Porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation deep shale under temperature-pressure coupling in the Sichuan Basin, SW China

To investigate the porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of deep shale under temperature-pressure coupling, we selected the core samples of deep shale from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Weirong and Yongchuan areas of the Sichuan Basin for porosity and permeability experiments and a triaxial compression and sound wave integration experiment at the maximum temperature and pressure of 120 ℃ and 70 MPa. The results show that the microscopic porosity and permeability change and the macroscopic rock deformation are mutually constrained, both showing the trend of steep and then gentle variation. At the maximum temperature and pressure, the porosity reduces by 34%–71%, and the permeability decreases by 85%–97%. With the rising temperature and pressure, deep shale undergoes plastic deformation in which organic pores and clay mineral pores are compressed and microfractures are closed, and elastic deformation in which brittle mineral pores and rock skeleton particles are compacted. Compared with previous experiments under high confining pressure and normal temperature,the experiment under high temperature and high pressure coupling reveals the effect of high temperature on stress sensitivity of porosity and permeability. High temperature can increase the plasticity of the rock, intensify the compression of pores due to high confining pressure, and induce thermal stress between the rock skeleton particles, allowing the reopening of shale bedding or the creation of new fractures along weak planes such as bedding, which inhibits the decrease of permeability with the increase of temperature and confining pressure. Compared with the triaxial mechanical experiment at normal temperature, the triaxial compression experiment at high temperature and high pressure demonstrates that the compressive strength and peak strain of deep shale increase significantly due to the coupling of temperature and pressure. The compressive strength is up to 435 MPa and the peak strain exceeds 2%, indicating that high temperature is not conducive to fracture initiation and expansion by increasing rock plasticity. Lithofacies and mineral composition have great impacts on the porosity, permeability and rock mechanics of deep shale. Shales with different lithologies are different in the difficulty and extent of brittle failure. The stress-strain characteristics of rocks under actual geological conditions are key support to the optimization of reservoir stimulation program.

Origin of carbonate minerals and impacts on reservoir quality of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale, Sichuan Basin

The Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale in the Sichuan Basin were studied to understand the genesis and diagenetic evolution of carbonate minerals and their effects on reservoir quality. The results of geochemical and petrological analyses show that calcite grains have a negative Ce anomaly indicating they formed in the oxidizing environment of seawater. The high carbonate mineral contents in the margin of basin indicate that calcite grains and cores of dolomite grains appear largely to be of detrital origin. The rhombic rims of dolomite grains and dolomite concretions with the δ^(13)C of –15.46‰ and the enrichment of middle rare earth elements were formed during the sulfate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane. The calcite in radiolarian were related to the microbial sulfate reduction for the abundant anhedral pyrites and δ^(13)C value of –11.34‰. Calcite veins precipitated in the deep burial stage with homogenization temperature of the inclusions ranging from 146.70 ℃ to 182.90 ℃. The pores in shale are mainly organic matter pores with pore size mainly in the range of 1–20 nm in diameter. Carbonate minerals influence the development of pores through offering storage space for organic matter. When calcite contents ranging from 10% to 20%, calcite grains and cement as rigid framework can preserve primary pores. Subsequently, the thermal cracking of liquid petroleum in primary pores will form organic matter pores. The radiolarian were mostly partially filled with calcite, which combining with microcrystalline quartz preserved a high storage capacity.

Microfacies types and distribution of epicontinental shale: A case study of the Wufeng–Longmaxi shale in southern Sichuan Basin, China

For black shales,laminae and bedding are hard to identify,grain size is difficult to measure,and trace fossils do not exist.Taking the Ordovician Wufeng–Silurian Longmaxi shale in southern Sichuan Basin,China,as an example,the types,characteristics and models of microfacies in epicontinental shale are analyzed by means of full-scale observation of large thin sections,argon-ion polishing field emission-scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),and kerogen microscopy.The epicontinental sea develops delta,tidal flat and shelf facies,with black shale found in microfacies such as the underwater distributary channel and interdistributary bay under delta front facies,the calcareous and clayey flats under intertidal flat facies,the calcareous and clayey shelfs under shallow shelf facies,the deep slope,deep plain and deep depression under deep shelf facies,and the overflow under gravity flow facies.Basinward,silty lamina decreases and clayey lamina increases,the grain size changes from coarse silt to fine mud,the silica content increases from about 20%to above 55%,the carbonate and clay minerals content decreases from above 40%to around 10%,and the kerogen type changes from type II2 to type II1 and type I.Provenance and topography dominate the types and distribution of shale microfacies.The underwater distributary channel,interdistributary bay,clayey flat,clayey shelf,and overflow microfacies are developed in areas with sufficient sediment supply.The calcareous flat and calcareous shelf are developed in areas with insufficient sediment supply.The deep shelf shale area is divided into deep slope,deep plain,and deep depression microfacies as a result of three breaks.The formation of epicontinental shale with different microfacies is closely related to the tectonic setting,paleoclimate,and sea level rise.The relatively active tectonic setting increases the supply of terrigenous clasts,forming muddy water fine-grained sediment.The warm and humid paleoclimate is conducive to the enrichment of organic matter.The rapid sea level rise is helpful to the widespread black shale.

Enlightenment of calcite veins in deep Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi shales fractures to migration and enrichment of shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin, SW China

The relationship between fracture calcite veins and shale gas enrichment in the deep Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation (Wufeng-Longmaxi) shales in southern Sichuan Basin was investigated through core and thin section observations, cathodoluminescence analysis, isotopic geochemistry analysis, fluid inclusion testing, and basin simulation. Tectonic fracture calcite veins mainly in the undulating part of the structure and non-tectonic fracture calcite veins are mainly formed in the gentle part of the structure. The latter, mainly induced by hydrocarbon generation, occurred at the stage of peak oil and gas generation, while the former turned up with the formation of Luzhou paleouplift during the Indosinian. Under the influence of hydrocarbon generation pressurization process, fractures were opened and closed frequently, and oil and gas episodic activities are recorded by veins. The formation pressure coefficient at the maximum paleodepth exceeds 2.0. The formation uplift stage after the Late Yanshanian is the key period for shale gas migration. Shale gas migrates along the bedding to the high part of the structure. The greater the structural fluctuation is, the more intense the shale gas migration activity is, and the loss is more. The gentler the formation is, the weaker the shale gas migration activity is, and the loss is less. The shale gas enrichment in the core of gentle anticlines and gentle synclines is relatively higher.

“Rigid-elastic chimera” pore skeleton model and overpressure porosity measurement method for shale: A case study of the deep overpressure siliceous shale of Silurian Longmaxi Formation in southern Sichuan Basin, SW China

Based on analysis of pore features and pore skeleton composition of shale,a“rigid elastic chimeric”pore skeleton model of shale gas reservoir was built.Pore deformation mechanisms leading to increase of shale porosity due to the pore skeleton deformation under overpressure were sorted out through analysis of stress on the shale pore and skeleton.After reviewing the difficulties and defects of existent porosity measurement methods,a dynamic deformed porosity measurement method was worked out and used to measure the porosity of overpressure Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale under real formation conditions in southern Sichuan Basin.The results show:(1)The shale reservoir is a mixture of inorganic rock particles and organic matter,which contains inorganic pores supported by rigid skeleton particles and organic pores supported by elastic-plastic particles,and thus has a special“rigid elastic chimeric”pore structure.(2)Under the action of formation overpressure,the inorganic pores have tiny changes that can be assumed that they don’t change in porosity,while the organic pores may have large deformation due to skeleton compression,leading to the increase of radius,connectivity and ultimately porosity of these pores.(3)The“dynamic”deformation porosity measurement method combining high injection pressure helium porosity measurement and kerosene porosity measurement method under ultra-high variable pressure can accurately measure porosity of unconnected micro-pores under normal pressure conditions,and also the porosity increment caused by plastic skeleton compression deformation.(4)The pore deformation mechanism of shale may result in the"abnormal"phenomenon that the shale under formation conditions has higher porosity than that under normal pressure,so the overpressure shale reservoir is not necessarily“ultra-low in porosity”,and can have porosity over 10%.Application of this method in Well L210 in southern Sichuan has confirmed its practicality and reliability.

Anisotropy rock physics model for the Longmaxi shale gas reservoir,Sichuan Basin,China

The preferred orientation of clay minerals dominates the intrinsic anisotropy of shale. We introduce the clay lamination （CL） parameter to the Backus averaging method to describe the intrinsic shale anisotropy induced by the alignment of clay minerals. Then, we perform the inversion of CL and the Thomsen anisotropy parameters. The direct measurement of anisotropy is difficult because of the inability to measure the acoustic velocity in the vertical direction in boreholes and instrument limitations. By introducing the parameter CL, the inversion method provides reasonable estimates of the elastic anisotropy in the Longmaxi shale. The clay content is weakly correlated with the CL parameter. Moreover, the parameter CL is abnormally high at the bottom of the Longmaxi and Wufeng Formations, which are the target reservoirs. Finally, we construct rock physics templates to interpret well logging and reservoir properties.

Computation of elastic properties of 3D digital cores from the Longmaxi shale

The dependence of elastic moduli of shales on the mineralogy and microstructure of shales is important for the prediction of sweet spots and shale gas production. Based on 3D digital images of the microstructure of Longmaxi black shale samples using X-ray CT, we built detailed 3D digital images of cores with porosity properties and mineral contents. Next, we used finite-element （FE） methods to derive the elastic properties of the samples. The FE method can accurately model the shale mineralogy. Particular attention is paid to the derived elastic properties and their dependence on porosity and kerogen. The elastic moduli generally decrease with increasing porosity and kerogen, and there is a critical porosity （0.75） and kerogen content （ca. ≤3%） over which the elastic moduli decrease rapidly and slowly, respectively. The derived elastic moduli of gas- and oil-saturated digital cores differ little probably because of the low porosity （4.5%） of the Longmaxi black shale. Clearly, the numerical experiments demonstrated the feasibility of combining microstructure images of shale samples with elastic moduli calculations to predict shale properties.

Geological Features and Reservoiring Mode of Shale Gas Reservoirs in Longmaxi Formation of the Jiaoshiba Area

This study is based on the sedimentation conditions, organic geochemistry, storage spaces, physical properties, lithology and gas content of the shale gas reservoirs in Longmaxi Formation of the Jiaoshiba area and the gas accumulation mode is summarized and then compared with that in northern America. The shale gas reservoirs in the Longmaxi Formation in Jiaoshiba have good geological conditions, great thickness of quality shales, high organic content, high gas content, good physical properties, suitable depth, good preservation conditions and good reservoir types. The quality shales at the bottom of the deep shelf are the main target interval for shale gas exploration and development. Shale gas in the Longmaxi Formation has undergone three main reservoiring stages：the early stage of hydrocarbon generation and compaction when shale gas reservoirs were first formed; the middle stage of deep burial and large-scale hydrocarbon generation, which caused the enrichment of reservoirs with shale gas; the late stage of uplift, erosion and fracture development when shale gas reservoirs were finally formed.

Differential Characteristics of the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale Reservoir and its Implications for Exploration and Development of Shale Gas in/around the Sichuan Basin

The Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,which is the key stratum for marine shale gas exploration and development(E&D)in China.Based on sedimentary environment,material basis,storage space,fracability and reservoir evolution data,the reservoir characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale and their significance for shale gas E&D are systematically compared and analyzed in this paper.The results show that(1)the depocenter of the Wufeng(WF)-Longmaxi(LM)shale gradually migrates from east to west.The high-quality shale reservoirs in the eastern Sichuan Basin are mainly siliceous shales,which are primarily distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM5.The high-quality reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are mainly calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales,which are distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM7.(2)Deep shale gas(the burial depth>3500 m)in the Sichuan Basin has high-ultrahigh pressure and superior physical properties.The organic-rich siliceous,calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales have suitable reservoir properties.The marginal area of the Sichuan Basin has a higher degree of pressure relief,which leads to the argillaceous and silty shales evolving into direct cap rocks with poor reservoir/good sealing capacity.(3)Combining shale gas exploration practices and impacts of lithofacies,depth,pressure coefficient and brittle-ductile transition on the reservoir properties,it is concluded that the favorable depth interval of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale gas is 2200~4000 m under current technical conditions.(4)Aiming at the differential reservoir properties of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,several suggestions for future research directions and E&D of shale gas are formulated.

Investigating microstructure of Longmaxi shale in Shizhu area,Sichuan Basin, by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography

Microstructure of shale formation is the key to understanding its petrophysical and chemical properties.Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography(μ-CT) have been combined for characterization of microstructure of Longmaxi(LMX)shale from Shizhu area, Sichan Basin. The results indicate that laminated LMX shale consists of mineral matrix-rich layers and organic matter(OM)-rich layers at micrometer scale in two and three dimensions. Mineral matrix layers,mainly consisting of interparticle pores and intraplatelet pores, are approximately parallel to the bedding plane.Pyrite-rich layer, mainly containing intercrystalline pores,shows a strong preferred orientation parallel to the bedding plane. OM-rich layer, mainly containing OM pores, seems to be discontinuous. In addition, intercrystalline pores are enriched in some layers, while OM pores are distributed irregularly in matrix layers. This vertical heterogeneity of pore microscopic structures in LMX shale is of great importance to understand its petrophysical and chemical properties.

A Quantitative Evaluation of Shale Gas Content in Different Occurrence States of the Longmaxi Formation: A New Insight from Well JY-A in the Fuling Shale Gas Field,Sichuan Basin

Comprehensive quantitative evaluation of shale gas content and the controlling factors in different occurrence states is of great significance for accurately assessing gas-bearing capacity and providing effective well-production strategies. A total of 122 core samples from well JY-A in the Fuling shale gas field were studied to reveal the characteristics of S_1 l shale,15 of which were selected to further predict the shale gas content in different occurrence states, which are dependent on geological factors in the thermal evolution process. Geological parameters were researched by a number of laboratory programs, and the factors influential in controlling shale gas content were extracted by both PCA and GRA methods and prediction models were confirmed by the BE method using SPSS software. Results reveal that the adsorbed gas content is mainly controlled by TOC, Ro, SSA, PD and pyrite content, and the free gas content is mainly controlled by S_2, quartz content, gas saturation and formation pressure for S_1 l in well JY-A. Three methods, including the on-site gas desorption method, the empirical formula method, and the multiple regression analysis method were used in combination to evaluate the shale gas capacity of well JY-A, all of which show that the overall shale gas content of well JY-A is in the range of 2.0–5.0 m^3/t and that the free gas ratio is about 50%, lower than that of well JY-1. Cause analysis further confirms the tectonics and preservation conditions of S_1 l in the geological processes, especially the influence of eastern boundary faults on well JY-A, as the fundamental reasons for the differences in shale gas enrichment in the Jiaoshiba area.

Pore Types and Quantitative Evaluation of Pore Volumes in the Longmaxi Formation Shale of Southeast Chongqing, China

The common microscale to nanoscale pore types were introduced and divided into organic and inorganic pores to estimate their contributions to porosity in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale of southeast Chongqing. Following the material balance principle, the organic porosity values, which changed with formation subsidence and thermal evolution, were calculated using chemical kinetics methods and corrected via the organic porosity correction coefficient, which was obtained from field emission scanning electron microscopy. Grain density values were determined using the contents and true densities of compositions in the shale samples. The total porosity was calculated based on the grain and bulk densities. The inorganic porosity was determined from the difference between the total porosity and organic porosity at the same depth. The results show that inorganic pores mainly contain microfractures, microchannels, clay intergranular pores, intercrystalline pores and intracrystalline pores in the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale of southeast Chongqing. Organic pores mainly include organopore and fossil pore. The total porosity, organic porosity and inorganic porosity of organic-rich shale samples can be quantitatively evaluated using this method. The total porosity, organic porosity and inorganic porosity values of the Longmaxi Formation shale samples from the well Pyl in southeast Chongqing lie in 2.75%-6.14%, 0.08%-2.52% and 1.41%-4.92% with average values of 4.34%, 0.95% and 3.39%, respectively. The contributions of the inorganic pores to the total porosity are significantly greater than those of the organic pores.

Development Phases and Mechanisms of Tectonic Fractures in the Longmaxi Formation Shale of the Dingshan Area in Southeast Sichuan Basin, China

Shale gas has currently attracted much attention during oil and gas exploration and development. Fractures in shale have an important influence on the enrichment and preservation of shale gas. This work studied the developmental period and formation mechanism of tectonic fractures in the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dingshan area of southeastern Sichuan Basin based on extensive observations of outcrops and cores, rock acoustic emission(Kaiser) experiments, homogenization temperature of fracture fill inclusions, apatite fission track, thermal burial history. The research shows that the fracture types of the Longmaxi Formation include tectonic fractures, diagenetic fractures and horizontal slip fractures. The main types are tectonic high-angle shear and horizontal slip fractures, with small openings, large spacing, low densities, and high degrees of filling. Six dominant directions of the fractures after correction by plane included NWW, nearly SN, NNW, NEE, nearly EW and NW. The analysis of field fracture stage and fracture system of the borehole suggests that the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation could be paired with two sets of plane X-shaped conjugate shear fractures, i.e., profile X-shaped conjugate shear fractures and extension fractures. The combination of qualitative geological analysis and quantitative experimental testing techniques indicates that the tectonic fractures in the Longmaxi Formation have undergone three periods of tectonic movement, namely mid-late Yanshanian movement(82–71.1 Ma), late Yanshanian and middle Himalaya movements(71.1–22.3 Ma), and the late Himalayan movement(22.3–0 Ma). The middle-late period of the Yanshanian movement and end of the Yanshanian movement-middle period of the Himalayan movement were the main fractureforming periods. The fractures were mostly filled with minerals, such as calcite and siliceous. The homogenization temperature of fracture fill inclusions was high, and the paleo-stress value was large; the tectonic movement from the late to present period was mainly a slight transformation and superposition of existing fractures and tectonic systems. Based on the principle of tectonic analysis and theory of geomechanics, we clarified the mechanism of the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation, and established the genetic model of the Longmaxi Formation. The research on the qualitative and quantitative techniques of the fracture-phase study could be effectively used to analyze the causes of the marine shale gas fractures in the Sichuan Basin. The research findings and results provide important references and technical support for further exploration and development of marine shale gas in South China.

Reservoir Characteristics and Preservation Conditions of Longmaxi Shale in the Upper Yangtze Block, South China

The Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the Upper Yangtze block represents one of the most important shale gas plays in China. The shale composition, porosity, organic thermal maturity, and methane sorption were investigated at the Qilongcun section in the Dingshan area, southeastern Sichuan Basin. The results show that the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale contains： （1） sapropelic I organic matter; （2） a 40-m thick bedded sequence where total organic carbon （TOC） content is 〉 2%; （3） a 30-m thick layer at the base of the Longmaxi Shale with a brittle mineral content higher than 50%; and （4） a mean methane adsorption capacity of 1.80 cm3/g （7 MPa pressure）. A positive correlation between TOC and sorbed gas indicates that organic matter content exerts an important control on methane storage capacity. Based on the analysis of the shale reservoir characteristics, the lower member of the Longmaxi Shale can thus be considered a favorable stratum for shale gas exploration and exploitation. It has similar reservoir characteristics with the Longmaxi Shale in the Jiaoshiba area tested with a high-yield industrial gas flow. However, based on tectonic analysis, differences in the level of industrial gas flow between the low-yield study area and the high-yield Jiaoshiba area may result from different tectonic preservation conditions. Evidence from these studies indicates the shale gas potential of the Longmaxi Shale is constrained by the reservoir and preservation conditions.

Geochemical characteristics and genetic mechanism of the high-N2 shale gas reservoir in the Longmaxi Formation, Dianqianbei Area, China

As an important pilot target for shale gas exploration and development in China,the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dianqianbei Area is characterized by high content of nitrogen,which severely increases exploration risk.Accordingly,this study explores the genesis of shale gas reservoir and the mechanism of nitrogen enrichment through investigating shale gas compositions,isotope features,and geochemical characteristics of associated gases.The high-nitrogen shale gas reservoir in the Longmaxi Formation is demonstrated to be a typical dry gas reservoir.Specifically,the alkane carbon isotope reversal is ascribed to the secondary cracking of crude oil and the Rayleigh fractionation induced by the basalt mantle plume.Such a thermogenic oil-type gas reservoir is composed of both oil-cracking gas and kerogen-cracking gas.The normally high nitrogen content(18.05%-40.92%) is attributed to organic matter cracking and thermal ammoniation in the high-maturity stage.Specifically,the high heat flow effect of the Emeishan mantle plume exacerbates the thermal cracking of organic matter in the Longmaxi Formation shale,accompanied by nitrogen generation.In comparison,the abnormally high nitrogen content(86.79%-98.54%) is ascribed to the communication between the atmosphere and deep underground fluids by deep faults,which results in hydrocarbon loss and nitrogen intrusion,acting as the key factor for deconstruction of the primary shale gas reservoir.Results of this study not only enrich research on genetic mechanism of high-maturity N_@ shale gas reservoirs,but also provide theoretical guidance for subsequent gas reservoir resource evaluation and well-drilling deployment in this area.

Mesoscale fracture behavior of Longmaxi outcrop shale with different bedding angles:Experimental and numerical investigations

The mechanical properties and fracturing mechanism of shale containing beddings are critically important in shale gas exploitation and wellbore stability.To investigate the effects of shale bedding on crack behavior and fracturing mechanism,scanning electron microscope(SEM)with a loading system was employed to carry out three-point bending tests on Longmaxi outcrop shale.The crack initiation and propagation of Longmaxi shale were observed and recorded by taking photos during loading.The cracking paths were extracted to calculate the crack length through a MATLAB program.The peak load,fracture toughness and fracture energy all increase with the bedding angle from 0°to 90°.The crack length and energy were also found to increase with the bedding angle in the range of 0°-600 and then drop slightly.The fracturing mechanism of shale includes the main crack affected by the bedding angle and disturbed by randomly distributed particles.The main cracking path was accompanied by several microcrack branches which could form an interconnected crack system.When the main crack encounters larger sedimentary particles,it will deflect around the particles and then restore to the initial direction.A numerical technique using extended finite element method(XFEM)coupled with anisotropic cohesive damage criteria was developed,which is able to capture the dependence of crack propagations on bedding angle and sedimentary particles.This study sheds light on understanding and predicting mesoscale fracture behavior of shale with different bedding angles.

Source Rock and Cap Rock Controls on the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation–Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation Shale Gas Accumulation in the Sichuan Basin and its Peripheral Areas

Objective The Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation is one of the priority interval for shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral areas, and commercial shale gas has been discovered from this interval in Jiaoshiba, Changning and Weiyuan shale gas fields in Sichuan Province. However, there is no significant discovery in other parts of the basin due to the different quality of black shale and the differences of tectonic evolution. Based on the progress of shale gas geological theory and exploration discoveries, as well as the theory of ＂source rock and cap rock controls on hydrocarbon accumulation＂, of the Upper Ordovician the main controlling factors Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale gas enrichment in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral areas were analyzed, and the source rock and cap rock controls on the shale gas were also discussed. The results can provide new insights for the next shale gas exploration in this area.

Hydrocarbon generation and storage mechanisms of deepwater shelf shales of Ordovician Wufeng Formation–Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin, China

As the hydrocarbon generation and storage mechanisms of high quality shales of Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation– Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation remain unclear, based on geological conditions and experimental modelling of shale gas formation, the shale gas generation and accumulation mechanisms as well as their coupling relationships of deep-water shelf shales in Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation of Sichuan Basin were analyzed from petrology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. The high quality shales of Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin are characterized by high thermal evolution, high hydrocarbon generation intensity, good material base, and good roof and floor conditions;the high quality deep-water shelf shale not only has high biogenic silicon content and organic carbon content, but also high porosity coupling. It is concluded that:(1) The shales had good preservation conditions and high retainment of crude oil in the early times, and the shale gas was mainly from cracking of crude oil.(2) The biogenic silicon(opal A) turned into crystal quartz in early times of burial diagenesis, lots of micro-size intergranular pores were produced in the same time;moreover, the biogenic silicon frame had high resistance to compaction, thus it provided the conditions not only for oil charge in the early stage, but also for formation and preservation of nanometer cellular-like pores, and was the key factor enabling the preservation of organic pores.(3) The high quality shale of Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation had high brittleness, strong homogeneity, siliceous intergranular micro-pores and nanometer organic pores, which were conducive to the formation of complicated fissure network connecting the siliceous intergranular nano-pores, and thus high and stable production of shale gas.

A Strain Rate Dependent Constitutive Model for the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation Shale in the Fuling Gas Field of the Sichuan Basin,China

Shale,as a kind of brittle rock,often exhibits different nonlinear stress-strain behavior,failure and timedependent behavior under different strain rates.To capture these features,this work conducted triaxial compression tests under axial strain rates ranging from 5×10-6 s-1 to 1×10-3 s-1.The results show that both elastic modulus and peak strength have a positive correlation relationship with strain rates.These strain rate-dependent mechanical behaviors of shale are originated from damage growth,which is described by a damage parameter.When axial strain is the same,the damage parameter is positively correlated with strain rate.When strain rate is the same,with an increase of axial strain,the damage parameter decreases firstly from an initial value(about 0.1 to 0.2),soon reaches its minimum(about 0.1),and then increases to an asymptotic value of 0.8.Based on the experimental results,taking yield stress as the cut-off point and considering damage variable evolution,a new measure of micro-mechanical strength is proposed.Based on the Lemaitre’s equivalent strain assumption and the new measure of micro-mechanical strength,a statistical strain-rate dependent damage constitutive model for shale that couples physically meaningful model parameters was established.Numerical back-calculations of these triaxial compression tests results demonstrate the ability of the model to reproduce the primary features of the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of shale.

Quantitative Prediction of Fracture Distribution of the Longmaxi Formation in the Dingshan Area, China using FEM Numerical Simulation

Fracture prediction is a technical issue in the field of petroleum exploration and production worldwide.Although there are many approaches to predict the distribution of cracks underground,these approaches have some limitations.To resolve these issues,we ascertained the relation between numerical simulations of tectonic stress and the predicted distribution of fractures from the perspective of geologic genesis,based on the characteristics of the shale reservoir in the Longmaxi Formation in Dingshan;the features of fracture development in this reservoir were considered.3 D finite element method(FEM)was applied in combination with rock mechanical parameters derived from the acoustic emissions.The paleotectonic stress field of the crack formation period was simulated for the Longmaxi Formation in the Dingshan area.The splitting factor in the study area was calculated based on the rock breaking criterion.The coefficient of fracture development was selected as the quantitative prediction classification criteria for the cracks.The results show that a higher coefficient of fracture development indicates a greater degree of fracture development.On the basis of the fracture development coefficient classification,a favorable area was identified for the development of fracture prediction in the study area.The prediction results indicate that the south of the Dingshan area and the DY3 well of the central region are favorable zones for fracture development.