Effects of hydration on the microstructure and physical properties of shale

Abstract The microstructures of shale samples before and after hydration were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and the differences in microstructure and physical parameters of original shale samples, water saturated samples and samples with water centrifugated were examined by micro CT, porosity and permeability tests. The FESEM test shows that the hydration has no effect on the main morphology, position and pores of organic matter (OM). Hydration can increase the number and width of fractures in shale, including generation of new fractures and extension of existent fractures between inorganic minerals and width increase of fractures between banded organic matter and inorganic minerals. Micro CT results of samples with different water saturations show that the intensity of hydration is dominated by primary fracture development, in other words, the more developed the primary fractures of the shale, the stronger the hydration will be. The width of fractures increased two to five times by intense hydration. The porosity of shale is mainly controlled by organic matter content and secondly influenced by the fracture development. The permeability of shale is mainly affected by fracture development and secondly by the porosity. The fracture development influenced both porosity and permeability, but more strongly on permeability than porosity.