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Volume 18
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10.3390/en18154013
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Article

Fractal Characterization of Pore Structures in Marine–Continental Transitional Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin

by
Jiao Zhang
1,2,
Wei Dang
1,2,*,
Qin Zhang
3,*,
Xiaofeng Wang
4,
Guichao Du
1,2,
Changan Shan
1,2,
Yunze Lei
1,2,
Lindong Shangguan
1,2,
Yankai Xue
1,2 and
Xin Zhang
1,2
1
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
2
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Geology, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
3
Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, China
4
No. 12 Oil Production Plant, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Qingyang 745000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(15), 4013; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154013
Submission received: 18 May 2025 / Revised: 11 July 2025 / Accepted: 17 July 2025 / Published: 28 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Unconventional Geo-Energy)
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Abstract

Marine–continental transitional shale is a promising unconventional gas reservoir, playing an increasingly important role in China’s energy portfolio. However, compared to marine shale, research on marine–continental transitional shale’s fractal characteristics of pore structure and complete pore size distribution remains limited. In this work, high-pressure mercury intrusion, N2 adsorption, and CO2 adsorption techniques, combined with fractal geometry modeling, were employed to characterize the pore structure of the Shanxi Formation marine–continental transitional shale. The shale exhibits generally high TOC content and abundant clay minerals, indicating strong hydrocarbon-generation potential. The pore size distribution is multi-modal: micropores and mesopores dominate, contributing the majority of the specific surface area and pore volume, whereas macropores display a single-peak distribution. Fractal analysis reveals that micropores have high fractal dimensions and structural regularity, mesopores exhibit dual-fractal characteristics, and macropores show large variations in fractal dimension. Characteristics of pore structure is primarily controlled by TOC content and mineral composition. These findings provide a quantitative basis for evaluating shale reservoir quality, understanding gas storage mechanisms, and optimizing strategies for sustainable of oil and gas development in marine–continental transitional shales.
Keywords: marine–continental transitional shale; shale gas; gas adsorption; pore structure; fractal properties marine–continental transitional shale; shale gas; gas adsorption; pore structure; fractal properties

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, J.; Dang, W.; Zhang, Q.; Wang, X.; Du, G.; Shan, C.; Lei, Y.; Shangguan, L.; Xue, Y.; Zhang, X. Fractal Characterization of Pore Structures in Marine–Continental Transitional Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin. Energies 2025, 18, 4013. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154013

AMA Style

Zhang J, Dang W, Zhang Q, Wang X, Du G, Shan C, Lei Y, Shangguan L, Xue Y, Zhang X. Fractal Characterization of Pore Structures in Marine–Continental Transitional Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin. Energies. 2025; 18(15):4013. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154013

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Jiao, Wei Dang, Qin Zhang, Xiaofeng Wang, Guichao Du, Changan Shan, Yunze Lei, Lindong Shangguan, Yankai Xue, and Xin Zhang. 2025. "Fractal Characterization of Pore Structures in Marine–Continental Transitional Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin" Energies 18, no. 15: 4013. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154013

APA Style

Zhang, J., Dang, W., Zhang, Q., Wang, X., Du, G., Shan, C., Lei, Y., Shangguan, L., Xue, Y., & Zhang, X. (2025). Fractal Characterization of Pore Structures in Marine–Continental Transitional Shale Gas Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin. Energies, 18(15), 4013. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154013

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