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Effect of Liquid Nitrogen Freezing on the Mechanical Strength and Fracture Morphology in a Deep Shale Gas Reservoir

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Abstract

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) can dramatically deteriorate the rock and create more fractures in high-temperature reservoirs, such as deep hydrocarbon reservoirs. The present study systematically investigates the mechanical strength change and fracture morphology evolution in a deep shale gas reservoir subject to LN2 freezing. The mineral components of three shales were measured by X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The uniaxial compressive and tensile experiments studied the mechanical strengths of shales under different LN2 freezing parameters. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyse microstructural changes. The results indicated that LN2 freezing could effectively increase pore volume and induce bedding planes and longitudinal fractures in the deep shale at a high temperature. The freezing cycle will generate complex fracture networks at micro and macro levels. Intergranular cracks easily occur between quartz particle boundaries. The shale with fewer clay minerals is a rational target for LN2 fracturing. Two regression models were developed to predict the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of deep shale after LN2 freezing. The crucial findings are expected to provide fundamental guidance for developing deep shale resources in a feasible and environmentally acceptable way.

Highlights

  • LN2 freezing can expand pore space and induce complex fractures in deep shale reservoirs.

  • LN2 freezing has more damage effect on the deep shale with more clay minerals

  • The brittle shale is a rational target for LN2 fracturing.

  • Two models are developed to predict the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of deep shale by LN2 freezing.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52274035), State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development (Grant No. 35800000-21-AC0607-0001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing, 100101, China

    Hai Qu

  2. Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing, 401331, China

    Hai Qu, Chengying Li, Chengwei Qi, Xiangjun Chen, Yang Xu & Hong Jun

  3. China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    Xiaoguang Wu

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  1. Hai Qu
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  2. Chengying Li
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  3. Chengwei Qi
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Qu, H., Li, C., Qi, C. et al. Effect of Liquid Nitrogen Freezing on the Mechanical Strength and Fracture Morphology in a Deep Shale Gas Reservoir. Rock Mech Rock Eng 55, 7715–7730 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-022-03035-y

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