Natural fractures are critical for shale oil and gas enrichment and development. Due to the extremely high heterogeneity of shale, the factors controlling the formation of internal fractures, especially horizontal fra...Natural fractures are critical for shale oil and gas enrichment and development. Due to the extremely high heterogeneity of shale, the factors controlling the formation of internal fractures, especially horizontal fractures, remain controversial. In this study, we integrate thin section analysis and microcomputed tomography(CT) data from several lacustrine shale samples from the third member(Es3) of the Shahejie Formation, Qikou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, to assess the fractures in detail. The goal is to reveal the development characteristics, controlling factors, and geological significance for evaluating sweet spots in a shale oil play. The fractures in the Es3contain high-angle structural and horizontal bed-parallel fractures that are mostly shear and extensional. Various factors influence fracture development,including lithofacies, mineral composition, organic matter content, and the number of laminae. Structural fractures occur predominantly in siltstone, whereas bed-parallel fractures are abundant in laminated shale and layered mudstone. A higher quartz content results in higher shale brittleness, causing fractures, whereas the transformation between clay minerals contributes to the development of bedparallel fractures. Excess pore pressure due to hydrocarbon generation and expulsion during thermal advance can cause the formation of bed-parallel fractures. The density of the bed-parallel and structural fractures increases with the lamina density, and the bed-parallel fractures are more sensitive to the number of laminae. The fractures are critical storage spaces and flow conduits and are indicative of sweet spots. The laminated shale in the Es3with a high organic matter content contains natural fractures and is an organic-rich, liquid-rich, self-sourced shale play. Conversely, the siltstone, massive mudstone, and argillaceous carbonate lithofacies contain lower amounts of organic matter and do not have bed-parallel fractures. However, good reservoirs can form in these areas when structural fractures are present and the source, and storage spaces are separated.展开更多
The accumulation and productivity of shale gas are mainly controlled by the characteristics of shale reservoirs;study of these characteristics forms the basis for the shale gas exploitation of the Lower Cambrian Niuti...The accumulation and productivity of shale gas are mainly controlled by the characteristics of shale reservoirs;study of these characteristics forms the basis for the shale gas exploitation of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation(Fm),Southern China.In this study,core observation and lithology study were conducted along with X-ray diffraction(XRD)and electronic scanning microscopy(SEM)examinations and liquid nitrogen(N2)adsorption/desorption and CH4 isothermal adsorption experiments for several exploration wells in northwestern Hunan Province,China.The results show that one or two intervals with high-quality source rocks(TOC>2 wt%)were deposited in the deep-shelf facies.The source rocks,which were mainly composed of carbonaceous shales and siliceous shales,had high quartz contents(>40 wt%)and low clay mineral(<30 wt%,mainly illites)and carbonate mineral(<20 wt%)contents.The SEM observations and liquid nitrogen(N2)adsorption/desorption experiments showed that the shale is tight,and nanoscale pores and microscale fractures are well developed.BJH volume(VBJH)of shale ranged from 2.144×10^-3 to 20.07×10^-3 cm^3/g,with an average of 11.752×10^-3 cm3/g.Pores mainly consisted of opened and interconnected mesopores(2–50 nm in diameter)or macropores(>50 nm in diameter).The shale reservoir has strong adsorption capacity for CH4.The Langmuir volume(VL)varied from 1.63 to 7.39 cm^3/g,with an average of 3.95 cm^3/g.The characteristics of shale reservoir are controlled by several factors:(1)A deep muddy continental shelf is the most favorable environment for the development of shale reservoirs,which is controlled by the development of basic materials.(2)The storage capacity of the shale reservoir is positively related to the TOC contents and plastic minerals and negatively related to cement minerals.(3)High maturity or overmaturity leads to the growth of organic pores and microfractures,thereby improving the reservoir storage capacity.It can be deduced that the high percentage of residual gas in Niutitang Fm results from the strong reservoir storage capacity of adsorbed gas.Two layers of sweet spots with strong storage capacity of free gas,and they are characterized by the relatively high TOC contents ranging from 4 wt%to 8 wt%.展开更多
基金financially supported by the CNPC Prospective Basic Science and Technology Special Project(2023ZZ08)the Science and Technology Cooperation Project of the CNPC-SWPU Innovation Alliance(2020CX050103)。
文摘Natural fractures are critical for shale oil and gas enrichment and development. Due to the extremely high heterogeneity of shale, the factors controlling the formation of internal fractures, especially horizontal fractures, remain controversial. In this study, we integrate thin section analysis and microcomputed tomography(CT) data from several lacustrine shale samples from the third member(Es3) of the Shahejie Formation, Qikou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, to assess the fractures in detail. The goal is to reveal the development characteristics, controlling factors, and geological significance for evaluating sweet spots in a shale oil play. The fractures in the Es3contain high-angle structural and horizontal bed-parallel fractures that are mostly shear and extensional. Various factors influence fracture development,including lithofacies, mineral composition, organic matter content, and the number of laminae. Structural fractures occur predominantly in siltstone, whereas bed-parallel fractures are abundant in laminated shale and layered mudstone. A higher quartz content results in higher shale brittleness, causing fractures, whereas the transformation between clay minerals contributes to the development of bedparallel fractures. Excess pore pressure due to hydrocarbon generation and expulsion during thermal advance can cause the formation of bed-parallel fractures. The density of the bed-parallel and structural fractures increases with the lamina density, and the bed-parallel fractures are more sensitive to the number of laminae. The fractures are critical storage spaces and flow conduits and are indicative of sweet spots. The laminated shale in the Es3with a high organic matter content contains natural fractures and is an organic-rich, liquid-rich, self-sourced shale play. Conversely, the siltstone, massive mudstone, and argillaceous carbonate lithofacies contain lower amounts of organic matter and do not have bed-parallel fractures. However, good reservoirs can form in these areas when structural fractures are present and the source, and storage spaces are separated.
基金granted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41603046)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2017JJ1034)
文摘The accumulation and productivity of shale gas are mainly controlled by the characteristics of shale reservoirs;study of these characteristics forms the basis for the shale gas exploitation of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation(Fm),Southern China.In this study,core observation and lithology study were conducted along with X-ray diffraction(XRD)and electronic scanning microscopy(SEM)examinations and liquid nitrogen(N2)adsorption/desorption and CH4 isothermal adsorption experiments for several exploration wells in northwestern Hunan Province,China.The results show that one or two intervals with high-quality source rocks(TOC>2 wt%)were deposited in the deep-shelf facies.The source rocks,which were mainly composed of carbonaceous shales and siliceous shales,had high quartz contents(>40 wt%)and low clay mineral(<30 wt%,mainly illites)and carbonate mineral(<20 wt%)contents.The SEM observations and liquid nitrogen(N2)adsorption/desorption experiments showed that the shale is tight,and nanoscale pores and microscale fractures are well developed.BJH volume(VBJH)of shale ranged from 2.144×10^-3 to 20.07×10^-3 cm^3/g,with an average of 11.752×10^-3 cm3/g.Pores mainly consisted of opened and interconnected mesopores(2–50 nm in diameter)or macropores(>50 nm in diameter).The shale reservoir has strong adsorption capacity for CH4.The Langmuir volume(VL)varied from 1.63 to 7.39 cm^3/g,with an average of 3.95 cm^3/g.The characteristics of shale reservoir are controlled by several factors:(1)A deep muddy continental shelf is the most favorable environment for the development of shale reservoirs,which is controlled by the development of basic materials.(2)The storage capacity of the shale reservoir is positively related to the TOC contents and plastic minerals and negatively related to cement minerals.(3)High maturity or overmaturity leads to the growth of organic pores and microfractures,thereby improving the reservoir storage capacity.It can be deduced that the high percentage of residual gas in Niutitang Fm results from the strong reservoir storage capacity of adsorbed gas.Two layers of sweet spots with strong storage capacity of free gas,and they are characterized by the relatively high TOC contents ranging from 4 wt%to 8 wt%.
