Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 491-509.doi: 10.11743/ogg20250211

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of lithofacies on pore structure characteristics and evolution of lacustrine shales: A case study of the Jurassic Da’anzhai Member, central Sichuan Basin

Jiahao KANG1,2(), Xingzhi WANG1,2(), Deming ZENG1,2, Zisang HUANG2,4, Yiqing ZHU3, Bo LI3, Shengyang XIE3, Rui ZHANG3   

  1. 1.School of Geoscience and Technology,Southwest Petroleum University,Chengdu,Sichuan 610500,China
    2.State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation,Chengdu,Sichuan 610500,China
    3.Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company,PetroChina,Chengdu,Sichuan 61001,China
    4.Postdoctoral Research Station of Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu,Sichuan 610059,China
  • Received:2024-12-14 Revised:2025-02-10 Online:2025-04-30 Published:2025-04-27
  • Contact: Xingzhi WANG E-mail:kjh1371846074@163.com;wxzswpi@163.com

Abstract:

Lacustrine shales typically exhibit distinct mineral-pore network frameworks for diverse lithofacies, significantly influencing the formation and evolution of primary and secondary pores in the shales. Based on data from whole-rock analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogy, total organic carbon (TOC) content analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N2 adsorption experiments, we examine shale samples from the Jurassic Da’anzhai Member in cored wells LA1, RA1, and G10 in the central Sichuan Basin. To be specific, we investigate the petrological characteristics of these shale samples, as well as the characteristics and evolutionary mechanisms of their pore structures. The results indicate that the shales in the Da’anzhai Member can be categorized into seven lithofacies types: organic-lean limestone silty shale (OLLS), organic-moderate limestone silty shale (OMLS), organic-moderate limestone clay shale (OMLC), organic-moderate silty clay shale (OMSC), organic-rich silty clay shale (ORSC), organic-lean argillaceous shale (OLAS) and organic-moderate argillaceous shale (OMAS). Reserving spaces in these shales are dominated by intercrystalline pores in clay minerals. The OLLS exhibits well-developed intergranular pores among brittle grains, characterized by relatively low pore volume and specific surface area. In contrast, the OMAS and OLAS contain the most developed intercrystalline pores in clay minerals, featuring the highest pore volume and specific surface area. The clay-mineral intercrystalline pore diameters and the pore volumes of organic matter and clay minerals are significantly influenced by the compositions of detrital and clay minerals. Shales with a detrital mineral content of less than 25 % manifest a relatively high total pore volume due to the elevated pore volume of high-content clay minerals. For shales with a detrital mineral content of 25 % and above, the TOC content varies greatly despite the high pore volume of organic matter. As a result, the total pore volume of these shales is jointly affected by organic matter and inorganic minerals. The evolution of the mineral-pore network frameworks indicates that organic matter and mineral components govern the occurrence and intensity of diagenetic events, leading to diverse evolutionary characteristics of the pore structures and pore network frameworks across various lithofacies at present.

Key words: mineral-pore framework, reservoir space, lithofacies, pore structure, lacustrine shale, Da’anzhai Member, Sichuan Basin

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