A Critical Review of Tectonic Effect on the Nanopore Structure Evolution of Shale Gas Reservoirs

Zhe Cao; Zongquan Hu; Liyuan Zhang; Xin Wang; Peng Li; Ranran Hao; Yongchao Zhang; Kunyu Wu; Ali Raza; Hongjian Zhu

doi:10.62762/JGEE.2026.738726

Article Information

Published in Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment

Volume/Issue Volume 2, Issue 4, 2026

Pages 287-299

Abstract

Nanopores in shale are critical controls on shale gas storage and transport, and their formation, transformation, and preservation during geological evolution have long been major research topics in unconventional oil and gas geology. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the evolution of shale nanopore structures during sedimentation, diagenesis, and hydrocarbon generation from organic matter. However, the modification of shale nanopores by tectonic stress and the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Organic-rich shale formations in South China commonly serve as regionally important detachment layers and have undergone multiple phases of tectonic activity involving diverse deformation mechanisms. Repeated and intense modification of their primary structures has resulted in exploration risks associated with low $in-situ$ gas contents and complex preservation conditions. This study systematically analyzes the multiscale structural deformation of shale during tectonic deformation and investigates the intrinsic relationships and mechanisms linking tectonic deformation to the evolution of shale nanopore structures. Physical simulation experiments for shale deformation and experimental techniques for the high-resolution characterization of shale nanopore structures are also reviewed. The findings provide a scientific basis for marine shale gas exploration in tectonically complex areas surrounding the Sichuan Basin.

Graphical Abstract

A Critical Review of Tectonic Effect on the Nanopore Structure Evolution of Shale Gas Reservoirs

Keywords

tectonic deformation organic-rich shale shale gas nanopore structure

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 42272191 and Grant 42102186; in part by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under Grant 2025M770461; in part by the Hebei Natural Science Foundation under Grant D2026203002.

Conflicts of Interest

Zhe Cao, Zongquan Hu, Xin Wang, Peng Li, and Ranran Hao are affiliated with the SINOPEC Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, Beijing 100083, China; Kunyu Wu is affiliated with the PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company, Dunhuang 736202, China. The authors declare that these affiliations had no influence on the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or the decision to publish, and that no other competing interests exist.

AI Use Statement

The authors declare that generative AI was used in the preparation of this manuscript. Specifically, ChatGPT was used for translation and language polishing purposes only. The authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

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APA Style

Cao, Z., Hu, Z., Zhang, L., Wang, X., Li, P., Hao, R., Zhang, Y., Wu, K., Raza, A., & Zhu, H. (2026). A Critical Review of Tectonic Effect on the Nanopore Structure Evolution of Shale Gas Reservoirs. Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment, 2(4), 287-299. https://doi.org/10.62762/JGEE.2026.738726

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Cao, Zhe
AU  - Hu, Zongquan
AU  - Zhang, Liyuan
AU  - Wang, Xin
AU  - Li, Peng
AU  - Hao, Ranran
AU  - Zhang, Yongchao
AU  - Wu, Kunyu
AU  - Raza, Ali
AU  - Zhu, Hongjian
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/30
TI  - A Critical Review of Tectonic Effect on the Nanopore Structure Evolution of Shale Gas Reservoirs
JO  - Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment
T2  - Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment
JF  - Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
SP  - 287
EP  - 299
DO  - 10.62762/JGEE.2026.738726
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/JGEE.2026.738726
KW  - tectonic deformation
KW  - organic-rich shale
KW  - shale gas
KW  - nanopore structure
AB  - Nanopores in shale are critical controls on shale gas storage and transport, and their formation, transformation, and preservation during geological evolution have long been major research topics in unconventional oil and gas geology. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the evolution of shale nanopore structures during sedimentation, diagenesis, and hydrocarbon generation from organic matter. However, the modification of shale nanopores by tectonic stress and the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Organic-rich shale formations in South China commonly serve as regionally important detachment layers and have undergone multiple phases of tectonic activity involving diverse deformation mechanisms. Repeated and intense modification of their primary structures has resulted in exploration risks associated with low $in-situ$ gas contents and complex preservation conditions. This study systematically analyzes the multiscale structural deformation of shale during tectonic deformation and investigates the intrinsic relationships and mechanisms linking tectonic deformation to the evolution of shale nanopore structures. Physical simulation experiments for shale deformation and experimental techniques for the high-resolution characterization of shale nanopore structures are also reviewed. The findings provide a scientific basis for marine shale gas exploration in tectonically complex areas surrounding the Sichuan Basin.
SN  - 3069-3268
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  -

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@article{Cao2026A,
  author = {Zhe Cao and Zongquan Hu and Liyuan Zhang and Xin Wang and Peng Li and Ranran Hao and Yongchao Zhang and Kunyu Wu and Ali Raza and Hongjian Zhu},
  title = {A Critical Review of Tectonic Effect on the Nanopore Structure Evolution of Shale Gas Reservoirs},
  journal = {Journal of Geo-Energy and Environment},
  year = {2026},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {287-299},
  doi = {10.62762/JGEE.2026.738726},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/JGEE.2026.738726},
  abstract = {Nanopores in shale are critical controls on shale gas storage and transport, and their formation, transformation, and preservation during geological evolution have long been major research topics in unconventional oil and gas geology. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the evolution of shale nanopore structures during sedimentation, diagenesis, and hydrocarbon generation from organic matter. However, the modification of shale nanopores by tectonic stress and the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Organic-rich shale formations in South China commonly serve as regionally important detachment layers and have undergone multiple phases of tectonic activity involving diverse deformation mechanisms. Repeated and intense modification of their primary structures has resulted in exploration risks associated with low \$in-situ\$ gas contents and complex preservation conditions. This study systematically analyzes the multiscale structural deformation of shale during tectonic deformation and investigates the intrinsic relationships and mechanisms linking tectonic deformation to the evolution of shale nanopore structures. Physical simulation experiments for shale deformation and experimental techniques for the high-resolution characterization of shale nanopore structures are also reviewed. The findings provide a scientific basis for marine shale gas exploration in tectonically complex areas surrounding the Sichuan Basin.},
  keywords = {tectonic deformation, organic-rich shale, shale gas, nanopore structure},
  issn = {3069-3268},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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