To better understand the nanopore characteristics and their effects on methane adsorption capacity of shales, we performed fractal analysis of nine shale samples collected from the fifth member of Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China. [Formula: see text] adsorption results show that shales have different adsorption characteristics at relative pressure of 0–0.5 and 0.5–1. Two fractal dimensions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were calculated using the Frenkel–Halsey–Hill (FHH) equation. Results show that the methane adsorption capacity increases with the increase of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], of which [Formula: see text] has a more significant influence on adsorption capacity than [Formula: see text]. Further studies indicate that [Formula: see text] represents the pore surface fractal characteristics caused by the irregularity of shale surface, whereas [Formula: see text] represents the pore structure fractal characteristics, which is mainly affected by shale components (e.g. TOC, clay minerals) and pore parameters (e.g. average pore diameter, micropores content). A higher [Formula: see text] corresponds to a more irregular pore surface, which provides more space for methane adsorption. While a higher [Formula: see text] indicates a more complex pore structure and a stronger capillary condensation action on the pore surface, which in turn enhances the methane adsorption capacity.
