Paleo-Environment Induced Full-Scale Pore Variation in the Low Matured Shale: A Case Study of the Third Member of the Jiufotang Formation at the Lujiapu Rift Basin, Northeast China
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript is in good quality, as most figures are clear and reasonable, the results and discussion are in detail. But there are several mistakes and deficiencies should be corrected. After minor revision, the manuscript can be accepted.
（1） In the manuscript, the author describe the shale with TOC＜2% as “Laminated organic matter-lean shale”, while in the figures they are defined as “Laminated organic matter-poor shale”, such as Fig. 2a, Fig. 3a, Fig. 4a and Fig. 10. I suggest to use “Laminated organic matter-lean shale” to describe this type of shale rather than use different words.
（2） There are mistakes in Y axis of Fig. 9a, 9b and 9c, the “g/cm3” should be changed into “cm3/g”.
（3） The name of Y axis in Fig. 10b shows different font, change them to the same font.
（4） In line 17, the organic matter-rich shale (TOC > 4%) should change into “laminated organic matter-rich shale (TOC > 4%)”. The word laminated is missed here.
（5） In line 53, within each basin should change into among different basins.
（6） In the second paragraph of section “3. Sampling and methods”, more detail information of sample preparation should be given, such as sample size or grain size.
（7） In line 96, a word “the” should be added in front of lowest.
（8） In line 111, Figure 3 should be deleted.
（9） Figure 3 and figure 4 are all BSE images form the SEM, so put them in the name of these figures so that image types will be easily understood.
（10）How do you think the effect from thermal evolution of organic matter in the study area? Such as the evolution of minerals or organic acid and so on.
（11）More information of shale oil potential in the target shale should be discussed or conclude in the part Itroduction.
（12）There seems to be a problem with the typesetting format of the manuscript, please pay attention.
The overall language expression is good, but the spelling of individual words needs to be corrected.
Author Response
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Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Overall, the manuscript is well-written and the authors covered various aspects to address the critical problem of unconventional shale reservoirs. Please address below comments before the manuscript gets published:
Please thoroughly review the article in terms of English writing and make amendments in the sentences by following the concept of subject+verb+object.
Correct line 17 in the abstract – interP pores to interparticle pores.
The authors did not clarify the clay types (kaolinite, illite, smectite, or mixed layer illite-smectite?) present in their shale samples, please identify clay types in FESEM images and address them in the manuscript.
The manuscript requires more recent and relevant citations related to the subject, some recommended references are:
Iqbal, M.A., Rezaee, R., Smith, G. and Ekundayo, J.M., 2021. Shale lithofacies controls on porosity and pore structure: An example from Ordovician Goldwyer Formation, Canning Basin, Western Australia. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 89, p.103888.
Yuan, Y., Rezaee, R., Al-Khdheeawi, E.A., Hu, S.Y., Verrall, M., Zou, J. and Liu, K., 2019. Impact of composition on pore structure properties in shale: implications for micro-/mesopore volume and surface area prediction. Energy & Fuels, 33(10), pp.9619-9628.
Iqbal, M.A. and Rezaee, R., 2020. Porosity and Water Saturation Estimation for Shale Reservoirs: An Example from Goldwyer Formation Shale, Canning Basin, Western Australia. Energies, 13(23), p.6294.
Please thoroughly review the article in terms of English writing and make amendments in the sentences by following the concept of subject+verb+object. As the sentences become complex if this structure is not followed.
Author Response
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Reviewer 3 Report
The present manuscript describes the paleo-environment induced full-scale pore variation in the low matured shale using A case study of the third member of the Jiufotang Formation at the Lujiapu Rift Basin, Northeast China. The results show that, the paleo-environment is the ultimate controlling factor for the development of full-scale pores. The characteristics and controlling factors of laminated shale with different content of organic matter were studied using different experimental methods. However, this manuscript also has some aspects that need further discussion. The following comments and suggestions should guide the authors to better revise the paper:
1) The Introduction section can be further strengthened. At the end of the Introduction, please supplement the objectives, overall design, and expected results of this study based on the current research status and issues.
2) It may be better to provide a brief explanation of the innovation of this study and why it is significant in the Abstract and Conclusion.
3) The Sampling and methods section is too simplistic. Please first introduce methodology (how to design a research plan, how to approach it, what methods have been adopted for what problems, etc.). Please add how to determine mineral components in the image?
4) Please consider the suggested research in your paper when enhancing the literature review* (I believe they are worth considering in your paper):
[1]Li, Y.F.; Zhang, T.W.; Ellis, G.S.; Shao, D.L. Depositional environment and organic matter accumulation of Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian marine shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform, South China. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2017, 466, 252-264.
[2]Zhao, D.; Zhang, J.; Guan, X.; Liu, D.; Wang, Q.; Jiao, W.; Zhou, X.; Li, Y.; Wang, G.; Guo, Y. Comparing the Pore Networks of Coal, Shale, and Tight Sandstone Reservoirs of Shanxi Formation, Qinshui Basin: Inspirations for Multi-Superimposed Gas Systems in Coal-Bearing Strata. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 4414.
[3]Zhao, D.; Guo, Y.; Wang, G.; Zhou, X.; Zhou, Y.; Zhang, J.; Ren, G. Organic matter enrichment mechanism of Youganwo Formation oil shale in the Maoming Basin. Heliyon. 2023, 21, 9, e13173.
5) Please add more description of the new findings and significance of research.
I would like to suggest an acceptance of this manuscript after comments listed below been solved.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
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