The morphology of pore space has a strong effect on mechanical and transport properties of mudrocks and clay-rich fault gouge, but its characterization has been mostly indirect. We report on a study of Boom clay from a proposed disposal site of radioactive waste (Mol site, Belgium) using high resolution SEM at cryogenic temperature, with ion beam cross-sectioning to prepare smooth, damage free surfaces. Pores commonly have crack-like tips, preferred orientation parallel to bedding and power law size distribution. We define a number of pore types depending on shape and location in the microstructure: large jagged pores in strain shadows of clastic grains, high aspect ratio pores between similarly oriented phyllosilicate grains and crescent-shaped pores in saddle reefs of folded phyllosilicates. 3-D reconstruction by serial cross-sectioning shows 3-D connectivity of the pore space. These findings offer a new insight into the morphology of pores down to nano-scale in comparison to traditional pore size distributions calculated from mercury Injection experiments, explain slaking of clays by successive wetting and drying and provide the basis for microstructurebased models of transport in clays.

Morphology of the pore space in claystones - evidence from BIB/FIB ion beam sectioning and cryo-SEM observations

The interactions between clay minerals and organic matter, specifically adsorption, are widely recognized as a crucial mechanism for promoting the preservation of organic matter within sedimentary environments. This paper discusses the genesis and adsorption of clay minerals, especially their influence on the process of organic matter enrichment in sedimentary environments. The composition of clay minerals found in sediments serves as an indicator of both the climatic and lithological characteristics of the provenance area. Smectite formation is favored in mafic provenance, while the coexistence of illite and chlorite suggests cold and arid conditions. Additionally, an abundance of kaolinite indicates intense chemical weathering of the provenance area. The physical and chemical properties of clay minerals and organic matter significantly influence adsorption. Smectite is thought to adsorb more organic matter due to its greater surface area. Selective adsorption of high molecular weight, aromatic, and aliphatic compounds dissolved organic matter onto mineral surfaces may have played a role in kerogen formation. Moreover, the preservation of organic matter via clay mineral adsorption is intricately linked to the sedimentary environment. Disparities in nutrient elements during the clay minerals synsedimentary period can impact biological productivity. Furthermore, the pH and solution metal ions of the water column influence the quantity and type of organic matter adsorbed. The contribution of adsorption to organic matter preservation is influenced by redox conditions, and this contribution can be observed through density separations. Additionally, we present several recommendations for future research. Firstly, diagenesis alters the clay mineral assemblage in sedimentary rocks. However, it may be possible to reconstruct the clay mineral assemblage based on morphological, mineralogical, and chemical composition characteristics. Secondly, studies have indicated that clay minerals can facilitate the precipitation of carbonate minerals, providing insights into the formation of abiotic carbonate minerals. Finally, the practical applications of clay minerals in shale oil and gas exploration are underscored, such as their ability to predict sweet-spot areas and control reservoir properties. 

Differential adsorption of clay minerals: Implications for organic matter enrichment

Gas storage in shale pore system: A review of the mechanism, control and assessment

This Review summarizes the diagenetic evolution of clay mineral structure and pores in shale gas reservoirs. In the early diagenetic stage and in period A of the middle diagenetic stage, the intergranular and intragranular pores of clay minerals were altered by mechanical and chemical compaction, and VL (Langmuir volume) shows a positive linear correlation with clay content. In period B of the middle diagenetic stage and late diagenetic stage, intergranular pores almost disappeared, clay adsorption capacity significantly decreased, and there was a lack of apparent correlation between VL and clay content. Experimental and molecular simulations of clay adsorption capacity in shale are limited due to several drawbacks. (i) Shale samples in different diagenetic stages were characterized by strong heterogeneity, which affected the reliability of the evolution results of clay adsorption capacity. (ii) The method of selecting clay-rich shale samples, extracting clay minerals from shale, or applying pure clay minerals ignored the difference of diagenetic background, the damage of pores and structure of clay minerals, or the support of brittle minerals to shale pore system. (iii) Molecular simulation mostly employed a simplified plate model or single clay mineral model, which oversimplified the structure and diversity of clay minerals in real shale gas reservoirs. Therefore, innovative experimental simulations on the effect of diagenetic evolution on pore structure and adsorption capacity of clay minerals are necessary, which need to comprehensively weigh the combined effect of time and space on the reservoir diagenetic evolution. Besides, the visualization of shale structure, adsorption process, and CH4 adsorption behavior of the shale constituents may help our understanding. Furthermore, a more accurate model of the molecular structure of clay minerals is indispensable, especially the dynamic evolution model with different water contents. 

Review of the Effect of Diagenetic Evolution of Shale Reservoir on the Pore Structure and Adsorption Capacity of Clay Minerals

Mineralogy, organic geochemistry, and microstructural characterization of lacustrine Shahejie Formation, Qikou Sag, Bohai Bay Basin: Contribution to understanding microcosmic storage mechanism of shale oil

Multi-scale multi-dimensional characterization of clay-hosted pore networks of shale using FIBSEM, TEM, and X-ray micro-tomography: Implications for methane storage and migration

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Multi-scale multi-dimensional characterization of clay-hosted pore networks of shale using FIBSEM, TEM, and X-ray micro-tomography: Implications for methane storage and migration