Microfracture-pore structure characterization and water-rock interaction in three lithofacies of the Lower Eagle Ford Formation

Wang, Qiming; Hu, Qinhong; Larsen, Chad; Zhao, Chen; Sun, Mengdi; Zhang, Yuxiang; Zhang, Tao

doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106276

Title: Microfracture-pore structure characterization and water-rock interaction in three lithofacies of the Lower Eagle Ford Formation

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Engineering Geology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106276· OSTI ID:1842341

Wang, Qiming ^[1];

^[1]; Larsen, Chad ^[1]; Zhao, Chen ^[1]; Sun, Mengdi ^[2]; Zhang, Yuxiang ^[1]; Zhang, Tao ^[3]

Univ. of Texas, Arlington, TX (United States)
China Univ. of Geosciences, Wuhan (China)
China Univ. of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao (China)

The microfracture-pore structures and water-rock interactions of eight samples of three typical lithofacies (three limestone, three wackestone, and two mudstone) from the Lower Eagle Ford Formation have been investigated using an integrated methodology. The methods used were X-ray diffraction (XRD), total organic carbon (TOC) content, pyrolysis, thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), spontaneous water imbibition, and water vapor & nitrogen physisorption. Petrophysical properties such as organic richness, maturity, mineral composition, types and patterns of microfractures and pores, porosity, pore-throat size distribution, pore size distribution, pore connectivity, water adsorption and desorption behavior were determined from these methods, and the results compared among the three lithofacies. For example, the three limestone EAS samples and three wackestone DM samples show a low porosity range from 2.02–3.35%, whereas the two mudstone VRU samples exhibit a much large average porosity of 11.7% by MIP results. Nitrogen physisorption results show that pore size distributions have a good similarity in N2 adsorption volume for the samples with similar lithology. Microfractures are morphologically divided into seven types, with their definitions & pictorial examples presented and possible formation mechanisms proposed. In addition, the water vapor physisorption behavior and their controlling factors are discussed. Here, the water adsorption capacity shows a positive relationship (R² = 0.90) with clay content and a negative relationship (R² = 0.99) with carbonate content. In general, this integrated study of microfracture-pore structure characterization and water-rock interaction provides some insights of water vapor adsorption behavior in different lithofacies and whether microfractures could be an important pathway for fluid flow.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Texas, Arlington, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: NE0008797

OSTI ID:: 1842341

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1808890

Journal Information:: Engineering Geology, Vol. 292; ISSN 0013-7952

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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