Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China

Shale is a typical source rock and reservoir rock for oil and gas production. Accurate estimation of its mechanical properties and creep behavior is challenging due to the multiphase and multiscale structure of this rock. In this study, we conducted X-ray diffraction, organic geochemical analysis, a...

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Main Authors: Jianfeng Wang, Jungang Niu, Chao Yang, Wenmin Jiang, Yun Li, Yijun Zheng, Yuhong Liao, Dingyu Feng, Ping’an Peng, Yongqiang Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1564286/full
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author Jianfeng Wang
Jianfeng Wang
Jungang Niu
Chao Yang
Wenmin Jiang
Wenmin Jiang
Yun Li
Yun Li
Yijun Zheng
Yijun Zheng
Yuhong Liao
Yuhong Liao
Dingyu Feng
Ping’an Peng
Ping’an Peng
Yongqiang Xiong
Yongqiang Xiong
author_facet Jianfeng Wang
Jianfeng Wang
Jungang Niu
Chao Yang
Wenmin Jiang
Wenmin Jiang
Yun Li
Yun Li
Yijun Zheng
Yijun Zheng
Yuhong Liao
Yuhong Liao
Dingyu Feng
Ping’an Peng
Ping’an Peng
Yongqiang Xiong
Yongqiang Xiong
author_sort Jianfeng Wang
collection DOAJ
description Shale is a typical source rock and reservoir rock for oil and gas production. Accurate estimation of its mechanical properties and creep behavior is challenging due to the multiphase and multiscale structure of this rock. In this study, we conducted X-ray diffraction, organic geochemical analysis, and nanoindentation tests on Niutitang shale samples collected from outcrop in the north of Sichuan Province and a shallow well drilled in Guizhou Province, China, to investigate Young’s modulus (E) and contact creep modulus (C) at different scales. To upscale these parameters, we used the Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) model; and analyzed the controlling factors on the variations of mechanical and creep properties for these shales. The results showed that the E of organic matter of the Niutitang Formation shales varied slightly, while the hardness (H) and C varied widely. Grid nanoindentation and k-means clustering revealed three mechanically distinct clusters for these Niutitang Formation shales, with the softest phase being the clay matrix phase, with E, H, and C values of 26.6–52.0, 1.7–3.1, and 869–1945 GPa, respectively. Based on the VRH model, the E and C values of the Niutitang shale are 25.8–43.6 and 1131–2643 GPa, respectively. The constituent content has a relatively stronger controlling effect on the contact creep modulus than the Young’s modulus for the Niutitang Formation shale. This study will help us optimize hydraulic fracture design and evaluate well stability, as well as assess the fracturability and recovery potential of Niutitang shale reservoirs, thereby guiding the efficient development of its shale gas.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c52e5b08a20f477b9aa18af48bb8263a2025-08-20T02:55:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-03-011310.3389/feart.2025.15642861564286Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, ChinaJianfeng Wang0Jianfeng Wang1Jungang Niu2Chao Yang3Wenmin Jiang4Wenmin Jiang5Yun Li6Yun Li7Yijun Zheng8Yijun Zheng9Yuhong Liao10Yuhong Liao11Dingyu Feng12Ping’an Peng13Ping’an Peng14Yongqiang Xiong15Yongqiang Xiong16State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaGansu No. 212, Geological Party for Nuclear Industry, Wuwei, ChinaGuangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou, ChinaShale is a typical source rock and reservoir rock for oil and gas production. Accurate estimation of its mechanical properties and creep behavior is challenging due to the multiphase and multiscale structure of this rock. In this study, we conducted X-ray diffraction, organic geochemical analysis, and nanoindentation tests on Niutitang shale samples collected from outcrop in the north of Sichuan Province and a shallow well drilled in Guizhou Province, China, to investigate Young’s modulus (E) and contact creep modulus (C) at different scales. To upscale these parameters, we used the Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) model; and analyzed the controlling factors on the variations of mechanical and creep properties for these shales. The results showed that the E of organic matter of the Niutitang Formation shales varied slightly, while the hardness (H) and C varied widely. Grid nanoindentation and k-means clustering revealed three mechanically distinct clusters for these Niutitang Formation shales, with the softest phase being the clay matrix phase, with E, H, and C values of 26.6–52.0, 1.7–3.1, and 869–1945 GPa, respectively. Based on the VRH model, the E and C values of the Niutitang shale are 25.8–43.6 and 1131–2643 GPa, respectively. The constituent content has a relatively stronger controlling effect on the contact creep modulus than the Young’s modulus for the Niutitang Formation shale. This study will help us optimize hydraulic fracture design and evaluate well stability, as well as assess the fracturability and recovery potential of Niutitang shale reservoirs, thereby guiding the efficient development of its shale gas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1564286/fullniutitang shaleclay matrixmechanical propertycreep behaviornanoindentation
spellingShingle Jianfeng Wang
Jianfeng Wang
Jungang Niu
Chao Yang
Wenmin Jiang
Wenmin Jiang
Yun Li
Yun Li
Yijun Zheng
Yijun Zheng
Yuhong Liao
Yuhong Liao
Dingyu Feng
Ping’an Peng
Ping’an Peng
Yongqiang Xiong
Yongqiang Xiong
Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
Frontiers in Earth Science
niutitang shale
clay matrix
mechanical property
creep behavior
nanoindentation
title Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
title_full Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
title_fullStr Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
title_full_unstemmed Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
title_short Nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of Niutitang formation shale rocks, China
title_sort nanoindentation measurements of mechanical properties and creep behavior of niutitang formation shale rocks china
topic niutitang shale
clay matrix
mechanical property
creep behavior
nanoindentation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1564286/full
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