ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Georeservoirs
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2025.1694288
Damage Mechanism and Protection Measures for Yanchang Shale Chang 7 Reservoir, China
Provisionally accepted
- China Coal Technology and Engineering Group Shenyang Research Institute Co.Ltd, Fushun, China
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The Yanchang shale is a key resource in the Ordos Basin of Shaanxi, China. To optimize its extraction and production, understanding formation damage mechanisms and applying effective measures is essential. In this study, shale samples were analyzed for mineral composition and microstructure using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Hydration characteristics were evaluated through inhibition tests, and the water contact angle on the shale was measured. Changes in shale permeability were determined via pressure transmission tests. The results identified that water blocking, polymer intrusion, water sensitivity and salt sensitivity as primary causes of reservoir damage. To address these issues, a surfactant was proposed to modify core wettability and eliminate water blockage, while an enzyme was suggested to prevent polymer wrapping and clogging. Incorporating these additives can lead to the development of low-damage fracturing fluid systems that enhance performance.
Keywords: Yanchang Shale, damage mechanism, Reservoir sensitivity, Water blocking, polymer degradation
Received: 30 Aug 2025; Accepted: 29 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Lin. 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: Penghao Lin, linpenghao333@163.com
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