Effects of Hydrocarbon Generation on the Occurrence of Organic Nanopores during Thermal Maturity of Organic Matters
The development of organic nanopores is to some extent related to the economic benefits of unconventional natural gas reservoirs,but the influence of organic hydrocarbon generation on its formation and evolution needs in-depth study. In this paper,hydrous pyrolysis experiments were conducted on a Permian humic coal with low thermal maturity from the Ordos basin. The experimental results of TOC,Rock-Eval,gas adsorption and scanning electron microscope observation for the fresh and cocked coal samples are utilized to delineate the formation and evolution process of various nanopores within the fresh and cocked coal samples,and hence achieve a better understanding of the effects of hydrocarbon generation on the occurrence of organic nanopores from the low mature to overmature stages. The experimental results show that organic nanopores within the organic particles of pyrolyzed coal samples cannot be detected at the low mature to mature stages during which petroleum hydrocarbons were generated mainly by kerogen primary cracking. At the middle of high mature to the early of overmature stages,hydrocarbon generation from the secondary cracking of early formed crude oils resulted in the significant occurrence of various organic nanopores;At the middle to late of overmature stage,the polycondensation of aromatic rings within coal samples promoted the intensive formation of organic nanopores,in particular those with pore size<2 nm. Accordingly,hydrocarbon secondary cracking and the polycondensation of aromatic rings within the pyrolyzed coals at high thermal maturity levels play a major role in the formation of organic nanopores. This study should be helpful to improving our understanding of the enrichment mechanisms for the deeply buried shale gas and coalbed methane.