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The pore structure characteristics of shales are controlled by their mineral and organic matter compositions. However, the contributions of different components to the pore structure characteristics of lacustrine shales remain poorly understood. In this study, fifteen Chang 7 Member shales of the Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, were investigated through total organic carbon (TOC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and low-pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption analyses to study the control of shale composition on the pore structure characteristics of lacustrine shales. The results show that the average TOC content of the Chang 7 Member shales is 9.63 wt.%. XRD analysis shows that minerals in the Chang 7 Member shales consist of quartz, feldspars, clay minerals, and pyrite. The clay minerals were dominated by illite, chlorite, and interstratified illite/smectite. The mesopore characteristics of the Chang 7 Member shales and micropore characteristics of organic-lean shales are mainly controlled by clay minerals, whereas the micropore characteristics of organic-rich samples are controlled by both clay minerals and organic matter. SEM observations show that the phyllosilicate framework pores are the main pore type in the Chang 7 Member shales. The results of this study provide important insights into compositional control on the pore structure characteristics of lacustrine shales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM)-hosted pores play important roles in controlling the porosity and gas content of gas shales. However, the control of organic pore development and preservation remains poorly understood, partly because of the inability to distinguish OM types under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In this study, seven over-mature Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale samples (equivalent vitrinite reflectance 1.93%–3.07%) were investigated with organic petrography and scanning electron microscope to study the origin of OM and development of organic pores in this black shale succession. Correlative light and electron microscopy was employed to examine pore development in individual macerals. Organic petrographic observations show that OM in these over-mature black shales is dominated by pyrobitumen and graptolites (> 90 vol% of total OM based on point counting). Pyrobitumen mainly occurs as matrix bitumen in the fine-grained matrix, and also as a mixture with clay minerals and fossil cavity infillings. Vitrinite-like particles are minor constituents of OM in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale, and their average reflectance, reflectance distribution, and morphology suggest that they may be derived from graptolite fragments lacking diagnostic features and acritarchs. OM type critically controls the development of organic pores. Organic pores primarily occur in pyrobitumen, whereas other macerals are mostly non-porous when examined under the SEM. Results of this study provided important insights into OM thermal evolution and organic pore development in source-rock reservoirs, calling for a critical appraisal of OM in black shales with organic petrography in addition to SEM. • Maceral composition in the over-mature Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale was studied. • Maceral control on organic pore development was analyzed. • Organic matter mainly consists of pyrobitumen and graptolites. • Oil-prone alginite does not exist in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shale. • Organic pores are primarily hosted by pyrobitumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organic matter quantity and type are important parameters in conventional source rock evaluation and unconventional shale oil/gas reservoir characterization. Understanding the stratigraphic distribution of organic matter content and type in black shale successions is critical for identifying potentially productive intervals, because organic matter can adsorb large amounts of oil and gas. Detailed examination of total organic carbon content, organic petrographic composition, and high-resolution (8 cm spacing) geochemical proxies in a sequence stratigraphic framework were conducted on an early mature (0.55% R o) New Albany Shale core of the Illinois Basin to study the influence of relative sea-level fluctuations on paleoproductivity, clastic supply, bottom-water redox conditions, and their combined control on total organic carbon distribution pattern and organic maceral variation. Marine organic matter including amorphous organic matter and alginite (mainly derived from Tasmanites cysts) is the dominant organic matter in the New Albany Shale. Terrestrial organic matter accounts for <10% of total organic matter. Within a sequence stratigraphic context, total organic carbon content increases in transgressive systems tracts, reaches a maximum before the maximum flooding surface, and shows relatively low values in highstand systems tracts. Comparatively, low total organic carbon contents at maximum flooding surfaces reflect a combination of low sedimentation rates, elevated bottom-water oxygenation, and high biogenic silica dilution. Stratigraphically, amorphous organic matter content increases in transgressive systems tracts, reaches a maximum near the maximum flooding surface, and decreases in highstand systems tracts. Enrichment of broken Tasmanites cysts and their detrital infills are an indicator of high-energy environments and could possibly indicate lowstand systems tracts. The stratigraphic distribution of organic matter content and type may result in cyclic stratigraphic variations of hydrocarbon generation potential and oil saturation, and influence the development of secondary organic pores when the New Albany Shale is within the oil and gas windows. Highlights • Stratigraphic variation of total organic carbon content was studied in the Upper Devonian New Albany Shale. • Organic maceral variation was examined in the sequence stratigraphic context of the New Albany Shale. • Relative sea-level fluctuations influence paleoproductivity, clastic supply, bottom-water redox conditions. • Clastic supply and paleoproductivity have dual impacts on organic matter accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine organic-rich shales generally have high uranium content associated with sedimentary organic matter. However, organic matter in black shales is not homogeneous, but instead a mixture of different macerals. The uranium content and organic petrographic composition of 27 New Albany Shale samples indicate differential contributions of macerals to the uranium content in the Upper Devonian New Albany Shale of the Illinois Basin. Specifically, uranium is mainly associated with amorphous organic matter (microbially degraded phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacterial biomass), where an average uranium content of approximately 550 ppm has been estimated. The amorphous organic matter's lack of structure, as well as admixed with mineral grains (<7.8 μm) suggest that it originated via microbial degradation in surficial sediments. Uranium may have been incorporated into amorphous organic matter during phytoplankton degradation and amorphous kerogen formation early in diagenesis. Pore-water redox conditions and pH control the reduction of uranium (VI) and its incorporation into amorphous organic matter. Alginite derived from Tasmanites algae (average uranium content <10 ppm) contributes minimally to uranium content. Terrestrial organic matter in the New Albany Shale contains on average ~ 20 ppm uranium, and because it accounts for <10% of total organic matter in the New Albany Shale, its contribution is equally negligible. • Maceral variation in the New Albany Shale was studied. • Association of U with organic matter and varying macerals was examined. • U primarily associates with amorphous organic matter/bituminite. • U was incorporated into amorphous organic matter during early diagenesis. • Alginite and terrestrial organic matter have negligible contribution to U content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]