Nanoscale physical parameters of source rocks identified by atomic force microscopy: A review

Abstract

The refinement of nanoscale physical parameters of source rocks has benefitted from continuous innovations in technology and methods. Traditional methods for detecting reservoir physical properties are limited by the properties of the instruments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides new methods and approaches for furthering our understanding and exploring the nanoscale world. Its wide range of applications and gradually developed multiscenario application modes make it an ideal tool for the characterization of nanoscale physical properties of source rocks (coal, shale, mudstone, sandstone, etc.). We highlight the advantages of AFM in regard to performing nondestructive 3D imaging and mechanical property measurements with nanoscale resolution in any desired environment (air, vacuum, liquid). The limitations of AFM applied to source rocks are also summarized. The process has great potential in micro/nanopore characterization, surface morphology characterization, in situ micromechanical property acquisition, wettability research, and so on. The gradual development and improvement of this new model will expand new methods, bring enlightenment to basic research on unconventional oil and gas resources, and provide a scientific basis for the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources.

Characterizing pore size distribution of high maturity shales and main controlling factors analysis: A case study of Permian Gufeng Formation in the Lower Yangtze region, China

“…It is also rapidly developed to investigate shale oil and shale gas resource distribution and strategic development in China (Chen et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2017; Wang, 2020; Wang et al, 2021). Spatial distribution, sedimentary evolution, organic geochemical characteristics, reservoir characteristics and shale gas accumulation mechanism of Palaeozoic marine shale have been widely studied in southern China (Cao et al, 2016; Liu et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2021; Wei et al, 2021; Zhang et al, 2022). Although Permian shale is also widely distributed in the south of China, its shale gas resource is rarely studied in the previous literature owing to unclear industrial value.…”

Influencing factors of coal elastic parameters based on the generalized Gassmann equation: A case study in Yuwang colliery, eastern Yunnan province

“…Extensive research has been conducted on the influencing factors of coal elastic parameters, including temperature, pressure, nonuniformity of material composition and porosity, anisotropy of cracks, and degree of coal fragmentation (Gan et al, 2021;Kuforiji et al, 2021;Liu, Zou, et al, 2022;Masoudian, 2016;Sun & Gurevich, 2020;Wang et al, 2021). Shao et al (2013) explored the relationship between the content of each industrial component and the response of compensation density and acoustic time difference logging by numerical fitting, indicating that the acoustic velocity of coal rock is negatively correlated with fixed carbon content and positively correlated with ash content.…”

“…Extensive research has been conducted on the influencing factors of coal elastic parameters, including temperature, pressure, nonuniformity of material composition and porosity, anisotropy of cracks, and degree of coal fragmentation (Gan et al., 2021; Kuforiji et al., 2021; Liu, Zou, et al., 2022; Masoudian, 2016; Sun & Gurevich, 2020; Wang et al., 2021). Shao et al.…”