Experimental study on CH4 sorption hysteresis on shales: evidence of pore structure alteration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62813/see.2025.01.02Keywords:
Shale gas, Methane sorption hysteresis, Pore deformation, Pore structureAbstract
Sorption hysteresis of CH4, describing the difference between adsorption and desorption, is important for estimating producible adsorbed gas and long-term production performance in shale gas systems. Although several hypotheses have been suggested, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Here we characterized the CH4 sorption hysteresis of shale samples and pore structure alteration after high-pressure CH4 adsorption / desorption experiments (HPMADE). We confirmed the presence of CH4 sorption hysteresis in shales. The hysteresis index ranged from 1.81% to 2.91%. The pore structure of shale could be irreversibly changed with enlarged pore volume after the HPMADE. The irreversible deformation is detectable in micropores (<2 nm) and mesopores of a pore size range (5-12 nm). The maximum increase of the micropore volume is 94%. Furthermore, the CH4 sorption hysteresis is attributed to the irreversible deformation, which only occurs at low pressures during HPMADE. This work provides a basis for a better understanding of CH4 sorption hysteresis in shales, which is the foundation for studying the gas adsorption, desorption, and transport in shale gas systems.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jie Zou, Heng Wang, Xiu Liu, Chunyan Fan
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