Mineralogical assemblage of Cambay Shale of North Cambay Basin, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Abstract Shale Gas exploration and production plays an essential role in ensuring energy security and economic stability. Tapping these reserves using cost-effective technologies can really change the India’s energy supply and value chain. Cambay Shale of Cambay Basin has been proved as the most prominent Indian Shale reserve and in this work an attempt has been made to understand the geographical and mineralogical distribution of this Shale. A sample study on Cambay Shale of North Tectonic Block of Cambay Basin has been ascertained to understand the mineralogy, porosity and maturity with respect to depth. The study involves the use of integrated measurement techniques mainly high-pressure porosity (HPP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform electron microscopy (FTIR). Approximately, 13 samples were analysed to understand the mineralogy of this shale and it was observed that it is very clayey in nature with major traces of Illite and minor traces of rutile and kaolinite. The other measurements (i.e., SEM and HPP) were done on two specific samples which confirm the presence of clay-rich porous minerals with high organic matter content.

Keywords

• Pore size
• Mineralogy
• SEM
• Shale porosity