scholarly journals Numerical Simulation Based on the Canister Test for Shale Gas Content Calculation

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (20) ◽  
pp. 6518
Author(s):  
Shujuan Kang ◽  
Le Lu ◽  
Hui Tian ◽  
Yunfeng Yang ◽  
Chengyang Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Polynomial Regression ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Appreciable Amount ◽  
United States Bureau ◽  
Free Gas ◽  
Adsorbed Phase ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
Shale Reservoirs

The accurate determination of the gas in place in shale reservoirs is a basic but challenging issue for shale gas evaluation. Conventional canister gas desorption tests on retrieved core samples and subsequent data analyses (via linear or polynomial regression)—originally developed for coalbed methane, where gases are mainly stored in the adsorbed phase—is unadvisable for shale gas, which is stored as an appreciable amount of free gas in shale reservoirs. In the present study, a mathematical model that simultaneously takes into account gas expansion, adsorption/desorption, and the gas flow in shale is proposed to simulate gas release from a core sample retrieved from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation of the Fuling shale gas field, Sichuan Basin. The results indicate that, compared with the value of 2.11 m3/t rock estimated with the traditional United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) method, the total gas in place within the studied Longmaxi Shale estimated with our mathematical model under reservoir pressure conditions is up to 5.88 m3/t rock, which is more consistent with the result from the new volumetric approach based on Ambrose et al. According to our mathematical model, the content of free gas is 4.11 m3/t rock at true “time zero”, which accounts for 69.9% of the total gas. On the other hand, the lost gas portion is determined to be up to 4.88 m3/t rock (~85% of the total gas). These results suggest that the majority of the free shale gas is actually trapped within the pore space of the shale formation.

Shale Gas-in-Place Calculations Part I: New Pore-Scale Considerations

SPE Journal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 219-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray J. Ambrose ◽  
Robert C. Hartman ◽  
Mery Diaz-Campos ◽  
I. Yucel Akkutlu ◽  
Carl H. Sondergeld
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Gas Storage ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Free Gas ◽  
Adsorbed Phase ◽  
Small Pore

Summary Using focused-ion-beam (FIB)/scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) imaging technology, a series of 2D and 3D submicroscale investigations revealed a finely dispersed porous organic (kerogen) material embedded within an inorganic matrix. The organic material has pores and capillaries having characteristic lengths typically less than 100 nm. A significant portion of total gas in place appears to be associated with interconnected large nanopores within the organic material. Thermodynamics (phase behavior) of fluids in these pores is quite different; gas residing in a small pore or capillary is rarefied under the influence of organic pore walls and shows a different density profile. This raises serious questions related to gas-in-place calculations: Under reservoir conditions, what fraction of the pore volume of the organic material can be considered available as free gas, and what fraction is taken up by the adsorbed phase? How accurately is the shale-gas storage capacity estimated using the conventional volumetric methods? And finally, do average densities exist for the free and the adsorbed phases? We combine the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with the volumetrics for free gas and formulate a new gas-in-place equation accounting for the pore space taken up by the sorbed phase. The method yields a total-gas-in-place prediction. Molecular dynamics simulations involving methane in small carbon slit-pores of varying size and temperature predict density profiles across the pores and show that (a) the adsorbed methane forms a 0.38-nm monolayer phase and (b) the adsorbed-phase density is 1.8–2.5 times larger than that of bulk methane. These findings could be a more important consideration with larger hydrocarbons and suggest that a significant adjustment is necessary in volume calculations, especially for gas shales high in total organic content. Finally, using typical values for the parameters, calculations show a 10–25% decrease in total gas-storage capacity compared with that using the conventional approach. The role of sorbed gas is more important than previously thought. The new methodology is recommended for estimating shale gas in place.

The Gas Content Characteristics of Nanopores Developed in a Normal Pressure Shale Gas Reservoir in Southeast Chongqing, Sichuan Basin, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 698-706
Author(s):  
Fangwen Chen ◽  
Qiang Zheng ◽  
Hongqin Zhao ◽  
Xue Ding ◽  
Yiwen Ju ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Gas Reservoir ◽  
Free Gas ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoir ◽  
Adsorbed Gas ◽  
Longmaxi Shale

To evaluate the gas content characteristics of nanopores developed in a normal pressure shale gas reservoir, the Py1 well in southeast Chongqing was selected as a case study. A series of experiments was performed to analyze the total organic carbon content, porosity and gas content using core material samples of the Longmaxi Shale from the Py1 well. The results show that the adsorbed gas and free gas content in the nanopores developed in the Py1 well in the normal pressure shale gas reservoir range from 0.46–2.24 m3/t and 0.27–0.83 m3/t, with average values of 1.38 m3/t and 0.50 m3/t, respectively. The adsorbed gas is dominant in the shale gas reservoir, accounting for 53.05–88.23% of the total gas with an average value of 71.43%. The Gas Research Institute (GRI) porosity and adsorbed gas content increase with increasing total organic carbon content. The adsorbed gas and free gas contents both increase with increasing porosity value, and the rate of increase in the adsorbed gas content with porosity is larger than that of free gas. Compared with the other five shale reservoirs in America, the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the Py1 well developed nanopores but without overpressure, which is not favorable for shale gas enrichment.

Brittleness evaluation of the Lower Silurian marine shale reservoirs: A case study of Longmaxi shale in Fenggang block, Southern China

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-55
Author(s):  
Yang Gu ◽  
Sheng Xu ◽  
Chao Fang ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Bairen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Strain Energy ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Strain Energy Release ◽  
Lower Silurian ◽  
Data Inversion ◽  
Fracture Development ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
Shale Reservoirs

The brittleness of shale determines the fracturability of shale reservoir and has a great influence on the exploration and development of shale gas. Therefore, prediction of brittleness and evaluation of fracturability of shale are very important in finding favorable areas for shale gas. We used the mineral composition, rock mechanics experiment, logging evaluation, two-dimensional seismic data inversion and fracture development degree to evaluation and analysis the vertical and plane brittleness characteristics and main controlling factors of the Longmaxi shale. In addition, we established the fracturability index (FI) of shale based on the brittleness index, critical strain energy release rate and fracture toughness. The results indicate that the brittle mineral content of Longmaxi shale in Fenggang block is between 69% and 90%, shale samples are prone to brittle deformation by microscopic observation. Brittle deformation has a positive effect on the porosity and percolation ability of shale; the fractures in the upper and lower parts of Longmaxi shale are relatively developed, and the degree of core fracture development is consistent with rock brittleness. The brittleness distribution of two-dimensional seismic data inversion is in good agreement with the brittleness predicted by well logging; shale reservoirs with low fracture toughness, low critical strain energy release rate and high brittleness index have high fracturability. Therefore, the research on shale brittleness and fracturability of Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale is expected to have important guiding significance for shale gas exploration and development in Southern China.

scholarly journals Shale Gas Content Calculation of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Southeastern Ordos Basin, China

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Su ◽  
Yingchu Shen ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Jin Hao
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Indirect Method ◽  
Ordos Basin ◽  
Gas Content ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Yanchang Formation ◽  
Free Gas ◽  
Shale Reservoirs ◽  
Method Show

Shale gas content is the key parameter for shale gas potential evaluation and favorable area prediction. Therefore, it is very important to determine shale gas content accurately. Generally, we use the USBM method for coal reservoirs to calculate gas content of shale reservoirs. However, shale reservoirs are different from coal reservoirs in depth, pressure, core collection, etc. This method would inevitably cause problems. In order to make the USBM method more suitable for shale reservoir, an improved USBM method is put forward on the basis of systematic analysis of core pressure history and temperature history during shale gas desorption. The improved USBM method modifies the calculation method of the lost time, and determines the temperature balance time of water heating. In addition, we give the calculation method of adsorption gas content and free gas content, especially the new method of calculating the oil dissolved gas content and water dissolved gas content which are easily neglected. We used the direct method (USBM and the improved USBM) and the indirect method (adsorption gas, free gas and dissolved gas) to calculate the shale gas content of 16 shale samples of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Southeastern Ordos Basin, China. The results of the improved USBM method show that the total shale gas content is high, with an average of 3.97 m3/t, and the lost shale gas content is the largest proportion with an average of 62%. The total shale gas content calculated by the improved USBM method is greater than that of the USBM method. The results of the indirect method show that the total shale gas content is large, with an average of 4.11 m3/t, and the adsorption shale gas content is the largest proportion with an average of 71%.  The oil dissolved shale gas content which should be taken attention accounts for about 7.8%. The relative error between the improved USBM method and indirect method is much smaller than that between USBM method and indirect method, which verifies the accuracy of the improved USBM method.

scholarly journals Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Adsorbed Gas and Gas Production in Shale Formations

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Zhiming Hu ◽  
Xianggang Duan ◽  
Nan Shao ◽  
Yingying Xu ◽  
Jin Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Physical Simulation ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Production Optimization ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Tight Sandstone ◽  
Free Gas ◽  
Adsorbed Gas ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Shale Reservoirs

Adsorbed gas and free gas both exist in shale reservoirs simultaneously due to the unique nanoscale pore structure, resulting in the complex flow mechanism of gas in the reservoir during the development process. The dynamic performance analysis of shale reservoirs has mostly been conducted by the numerical simulation and theoretical model, while the physical simulation method for relevant research is seen rarely in the literature. Thus, in this paper, an experiment system was designed to simulate the degraded development experiments of shale, coal, and tight sandstone to reveal the output law of gas in different occurrence states of shale reservoirs and clarify the pressure propagation rules of different reservoirs, and then, adsorption gas and free gas production laws were studied by theoretical models. Research indicated the following: (1) The gas occurrence state is the main factor that causes the difference of the pressure drop rate and gas production law of shale, coal, and tight sandstone. During the early stage of the development of shale gas, the free gas is mainly produced; the final contribution of free gas production can reach more than 90%. (2) The static desorption and dynamic experiments confirm that the critical desorption pressure of adsorbed gas is generally between 12 and 15 MPa. When the gas reservoir pressure is lower than the critical desorption pressure in shale and coal formation, desorption occurs. Due to the slow propagation of shale matrix pressure, desorption of adsorbed gas occurs mainly in the low-pressure region close to the fracture surface. (3) The material balance theory of closed gas reservoirs and the one-dimensional flow model of shale gas have subsequently validated the production performance law of adsorbed gas and free gas by the physical simulation. Therefore, in the practical development of shale gas reservoirs, it is recommended to shorten the matrix supply distance, reduce the pressure in the fracture, increase the effective pressure gradient, and enhance the potential utilization of adsorbed gas as soon as possible to increase the ultimate recovery. The findings of this study can help for a better understanding of the shale reservoir utilization law so as to provide a reference for production optimization and development plan formulation of the shale gas reservoirs.

scholarly journals Physical and mathematical modeling of gas production in shale matrix

2018 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Guo ◽  
Rongze Yu ◽  
Xiaowei Zhang ◽  
Zhiming Hu
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Adsorbed Gas ◽  
Decline Curve ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
The Mathematical Model ◽  
Pressure Propagation

Shale gas mainly stores in shale matrix, and gas production in shale matrix is very important during exploration. In order to clarify gas production and transport mechanism in shale matrix, an experimental modeling of gas production in shale matrix was designed and conducted with Longmaxi shale samples collected from South of Sichuan. The experimental results show that gas production decline curve displays a “L” pattern which indicates initial production is high and declines rapidly, while late production is low and declines moderately; meanwhile, pressure propagation in shale matrix is quite slow due to ultralow permeability. Based on the results, a mathematical model was derived to describe gas production in shale matrix. The comparison between numerical solution of mathematical model and experimental results shows that the mathematical model can well describe gas transport in shale matrix. In addition, factors affecting gas production were investigated on the basis of the mathematical model. Adsorbed gas can replenish gas pressure in pores by desorption and delay pressure propagation, and gas production decreases very quickly when there is no adsorbed gas. Other parameters (diffusion coefficient, permeability and porosity) also need to be considered in shale gas development.

scholarly journals Prediction of Shale Gas Reservoirs Using Fluid Mobility Attribute Driven by Post-Stack Seismic Data: A Case Study from Southern China

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Jing Zeng ◽  
Alexey Stovas ◽  
Handong Huang ◽  
Lixia Ren ◽  
Tianlei Tang
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Spectral Decomposition ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Seismic Attribute ◽  
Longmaxi Formation ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs ◽  
The Sichuan Basin ◽  
Shale Reservoirs

Paleozoic marine shale gas resources in Southern China present broad prospects for exploration and development. However, previous research has mostly focused on the shale in the Sichuan Basin. The research target of this study is expanded to the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale outside the Sichuan Basin. A prediction scheme of shale gas reservoirs through the frequency-dependent seismic attribute technology is developed to reduce drilling risks of shale gas related to complex geological structure and low exploration level. Extracting frequency-dependent seismic attribute is inseparable from spectral decomposition technology, whereby the matching pursuit algorithm is commonly used. However, frequency interference in MP results in an erroneous time-frequency (TF) spectrum and affects the accuracy of seismic attribute. Firstly, a novel spectral decomposition technology is proposed to minimize the effect of frequency interference by integrating the MP and the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). Synthetic and real data tests indicate that the proposed spectral decomposition technology provides a TF spectrum with higher accuracy and resolution than traditional MP. Then, a seismic fluid mobility attribute, extracted from the post-stack seismic data through the proposed spectral decomposition technology, is applied to characterize the shale reservoirs. The application result indicates that the seismic fluid mobility attribute can describe the spatial distribution of shale gas reservoirs well without well control. Based on the seismic fluid mobility attribute section, we have learned that the shale gas enrich areas are located near the bottom of the Longmaxi Formation. The inverted velocity data are also introduced to further verify the reliability of seismic fluid mobility. Finally, the thickness map of gas-bearing shale reservoirs in the Longmaxi Formation is obtained by combining the seismic fluid mobility attribute with the inverted velocity data, and two favorable exploration areas are suggested by analyzing the thickness, structure, and burial depth. The present work can not only be used to evaluate shale gas resources in the early stage of exploration, but also help to design the landing point and trajectory of directional drilling in the development stage.

scholarly journals Review of Formation and Gas Characteristics in Shale Gas Reservoirs

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5427
Author(s):  
Boning Zhang ◽  
Baochao Shan ◽  
Yulong Zhao ◽  
Liehui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Pore Size Distribution ◽  
Pore Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Shale Formations ◽  
Adsorbed Gas ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Longmaxi Shale

An accurate understanding of formation and gas properties is crucial to the efficient development of shale gas resources. As one kind of unconventional energy, shale gas shows significant differences from conventional energy ones in terms of gas accumulation processes, pore structure characteristics, gas storage forms, physical parameters, and reservoir production modes. Traditional experimental techniques could not satisfy the need to capture the microscopic characteristics of pores and throats in shale plays. In this review, the uniqueness of shale gas reservoirs is elaborated from the perspective of: (1) geological and pore structural characteristics, (2) adsorption/desorption laws, and (3) differences in properties between the adsorbed gas and free gas. As to the first aspect, the mineral composition and organic geochemical characteristics of shale samples from the Longmaxi Formation, Sichuan Basin, China were measured and analyzed based on the experimental results. Principles of different methods to test pore size distribution in shale formations are introduced, after which the results of pore size distribution of samples from the Longmaxi shale are given. Based on the geological understanding of shale formations, three different types of shale gas and respective modeling methods are reviewed. Afterwards, the conventional adsorption models, Gibbs excess adsorption behaviors, and supercritical adsorption characteristics, as well as their applicability to engineering problems, are introduced. Finally, six methods of calculating virtual saturated vapor pressure, seven methods of giving adsorbed gas density, and 12 methods of calculating gas viscosity in different pressure and temperature conditions are collected and compared, with the recommended methods given after a comparison.

Lower limits of evaluation parameters for the lower Paleozoic Longmaxi shale gas in southern Sichuan Province

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 710-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
YanJun Li ◽  
Huan Liu ◽  
LieHui Zhang ◽  
ZongGang Lu ◽  
QiRong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Province ◽  
Lower Paleozoic ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
Lower Limits ◽  
Evaluation Parameters

Lithology and sedimentary heterogeneity of the Longmaxi Shale in the southern Sichuan Basin, China

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-49
Author(s):  
Boling Pu ◽  
Dazhong Dong ◽  
Ning Xin-jun ◽  
Shufang Wang ◽  
Yuman Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Sedimentary Environment ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Carbonaceous Shale ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Longmaxi Shale ◽  
Siliceous Shale

Producers have always been eager to know the reasons for the difference in the production of different shale gas wells. The Southern Sichuan Basin in China is one of the main production zones of Longmaxi shale gas, while the shale gas production is quite different in different shale gas wells. The Longmaxi formation was deposited in a deep water shelf that had poor circulation with the open ocean, and is composed of a variety of facies that are dominated by fine-grained (clay- to silt-size) particles with a varied organic matter distribution, causing heterogeneity of the shale gas concentration. According to the different mother debris and sedimentary environment, we recognized three general sedimentary subfacies and seven lithofacies on the basis of mineralogy, sedimentary texture and structures, biota and the logging response: (1) there are graptolite-rich shale facies, siliceous shale facies, calcareous shale facies, and a small amount of argillaceous limestone facies in the deep - water shelf in the Weiyuan area and graptolite-rich shale facies and carbonaceous shale facies in the Changning area; (2) there are argillaceous shale facies and argillaceous limestone facies in the semi - deep - water continental shelf of the Weiyuan area and silty shale facies in the Changning area; (3) argillaceous shale facies are mainly developed in the shallow muddy continental shelf in the Weiyuan area, while silty shale facies mainly developed in the shallow shelf in the Changning area. Judging from the biostratigraphy of graptolite, the sedimentary environment was different in different stages.

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