川东南地区龙马溪组页岩现今地应力场扰动因素及其开发地质意义
Disturbance factors of current geostress field of Longmaxi Formation shale in southeastern Sichuan Basin and their geological significance for gas exploitation
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摘要: 川东南地区深层页岩现今地应力场的大小、方向及结构等变量的分布规律不清,严重制约了页岩气的勘探开发部署、实施及生产效果。以川东南地区重点区块内的龙马溪组为研究对象,综合利用岩心分析以及来自钻井的多源多维地应力响应资料,采用地质力学分析与数值模拟方法,查明了引起地应力场扰动的关键地质作用,揭示了地应力扰动的力学机制与变化规律并明确其对页岩气富集高产的影响。研究结果表明:川东南地区按现今地应力方位的分布可划分为5个区域,总体的应力机制以走滑状态为主,但盆缘复杂区的应力机制由浅至深发生了由逆断层应力机制转换为走滑应力机制或正断层应力机制的变化;褶皱和断裂是引起川东南地区地应力场发生偏转的关键外部因素,以龙马溪组一段(龙一段)1小层—2小层的中和面为界,褶皱中和面之上的地应力方位顺着褶皱轴向发生偏转,偏转角度受控于岩层力学性质和变形强度,而在中和面之下,地应力方位和大小的变化则呈现相反规律;越靠近断裂,地应力方位沿着断层走向偏转,地应力规模变小且两向应力差变大;孔隙压力的变化主要影响最小水平主应力的大小,造成的方向偏转角度最高可达35°;纵向上,受岩性扰动影响,五峰组—龙一段3小层1亚小层富硅质页岩岩相的应力值低,作为应力薄弱层,其压裂效果最好。综合分析认为,在褶皱区中和面之下、向斜区或四级以下的NE向断裂附近,裂缝的封闭性好,含气量较高,此外,平面上拉张应力扰动区的应力值低,两向应力差小,易于形成高缝高的复杂缝网,产量高,是页岩气勘探开发的有利区。研究成果以期为深层复杂构造区页岩储层的地应力场准确评价和甜点区优选提供重要借鉴和指导。Abstract: For the current deep shale reservoirs in southeastern Sichuan, the variables such as geostress magnitude, orientation and structure are complex and changeable, and their changing laws are still unclear, thus severely restricting the deployment, implementation, and production efficiency of shale gas exploration and development. This study targets at Longmaxi Formation in key blocks of southeastern Sichuan Basin. Based on the core analyses and the multi-source and multi-dimensional stress responses data from wells, as well as geomechanical analyses and numerical simulations, the study identifies the key geological processes causing geostress disturbances, reveals the mechanical mechanisms and patterns of stress variations and further clarifies their impacts on shale gas enrichment and high production. Results indicate that the southeastern Sichuan Basin can be divided into five regions according to the current geostress, and the stress machanism is mainly presented as strike-slip stress regime. However, in complex marginal zones, the stress mechanism transitions from reverse faulting at shallow depths to strike-slip or normal faulting at greater depths. Folds and faults are identified as the critical external factors causing stress field deflections. Above the neutral surface of the folds at the first and second submembers of Member 1 of Longmaxi Formation, the stress orientation deflects along the fold axis, with the deflection angle controlled by the mechanical properties and deformation intensity of the rock layers, and stress magnitudes decrease. Below the neutral surface, the opposite trend from stress magnitudes and orientation is observed. Moreover, the stress orientation deflects along the fault strike as the distance from the fault decreases, with the stress magnitude decreasing and the differential stress between principal directions increasing. Pore pressure variations mainly influence the minimum horizontal principal stress, with the deflection angles reaching up to 35°. Vertically, as influenced by lithological disturbances, stress values are low for siliceous shales from Wufeng Formation to the first sub-layer of the third submember of Member 1 of Longmaxi Formation, and these weak-stress layers are favorable for fracturing. Comprehensive analysis suggests that below the neutral surface, syncline zones or areas near low-level (Grade Ⅳ or below)NE-trending faults exhibit good fracture sealing and high gas content. The tensile stress disturbance areas exhibit low stress magnitudes and small differential stresses, facilitating the formation of complex fracture networks with high fracture heights and high production rates. These areas are highlighted as priority zones for future shale gas exploration and development. The research results are expected to provide important insights and guidance for the accurate evaluation of geostress fields and optimal selection of sweet spots in deep and structurally complex shale reservoirs.