Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 1295-1306.doi: 10.11743/ogg20210605

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Characteristics of fractures and their significance for reservoirs in Wufeng-Longmaxi shale, Sichuan Basin and its periphery

Ruyue Wang1,2,3(), Zongquan Hu1, Tong Zhou1, Hanyong Bao4, Jing Wu5, Wei Du1, Jianhua He6, Pengwei Wang1, Qian Chen1   

  1. 1. Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, China
    3. Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Oil Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China
    4. Exploration and Development Research Institute of Jianghan Oilfield Branch Company, SINOPEC, Wuhan, Hubei 430223, China
    5. College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266500, China
    6. College of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China
  • Received:2021-07-26 Online:2021-12-28 Published:2021-12-16

Abstract:

An integration of core and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, FMI logging, and physical property analysis, is applied to discuss the types, characteristics and distribution of fractures and their effects on gas enrichment and preservation in the shale of Wufeng Formation-Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin and on it speriphery. The results show that: (1) the development of shale fractures results from a combination of factors including sedimentation, diagenesis, tectonic and pressure evolution. Low angle slip fractures and bedding-parallel fractures at low level of filling are conducive to reservoir porosity and permeability development. High angle fractures and horizontal interlayer fractures are usually fully filled, leading to low effectiveness as fluid pathways. The modification of low angle fractures on the layer-transecting capacity of high angle fractures is of great significance to the enrichment and preservation of shale gas. (2) The micro-fractures of shale are mainly non-structural. The upper organic-lean interval with high clay mineral content, is of low developmental degree of bedding-parallel and large-scale inter-layer micro-fractures; instead, the small-scale inter-clay particle micro-fractures are well-developed. In this case, the new hychaulic fracturing technologies of dense cluster spacing and high proppant concentration should be adopted to improve fracture network-controlled reserves. However, the bedding-parallel fractures, interlayer micro-fractures and rigid grain-edge fractures with weak mechanical properties are abundant in the lower siliceous shale interval; in addition, the coexistence of intensive low angle fractures and small-scale high angle fractures results in a favorable natural fracture network system. (3) The permeability of the bedding-parallel fractures and interlayer micro-fractures in shale intervals of shallow to middle burial depth, is significantly higher than that of the matrix, favorable for reservoir stimulation and seepage of shale gas. In contrast, permeability of fractures and matrix are both low and roughly equivalent for shale intervals of deep burial. Therefore, the reservoir seepage ability and hychaulic fracturing effect are essential factors for efficient development of deep shale gas.

Key words: productivity, physical property, preservation, fracture, shale gas, Wufeng-Longmaxi Formations, Sichuan Basin

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