The pore structure of marine-continental transitional shales from the Longtan Formation in Guizhou, China, was investigated using fractal dimensions calculated by the FHH (Frenkel-Halsey-Hill) model based on low-temperature N2 adsorption data. Results show that the overall D 1 (fractal dimension under low relative pressure, P / P 0 ≤ 0.5 ) and D 2 (fractal dimension under high relative pressure, P / P 0 > 0.5 ) values of Longtan shales were relatively large, with average values of 2.7426 and 2.7838, respectively, indicating a strong adsorption and storage capacity and complex pore structure. The correlation analysis of fractal dimensions with specific surface area, average pore size, and maximum gas absorption volume indicates that D 1 can comprehensively characterize the adsorption and storage capacity of shales, while D 2 can effectively characterize the pore structure complexity. Further correlation among pore fractal dimension, shale organic geochemical parameters, and mineral composition parameters shows that there is a significant positive correlation between fractal dimensions and organic matter abundance as well as a complex correlation between fractal dimension and organic matter maturity. Fractal dimensions increase with an increase in clay mineral content and pyrite content but decrease with an increase in quartz content. Considering the actual geological evaluation and shale gas exploitation characteristics, a lower limit for D 1 and upper limit for D 2 should be set as evaluation criteria for favorable reservoirs. Combined with the shale gas-bearing property test results of Longtan shales in Guizhou, the favorable reservoir evaluation criteria are set as D 1 ≥ 2.60 and D 2 ≤ 2.85 . When D 1 is less than 2.60, the storage capacity of the shales is insufficient. When D 2 is greater than 2.85, the shale pore structure is too complicated, resulting in poor permeability and difficult exploitation.

Widely distributed in North China, Ordovician karst is characterized by having high thickness, nonuniform aquosity, and significant water pressure-bearing properties. Deep mining in North China is threatened by associated water hazards; hence, research on the hydrogeological characteristics of deep Ordovician karst is needed. In this study, the Weibei coalfield in Shaanxi Province, China, was selected as the study area, especially mines in the Hancheng and Chenghe mining areas. In situ experiments, including water pumping, water drainage, water injecting and water pressure, and laboratory experiments, were conducted to study the hydrogeological characteristics of the Ordovician karst top in the study area. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on controlling factors for the development of the Ordovician karst top in the study area, and a method for evaluating the water inrush risk in coal mining areas based on karst hydrogeological characteristics was proposed. The research results indicated that the Ordovician karst top in the study area was characterized by heterogeneity, vertical zonation, and partially filled properties, which were mainly controlled by two factors: sedimentation and tectonism. The hydrogeological conditions of the Ordovician karst could be divided into three types: nonfilled and nonsignificant tectonism, filled and nonsignificant tectonism, and significant tectonism. Among them, the filled and nonsignificant tectonism type Ordovician karst top type had a filling thickness of 20 m. Based on karst hydrogeological characteristics, the methods were proposed to evaluate the water inrush risk in the coal mining floor. The practical tests verified the methods.

Shale heterogeneity directly determines the alteration ability and gas content of shale reservoirs, and its study is a core research topic in shale gas exploitation and development. In this study, the shale from the Longmaxi Formation from well Ld1 located in western Hunan and Hubei is investigated. The shale’s heterogeneity is analyzed based on shale mineral rocks, microslices, geochemistry, and low-temperature N2 adsorption-desorption. It is found that the shales of the Longmaxi Formation from well Ld1 are mainly composed of siliceous shale, mixed shale, and clayey shale. The three types of shale facies exhibit strong heterogeneity in terms of the occurrence state of organic matter, organic content, mineral composition, microstructure and structure, brittleness, and micropore type. Sedimentation, late diagenesis, and terrigenous input are the main factors influencing the shale’s heterogeneity. With a total organic carbon (TOC) of 0.41%-4.18% and an organic matter maturity ( R o ) of 3.09%-3.42%, the shales of the Longmaxi Formation from well Ld1 are in an overmature stage, and their mineral composition is mainly quartz (5%-66%) and clay minerals (17.8%-73.8%). The main pore types are intergranular pores, intragranular pores, microfractures, and organic pores. The results of the low-temperature N2 adsorption-desorption experiment show that the shale pores are mainly composed of micropores and mesopores with narrow throats and complex structures, and their main morphology is of a thin-necked and wide-body ink-bottle pore. Based on the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill (FHH) model, the pore fractal dimension is studied to obtain the fractal dimension D 1 (2.73-2.76, mean 2.74) under low relative pressure ( P / P 0 ≤ 0.5 ) and D 2 (2.80-2.89, mean 2.85) under high relative pressure ( P / P 0 > 0.5 ). The shales of the Longmaxi Formation in the study area have a strong adsorption and gas storage capacity; however, the pore structure is complex and the connectivity is poor, which, in turn, imposes high requirements on reservoir reformation measures during exploitation. Moreover, the fractal dimension has a positive correlation with organic matter abundance, TOC, clay mineral content, and pyrite content and a negative correlation with quartz content. Since the organic matter contained in the shales of the Longmaxi Formation in the study area is in the overmature stage, the adsorption capacity of the shales is reduced, and the controlling effect of organic matter abundance on the same is not apparent.

Owing to the high mineralization and high treatment cost, Ordovician limestone water is often regarded as a mine wastewater. In order to make rational use of mine water with high mineralization and turn waste into treasure. In this work, the natural water quality of Ordovician mine water in the Weibei coalfi eld had been tested, and the suspended matter and trace elements of Ordovician mine water in the selected deep detained area had been further tested. As a contrast, the water quality of Ordovician mine water after heating and concentration had been tested. The mechanical and hydraulic parameters of concentrated mine water-loess and concentrated mine water-cement slurry had been tested and compared with conventional slurry. The results showed characteristics of d eep detained Ordovician limestone mine water is high salinity, certain suspended matters, limited special material and high permanent hardness. However, compressive strength of loess samples increased, while the permeability reduced. The initial setting-time of the modifi ed material was short, while it showed an increased compressive strength. In practical terms, the quantity of grouting produced in engineering applications can be reduced by 16%, whereas the discharge of high-mineralized mine water can be decreased by about 40,000 m 3 /a.

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