Propagation of Combustion Front within Fractured Shale and Its Influence on Shale Structure and Crude Oil Properties: An Experimental Study

The in-situ combustion (ISC) technique has emerged as a significant approach for shale oil production. However, currently, there is a lack of experimental evidence supporting the stable propagation of combustion front within fractured shale. This study aimed to investigate the combustion characteristics within fractured shale by using a self-designed combustion tube (CT) and an experimental scheme. Subsequently, an analysis of shale structure and oil properties was conducted. The results demonstrated that while the combustion front could propagate through shale with a single fracture width of approximately 43 μm, the combustion intensity gradually diminished, leading to an inability to sustain stable propagation in the later part of the oil-detritus mixtures. The combustion intensity within the shale was enhanced by preheating the shale at 250°C, resulting in an improved oil recovery from 67.8% to 77.9%. The findings indicated that the complex fractured shale allowed for the stable propagation of the combustion front without a significant decrease in combustion intensity. Moreover, the T2 spectrum analysis of shale revealed a gradual expansion of the pore-fracture structure and improved shale connectivity after combustion. The T1-T2 response illustrated the transformation of solid and heavy components into lighter components. Furthermore, the content of saturates and H in the oil increased after combustion, whereas there was a significant decrease in resins, O, and S. Overall, this study provided technical evidence supporting the feasibility of employing the ISC technique for the development of shale oil reservoirs with additional fractures.