen-dysoxic/anoxic depositional environment was destroyed,gradually leading to the worse preservation condition of organic matter.

Pore characteristics and formation mechanism of high-maturity organic-rich shale in Lower Cambrian Jiumenchong Formation,southern Guizhou

In order to investigate pore characteristics and formation mechanism in the high-maturity organic-rich shale of Lower Cambrian Jiumenchong Formation in southern Guizhou,the pore structure,pore type and storage properties are well studied through the rock thin section,total rock X-ray diffraction,lowtemperature nitrogen adsorption,high pressure mercury injection-adsorption test,helium porosity test,argon ion polishing-scanning electron microscope,thermal evolution and pore evolution history reconstruction,and based on the diagenesis and compaction as well as thermal evolution process,a microscopic pore formation and evolution model of high-maturity organic-rich shale are established.The result shows that the high-maturity organic-rich shale of Jiumenchong Formation has the average total specific surface area of 12.66m^(2)/g and the total pore volume of 11.54×10^(-3)cm^(3)/g,and the total specific surface area have a positive correlation with total pore volume;the total specific surface area and the total pore volume are slightly lower compared with the Lower Silurian shale.The pores are dominated by micropores and mesopores,while macropores are very rare.The pores of the organic-rich shale mainly are organic pores with small diameter usually less than 30 nm,and the pore boundary form is irregular,the inorganic mineral pores are not developed.Compared with the Silurian shale,the shale has poorer reservoir property,the average porosity is only 2.80%;the horizontal permeability is 1e3 times of the vertical permeability,indicating the horizontal lamellations are not developed.The formation and evolution of pores in high-maturity organic-rich shale is jointly influenced by the evolutionary process of intergranular pores of inorganic mineral under the control of the diagenesis and compaction,the organic pore formation process in the hydrocarbon generation-oil formation-oil and gas transformation sequence under the control of thermal evolution,and the natural gas loss-supply equilibration process under the condition of later pore preservation.