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<p>Helium-bearing shale reservoirs are gaining attention as unconventional strategic resources, yet the fundamental mechanisms governing helium occurrence and migration remain poorly resolved. In this study, we integrate high-pressure adsorption–diffusion experiments (308&#xa0;K, 1300 psi) with molecular simulations under reservoir-relevant conditions (70&#xa0;MPa, 403–423&#xa0;K) to investigate helium behavior in organic-rich shale. Results show that during CH<sub>4</sub>–He co-adsorption, methane preferentially occupies adsorption sites, thereby reducing the adsorption capacity of helium. Meanwhile, molecular simulations indicate that methane enhances helium’s near-wall residence (adsorption-layer fraction) through confinement and steric hindrance within nanopores. In this stage, varying helium concentration from 0.05% to 5% yields a limited impact on the overall diffusion coefficient. However, during desorption, helium shows a sharp mobility enhancement, and the diffusion coefficient increases from 0.3 × 10 to 17 × 10<sup>− 12</sup>m<sup>2</sup>/s. This increase is attributed to methane evacuation and weak helium binding. Interaction energy analysis reveals that clay minerals dominate helium retention, and increasing methane content strongly non-linear enhances He–shale interactions as helium concentration decreases from 100% to 5%. These findings clarify helium’s occurrence state and its competitive dynamics with methane, offering molecular-level insights into the potential for helium preservation and co-production in CH<sub>4</sub>-rich shale systems.</p>

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Unveiling the potential of helium enrichment in shale reservoirs: A molecular and experimental perspective

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月21日

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  • Shuangshuang Lin,
  • Xin Chang,
  • Yue Yu,
  • Chunhe Yang,
  • Yintong Guo

摘要

Helium-bearing shale reservoirs are gaining attention as unconventional strategic resources, yet the fundamental mechanisms governing helium occurrence and migration remain poorly resolved. In this study, we integrate high-pressure adsorption–diffusion experiments (308 K, 1300 psi) with molecular simulations under reservoir-relevant conditions (70 MPa, 403–423 K) to investigate helium behavior in organic-rich shale. Results show that during CH4–He co-adsorption, methane preferentially occupies adsorption sites, thereby reducing the adsorption capacity of helium. Meanwhile, molecular simulations indicate that methane enhances helium’s near-wall residence (adsorption-layer fraction) through confinement and steric hindrance within nanopores. In this stage, varying helium concentration from 0.05% to 5% yields a limited impact on the overall diffusion coefficient. However, during desorption, helium shows a sharp mobility enhancement, and the diffusion coefficient increases from 0.3 × 10 to 17 × 10− 12m2/s. This increase is attributed to methane evacuation and weak helium binding. Interaction energy analysis reveals that clay minerals dominate helium retention, and increasing methane content strongly non-linear enhances He–shale interactions as helium concentration decreases from 100% to 5%. These findings clarify helium’s occurrence state and its competitive dynamics with methane, offering molecular-level insights into the potential for helium preservation and co-production in CH4-rich shale systems.