Comparative Study on the Primary Control Factors of Nanopores in Transitional and Deep Marine Shale in the Southeastern Sichuan Basin, China

Abstract

The deep marine shale from the Silurian Longmaxi Formation and transitional shale from the Permian Longtan Formation in the Sichuan Basin are two promising targets for shale gas exploration in China. In this study, nanopore characteristics for deep marine and transitional shale samples collected from the same well in the southeastern Sichuan Basin are investigated and compared via field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging, low-pressure gas adsorption, total organic carbon measurement, and X-ray diffraction. Results show that clay-related pores are well developed, pores within organic matter (OM) are rare, and shrinkage cracks along the OM-edge are widely prevalent in transitional shales. The deep marine shale is rich in bubble-like OM pores. The transitional shale has a larger pore volume but a lower specific surface area compared to the deep marine shale. The nanoporosity of the transitional shales is primarily controlled by clay and OM content. In deep marine shale, OM is the primary contributor to nanoporosity. Higher nanoporosity in the deep marine shales than in the middle-shallow ones was observed in this study. This occurrence is attributed to the high fluid pressure and the resulting superior preservation conditions for nanopores in deep marine shale formations.