Effect of Shale Sample Particle Size on Pore Structure Obtained from High Pressure Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry

With the rapid development of unconventional oil and gas, pore structure characterization shale reservoirs has attracted an increasing attention. High pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (HPMIP) been widely used to quantitatively characterize tight shales. However, obtained from HPMIP could be significantly affected by sample particle size for analyses. This study mainly investigates influence on HPMIP, using Mississippian-aged Barnett Shale samples. The results show that porosity samples with different sizes exponentially relation size, which is caused new pores or fractures created during crushing process as well exposure blind closed pores. amount proportion retention extrusion increase decrease closely related increased ink-bottle effect in smaller size. In addition, fractal dimension positively indicates heterogeneity stronger larger Furthermore, skeletal density increases possibly differentiation mineral composition process.