This comprehensive analysis investigated the causes of formation densification in the Shan-1 Member tight reservoir in the southwestern Ordos Basin. The study aimed to mitigate exploration and development risks by examining petrological characteristics, reservoir performance, pore characteristics, and pore evolution. Various techniques were employed, including thin-section casting, scanning electron microscopy, and analysis of porosity and permeability. By establishing the relationship between visualized reservoir porosity and thin slice porosity, along with employing mechanical compaction correction methods and the principle of “back stripping by inversion,” the recovery of paleophysical properties in tight sandstone reservoirs was conducted. Additionally, the research integrated diagenetic evolution sequences and the recovery of paleophysical properties to analyze the origins of reservoir densification and pore evolution in the Shan-1 Member. The results suggest that compaction is the primary factor contributing to reservoir densification, with burial depth playing a crucial role in determining the intensity of compaction. Cementation, particularly associated with illite, emerged as a significant influence on reservoir densification, while low dissolution also contributed to the densification process. The densification of the Shan-1 reservoir in the study area was estimated to have occurred during the Early Jurassic, approximately 195 Ma. These research findings not only enhance the understanding of the Shan-1 reservoir but also provide valuable insights for predicting tight reservoirs and improving the efficiency of oil and gas production.

This research addresses the limited understanding of movable fluid occurrence characteristics in the Chang 7 reservoir by employing mercury injection capillary pressure, constant-rate mercury injections, and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. This study investigates the microscopic pore structure characteristics and movable fluids in the tight reservoir of the western Xin’an region, located in the Ordos Basin. The finding reveals that as permeability decreases, the distribution of the throat radius becomes more concentrated in the low-value area, resulting in a narrow distribution range with high curve peaks. Conversely, with an increasing permeability, the distribution range expands towards the high-value area while the curve peak decreases. This research underscores the significance of the throat radius, especially the main flow throat radius, in constraining the permeability of rock samples. Furthermore, this study highlights a stronger correlation between permeability and movable fluid saturation than porosity. This finding emphasizes the importance of considering movable fluid saturation when assessing reservoir characteristics. Notably, the throat radius plays a crucial role in influencing the occurrence characteristics of movable fluids, with a smaller throat radii posing hindrances to fluid flow in the reservoir. Additionally, the presence of clay minerals in the reservoir leads to pore segmentation and increased fluid flow resistance, ultimately reducing the saturation of movable fluids. I must be understood that these factors are essential for developing and producing reservoirs with similar characteristics. In conclusion, the insights gained from this study hold considerable theoretical value and provide essential references for developing and producing reservoirs with tight characteristics, particularly in the western Xin’an region of the Ordos Basin.

The evaluation of pore structure is critical in understanding reservoir characteristics. This study aims to analyze the microscopic pore structure characteristics of tight reservoirs from various provenances through physical property analysis, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and constant−rate mercury injection. The pore throat parameters of the Chang 7 reservoir were analyzed and compared to those of the Xin’anbian and the Heshui areas. The results show that intergranular pores dominate the pore type of the Chang 7 reservoir in the Xin’anbian area, followed by feldspathic dissolution pores, with high-necked and tubular throat content caused by weak compaction and dissolution, respectively. On the other hand, feldspar dissolution pores dominate the pore type of the Chang 7 reservoir in the Heshui area, followed by intergranular pores, with a high content of tube−bundle throats caused by dissolution and flake−bent flake throats caused by compaction. The difference in pore parameters between the two blocks is minimal, but the difference in throat parameters is significant. Under the same permeability conditions, the throat radius distribution range of the Chang 7 reservoir samples in the Heshui area is narrower than that in the Xin’anbian area, with tiny throats contributing significantly to reservoir permeability. Sedimentary hydrodynamic conditions and diagenesis are the primary reasons for the differences in the pores, throats, and pore structure parameters of the Chang 7 tight reservoirs.

The Heshui area within the Ordos Basin holds significant strategic importance for the extraction and development of tight oil resources in the Changqing Oilfield. This study extensively explored the geochemical features and distribution tendencies of source rocks in the Chang 7 member, utilizing core samples and logging data for a comprehensive analysis. A more advanced model was utilized to predict the dispersion of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in the Chang 7 member source rock. The properties and hydrocarbon generation potential of source rocks were thoroughly assessed through a comprehensive analysis that involved evaluating their total organic carbon content, pyrolysis parameters, and reflectance (R_o) values. The research concluded that the source rocks boast substantial organic matter, predominantly categorized as type II-I organic material. The thermal maturation levels span from low maturity to maturity, signifying significant potential for oil generation. Generally, the source rock quality falls within the range of good to excellent. Sedimentary patterns notably influence the distribution of hydrocarbon-source rocks. The northeastern sector of the study area is situated in an area characterized by deep to semi-deep lake sedimentation, making it the primary location for the presence of Chang 7 member hydrocarbon source rocks. With a thickness ranging from 40 to 70 m, this zone becomes a pivotal focus for the potential exploration of tight oil resources in the future. The results of this study offer crucial insights for understanding the geochemical characteristics of hydrocarbon source rocks, evaluating their potential for hydrocarbon generation, and forecasting favorable zones for oil and gas exploration in similar regions.

Quantitative characterization of the pore structure in tight reservoir can provide basic parameters for the evaluation of the reservoir quality. By using the cast thin-section petrography, scanning electron microscopy, mercury injection capillary pressure, and constant-rate mercury injection, we have evaluated the distribution characteristics of pore throat and its contribution to permeability. In addition, we have established the relationship between different pore-throat structure parameters and reservoir physical, which provides theoretical support for reservoir evaluation of the He-8 Member in the study area. The results indicate that the pore structure exerts a great control on the quality of the reservoir. Large pore throats (>0.15 μm) are the main contributors to the high seepage capacity of the reservoir. Throat radius, throat distribution, and pore-throat ratio are the key factors controlling the quality of tight reservoir. The He-8 Member of the Upper Paleozoic in the study area is dominated by tight reservoirs, accompanied by a small number of conventional reservoirs.

Tight reservoirs are highly heterogeneous, with complex pore-throat structures and varying fluid occurrences. The Archie equation shows a nonlinear relationship, making traditional logging interpretation methods unreliable for accurately predicting water saturation. This paper employs particle swarm optimization (PSO), using Pearson correlation coefficient-based feature selection, to compare the accuracy of three machine learning algorithms: XGBoost, LightGBM, and MERF in predicting water saturation in tight reservoirs. It also applies the SHAP value algorithm to provide a visual and interpretive analysis of the PSO LightGBM model. The research results indicate that the root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), and accuracy of water saturation (Swa) of the PSO-LightGBM model on the training and test sets are 0.955, 3.087, 91.8%, and 0.89, 5.132, 85.2%, respectively. Interpretability analysis using SHAP values reveals that the five normalized logging parameters—SP, M2R3, DEN, DT, and CN—are the most influential features in the water saturation prediction model. In application examples involving water saturation prediction across eight sections of tight reservoirs in the study area, the PSO–LightGBM, PSO–XGBoost, and PSO–MERF models achieved Swa of 88.9%, 80.3%, and 87.8%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the PSO–LightGBM model is a reliable and efficient method for predicting water saturation, with significant practical potential.