From Compaction to Porosity Reconstruction: Fractal Evolution and Heterogeneity of the Qingshankou Shale Reservoir in the Songliao Basin

The Qingshankou Formation shale in the Changling Sag of the Songliao Basin represents a typical lacustrine pure-shale reservoir, characterized by high organic matter abundance, high maturity, high clay mineral content, and strong heterogeneity. To elucidate the pore structure and heterogeneity of this shale, a comprehensive suite of analytical techniques—including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (MICP), and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption—was employed to investigate its pore types and fractal characteristics systematically. On this basis, lithofacies classification and FHH fractal modeling were conducted to quantitatively assess the complexity of pore–throat structures and their influence on reservoir properties. The results indicate that shale-dominated lithofacies (Types A–C) exhibit higher surface fractal dimensions (D₁ = 2.51–2.58) and structural fractal dimensions (D₂ = 2.73–2.81), corresponding to low porosity, low permeability, and high displacement pressure. In contrast, carbonate- and clastic-dominated lithofacies (Types D–G) display lower fractal dimensions, suggesting more regular pore–throat structures and better connectivity. Overall, both D₁ and D₂ show negative correlations with porosity and permeability but positive correlations with displacement pressure, and are negatively correlated with TOC content, reflecting the intrinsic coupling among pore–throat complexity, reservoir capacity, and organic matter abundance. These findings reveal that the Qingshankou shale reservoir has undergone a geometric evolutionary pathway of “shale compaction → siltstone transition → carbonate porosity reconstruction.” The fractal dimensions effectively characterize the reservoir heterogeneity and pore–throat connectivity, providing a new theoretical basis for the quantitative characterization, classification, and potential prediction of continental shale oil reservoirs.