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Evolution of Pore Structure and Methane Adsorption in Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale: Implications for Uplifted Shale Gas Reservoirs

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Abstract

Pore volume, pore size and adsorption capacity are fundamental factors that control gas storage and production in shale reservoirs. We investigated the evolution of pore structure and adsorption capacity as functions of lithology and present-day burial depth. Nineteen shale samples from the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation from shallow depths (present depths < 700 m) in the Sichuan Basin, China, were analyzed to elucidate the evolution of the pore system, applying N2/CO2 isotherm adsorption, high-resolution FE-SEM, FIB-SEM, and CH4 isotherm adsorption. Two comparison basin models with 700 m and 4000 m present-day burial depth were constructed to illustrate the impact of uplift on pore structure and methane adsorption. The results indicate that mineral structure, rock fabric, and TOC content are essential factors affecting the pore structure. Pores of various sizes are preserved through different mechanisms during the compaction. The development of micropores is mainly controlled by thermal maturity and TOC content. In contrast, mesopores and macropores are stress-sensitive and prone to be compacted during deposition. Methane adsorption capacity is highly related to the burial depth. During the process of reservoir uplift, the methane adsorption capacity of the reservoir gradually increases with decreasing burial depth, with a transition point occurring between 700 and 1300 m. Furthermore, as the reservoir continues to uplift to burial depths below 700 m, the methane adsorption capacity of the reservoir in normally pressured shale gas formations rapidly decreases. However, for overpressured shale gas reservoirs, there is no significant change in the methane adsorption capacity of the reservoir.

Highlights

  • Mechanism of pore structure development during subsidence and uplift was analyzed, and the pores with different sizes were also taken into consideration.

  • The effect of burial depth and uplift in terms of pressure and temperature on pore gas storage capacity was analyzed, and three stages of shallow shale gas adsorption were reconstructed.

  • An empirical formula was proposed for considering methane adsorption in ultra-shallow shale reservoirs. Both over pressured and hydrostatic pressure condition was considered in our models.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Micro-Nano Structures Laboratory at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for their guidance and assistance in SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) techniques. Grateful appreciation to Professor Nicholas B. Harris from the University of Alberta for his invaluable help in paper editing and basin modeling.

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42090023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Duo Wang, Xiao Li, Shouding Li, Guanfang Li, Tianqiao Mao & Bo Zheng

  2. SINOPEC Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, Beijing, 100083, China

    Duo Wang

  3. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2E3, Canada

    Duo Wang

  4. College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Duo Wang, Guanfang Li, Tianqiao Mao & Bo Zheng

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  1. Duo Wang
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Wang, D., Li, X., Li, S. et al. Evolution of Pore Structure and Methane Adsorption in Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale: Implications for Uplifted Shale Gas Reservoirs. Rock Mech Rock Eng (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03441-w

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