Shale Brittleness Index Based on the Energy Evolution Theory and Evaluation with Logging Data: A Case Study of the Guandong Block

[Image: see text] Shale brittleness is a key index that indicates the shale fracability, provides a basis for selecting wells and intervals to be fractured, and guarantees the good fracturing effect. The available models are not accurate in evaluating the shale brittleness when considering the confining pressure, and it is necessary to establish a new shale brittleness model under the geo-stress. In this study, the variation of elastic energy, fracture energy, and residual elastic energy in the whole process of rock compression and failure is analyzed based on the stress–strain curve in the experiments, and a shale brittleness index reflecting the energy evolution characteristics during rock failure under different confining pressures is established; a method of directly evaluating the shale brittleness with logging data by combining the rock mechanic experiment results with logging interpretation results is proposed. The calculation results show that the brittleness decreases as the confining pressure increases. When the confining pressure of the Kong-2 member shale of the Guandong block is less than 25 MPa, the brittleness index decreases significantly as the confining pressure increases, and when the confining pressure is greater than 25 MPa, the brittleness index decreases slightly. It is shown that the shale brittleness index is more sensitive to the confining pressure within a certain range and less sensitive to the confining pressure above a certain value.