Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2016, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (3): 341-353.doi: 10.11743/ogg20160306

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Characterization of pores and fracture networks in organic-rich shale and tight sandstone of the Chang-7 member, Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin

Er Chuang1,2, Zhao Jingzhou1,2, Yao Jingli3,4, Ye Xiaochuang5, Wu Weitao1,2, Bai Yubin1,2, Deng Xiuqin3,4, Sun Bo3,4   

  1. 1. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065, China;
    2. Shaanxi Key Lab of Petroleum Accumulation Geology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065, China;
    3. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Deuelopment, PetroChina Changging Oilfield Company, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China;
    4. National Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Development of Low-Permeability Oil & Gas Fields, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China;
    5. No.3 Gas Production Plant, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, China
  • Received:2015-12-10 Revised:2016-04-20 Online:2016-06-08 Published:2016-06-22

Abstract: Chang-7 member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation is rich in oil and composed of organic-rich shale and tight sandstone.The shale serves both as source rock to nearby tight sandstone and as reservoirs.An improved appreciation of pores and fracture networks in the shale and tight sandstone reservoirs is of great significance to understand storage space characteristics and migration mechanisms of shale oil and tight oil.Through qualitative description and quantitative chara-cterization,pore types and pore size of the organic-rich shale and tight sandstone were studied by comprehensively utilizing methods including core description,field emission scanning electronic microscope,laser scanning confocal microscopy,nuclear magnetic resonance,high pressure Hg injection,and low-temperature thermal adsorption.Organic-rich shale contains intragranular pores,intergranular pores and organic pores,with most pore size less than 50nm.It also contains micro-fractures.Horizontal,low angle,high angle and vertical fractures can all be observed in the shale.The tight sandstone contains residual primary intergranular pores,inter-crystals pores and secondary pores (the major type).Pore size is mostly larger than 2 μm and pore-throat size is less than 73.5 nm.However,pore-throats that contribute the most to improving permeability are those ranging between 73.5 nm and 735 nm.Microfractures and high angle fractures can also be spotted in the tight sandstone.Forming and evolution of pores both in shale and tight sandstone are suggested to be controlled by sedimentation and diagenesis.Migration and charging of diagenetic fluids and hydrocarbon fluids worked toge-ther to forge organic-rich shale and tight sandstone into an organic whole.The study also distinguishes three kinds of pore and fracture networks and pathway of oil migration in shale and tight sandstone of the Chang-7 member:①nonameter-micrometer pores- fracture networks in organic-rich shale (acting as storage space and migration pathway within source rocks);②nanometer pore throat-micrometer pores-fracture networks in tight sandstones (acting as storage space of tight oil);③differential pore throat structure-microfracture-fracture networks between shale and tight sandstone(acting as migration pathway for oil from source rocks to outside reservoirs).

Key words: pore, pore-fracture network, shale, tight sandstone, Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin

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