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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Biostratigraphy and reservoir characteristics of the Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas,China

Through graptolite identification in profiles,graptolite zone division,contour map compilation,and analysis of mineral composition,TOC content,lamina distribution features of shale samples,the biostratigraphic and reservoir characteristics of Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and its peripheral are sorted out.There are 4 graptolite zones(WF1 to WF4)in Wufeng Formation and 9(LM1 to LM9)in Longmaxi Formation,and the different graptolite zones can be calibrated by lithology and electrical property.The shale layers of these graptolite zones have two depocenters in the southwest and northeast,and differ in mineral composition,TOC,and lamina types.Among them,the graptolite zones of lower WF2 and WF4 are organic matter-poor massive hybrid shale,the upper part of WF1-WF2 and WF3 have horizontal bedding hybrid shale with organic matter,the LM1-LM4 mainly consist of organic-rich siliceous shale with horizontal bedding,and the LM5-LM9 graptolite zones consist of organic-lean hybrid shale with horizontal bedding.The mineral composition,TOC and lamina types of shale depend on the paleo-climate,paleo-water oxidation-reduction conditions,and paleo-sedimentation rate during its deposition.Deposited in oxygen-rich warm water,the lower parts of WF1 and WF2 graptolite zones have massive bedding,low TOC and silicon content.Deposited in cooler and oxygen-rich water,the WF4 has massive bedding,high calcium content and low TOC.Deposited in anoxic water with low rate,the upper part of WF2,WF3,and LM1-LM4 are composed of organic rich siliceous shale with horizontal bedding and high proportion of silt laminae.Deposited in oxygen rich water at a high rate,the graptolite zones LM5-LM9 have low contents of organic matter and siliceous content and high proportions of silt lamina.

“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.

Basic characteristics of key interfaces in Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation – Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin and its periphery,SW China

Based on anatomy of key areas and data points and analysis of typical features of shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member, basic characteristics of key interfaces, mainly bentonite layers, in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas and the relationship between these key interfaces with the deposition of organic-rich shale have been examined systematically. The Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation has four types of marker beds with interface attributes, namely, the characteristic graptolite belt, Guanyinqiao Member shell layer, section with dense bentonite layers, and concretion section, which can be taken as key interfaces for stratigraphic division and correlation of the graptolite shale. The shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member is the most standard key interface in Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation, and can also be regarded as an important indicator for judging the depositional scale of organic-rich shale in key areas. There are 8 dense bentonite sections of two types mainly occurring in 7 graptolite belts in these formations. They have similar interface characteristics with the shell layer in Guanyinqiao Member in thickness and natural gamma response, and belong to tectonic interfaces(i.e., event deposits). They have three kinds of distribution scales: whole region, large part of the region, and local part, and can be the third, fourth and fifth order sequence interfaces, and have a differential control effect on organic-rich shale deposits. The horizon the characteristic graptolite belt occurs first is the isochronous interface, which is not directly related to the deposition of organic-rich shale. Concretions only appear in local areas, and show poor stability in vertical and horizontal directions, and have no obvious relationship with the deposition of the organic-rich shale.

Developmental characteristics and geological significance of the bentonite in the Upper Ordovician Wufeng – Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in eastern Sichuan Basin, SW China

Based on the Qiliao section of the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation – Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Shizhu, Chongqing city, the development characteristics of bentonite in eastern Sichuan Basin was examined systematically, and its geological significance and scientific value were analyzed. The main understandings are as follows:(1) Six bentonite dense layers were found in the Qiliao section, mainly occurring in 6 graptolitic belts of the Katian, Rhuddanian and Aeronian. Most of the bentonite dense layers showed obvious increase in clay, peak response of GR curve, and indistinct relationship between volcanic ash and total organic carbon(TOC).(2) The bentonite dense layers of Longmaxi Formation were widely distributed in eastern Sichuan Basin and its periphery, and generally showed GR peak, which can be an important reference interface for dividing the bottom boundary of the Coronograptus cyphus belt and the top boundary of the Rhuddanian in eastern Sichuan Basin and western Hubei province.(3) Taking the bentonite dense layers as the stratification basis of the Rhuddanian and Aeronian, it was determined that the sediment thickness of the Rhuddanian in the eastern Sichuan depression was generally 10–40 m, but only the upper part of the Coronograptus cyphus belt was deposited in the hinderland of Yichang Uplift, and the sedimentary thickness was only 3–7 m.(4) In the hinderland of the Yichang Uplift, at least five and a half graptolitic belts were missing in Wufeng Formation – Rhuddanian, and the deposition time of Rhuddanian was less than 0.4 Ma.(5) The bentonite dense layers were important sedimentary responses to the strong deflection of the Yangtze basin at the turn of the Ordovician–Silurian, which suggested that four tectonic activity periods existed in the eastern Sichuan depression, including the early stage of the depression, the middle-late stage of the depression, the early stage of the foreland flexure and the development stage of the foreland flexure. The high-quality shale was mainly developed from the early stage to the middle-late stage in the depression.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Graptolite-Derived Organic Matter and Pore Characteristics in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Black Shale of the Sichuan Basin and its Periphery

A key target of shale gas exploration and production in China is the organic-rich black shale of the Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery.The set of black shale contains abundant graptolites,which are mainly preserved as flattened rhabdosomes with carbonized periderms,is an important organic component of the shale.However,few previous studies had focused on the organic matter(OM)which is derived from graptolite and its pore structure.In particular,the contributions of graptolites to gas generation,storage,and flow have not yet been examined.In this study,focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope(FIB-SEM)was used to investigate the characteristics of the graptolite-derived OM and the micro-nanopores of graptolite periderms.The results suggested that the proportion of OM in the graptolite was between 19.7%and 30.2%,and between 8.9%and 14.4%in the surrounding rock.The total organic carbon(TOC)content of the graptolite was found to be higher than that of the surrounding rock,which indicated that the graptolite played a significant role in the dispersed organic matter.Four types of pores were developed in the graptolite periderm,including organic gas pores,pyrite moulage pores,authigenic quartz moldic pores,and microfractures.These well-developed micro-nano pores and fractures had formed an interconnected system within the graptolites which provided storage spaces for shale gas.The stacked layers and large accumulation of graptolites resulted in lamellation fractures openning easily,and provided effective pathways for the gas flow.A few nanoscale gas pores were observed in the graptolite-derived OM,with surface porosity lie in 1.5%–2.4%,and pore diameters of 5–20 nm.The sapropel detritus was determined to be rich in nanometer-sized pores with surface porosity of 3.1%–6.2%,and pore diameters of 20–80 nm.Due to the small amount of hydrocarbon generation of the graptolite,supporting the overlying pressure was difficult,which caused the pores to become compacted or collapsed.

The new multistage water adsorption model of Longmaxi Formation shale considering the spatial configuration relationship between organic matter and clay minerals

The water adsorption by shale significantly affects shale gas content and its seepage capacity.However,the mechanism of water adsorption by shale is still unclear due to its strong heterogeneity and complicated pore structure.The relationship between the adsorbed water content at different relative humidities(RHs)and shale compositions,as well as shale pore structure and the spatial configuration relationship between organic matter(OM)and clay minerals,was investigated to clarify the controlling factors and mechanisms of water adsorption by Longmaxi Formation shale from the Southern Sichuan Basin in China.Consequently,the water adsorption process could be generally divided into three different stages from 0%RH to 99%RH.Furthermore,the Johnston’s clay mine ral interlayer pore structure model(JCM),the Freundlich model(FM)and the Dubinin-Astakhov model(DAM)were tested to fit the three water adsorption stages from low RH to high RH,respectively.The fitting results of the JCM and FM at lower RHs were far from good,while the fitting results of DAM at higher RHs were acceptable.Accordingly,two revised models(LRHM and MRHM)considering the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals were proposed for the two stages with lower RHs,and performed better fitting results indicating the pronounced effect of the spatial configuration relationship between OM and clay minerals on the water adsorption process of Longmaxi Formation shale.The outcomes of this study will contribute to clarifying the water distribution characteristics in the pore network of shale samples with variable water contents.

Quantitative prediction of shale gas sweet spots based on seismic data in Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation,Weiyuan area,Sichuan Basin,SW China

Sweet spots in the shale reservoirs of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Weiyuan 201 Block of Sichuan Basin were predicted quantitatively using seismic data and fuzzy optimization method. First, based on seismic and rock physics analysis, the rock physics characteristics of the reservoirs were determined, and elastic parameters sensitive to shale reservoirs with high gas content were selected. Second, data volumes with high precision of the elastic parameters were obtained from pre-stack simultaneous inversion. The horizontal distribution of key parameters for shale gas evaluation were calculated based on the results of rock physics analysis. Then, the fuzzy evaluation equation was established by fuzzy optimization method with test and logging data of horizontal wells with similar operation conditions. key parameters affecting the productivity of horizontal wells were sorted out and the weights of them in the sweet spots quantitative prediction were worked out by fuzzy optimization to set up a sweet spots evaluation system. Three classes of shale gas reservoirs which including two kinds of sweet spots were predicted with the above procedure, and the sweet spots have been predicted quantitatively by combining the above prediction results with the testing production. The testing results of 7 verification wells proved the reliability of the prediction results.