Characteristics of lacustrine shale porosity evolution, Triassic Chang 7 Member, Ordos Basin, NW China

Abstract

With low mature Triassic Chang 7 Member shale samples from the Ordos Basin as study object, the 3-D porosity evolution with temperature increase and its main controlling factors are analyzed based on the physical modeling under high temperature & pressure and nano-CT scanning data. More and more nano-pores were developed in Chang 7 Member organic-rich shale with the increase of maturity. The porosity calculated from the nano-CT scanning model increased from 0.56% to 2.06%, more than 250% times larger, when temperature increased from 20 °C to 550 °C. The process of porosity evolution can be divided into three phases. Firstly, porosity decreased rapidly from immature to low mature stage because of weak hydrocarbon generation and strong compaction; Secondly, porosity increased rapidly when the maturity increased from low mature stage to mature and post-mature stage, organic matter cracked into hydrocarbon (HC) massively, and clay minerals transformed intensively; Thirdly, porosity system kept stable when the shale entered into post-mature stage and the intensity of both HC generation and clay mineral transformation decreased. Organic matter thermal evolution, clay mineral transformation and brittle mineral transformation make different contribution to the porosity of shale, and the ratio is 6:3:1 respectively. It is inferred abundant organic matter pores occur when Ro is over 1.2%. Key words: lacustrine shale, porosity evolution, clay mineral, nano-CT, Ordos Basin, Triassic Chang 7 Member