Application of fractal model in the Jurassic tight sandstone reservoirs of central Junggar Basin as constrained by mercury ejection curves

The high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) experiment is widely used to assess the pore architecture of tight sandstone reservoirs. However, the conventional analysis of the high-pressure mercury intrusion has always focused on the mercury injection curves themselves, neglecting the important geological information conveyed by the mercury ejection curves. This paper quantitatively describes the fractal characteristics of ejection curves by using four fractal models, i.e., Menger model, Thermodynamic model, Sierpinski model, and multi-fractal model. In comparison with mercury injection curves, we explore the fractal significance of mercury ejection curves and define the applicability of different fractal models in characterizing pore architectures. Investigated tight sandstone samples can be divided into four types (Types A, B, C and D) based on porosity, permeability, and mercury removal efficiency. Type D samples are unique in that they have higher permeability (>0.6 mD) but lower mercury removal efficiency (