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Multifractal Characteristics and Genetic Mechanisms of Pore Throat Structures in Coal Measure Tight Sandstone

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Abstract

The pore structure heterogeneity of ultra-low tight sandstone has a direct impact on the exploration development and sustainable production of tight sandstone gas. In this study, high pressure mercury injection and casting thin sections methods were conducted to study the physical properties and pore structures of Carboniferous–Permian (C–P) tight sandstone reservoirs. Then, the multifractal behaviors of the pore structures and their genetic mechanisms were revealed by establishing the relationships of the multifractal parameter (spectral width of singular spectrum Δα (Δα = α-10–α10+)) with the petrophysical properties and the lithologic characteristics parameters. The results showed that the multifractal characteristics of the pore throat structure in the C–P sandstone were objective and that the C–P sandstone reservoir of higher mesopores volume tended to display greater pore structure heterogeneity. Moreover, the C–P tight sandstone samples with high debris and less content levels of quartz and feldspar showed stronger pore structure heterogeneity. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between pore structure heterogeneity and interstitial material while increases in matrix (clay minerals) content and decreases in carbonate and quartz cement had potentially led to the enhancement of pore structure heterogeneity. Additionally, the double effects of tectonic stress caused some of the C–P sandstone samples to display characteristics of strong heterogeneity, low porosity and low permeability.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the University Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Province (KJ2021A0444), the Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation (2208085QD113), the University-level Key Projects of Anhui University of Science and Technology (QN2019111), Key Techniques Study on the Development and Utilization of Legacy Resource and Underground Space of Abandoned Mine (No.20191101016), the Key Research and Development Plan of Anhui Province (202104a07020009), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41772158) and the Key Cultivation Projects of Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center (No.21KZS215).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anhui University of Science and Technology, Anhui, Huainan, 232001, China

    Zhang Miao, Wang Jindong, Lu Haifeng & Dong Zhiyong

  2. Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Anhui, Hefei, 230031, China

    Zhang Miao

  3. Shanxi Coking Coal Group Co., LTD, Taiyuan, 030024, Shanxi, China

    Dong Zhiyong, Li Lirong & Wang Hao

  4. Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Jiangsu, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Fu Xuehai

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  1. Zhang Miao
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Correspondence to Zhang Miao.

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Miao, Z., Jindong, W., Xuehai, F. et al. Multifractal Characteristics and Genetic Mechanisms of Pore Throat Structures in Coal Measure Tight Sandstone. Nat Resour Res 31, 2885–2900 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-022-10106-y

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