Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA
Pore structure study is an important part of unconventional shale reservoir characterization, since the pore system provides the primary petroleum storage space and fluid flow pathways. Previous studies have suggested that the pore structure is related to the total organic carbon (TOC) content, mine...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1019951/full |
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| author | Chen Zhao Chen Zhao Qinhong Hu Qiming Wang Qiming Wang Jan Ilavsky Min Wang Xiaobei Zhang Jianping Yan |
| author_facet | Chen Zhao Chen Zhao Qinhong Hu Qiming Wang Qiming Wang Jan Ilavsky Min Wang Xiaobei Zhang Jianping Yan |
| author_sort | Chen Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pore structure study is an important part of unconventional shale reservoir characterization, since the pore system provides the primary petroleum storage space and fluid flow pathways. Previous studies have suggested that the pore structure is related to the total organic carbon (TOC) content, mineral compositions, and the maturity of the organic matter (OM). However, few studies have focused on the mineral grains, the primary grains being deposited but before cementation, which are the building blocks of shale. Eight Woodford Shale outcrop samples from southern Oklahoma were chosen to study the effects of mineral grain size on the pore structure characterization, using multiple and complementary experimental approaches, including laser diffraction, mineralogy, TOC, pyrolysis, liquid immersion porosimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, gas physisorption, (ultra) small angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and spontaneous imbibition. The results from different experiments of eight samples show that the Woodford Shale has the mean mineral grain diameters at 3–6 μm, a wide range of porosity at 3–40% and pore diameters at 50–1,000 nm, and various pore connectivity. Grain size variation was probably caused by the sea-level fluctuation during its deposition, which affect the porosity, pore size distribution, and pore connectivity. With decreasing mineral grain sizes, the porosity tends to increase while the pore connectivity worsens. The results also indicate that OM and carbonates in this low-maturity Woodford Shale could block the pores and decrease the porosity. Coupling with the grain size analyses, the control of depositional environment on grain sizes and subsequent effects on pore structure is identified. The pore structure characteristics over a wide pore-diameter range provided by multiple experiments could improve the understanding of storage space and fluid flow in the Woodford Shale to further increase its petroleum production. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:24:40Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7a9e21550cd445e090b07965ce0673dc2022-12-22T02:06:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632022-09-011010.3389/feart.2022.10199511019951Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USAChen Zhao0Chen Zhao1Qinhong Hu2Qiming Wang3Qiming Wang4Jan Ilavsky5Min Wang6Xiaobei Zhang7Jianping Yan8Department of Earth and Environment Sciences, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United StatesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Earth and Environment Sciences, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United StatesDepartment of Earth and Environment Sciences, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United StatesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaX-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, United StatesShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, ChinaPore structure study is an important part of unconventional shale reservoir characterization, since the pore system provides the primary petroleum storage space and fluid flow pathways. Previous studies have suggested that the pore structure is related to the total organic carbon (TOC) content, mineral compositions, and the maturity of the organic matter (OM). However, few studies have focused on the mineral grains, the primary grains being deposited but before cementation, which are the building blocks of shale. Eight Woodford Shale outcrop samples from southern Oklahoma were chosen to study the effects of mineral grain size on the pore structure characterization, using multiple and complementary experimental approaches, including laser diffraction, mineralogy, TOC, pyrolysis, liquid immersion porosimetry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, gas physisorption, (ultra) small angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and spontaneous imbibition. The results from different experiments of eight samples show that the Woodford Shale has the mean mineral grain diameters at 3–6 μm, a wide range of porosity at 3–40% and pore diameters at 50–1,000 nm, and various pore connectivity. Grain size variation was probably caused by the sea-level fluctuation during its deposition, which affect the porosity, pore size distribution, and pore connectivity. With decreasing mineral grain sizes, the porosity tends to increase while the pore connectivity worsens. The results also indicate that OM and carbonates in this low-maturity Woodford Shale could block the pores and decrease the porosity. Coupling with the grain size analyses, the control of depositional environment on grain sizes and subsequent effects on pore structure is identified. The pore structure characteristics over a wide pore-diameter range provided by multiple experiments could improve the understanding of storage space and fluid flow in the Woodford Shale to further increase its petroleum production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1019951/fullwoodford shalepore structurecharacterization methodsconnectivitygrain sizedeposition |
| spellingShingle | Chen Zhao Chen Zhao Qinhong Hu Qiming Wang Qiming Wang Jan Ilavsky Min Wang Xiaobei Zhang Jianping Yan Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA Frontiers in Earth Science woodford shale pore structure characterization methods connectivity grain size deposition |
| title | Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA |
| title_full | Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA |
| title_fullStr | Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA |
| title_short | Multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma, USA |
| title_sort | multiple experimental studies of pore structure and mineral grain sizes of the woodford shale in southern oklahoma usa |
| topic | woodford shale pore structure characterization methods connectivity grain size deposition |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1019951/full |
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