Fracture features and fault influence on gas accumulation in the Longmaxi Formation in Changning block, southern Sichuan Basin

The Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation is a major horizon for shale gas development in the Changning block in Sichuan Basin. In this study, the fracture features in the Longmaxi Formation in the Changning block were investigated through outcrop observation, core description, inclusion testing, and Fullbore Formation MicroImage logging. The results showed that tectogenetic shear fractures dominated the Longmaxi Formation, with maximum principal stress in the SSW, NW, and NE directions. According to fracture features and stress analysis, three phases of faults were generated by tectonic movements after the buried depth reached a maximum in the study area: phase 1 nearly EW-trending faults formed in the middle-late Yanshanian, phase 2 NE-trending faults formed from the end of the Yanshanian to the early Himalayan, and phase 3 NW-trending faults formed from the middle Himalayan to the present. According to the regression analysis of the tested shale gas production and faults, the faults with a throw of > 200 m could have a great effect on gas production, and high-yield wells were generally located over 1 km away from faults. Based on the dissection of tectonic styles and typical wells drilled in the Changning block, three shale gas accumulation models were established: wide gentle syncline + internal smalxl fault, subdued anticline + large fault, and slope + internal fault. The study reveals the mechanism of fault influence on shale gas accumulation in the Longmaxi Formation in the Changning block and provides a reference for efficient shale gas production in the Sichuan Basin.