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.

An overview of the geology and production of the Fuling shale gas field,Sichuan Basin,China

The Fuling shale gas field in China is the largest shale gas field as well as the largest of its type discovered in any Lower Paleozoic formation.In this study,the geology and production of the upper and lower gas layers in the Fuling shale gas field are evaluated in terms of structure,shale quality,fault,initial production,and estimated ultimate recovery(EUR).The shale in the lower gas layer of the Jiaoshiba anticline is a high-quality reservoir,where the space is dominated by organic pores in kerogen,and the gas content is high.The shale gas wells reveal relatively high initial production and EUR.However,the shale in the upper gas layer of the Jiaoshiba anticline has reservoir space mainly composed of clay mineral pores and organic pores within bitumen,and the gas content is low.In terms of structure,primary gas migration may occur in the upper gas layer,resulting in free gas accumulation in the structural high,where the development effects are generally better than those in the structural low.The lower gas layer in the Pingqiao anticline,is the main interval for shale gas accumulation and development due to the high-quality shale.Under the influence of faults,the efficiency of exploration wells emplaced on top of the anticline is much lower a compared with those in the flanks.The residual synclines close to the Sichuan Basin,including the Baima and Baitao anticlines,are characterized by more recent uplifts,larger area,greater distance from the deep and large faults,and early fracture closure.Therefore,we recommend that the shale gas exploration and development should be carried out preferentially in areas close to the center of the residual synclines,featuring relatively high-pressure coefficient and moderate burial depth.

Carbon isotope evidence for shale gas preservation conditions and large methane release over million years:A case study of shale gas reservoirs of Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin

Although carbon isotope reversal and its reasons in shale gas reservoirs have been widely recognized,the application of the reversal is yet to be investigated.A study on high-maturity shale from Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin not only reveals the relationship between the degree of isotopes inversion and the production capacity(e.g.,estimated ultimate recovery(EUR))of the gas well but also indicates the preservation conditions of shale gas reservoirs.(1)Although there are differences in gas isotopes in different shale gas reservoirs,the isotope fractionation of shale gas is small during the production stage of gas wells,even when the wellbore pressure drops to zero.The main cause of the difference in carbon isotopes and their inversion degree can be the uplift time during the Yanshan period and the formation pressure relief degree of shale gas reservoirs in distinct structural positions.Thus,carbon isotope inversion is a good indicator of shale gas preservation condition and EUR of shale gas wells.(2)The degree of carbon isotope inversion correlates strongly with shale gas content and EUR.The calculation formula of shale-gas recoverable reserves was established using△δ^(13)C(δC_(1)-δC_(2))and EUR.(3)The gas loss rate and total loss amount can be estimated using the dynamic reserves and isotopic difference values of gas wells in various shale gas fields,which also reflects the current methane loss,thereby demonstrating great potential for evaluating global methane loss in shales.

Dispositional characteristics of Ordovician Wufeng Formation and Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas

According to data of gas wells and typical sections of Wufeng Formation and Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin,shale of various graptolite zones were analyzed to determine depositional environment,lithology and thickness characteristics of the graptolite shale interval of WF2-WF3 in the lower part of Wufeng Formation,the graptolite shale interval of WF4 in Guanyinqiao Member of Wufeng Formation and the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4 in the bottom of Longmaxi Formation,and characteristics of shale horizontal distribution were also investigated.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of WF2-WF3,the study area was less affected by the Guangxi movement,the depositional environment was the deep water of open sea,where black shale was mainly deposited;the sedimentation center was developed in northeast Guizhou-northeast Sichuan and south Sichuan,the maximum thickness was from 4 to 6 m in the sedimentation center.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of WF4,the depositional environment in the study area changed greatly due to global sea level fall and enhanced Guangxi movement;the central Sichuan paleouplift,the central Guizhou paleouplift and the Jiangnan-Xuefeng palaeouplift were further expanded,and the area of the sedimentary basin decreased;the depositional environment was mainly carbonate bioclastic shoal of shallow sea,and partially deep sea which only was distributed in the Shizhu-Fuling-Wuxi area in east and northeast Sichuan and the Gongxian-Yongchuan area in south Sichuan;sediments of shallow water were dominated by limestone and argillaceous limestone with abundant Hirnantia,sediments of deep water were dominated by calcareous mudstone and shale with Hirnantia.During the depositional period of the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4,due to rise of global sea level and Guangxi movement,the sedimentary area was larger than that in the depositional period of Guanyinqiao Member,and the sedimentary environment mainly was stagnant deepwater;thickness of black shale in the graptolite shale interval of LM1-LM4 was large,and the maximum thickness was over 20 m.Furthermore,control of the central Sichuan paleouplift,the central Guizhou paleouplift and the Jiangnan-Xuefeng paleouplift on black shale was discussed,and control of the Zhiliujing underwater highland/uplift,Huayingshan highland and Dingshan highland as well as western Hubei-Hunan underwater highland/uplift on shale deposition and preservation was also investigated.