Nanoscale Pore Characteristics of the Upper Permian Mudrocks from a Transitional Environment in and around Eastern Sichuan Basin, China

Nanoscale pore characteristics of the Upper Permian Longtan transitional mudrocks and their equivalent strata Wujiaping Formation marine mudrocks in and around the eastern Sichuan Basin was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM)and low-pressure N2 adsorption experiments.The results indicate that the Upper Permian mudrock is at a mature stage with total organic carbon(TOC)values ranging between 0.47%and 12.3%.The Longtan mudrocks mainly contain vitrinite,and their mineral composition is primarily clay.In contrast,the Wujiaping mudrocks are dominated by sapropelinite and solid bitumen,and their mineral compositions are mainly quartz and a notably high amount of pyrite.The FE-SEM reveals that clay mineral pores and microcracks are the common pore types in the Longtan mudrocks.The specific surface area and pore volume depend on the clay content but are negatively correlated with the TOC.The generation of nanometer pores in the Longtan mudrocks is caused by high clay mineral contents.Meanwhile,the Wujiaping mudrock mainly contains OM pores,and the pore parameters are positively correlated with the TOC.The OM pore development exhibits remarkable differences in the Longtan and Wujiaping mudrocks,which might be related to their sedimentary facies and maceral fractions.Vitrinite and inertinite appear as discrete particles in these mudrocks and cannot generate pores during thermal maturation.Sapropelinite often contains many secondary pores,and solid bitumen with large particles,usually with several pores,is not the major contributor to the pore system of the investigated mudrock.

Theory, Technology and Practice of Unconventional Petroleum Geology

0 INTRODUCTION The breakthroughs in unconventional petroleum have a great impact on world petroleum industry and innovation in petroleum geology(Dou et al,2022;Jia,2017;Zou et al.,2015b,2014a;Yerkin,2012;Pollastro,2007;Schmoker,1995).The exploration and development evolution from conventional petroleum to unconventional petroleum and more and more frequent industrial activities of exploring petroleum inside sources kitchen have deepened theoretical understanding of unconventional petroleum geology and promoted technical research and development(Jia et al.,2021,2017;Jin et al.,2021;Zhao W Z et al.,2020;Ma Y S et al.,2018,2012;Zou et al.,2018b,2016,2009;Dai et al.,2012).We have introduced and extended the theory of continuous hydrocarbon accumulation since 2008 and published several papers/books(in Chinese and English)with respect to unconventional petroleum geology since 2009,basically forming the theoretical framework for this discipline(Yang et al.,2022a,2021a,2019a,,2015a;Zou et al.,2019c,2017b,2014a,,2013a).In this paper,we present the background of unconventional petroleum geology,review the latest theoretical and technological progress in unconventional petroleum geology,introduce relevant thinking and practices in China,and explore the pathway of unconventional petroleum revolution and multi-energy coordinated development in super energy basins,hopefully to promote the unconventional petroleum geology and industry development.

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.