Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin
Micro-pores and micro-fractures constitute the most vital reservoir spaces and seepage pathways for shale gas. Conducting an in-depth study of pore-fracture combination types within shale gas reservoirs is beneficial for understanding shale gas enrichment and exploitation. In this study, we conducte...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| author | Zhiming Hu Zhiming Hu Xianggang Duan Xianggang Duan Yonghong Fu Yan Chang Yan Chang Jin Chang Jin Chang Yuqiang Jiang Linyao Yu |
| author_facet | Zhiming Hu Zhiming Hu Xianggang Duan Xianggang Duan Yonghong Fu Yan Chang Yan Chang Jin Chang Jin Chang Yuqiang Jiang Linyao Yu |
| author_sort | Zhiming Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Micro-pores and micro-fractures constitute the most vital reservoir spaces and seepage pathways for shale gas. Conducting an in-depth study of pore-fracture combination types within shale gas reservoirs is beneficial for understanding shale gas enrichment and exploitation. In this study, we conducted a joint experiment involving MICP and WM impregnation on the main gas-producing layer of Longmaxi formation shale reservoir from five shale gas wells in the Luzhou area. This study achieved the visualization of MICP experiments, enabling a quantitative classification of pore volume and micro-fracture volume within the shale reservoir. A QP-F parameter system for classifying pore-fracture combination types has been established to evaluate pore-fracture connectivity, which are categorized into three types. The strongly connected pore-fracture type (SCPFT) shale gas reservoir in the study area has the characteristics of high porosity, high gas content and strong pore-fracture connectivity, which is the preferred target for shale gas exploration and development. Moderately connected pore-fracture type (MCPFT) and weakly connected pore-fracture type (WCPFT) shale gas reservoirs exhibit significant variations in porosity and gas content, coupled with weak pore-fracture connectivity. Despite some of these reservoirs possessing high porosity and gas content, they fail to achieve high production rates. Therefore, during the development of these two types of shale gas reservoirs, it is imperative to enhance and optimize fracturing techniques to create a more intricate fracture network structure, thereby enabling the release of shale gas trapped in poorly connected pores. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for identifying optimal shale gas development zones and improving gas recovery efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc0dc3efb40e49529829fcd91ffcbc80 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc0dc3efb40e49529829fcd91ffcbc802025-08-20T03:57:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-08-011310.3389/feart.2025.16407261640726Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan BasinZhiming Hu0Zhiming Hu1Xianggang Duan2Xianggang Duan3Yonghong Fu4Yan Chang5Yan Chang6Jin Chang7Jin Chang8Yuqiang Jiang9Linyao Yu10National Energy Shale Gas Research (Experiment) Center, Beijing, ChinaUnconventional Oil and Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, ChinaNational Energy Shale Gas Research (Experiment) Center, Beijing, ChinaUnconventional Oil and Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Geosciences and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaNational Energy Shale Gas Research (Experiment) Center, Beijing, ChinaUnconventional Oil and Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, ChinaNational Energy Shale Gas Research (Experiment) Center, Beijing, ChinaUnconventional Oil and Gas Research Institute, PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Geosciences and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaSichuan Shale Gas Exploration and Development Company Limited, Chengdu, ChinaMicro-pores and micro-fractures constitute the most vital reservoir spaces and seepage pathways for shale gas. Conducting an in-depth study of pore-fracture combination types within shale gas reservoirs is beneficial for understanding shale gas enrichment and exploitation. In this study, we conducted a joint experiment involving MICP and WM impregnation on the main gas-producing layer of Longmaxi formation shale reservoir from five shale gas wells in the Luzhou area. This study achieved the visualization of MICP experiments, enabling a quantitative classification of pore volume and micro-fracture volume within the shale reservoir. A QP-F parameter system for classifying pore-fracture combination types has been established to evaluate pore-fracture connectivity, which are categorized into three types. The strongly connected pore-fracture type (SCPFT) shale gas reservoir in the study area has the characteristics of high porosity, high gas content and strong pore-fracture connectivity, which is the preferred target for shale gas exploration and development. Moderately connected pore-fracture type (MCPFT) and weakly connected pore-fracture type (WCPFT) shale gas reservoirs exhibit significant variations in porosity and gas content, coupled with weak pore-fracture connectivity. Despite some of these reservoirs possessing high porosity and gas content, they fail to achieve high production rates. Therefore, during the development of these two types of shale gas reservoirs, it is imperative to enhance and optimize fracturing techniques to create a more intricate fracture network structure, thereby enabling the release of shale gas trapped in poorly connected pores. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for identifying optimal shale gas development zones and improving gas recovery efficiency.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1640726/fullpore-fracture characteristicpore-fracture combination typeshale gas reservoirlongmaxi formationgeological significance |
| spellingShingle | Zhiming Hu Zhiming Hu Xianggang Duan Xianggang Duan Yonghong Fu Yan Chang Yan Chang Jin Chang Jin Chang Yuqiang Jiang Linyao Yu Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin Frontiers in Earth Science pore-fracture characteristic pore-fracture combination type shale gas reservoir longmaxi formation geological significance |
| title | Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin |
| title_full | Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin |
| title_fullStr | Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin |
| title_short | Microscopic pore-fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development: in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the Luzhou area of the Sichuan Basin |
| title_sort | microscopic pore fracture combination types and their impact on exploration and development in case of deep shale gas reservoirs in the luzhou area of the sichuan basin |
| topic | pore-fracture characteristic pore-fracture combination type shale gas reservoir longmaxi formation geological significance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1640726/full |
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