Porosity and hydrocarbon composition evolution in shales from the Domanic and Bazhenov Formations: Insights from pyrolysis and aqua thermolysis experiments.

The Domanic and Bazhenov Formations are the largest unconventional oil and gas resources in Russia. In this regard, research of mechanisms and transformation features of pore space structure, as well as hydrocarbon fluids composition are of greatest interest. In recent time technologies for modeling of thermal maturation of rocks under close to reservoir conditions similar, such as pyrolysis and aqua pyrolysis can be used. The natural process of organic matter maturation has a direct impact on the rock pore space alterations. Experimental studies of rocks (more than 100 experiments) with monitoring of the pore space using computer microtomography were performed. As a result of research, it was possible to clarify the influence of rock characteristics on the transformation of the pore space, as well as on the hydrocarbons composition. The structural features of the mineral part of the rock control the distribution of organic matter: for rocks with a layered distribution of organic matter, the formation of a crack system is characteristic. In samples with a massive structure, newly formed pores were noted. The rocks with the highest organic matter content from 20% were characterized by the formation of lenses (Fig. 1). The content of organic matter and its maturity directly affect the volume of the newly formed pore space.

Performed investigations allowed to reveal the trends of hydrocarbons generation in source rocks and unconventional reservoirs formation. Also heating of rocks by various methods under reservoir conditions approved potential of tertiary methods of reservoir stimulation. Pyrolysis in-situ of Bazhenov and Domanic source rocks would allow to generate “synthetic” oil of similar to natural one composition and increase permeability of rocks by pores and cracks formation.

This work was partially (fully) supported by RFBR grant 18-35-20036.