Investigation of the Pore Structure of Tight Sandstone Based on Multifractal Analysis from NMR Measurement: A Case from the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation in the Southern North China Basin

Abstract

Understanding the pore structure can help us acquire a deep insight into the fluid transport properties and storage capacity of tight sandstone reservoirs. In this work, a series of methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscope (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment and multifractal theory were employed to investigate the pore structure and multifractal characteristics of tight sandstones from the Taiyuan Formation in the southern North China Basin. The relationships between petrophysical properties, pore structure, mineral compositions and NMR multifractal parameters were also discussed. Results show that the tight sandstones are characterized by complex and heterogenous pore structure, with apparent multifractal features. The main pore types include clay-dominated micropores and inter- and intragranular dissolution pores. Multifractal parameters of sandstone samples were acquired by NMR and applied to quantitatively describe the pore heterogeneity in higher and lower probability density regions (with respect to small and large pore-scale pore system, respectively). The multifractal parameter (D−10) of lower probability density areas has better correlation with the petrophysical parameters, which is more suitable for evaluating the reservoir properties of tight sandstone. However, the multifractal parameter (D10) of higher probability density areas is more conducive to characterize the pore structure of tight sandstone. Additionally, the mineral compositions of sandstone have a complex effect on multifractal characteristics of pores in different probability density areas. The D10 increases with the decrease of quartz content and increase in clay mineral content, whereas D−10 decreases with the increase in clay minerals and decrease of authigenic quartz content and feldspar content.

Keywords

• tight sandstone
• pore structure
• heterogeneity
• NMR measurements
• multifractal analysis