The invention relates to a method for measuring total
porosity of shale, belonging to the technical field of exploration and development of
petroleum, geology and mining. According to method, the total
porosity of the shale can be tested, and the defects in
porosity measuring aspects of the shale by utilizing conventional methods such as gas absorption-
desorption,
nuclear magnetic resonance and high-pressure mercury penetration can be remedied. The method comprises the following steps of: (1) carrying out X-
diffraction total rock analysis and X-
diffraction clay mineral relative content and organic carbon content analysis on a shale sample, and determining the
mass (m1, m2, m3...mn) of various components in a shale skeleton in
unit mass M; (2) calculating the volumes (V1, V2, V3...Vn) of the various components in the shale skeleton in
unit mass M according to the true densities (rhotrue1, rhotrue2, rhotrue3... rhotruen) of various minerals; (3)
drying the shale sample, removing fluid component in the shale, and measuring the
mass m of the shale by utilizing an electronic scale; (4) measuring the view volume Vview of the dried shale sample by utilizing an immersion method; and (5) calculating the total porosity phi of the shale. The method has the advantages that the total porosity of the shale can be accurately measured, the operation is simple, and the cost is low.