Abstract:Shuinan formation in Laiyang depression is one of the best strata of Mesozoic dark mud shale in Shandong province. In order to obtain the compressibility of mud shale of Shuinan formation, lithologic characteristics, organic geochemical characteristics, fracture development characteristics, brittleness mineralcharacteristics and brittleness index of shale gas reservoirs in Shuinan formation have been studied. It is indiate that the thickness of shale in Shuinan formation in Laiyang depression is 200~443m, and the ratio of mud to land is more than 70%. The average organic carbon content is 1.38%, the average hydrocarbon generation potential is 4.42mg/g. The kerogen is mainly type Ⅱ, followed by type Ⅰ, and the vitrinite reflectance is 0.70%~1.30%.The macroscopic fractures and microfractures developed well. It is good for the formation of induced fractures in the later period. The average content of brittle minerals is 75.2%~94.1%. The content of brittle minerals is high. According to the improved rock brittleness index evaluation method, the brittleness index of the mud shale sample of Shuinan formation is 28% ~ 63%. The mud shale of Shuinan formation is very brittle, which shows that the mud shale of Shuinan formation has good compressibility and is conducive to the formation of network volume fractures by artificial fracturing. The research results have a good reference significance for the reconstruction of shale gas reservoir of Shuinan formation.