Porosity of Devonian and Mississippian New Albany Shale across a maturation gradient: Insights from organic petrology, gas adsorption, and mercury intrusion

Abstract The evolution of porosity in shales with increasing maturity was examined in a suite of five New Albany Shale samples spanning a maturity range from immature (vitrinite reflectance, Ro 0.35%) to postmature (Ro 1.41%). Devonian to lower Mississippian New Albany Shale samples from the Illinois Basin used in this study contain marine type II kerogen having total organic carbon contents from 1.2 to 13.0 wt. %. Organic petrology, CO2 and N2 low-pressure adsorption, and mercury intrusion capillary pressure techniques were used to quantify pore volumes, pore sizes, and pore-size distributions. Increasing maturity of the New Albany Shale is paralleled by many changes in the characteristics of porosity. The…