Rapid Evaluation of the Permeability of Organic-Rich Shale Using the 3D Intermingled-Fractal Model

Shale possesses abundant micro/nanopores. Most micro/nanopores that exist in organic-rich shale are organic pores and mainly developed in organic matter. The pore distribution in matrix space significantly affects gas percolation and diffusion. Pore-size distribution possesses a self-similar, or fractal, property. The pore space and gas permeability of shale can be easily rebuilt and evaluated, respectively, using fractal theory. In this work, a 3D intermingled-fractal model (3D-IFM) is successfully built using scalable scanning-electron-microscopy (SEM) images of shale samples. 3D-IFM is made up of several components, including organic pores in organic matter and in pyrites, inorganic pores, slits, and matrix. An improved pore-connective-calculation method is also introduced to evaluate the apparent gas permeability of the shale model. The proposed 3D-IFM rapid-permeability-evaluation method for organic-rich shale is valid and useful and considers the main components of shale. This method can rapidly evaluate apparent gas permeability and simplify the apparent-gas-permeability-calculation process. Thus, the method provides a promising means of rapidly evaluating apparent gas permeability.