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REVIEW article

Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Economic Geology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2025.1511070
This article is part of the Research Topic Formation Mechanism and Heterogeneity Evaluation of Lacustrine Shale Reservoirs View all 3 articles

The Progress and Outlook of Experimental Techniques in Lacustrine Shale Reservoir Characterization

Provisionally accepted
Yangyu Zhang Yangyu Zhang 1*Tengjia Li Tengjia Li 2
  • 1 Energy Economics Institute, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Beijing, China
  • 2 School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Shale reservoirs, as a significant category of unconventional oil and gas resources, possess substantial potential. Compared to marine shale reservoirs, lacustrine shale reservoirs are characterized by pronounced heterogeneity, complex pore structures, and limited seepage capability. Precise characterization of these reservoirs and elucidating the mechanisms of oil and gas enrichment within micron-nano scale pore systems are critical challenges. Recent advancements in experimental techniques such as microscopic computed tomography (CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), along with the rapid development of large-view imaging and micro-nano scale structure modeling, have considerably enhanced the characterization of lacustrine shale reservoirs. These technological improvements facilitate high-precision identification of mineral compositions and structures, detailed modeling of micron-nano scale pores and fractures, and improved characterization and prediction of natural fractures and fluid occurrence characteristics. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the experimental technological advances in characterizing lacustrine shale reservoirs, identify the primary challenges, and propose a perspective on future development trends. It seeks to offer a reference for refining high-precision characterization and evaluation techniques for lacustrine shale reservoirs, thus supporting more effective and sustainable resource exploitation.

    Keywords: Lacustrine shale, characterization, Experimental techniques, Mineral identification, Pore structure, organic matter, basic physical property, Fracturability

    Received: 14 Oct 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Zhang and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yangyu Zhang, Energy Economics Institute, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.