Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China

The Longmaxi and Niutitang Formations are typical shale reservoirs in southeastern Chongqing. Since the Paleozoic, southeastern Chongqing has experienced multistage tectonic movement and diagenesis, resulting in the formation of a large number of natural fractures. In shale reservoirs, fractures not...

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Main Authors: Zhiping Zhang, Xiangye Kong, Qing Chen, Ye Zhang, Zhi Deng, Chuan Yu, Zhian Lei, Haijie Zhang, Xiaofeng Wang, Guanghua Yao, Licheng Yang, Xianfeng Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5591681
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author Zhiping Zhang
Xiangye Kong
Qing Chen
Ye Zhang
Zhi Deng
Chuan Yu
Zhian Lei
Haijie Zhang
Xiaofeng Wang
Guanghua Yao
Licheng Yang
Xianfeng Tan
author_facet Zhiping Zhang
Xiangye Kong
Qing Chen
Ye Zhang
Zhi Deng
Chuan Yu
Zhian Lei
Haijie Zhang
Xiaofeng Wang
Guanghua Yao
Licheng Yang
Xianfeng Tan
author_sort Zhiping Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The Longmaxi and Niutitang Formations are typical shale reservoirs in southeastern Chongqing. Since the Paleozoic, southeastern Chongqing has experienced multistage tectonic movement and diagenesis, resulting in the formation of a large number of natural fractures. In shale reservoirs, fractures not only provide seepage channels for oil and gas migration but also play an important role in the oil and gas reservoir space. Natural fractures provide a flow path from source rock to reservoir during oil filling and connect hydraulic fractures, matrix pores, and boreholes during production. Therefore, identifying the main factors that control the development of natural fractures in the Longmaxi and Niutitang Formations in southeastern Chongqing has a guiding significance for the efficient development of shale reservoirs in this area. By considering the Longmaxi and Niutitang Formation shales as case studies, using field outcrops, drilling cores, and other data, and conducting X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis as well as total organic carbon (TOC) measurements, the quantitative parameter characteristics and main factors that control the development of natural fractures in reservoir shales were examined in detail. The results obtained showed that there are three types of fractures in the lower Paleozoic shale in southeastern Chongqing, which are structural, diagenetic, and abnormal high-pressure fractures. Among them, the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation shale, which are relatively abundant, predominantly consist of low-angle and high-angle inclined fractures, while the Niutitang Formation predominantly consists of high-angle fractures. Additionally, the investigation of fracture size and fracture density, as well as correlation analyses, showed that the fractures of the Lower Paleozoic shale are predominantly micro fractures that play a key role in improving reservoir seepage. It was also noted that the development of fractures is affected by several factors, including tectonic stress, mineral composition, organic carbon content, and rock thickness. The degree of fracture development was found to be positively correlated with brittle mineral and quartz contents, and high organic matter contents also significantly favored the formation micro fractures.
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series Geofluids
spelling doaj-art-e8f2f1d14a2b433c8c4e460b162d49c32025-08-20T02:21:53ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55916815591681Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, ChinaZhiping Zhang0Xiangye Kong1Qing Chen2Ye Zhang3Zhi Deng4Chuan Yu5Zhian Lei6Haijie Zhang7Xiaofeng Wang8Guanghua Yao9Licheng Yang10Xianfeng Tan11National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Shale Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Complex Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing 401331, ChinaNational and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Shale Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, ChinaNational and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Shale Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, ChinaNational and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Shale Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 401120, ChinaChongqing Shale Gas Exploration and Development Company Limited, Chongqing 401121, ChinaChongqing Shale Gas Exploration and Development Company Limited, Chongqing 401121, ChinaChongqing Institute of Geological Survey, Chongqing 401122, ChinaChina Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. Chongqing Branch, Chongqing 401122, ChinaPetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company, Chongqing 401122, ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Complex Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, Chongqing 401331, ChinaThe Longmaxi and Niutitang Formations are typical shale reservoirs in southeastern Chongqing. Since the Paleozoic, southeastern Chongqing has experienced multistage tectonic movement and diagenesis, resulting in the formation of a large number of natural fractures. In shale reservoirs, fractures not only provide seepage channels for oil and gas migration but also play an important role in the oil and gas reservoir space. Natural fractures provide a flow path from source rock to reservoir during oil filling and connect hydraulic fractures, matrix pores, and boreholes during production. Therefore, identifying the main factors that control the development of natural fractures in the Longmaxi and Niutitang Formations in southeastern Chongqing has a guiding significance for the efficient development of shale reservoirs in this area. By considering the Longmaxi and Niutitang Formation shales as case studies, using field outcrops, drilling cores, and other data, and conducting X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis as well as total organic carbon (TOC) measurements, the quantitative parameter characteristics and main factors that control the development of natural fractures in reservoir shales were examined in detail. The results obtained showed that there are three types of fractures in the lower Paleozoic shale in southeastern Chongqing, which are structural, diagenetic, and abnormal high-pressure fractures. Among them, the fractures in the Longmaxi Formation shale, which are relatively abundant, predominantly consist of low-angle and high-angle inclined fractures, while the Niutitang Formation predominantly consists of high-angle fractures. Additionally, the investigation of fracture size and fracture density, as well as correlation analyses, showed that the fractures of the Lower Paleozoic shale are predominantly micro fractures that play a key role in improving reservoir seepage. It was also noted that the development of fractures is affected by several factors, including tectonic stress, mineral composition, organic carbon content, and rock thickness. The degree of fracture development was found to be positively correlated with brittle mineral and quartz contents, and high organic matter contents also significantly favored the formation micro fractures.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5591681
spellingShingle Zhiping Zhang
Xiangye Kong
Qing Chen
Ye Zhang
Zhi Deng
Chuan Yu
Zhian Lei
Haijie Zhang
Xiaofeng Wang
Guanghua Yao
Licheng Yang
Xianfeng Tan
Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
Geofluids
title Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
title_full Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
title_fullStr Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
title_full_unstemmed Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
title_short Quantitative Characterization and Determination of the Main Factors That Control Fracture Development in the Lower Paleozoic Shale in Southeastern Chongqing, China
title_sort quantitative characterization and determination of the main factors that control fracture development in the lower paleozoic shale in southeastern chongqing china
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5591681
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