Organic Matter Pore Characterization of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shales from the Fuling Gas Field, Sichuan Basin: Evidence from Organic Matter Isolation and Low-Pressure CO 2 and N 2 Adsorption

Zhuo Li, Zhenxue Jiang, Hailong Yu and Zhikai Liang
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Zhuo Li: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Zhenxue Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Hailong Yu: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Zhikai Liang: State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Organic matter (OM) pores are significant for shale gas accumulation and flow mechanisms. The pores of Wufeng-Longmaxi (W-L) shale in the Sichuan Basin, China have been extensively characterized, however, the proportion of OM pores in this shale have not been adequately discussed. In this study, the contribution of OM pores to the total pore volume of W-L shale was quantitatively studied through the analysis of OM isolation, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and low-pressure CO 2 and N 2 adsorption (LPGA). FE-SEM images showed abundant OM pores, interparticle pores and intraparticle pores with various shapes and widths in the W-L shales. The pore size distribution (PSD) of the isolated OM from five shale samples showed a consistent, unimodal pattern. The pore volume of isolated OM was greater than that of the bulk shale samples, suggesting that OM is more porous than the inorganic compositions in shales. The average contribution of OM to the volumes of micropores, mesopores and macropores was 58.42%, 10.34% and 10.72%, respectively. Therefore, the pore volume of the W-L shale was dominantly related to inorganic minerals. This was probably due to the small weight ratio of OM in the shale samples (1.5 wt%–4.2 wt%). The findings of this study reveal the different effects of OM and minerals on pore development, and provide new insights into the quantitative contribution of OM pores to the total pore volume of the W-L shale.

Keywords: isolated organic matter; organic matter pores; pore size distribution; Wufeng-Longmaxi shale; fuling gas field (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 references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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