Shale oil micro-migration characterization: Key methods and outlook
Abstract view|52|times PDF download|21|times
Abstract
Research has identified and increasingly explored the micro-migration phenomenon in shaly strata, which is currently one of the key scientific issues affecting shale oil accumulation and efficient development. Recently, qualitative and quantitative methods for characterizing hydrocarbon fractionation related to shale oil micro-migration have been proposed, which brought promising prospects to oil micro-migration research. Three key techniques in this field are summarized in this minireview, and the outlook for shale oil micro-migration characterization is prospected. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry can be employed to distinguish subtle composition differences related to short-distance migration; core-flooding extraction experiments can be utilized for the quantitative characterization of micro-migration in organic-rich shale; and semi-open thermal simulation experiments are useful to analyze the chemical composition and structural evolution of expelled and retained oil. These three methods have different focus and advantages, while they provide different viewpoints and means for the characterization of shale oil micro-migration and have all achieved good results in different regions. Studies regarding the latest technologies deepen our understanding of the short-distance migration of shale oil, as well as improve our knowledge of the mechanisms of shale oil micro-migration, which is of great practical significance to the evaluation of shale oil content and mobility and further optimizes the identification of sweet spots and the effects of fracturing development.
Document Type: Current minireview
Cited as: Hu, T., Jing, Z., Zhang, Q., Pan, Y., Yuan, M., Li, M. Shale oil micro-migration characterization: Key methods and outlook. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 15(1): 5-12. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.01.02
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Begum, M., Yassin, M. R., Dehghanpour, H., et al. Effect of kerogen maturity on organic shale wettability: A Duvernay case study. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2019, 110: 483-496.
Cai, J., Qin, X., Xia, X., et al. Numerical modeling of multiphase flow in porous media considering micro- and nanoscale effects: A comprehensive review, Gas Science and Engineering, 2024, 131, 205441.
Dang, W., Nie, H., Zhang, J., et al. Pore-scale mechanisms and characterization of light oil storage in shale nanopores: New method and insights. Geoscience Frontiers, 2022, 13(5): 101424.
England, W.A. Reservoir geochemistry-A reservoir engineering perspective. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2007, 58(3): 344-354.
Gholinezhadateni, M., Rostami, B. Experimental investigation of wettability alteration from water-wet to oil-wet during oil migration. Natural Resources Research, 2021, 30(5): 3735-3746.
Goodarzi, F., Ardakani, O. H., Pedersen, P. K., et al. Canadian arctic oil shale resources: A re-assessment of potential Ordovician to Carboniferous oil shale deposits. Paper OTC 25576 Presented at OTC Arctic Technology Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 23-25 March, 2015.
Han, Y., Noah, M., L¨uders, V., et al. Fractionation of hydrocarbons and NSO-compounds during primary oil migration revealed by high resolution mass spectrometry: Insights from oil trapped in fluid inclusions. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2022, 254: 103974.
Hu, T., Jiang, F., Pang, X., et al. Identification and evaluation of shale oil micro-migration and its petroleum geological significance. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2024a, 51(1): 127-140.
Hu, T., Jiang, F., Pang, X., et al. A novel method for quantifying hydrocarbon micromigration in heterogeneous shale and the controlling mechanism. Energy, 2024b, 288: 129712.
Hu, T., Pang, X., Jiang, F. Whole petroleum system theory and new directions for petroleum geology development. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024c, 11(1): 1-5.
Jarvie, D.M. Shale resource systems for oil and gas: Part 2: shale-oil resource systems. Shale reservoirs-giant resources for the 21st century. AAPG Memoir, 2012, 97: 89-119.
Jiang, Q., Li, M., Qian, M., et al. Quantitative characterization of shale oil in different occurrence states and its application. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 38: 842-849.
Jin, Z., Wang, G., Liu, G., et al. Research progress and key scientific issues of continental shale oil in China. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2021, 42(7): 821-835.
Le Doan, T.V., Bostrom, N.W., Burnham, A.K., et al. Green River oil shale pyrolysis: Semi-open conditions. Energy & Fuels, 2013, 27: 7447-16459.
Lewan, M.D. Evaluation of petroleum generation by hydrous pyrolysis experiment. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 1985, 315: 123-134.
Li, J., Cai, J. Quantitative characterization of fluid occurrence in shale reservoirs. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 9(3): 146-151.
Li, J., Song, Z., Wang, M., et al. Quantitative characterization of microscopic occurrence and mobility of oil in shale matrix pores: A case study of the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Sag. Petroleum Science Bulletin, 2024, 9(1): 1-20. (in Chinese)
Li, M., Chen, Z., Ma, X., et al. A numerical method for calculating total oil yield using a single routine Rock-Eval program: A case study of the Eocene Shahejie Formation in Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2018, 191: 49-65.
Li, M., Jin, Z., Dong, M., et al. Advances in the basic study of lacustrine shale evolution and shale oil accumulation. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 2020, 42: 489-505. (in Chinese)
Mackenzie, A. S., Leythaeuser, D., Schaefer, R. G. Expulsion of petroleum hydrocarbons from shale source rocks. Nature, 1983, 301(5900): 506-509.
Marshall, A. G., Chen, T. 40 years of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 2015, 377: 410-420.
Mathia, E. J., Bowen, L., Thomas, K. M., et al. Evolution of porosity and pore types in organic-rich, calcareous, Lower Toarcian Posidonia Shale. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2016, 75: 117-139.
Mohnhoff, D., Littke, R., Krooss, B. M., et al. Flow-through extraction of oil and gas shales under controlled stress using organic solvents: Implications for organic matter-related porosity and permeability changes with thermal maturity. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2016, 157: 84-99.
Padin, A., Tutuncu, A. N., Sonnenberg, S. On the mechanisms of shale microfracture propagation. Paper SPE 168624 Presented at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 4-6 February, 2014.
Pan, Y., Li, M., Sun, Y., et al. Thermo-compression simulation of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion of intersalt dolomitic shale, Qianjiang Sag, Jianghan Basin. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 2018a, 40: 551-558. (in Chinese)
Pan, Y., Li, M., Sun, Y., et al. Geochemical characterization of soluble organic matters with different existing states in low-maturity argillaceous source rocks of lacustrine facies. Geochimica, 2018b, 47: 335-344. (in Chinese)
Pan, Y., Li, M., Sun, Y., et al. Characterization of free and bound bitumen fractions in a thermal maturation shale sequence. Part 2: Structural evolution of kerogen and bitumen during shale oil generation, expulsion and retention. Organic Geochemistry, 2023, 182: 104640.
Pan, Y., Li, M., Sun, Y., et al. Characterization of free and bound bitumen fractions in a thermal maturation shale sequence. Part 1: Acidic and neutral compounds by negative-ion ESI FT-ICR MS. Organic Geochemistry, 2019, 134: 1-15.
Pepper, A. S. Estimating the petroleum expulsion behavior of source rocks: A novel quantitative approach. Geological Society, London: Special Publication, 1991, 59: 9-31.
Poetz, S., Horsfield, B., Wilkes, H. Maturity-driven generation and transformation of acidic compounds in the organicrich posidonia shale as revealed by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Energy & Fuels, 2014, 28 (8): 4877-4888.
Price, L. C., Clayton, J. L. Extraction of whole versus ground source rocks: Fundamental petroleum geochemical implications including oil-source rock correlation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1992, 56: 1213-1222.
Sandvik, E. I., Young, W. A., Curry, D.J. Expulsion from hydrocarbon sources: The role of organic absorption. Organic Geochemistry, 1992, 19: 77-87.
Seifert, W. K., Moldowan, J. M. Applications of steranes, terpanes and monoaromatics to the maturation, migration and source of crude oils. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1978, 42(1): 77-95.
Speight, J. Resources, in Shale Oil and Gas Production Processes, edited by J. Speight, Gulf Professional Publishing, Massachusetts, pp. 65-138, 2020.
Teixeira, M. G., Donz´ e, F., Renard, F., et al. Microfracturing during primary migration in shales. Tectonophysics, 2017, 694: 268-279.
Tuero, F., Crotti, M. M., Labayen, I. Water imbibition EOR proposal for shale oil scenarios. Paper SPE 185560 Presented at the SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 18-19 May, 2017.
Wang, E., Feng, Y., Guo, T., et al. Oil content and resource quality evaluation methods for lacustrine shale: A review and a novel three-dimensional quality evaluation model. Earth Rcience Reviews, 2022, 232: 104134.
Wang, E., Fu, Y., Guo, T., et al. A new approach for predicting oil mobilities and unveiling their controlling factors in a lacustrine shale system: Insights from interpretable machine learning model. Fuel, 2025, 379(1): 132958.
Xie, X., Krooss, B. M., Littke, R., et al. Accessibility and mobility of hydrocarbons in lacustrine shale: Solvent flow-through extraction experiments on Eocene oil shales from Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China. Organic Geochemistry, 2019, 127: 23-36.
Yuan, M., Pan, S., Jing, Z., et al. Geochemical distortion on shale oil maturity caused by oil migration: Insights from the non-hydrocarbons revealed by FT-ICR MS. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2023, 266: 104142.
Yuan, M., Zou, C., Pan, S., et al. Ranking the oil contribution of individual layers in a lacustrine shale oil system based on non-hydrocarbon analysis by FT-ICR MS. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2024, 288: 104528.
Yue, H., Vieth-Hillebrand, A., Han, Y., et al. Unravelling the impact of lithofacies on the composition of NSO compounds in residual and expelled fluids of the Barnett, Niobrara and Posidonia formations. Organic Geochemistry, 2021, 155: 104225.
Zhang, Q., Fink, R., Grohmann, S., et al. Molecular differences in sequential extracts obtained by core flooding of the early mature ultra-tight Posidonia Shale. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2021, 123: 104709.
Zhao, W., Bian, C., Li, Y., et al. Enrichment factors of movable hydrocarbons in lacustrine shale oil and exploration potential of shale oil in Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin, NE china. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2023, 50(3): 520-533.
Zheng, T., Grohmann, S., Arysanto, A., et al. Petrographical and geochemical investigation on maturation and primary migration in intact source rock micro-plugs: Insight from hydrous pyrolysis on Woodford Shale. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2023, 266: 104170.
Zou, C., Pan, S., Horsfield, B., et al. Oil retention and intrasource migration in the organic-rich lacustrine Chang 7 shale of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, central China. AAPG Bulletin, 2019, 103(11): 2627-2663.
Zou, C., Zhao, X., Du, J., et al. Geological evaluating methods for shale oil. GB/T 38718-2020, 2020.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.01.02
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.