Pore structure, wettability and tracer migration in four leading shale formations in the Middle Yangtze Platform, China

摘要

Deposited in different sedimentary settings, four leading shale formations (Late Ordovician Wufeng, Early Silurian Longmaxi, Late Permian Dalong, and Early Jurassic Dongyuemiao Shales) are currently the most promising zones for shale gas development in the Middle Yangtze Platform of South China. Based on complementary tests [low pressure gas physisorption, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), contact angle measurement, fluid imbibition into initially dry shale, and tracer diffusion into initially fluid-saturated shale followed by tracer mapping with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)], this work investigates their pore structure (both geometry and connectivity) and wettability characteristics, as well as the coupled effects of these characteristics on fluid flow and tracer migration.