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Title: Small-Angle and Ultrasmall-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS/USANS) Study of New Albany Shale: A Treatise on Microporosity

Journal Article · · Energy and Fuels
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ef502211w· OSTI ID:1185712
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Griffith Univ., Brisbane (Australia)
  3. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
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We applied small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultrasmall-angle neutron scattering (USANS) techniques to study the microstructure of several New Albany shales of different maturity. It has been established that the total porosity decreases with maturity and increases somewhat for post-mature samples. A new method of SANS data analysis was developed, which allows the extraction of information about the size range and number density of micropores from the relatively flat scattering intensity observed in the limit of the large scattering vector Q. Macropores and significant number of mesopores are surface fractals, and their structure can be described in terms of the polydisperse spheres (PDSP) model. The model-independent Porod invariant method was employed to estimate total porosity, and the results were compared with the PDSP model results. It has been demonstrated that independent evaluation of incoherent background is crucial for accurate interpretation of the scattering data in the limit of large Q-values. Moreover, pore volumes estimated by the N2 and CO2 adsorption, as well as via the mercury intrusion technique, have been compared with those measured by SANS/USANS, and possible reasons for the observed discrepancies are discussed.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; SC006978; FG02-11ER16246; DMR-0454672
OSTI ID:
1185712
Journal Information:
Energy and Fuels, Vol. 29, Issue 2; ISSN 0887-0624
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (16)

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Design and performance of a thermal-neutron double-crystal diffractometer for USANS at NIST journal November 2005
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Small angle neutron scattering signature of oil generation in artificially and naturally matured hydrocarbon source rocks journal January 2000
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Cited By (5)

Morphology and Fractal Characterization of Multiscale pore Structures for Organic-Rich Lacustrine Shale Reservoirs journal April 2018
Experimental study of the pomelo peel powder as novel shale inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids journal October 2019
Integrating SANS and fluid-invasion methods to characterize pore structure of typical American shale oil reservoirs journal November 2017
Determining the porosity of mudrocks using methodological pluralism journal January 2017
Comparative Porosity and Pore Structure Assessment in Shales: Measurement Techniques, Influencing Factors and Implications for Reservoir Characterization journal May 2019

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