Microscopic pore characteristics of andesite and implication from mineral content:A case study in Huoshiling Formation of Changling fault depression,Songliao Basin

In order to study the microscopic pore characteristics of andesite reservoir and the effect of mineral content on the andesite pore,this study takes the andesite of the Huoshiling Formation in Longfengshan of Changling fault depression,Songliao Basin as a subject.The andesite reservoir space was discerned through the observation of cores and casting thin sections.Besides,the pore size distribution of andesites and their mineral contents were quantitatively characterized by high-pressure mercury injection,nitrogen adsorption and XRD,respectively.The results show that:(1)There are various types of reservoir space in andesites,including vesicles,amygdule,intergranular pores,matrix dissolution pores and dissolution pores of amygdala,and three types of fractures including dissolution,structural and explosion fractures.(2)The pore size distribution of andesite is complex.The main pore size of andesite is mid-pore(10-20 nm)with some large-pores(>50 nm).Mid-pore and large-pore provide the main specific surface area,which are the main space for gas storage.(3)The andesite reservoir space in the study area is mainly controlled by dissolution,as supported by the relationship between the change of mineral content and porosity evolution.The porosity of andesites decreases with the increase of quartz and chlorite content,but increases with the increase of soluble mineral,e.g.,feldspar content.

Variation law of microscopic pore of loess-like soil after several freeze-thaw cycles in seasonal frozen soil region

In seasonal frozen soil region,the engineering geological properties of loess-like soil will be deteriorated after freeze-thaw cycles.Through the freeze-thaw cycle experiment of remolded loess-like soil,under different freezing temperatures,the authors carried out freeze-thaw cycle tests for 3 times and 20 times,respectively.With mercury intrusion porosimetry and granulometric analysis,from the micro-structure,the authors studied the law that freeze-thaw cycle times and frozen temperature effect on the variation of microscopic pore of loesslike soil.This result can provide theoretical basis for comprehensive treatment of problems in the construction of the project in seasonal frozen loess-like soil region.

Mechanism investigation on coal and gas outburst: An overview

Coal and gas outburst is a frequent dynamic disaster during underground coal mining activities.After about 150 years of exploration,the mechanisms of outbursts remain unclear to date.Studies on outburst mechanisms worldwide focused on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of outburst-prone coal,laboratory-scale outburst experiments and numerical modeling,mine-site investigations,and doctrines of outburst mechanisms.Outburst mechanisms are divided into two categories:single-factor and multi-factor mechanisms.The multi-factor mechanism is widely accepted,but all statistical phenomena during a single outburst cannot be explained using present knowledge.Additional topics about outburst mechanisms are proposed by summarizing the phenomena that need precise explanation.The most appealing research is the microscopic process of the interaction between coal and gas.Modern physical-chemical methods can help characterize the natural properties of outburst-prone coal.Outburst experiments can compensate for the deficiency of first-hand observation at the scene.Restoring the original outburst scene by constructing a geomechanical model or numerical model and reproducing the entire outburst process based on mining environment conditions,including stratigraphic distribution,gas occurrence,and geological structure,are important.Future studies can explore outburst mechanisms at the microscale.

Mechanisms of shale hydration and water block removal

Shale samples of Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Changning area of the Sichuan Basin, SW China, were selected to carry out scanning electron microscopy, CT imaging, high-pressure mercury injection, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and imbibition experiments to compare the hydration characteristics of montmorillonite and illite, analyze the main factors affecting the water block removal of shale, and reveal the mechanisms of pore structure evolution during shale hydration. The hydration characteristics of shale are closely related to the composition of clay minerals, the shale with high illite content is not susceptible to hydration and thus has limited room for pore structure improvement;the shale with high montmorillonite is susceptible to hydration expansion and thus has higher potential of pore structure improvement by stimulation;the shale with high illite content has stronger imbibition in the initial stage, but insufficient diffusion ability, and thus is likely to have water block;the shale with high montmorillonite content has weaker imbibition in the initial stage but better water diffusion, so water blocking in this kind of shale can be removed to some degree;the shale reservoir has an optimal hydration time, when it is best in physical properties, but hydration time too long would cause damage to the reservoir, and the shale with high illite content has a shorter optimal hydration time;inorganic cations can inhibit the hydration of clay minerals and have stronger inhibition to illite expansion, especially K^(+);for the reservoir with high content of montmorillonite, the cation content of fracturing fluid can be lowered to promote the shale hydration;fracturing fluid with high K^(+) content can be injected into reservoirs with high illite content to suppress hydration.

Pore and fracture characteristics of Cretaceous tight reservoir and its control effect on hydrocarbon accumulation in the Liuhe Basin

Tight oil and gas in the Cretaceous has been found in the Liuhe Basin,but the rules of tight reservoir and oil and gas accumulation are not clear.This paper discusses the developmental characteristics and evolution law of pores and fractures in the Cretaceous tight reservoir in the Liuhe Basin,and reveals its controlling effect on tight oil and gas accumulation.The results show that intercrystalline pores,intergranular pores and dissolution pores are scattered and only developed in shallow tight reservoirs,while microfractures are developed in both shallow and deep layers,which are the main type of reservoir space in the study area.The results of mercury intrusion porosimetry and nitrogen gas adsorption show that with the increase of depth,the proportion of macropores(microcracks)increases,while the proportion of micropores decreases.There are two stages of microfractures developed in the study area,corresponding to the initial fault depression stage from late Jurassic to early late Cretaceous and compressional uplift at the end of late Cretaceous.According to the principle of“inversion and back-stripping method”,combined with the data of optical microscopy and inclusions,the time of each key diagenesis and its contribution to porosity are revealed,and the porosity evolution history of reservoirs in different diagenetic stages is quantitatively restored.The porosity reduction rate of compaction can reach more than 80%,which is the main reason for reservoir densification.The relationship between pore evolution history and oil and gas accumulation history reveals that during the oil and gas filling period of the Xiahuapidianzi Formation(90-85 Ma),the reservoir porosity is only 1.15%,but the development of microfractures in the first stage of the reservoir is conducive to oil and gas accumulation.

Fine description of unconventional clastic oil reservoirs

The latest researches reveal that studies on unconventional clastic oil reservoirs in China generally lag far behind those in other countries in respect of content and methodology.This study presents the definition and classification of unconventional oil reservoirs and analyzes the problems in the fine description of unconventional oil reservoirs.The key content of the fine description of unconventional oil reservoirs is summarized from four aspects:fine fracture characterization based on fine structure interpretation,reservoir architecture characterization based on sedimentary facies,characteristics of nanoscale microscopic pore structure of reservoir,and evaluation of source rock and“sweet spot zone”.Finally,this study suggests that development of fine description of unconventional clastic oil reservoirs in the future should focus on rock brittleness analysis and fracture modeling,geophysical characterization of unconventional clastic oil reservoirs,fluid description of tight reservoirs,and physical/numerical simulation experiments of unconventional oil reservoirs.

Spatio-temporal evolution of pore and fracture structures in coal induced by initial damage and creep behavior:A real-time NMR-based approach OA

Understanding the impact of mining disturbances and creep deformation on the macroscopic deformation and the microscopic pore and fracture structures(MPFS)of coal is paramount for ensuring the secure extraction of coal resources.This study conducts cyclic loading-unloading and creep experiments on coal using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)experimental apparatus which is equipped with mechanical loading units,enabling real-time monitoring the T2spectrum.The experiments indicated that cyclic loading-unloading stress paths initiate internal damage within coal samples.Under identical creep stress conditions,coal samples with more initial damages had more substantial instantaneous deformation and creep deformation during the creep process.After undergoing nearly 35 h of staged creep,the total strains for coal samples CC01,CC02,and CC03 reach 2.160%,2.261%,and 2.282%,respectively.In the creep stage,the peak area ratio of seepage pores and microfractures(SPM)gradually diminishes.A higher degree of initial damage leads to a more pronounced compaction trend in the SPM of coal samples.Considering the porosity evolution of SPM during the creep process,this study proposes a novel fractional derivative model for the porosity evolution of SPM.The efficacy of the proposed model in predicting porosity evolution of SPM is substantiated through experimental validation.Furthermore,an analysis of the impact mechanisms on key parameters in the model was carried out.

Fractal characteristic of microscopic pore structure of tight sandstone reservoirs in Kalpintag Formation in Shuntuoguole area,Tarim Basin

Using the fractal geometry method,the microscopic pore structures of tight sandstone reservoirs in Kalpintag Formation of Shuntuoguole area in Tarim Basin were conducted fractal characterization on the base of test analysis data such as physical property,cast thin section,scanning electron microscope and mercury injection,and the genetic mechanism of pore structure heterogeneity was investigated.The storage spaces are dominated by intergranular dissolved pore,intragranular dissolved pore and residual intergranular pore,and the throat type consists of the necking throat,lamellar throat,curved lamellar throat and tube-shaped throat.The microscopic structure type includes Type Ⅰ(fractal dimension≤2.350),Type Ⅱ(2.350<fractal dimension<2.580),Type Ⅲ(fractal dimension>2.580)and fracture type.The most favorable reservoirs with Type-Ⅰ microscopic pore structure are mainly distributed in the Upper Member of Kalpintag Formation,while the reservoirs with Type-Ⅱ and Type-Ⅲ microscopic pore structures are mainly in the Lower Member of Kalpintag Formation.The sedimentation controls the heterogeneity of microscopic pore structure,and the differences on composition and particle size of sandstone lead to differentiation of microscopic pore structures.The Lower Member of the Kalpintag Formation experiences stronger compaction and cementation but weaker dissolution than the Upper Member of the Kalpingtag Formation,and thus the microscopic pore structure of Upper Member of the Kalpintag Formation is significantly worse that of the Lower Member o the Kalpingtag Formation.The Upper Member of the Kalpintag Formation with high content of brittle mineral develops microscopic fractures due to tectonic rupture,thus the permeability is improved and the heterogeneity of microscopic pore structures is enhanced;but the Lower Member of Kalpintag Formation is characterized by attrition crushing of particles and strong compaction.