Complex Resistivity Anisotropy Response Characteristics of Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation Shale in Southern Sichuan

Abstract

Electrical exploration has become an important means of shale gas reservoir exploration and evaluation, and is expected to play a key role in the later stages of reservoir fracturing and development. At present, the research on the electrical response characteristics of shale gas reservoirs and their relationship with reservoir parameters is extensive and in-depth, but there is little research on their complex resistivity anisotropy characteristics and influencing factors, which restricts petrophysical modeling and reservoir parameter prediction, and reduces the reliability of shale gas exploration and reservoir evaluation by electromagnetic methods. In this paper, shale samples from the Longmaxi Formation and the Wufeng Formation of shale gas wells in southern Sichuan were collected, the complex resistivity of 34 shales in bedding direction and vertical bedding direction were measured, and the induced polarization (IP) parameters of shales were extracted by inversion. The electrical anisotropy response characteristics under different temperature and pressure conditions were analyzed, and the influencing factors and laws of complex resistivity anisotropy of shales were revealed. Combined with the test results of shale porosity and permeability, the evaluation model of resistivity, polarizability and porosity and permeability parameters was established. The research results have formed a set of testing methods and analysis techniques for electrical anisotropy of shale reservoirs, which are mainly based on complex resistivity parameter testing. It is helpful to understand the electrical anisotropy characteristics of shale gas reservoirs in southern Sichuan; this will provide the theoretical and physical basis for shale gas reservoir evaluation and fracturing monitoring by electrical exploration.

Editorial for Special Issue “Novel Methods and Applications for Mineral Exploration, Volume II”

“…These innovations are most noticeable in geophysical exploration, which, because of its high dependence on computational power, is the major beneficiary [2,3,6]. Clear opportunities for future developments and opportunities can be perceived, as well as for novel applications [11,12].…”

“…The next contribution, by Xiang at al. [3], deals with electrical exploration of shale gas reservoir exploration and evaluation. This study measures the resistivity and characterizes the induced polarization parameters of 34 shale samples from southern Sichuan, China; it also analyzes the electrical anisotropy response characteristics under different temperature and pressure conditions, thus defining the specific factors that affect the complex resistivity anisotropy of shales.…”