Journal Article

Comparative Study on Full-Scale Pore Structure Characterization and Gas Adsorption Capacity of Shale and Coal Reservoirs

Yu, Xinan, Wang, Bo, Tang, Wei, Deng, Ze, Yu, Maonan, Yang, Jianghai, Wang, Tao, Ouyang, Mukun, You, Chunli

2025

Overview

Shale and coal in the transitional marine–continental facies of the Ordos Basin serve as unconventional natural gas reservoirs, with their pore structures controlling gas adsorption characteristics and occurrence states. To quantitatively characterize the pore structure features and differences between these two reservoirs, this study takes the Shanxi Formation shale and coal in the Daning–Jixian area on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin as examples. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-temperature N2 adsorption, and low-pressure CO2 adsorption experiments were employed to analyze and compare the full-scale pore structures of the shale and coal reservoirs. Combined with methane isothermal adsorption experiments, the gas adsorption capacity and its differences in these reservoirs were investigated. The results indicate that the average total organic carbon (TOC) content of shale is 2.66%, with well-developed organic pores, inorganic pores, and microfractures. Organic pores are the most common, typically occurring densely and in clusters. The average TOC content of coal is 74.22%, with organic gas pores being the dominant pore type, significantly larger in diameter than those in transitional marine–continental facies shale and marine shale. In coal, micropores contribute the most to pore volume, while mesopores and macropores contribute less. In shale, mesopores dominate, followed by micropores, with macropores being underdeveloped. Both coal and shale exhibit a high SSA primarily contributed by micropores, with organic matter serving as the material basis for micropore development. The methane adsorption capacity of coal is 8–29 times higher than that of shale. Coal contains abundant organic micropores, providing a large SSA and numerous adsorption sites for methane, facilitating gas adsorption and storage. This study comprehensively reveals the similarities and differences in pore structures between transitional marine–continental facies shale and coal reservoirs in the Ordos Basin at the microscale, providing a scientific basis for the precise evaluation and development of unconventional oil and gas resources.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Adsorption / Carbon dioxide / Coal / Coalbed methane / Comparative studies / Experimental methods / Experiments / Fractures / Gas flow / Geology / Industrial gases / Integrated approach / Low pressure / Low temperature / Methane / Microfracture / Natural gas / Natural gas reserves / Organic carbon / Organic matter / Petroleum mining / Pore size / Pores / Research methodology / Reservoirs / Scanning electron microscopy / Shale / Shale gas / Structural analysis / Total organic carbon