Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation
Abstract The micromechanical properties of organic matter (OM) and organic pore structures in the over-mature stage are crucial for determining shale reservoir quality and assessing shale gas resource potential. However, there is still debate about the influence of micromechanical properties of OM o...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89164-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823862274077491200 |
|---|---|
| author | Hang Lei Wenjibin Sun Yujun Zuo Zhonghu Wu Qichi Dai Wei Lv Yueqin Li Xionggang Xie |
| author_facet | Hang Lei Wenjibin Sun Yujun Zuo Zhonghu Wu Qichi Dai Wei Lv Yueqin Li Xionggang Xie |
| author_sort | Hang Lei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The micromechanical properties of organic matter (OM) and organic pore structures in the over-mature stage are crucial for determining shale reservoir quality and assessing shale gas resource potential. However, there is still debate about the influence of micromechanical properties of OM on the micro-mesopore structures in over-mature shale. In this study, shale cores from the Niutitang Formation have been specifically chosen for OM isolation, adsorption testing, atomic force microscopy examination, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) analysis to assess the micromechanical properties of OM and pore structures. The findings indicate that organic micropores and mesopores predominantly exhibit elliptical, circular, or irregular shapes. Organic pores mainly provide pore volume (PV) and specific surface area (SSA) of shale. In the over-mature stage, residual kerogen and pyrobitumen transition towards a graphite structure, increasing Young’s modulus of OM. Additionally, as thermal maturity increases, the absence of a rigid mineral framework and pore fluid pressure results in the compaction of pores, leading to a decrease in PV and SSA. The organic micropores are more vulnerable to collapse and compaction because of the increased brittleness of OM. The organic micropores and mesopores gradually evolve from regular circular and elliptical shapes to irregular shapes during the over-mature stage. The research findings provide valuable insights into the micromechanical mechanism of pore evolution in over-mature marine shale within complex structural regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00110ae9378b463cb2c43c910b59ab5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-00110ae9378b463cb2c43c910b59ab5a2025-02-09T12:36:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-89164-0Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang FormationHang Lei0Wenjibin Sun1Yujun Zuo2Zhonghu Wu3Qichi Dai4Wei Lv5Yueqin Li6Xionggang Xie7Mining College, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityCollege of Civil Engineering, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityMining College, Guizhou UniversityAbstract The micromechanical properties of organic matter (OM) and organic pore structures in the over-mature stage are crucial for determining shale reservoir quality and assessing shale gas resource potential. However, there is still debate about the influence of micromechanical properties of OM on the micro-mesopore structures in over-mature shale. In this study, shale cores from the Niutitang Formation have been specifically chosen for OM isolation, adsorption testing, atomic force microscopy examination, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) analysis to assess the micromechanical properties of OM and pore structures. The findings indicate that organic micropores and mesopores predominantly exhibit elliptical, circular, or irregular shapes. Organic pores mainly provide pore volume (PV) and specific surface area (SSA) of shale. In the over-mature stage, residual kerogen and pyrobitumen transition towards a graphite structure, increasing Young’s modulus of OM. Additionally, as thermal maturity increases, the absence of a rigid mineral framework and pore fluid pressure results in the compaction of pores, leading to a decrease in PV and SSA. The organic micropores are more vulnerable to collapse and compaction because of the increased brittleness of OM. The organic micropores and mesopores gradually evolve from regular circular and elliptical shapes to irregular shapes during the over-mature stage. The research findings provide valuable insights into the micromechanical mechanism of pore evolution in over-mature marine shale within complex structural regions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89164-0Micromechanical propertiesOrganic matterOver-mature stagePore structures |
| spellingShingle | Hang Lei Wenjibin Sun Yujun Zuo Zhonghu Wu Qichi Dai Wei Lv Yueqin Li Xionggang Xie Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation Scientific Reports Micromechanical properties Organic matter Over-mature stage Pore structures |
| title | Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation |
| title_full | Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation |
| title_fullStr | Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation |
| title_short | Impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro-mesopore structures of the over-mature shale in the Niutitang Formation |
| title_sort | impact of micromechanical properties of organic matter on the micro mesopore structures of the over mature shale in the niutitang formation |
| topic | Micromechanical properties Organic matter Over-mature stage Pore structures |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89164-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hanglei impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT wenjibinsun impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT yujunzuo impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT zhonghuwu impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT qichidai impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT weilv impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT yueqinli impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation AT xionggangxie impactofmicromechanicalpropertiesoforganicmatteronthemicromesoporestructuresoftheovermatureshaleintheniutitangformation |