Effect of Particle Size on Pore Characteristics of Organic-Rich Shales: Investigations from Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Fluid Intrusion Techniques

Abstract

The sample size or particle size of shale plays a significant role in the characterization of pores by various techniques. To systematically investigate the influence of particle size on pore characteristics and the optimum sample size for different methods, we conducted complementary tests on two overmature marine shale samples with different sample sizes. The tests included small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), gas (N2, CO2, and H2O) adsorption, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) imaging. The results indicate that artificial pores and fractures may occur on the surface or interior of the particles during the pulverization process, and some isolated pores may be exposed to the particle surface or connected by new fractures, thus improving the pore connectivity of the shale. By comparing the results of different approaches, we established a hypothetical model to analyze how the crushing process affects the pore structure of overmature shales. Our results imply that intact wafers with a thickness of 0.15–0.5 mm and cubic samples (~1 cm3) are optimal for performing SANS and MICP analyses. Meanwhile, the 35–80 mesh particle size fraction provides reliable data for various gas physisorption tests in overmature shale. Due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of shale, future research on pore characteristics in shales needs a multidisciplinary approach to obtain a more comprehensive, larger scale, and more reliable understanding.

Keywords

• sample size
• neutron scattering
• mercury injection capillary pressure
• adsorption
• shale