A New Method for Evaluating the Brittleness of Shale Oil Reservoirs in Block Y of Ordos Basin of China

The brittleness index, as the most important parameter for brittleness evaluation, directly affects the compressibility of unconventional reservoirs. Currently, there is no unified calculation method for the brittleness index. This article uses a three-axis rock mechanics servo testing system to test the rock mechanics parameters of shale oil reservoirs in Block Y of the Ordos Basin and uses an X’Pert PRO X-ray diffractometer to test the rock mineral composition. The average volume fraction of quartz minerals, feldspar, and clay minerals in 36 samples of Block Y was tested to be 22.6%, 51.6%, and 18%, respectively. Calcite, dolomite, and pyrite are only present in a few samples. When the confining pressure is 30 MPa, the elastic modulus of the Chang 7 shale in this block is 14.72–34.58 GPa, with an average value of 23.77 GPa; The Poisson’s ratio ranges from 0.106 to 0.288, with an average of 0.182; The differential stress ranges from 100.8 to 260.1 MPa, with an average of 164.36 MPa; The peak strain ranges from 0.57 to 1.21, with an average of 0.91. This article compares several mainstream brittle index evaluation methods and identifies the most suitable brittle index evaluation method for Block Y. Using the Jarvie mineral composition method to calculate the brittleness index 1 (MBI), the average value of 36 experimental results is 0.5393. Using the Rickman normalized Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio average value to calculate the brittleness index 2 (EBI), the average value of 36 experimental results is 0.5204. Based on the stress-strain curve and energy method, a model for brittleness index 3 (DBI) is established, and the average value of 36 experimental results is 0.5306. The trend of the brittleness index calculated by the three methods is consistent, indicating the feasibility of the newly established brittleness evaluation method. From the perspectives of mineral composition, rock mechanics parameters, and energy, establishing a brittleness evaluation method for shale oil reservoirs and studying its evaluation method is of great significance for sweet spot prediction in reservoir engineering, providing theoretical support for the selection of fractured intervals in the Chang 7 shale oil reservoir in Block Y of the Ordos Basin.