Fractal Characterization of Nanopore Structure in Shale, Tight Sandstone and Mudstone from the Ordos Basin of China Using Nitrogen Adsorption

Xiaohong Li, Zhiyong Gao, Siyi Fang, Chao Ren, Kun Yang and Fuyong Wang
Additional contact information
Xiaohong Li: Central Laboratory of Geological Sciences, RIPED, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China
Zhiyong Gao: Central Laboratory of Geological Sciences, RIPED, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China
Siyi Fang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Chao Ren: Central Laboratory of Geological Sciences, RIPED, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China
Kun Yang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Fuyong Wang: Research Institute of Enhanced Oil Recovery, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The characteristics of the nanopore structure in shale, tight sandstone and mudstone from the Ordos Basin of China were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, porosity and permeability tests and low-pressure nitrogen adsorption experiments. Fractal dimensions D 1 and D 2 were determined from the low relative pressure range (0 < P/P 0 < 0.4) and the high relative pressure range (0.4 < P/P 0 < 1) of nitrogen adsorption data, respectively, using the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) model. Relationships between pore structure parameters, mineral compositions and fractal dimensions were investigated. According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) isotherm classification standard, the morphologies of the nitrogen adsorption curves of these 14 samples belong to the H2 and H3 types. Relationships among average pore diameter, Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) specific surface area, pore volume, porosity and permeability have been discussed. The heterogeneities of shale nanopore structures were verified, and nanopore size mainly concentrates under 30 nm. The average fractal dimension D 1 of all the samples is 2.1187, varying from 1.1755 to 2.6122, and the average fractal dimension D 2 is 2.4645, with the range from 2.2144 to 2.7362. Compared with D 1 , D 2 has stronger relationships with pore structure parameters, and can be used for analyzing pore structure characteristics.

Keywords: nanopore; pore structure; shale; tight sandstone; mudstone; nitrogen adsorption; fractal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/4/583/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/4/583/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:4:p:583-:d:205378

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().