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Pore characterization of the Marcellus Shale by nitrogen adsorption and prediction of its gas storage capacity

Journal Article · · Interpretation
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC), Exploration and Production Research Institute, Beijing 100083, China.(corresponding author), .
  2. West Virginia University, Department of Geology and Geography, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA..
  3. California State University, Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, California 93311, USA..
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In a shale gas reservoir, pore characterization is an important factor used to determine gas storage capacity. However, the nanometer (nm)-scale pore system in shale is difficult to explore by traditional optical, scanning electron microscopy, or even nuclear magnetic resonance well logging. We have investigated the pore structure and storage capacity of the Marcellus Shale through integration of petrophysical analysis from laboratory and well-logging data and nitrogen adsorption. The isotherm of Marcellus Shale is a composite isotherm, which has features of type I, type II, and type IV isotherms with type H4 of the hysteresis loop, suggesting slit-like pores developed in the Marcellus Shale. Quantitative analysis of pore volumes from the nitrogen adsorption indicates that density porosity may be more properly used to approximate the shale porosity and estimate the shale gas volume. In addition, the specific surface area, micropore, and mesopore volumes have a positive relationship with the kerogen volume and total organic content (TOC). By using the Langmuir and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller models, the simulated result indicates that the higher adsorbed quantity of the Marcellus Shale could be the result of the increase of micropore volume contributed, by the increase of kerogen or TOC content. The proposed equations rapidly compute TOC, a key parameter to predict gas storage capacity in overmature shale such as the Marcellus Shale.

Research Organization:
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
DOE Contract Number:
FE0024297
OSTI ID:
1980960
Journal Information:
Interpretation, Vol. 9, Issue 4; ISSN 2324-8858
Publisher:
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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