Implication of Water-Rock Interaction for Enhancing Shale Gas Production

Horizontal well drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technologies are at the root of commercial shale gas development and exploitation.During these processes,typically,a large amount of working fluid enters the formation,resulting in widespread water-rock interaction.Deeply understanding such effects is required to optimize the production system.In this study,the mechanisms of water-rock interaction and the associated responses of shale fabric are systematically reviewed for working fluids such as neutral fluids,acid fluids,alkali fluids and oxidative fluids.It is shown that shale is generally rich in water-sensitive components such as clay minerals,acidsensitive components(like carbonate minerals),alkali-sensitive components(like quartz),oxidative-sensitive components(like organic matter and pyrite),which easily lead to change of rock fabric and mechanical properties owing to water-rock interaction.According to the results,oxidizing acid fluids and oxidizing fracturing fluids should be used to enhance shale gas recovery.This study also indicates that an aspect playing an important role in increasing cumulative gas production is the optimization of the maximum shut-in time based on the change point of the wellhead pressure drop rate.Another important influential factor to be considered is the control of the wellhead pressure considering the stress sensitivity and creep characteristics of the fracture network.

Effects of instantaneous shut-in of high production gas well on fluid flow in tubing

As the classical transient flow model cannot simulate the water hammer effect of gas well, a transient flow mathematical model of multiphase flow gas well is established based on the mechanism of water hammer effect and the theory of multiphase flow. With this model, the transient flow of gas well can be simulated by segmenting the curved part of tubing and calculating numerical solution with the method of characteristic curve. The results show that the higher the opening coefficient of the valve when closed, the larger the peak value of the wellhead pressure, the more gentle the pressure fluctuation, and the less obvious the pressure mutation area will be. On the premise of not exceeding the maximum shut-in pressure of the tubing, adopting large opening coefficient can reduce the impact of the pressure wave. The higher the cross-section liquid holdup, the greater the pressure wave speed, and the shorter the propagation period will be. The larger the liquid holdup, the larger the variation range of pressure, and the greater the pressure will be. In actual production, the production parameters can be adjusted to get the appropriate liquid holdup, control the magnitude and range of fluctuation pressure, and reduce the impact of water hammer effect. When the valve closing time increases, the maximum fluctuating pressure value of the wellhead decreases, the time of pressure peak delays, and the pressure mutation area gradually disappears. The shorter the valve closing time, the faster the pressure wave propagates. Case simulation proves that the transient flow model of gas well can optimize the reasonable valve opening coefficient and valve closing time, reduce the harm of water hammer impact on the wellhead device and tubing, and ensure the integrity of the wellbore.

Assessment of Public Health Risks Associated with Naphthalene Entering Residences and Commercial Space from Vapor Intrusion at MGP Sites

Naphthalene, a constituent of coal tar, is a contaminant frequently found at former manufactured gas plants (MGP). Development at these sites has resulted in residential and commercial areas with potential exposures from vapor intrusion adversely affecting indoor air of residences and buildings. Naphthalene is routinely analyzed in soil vapor intrusion assessments for properties overlying and surrounding former MGP sites. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a proposed unit risk factor and the State of California has promulgated a unit risk factor for naphthalene. Naphthalene exposure from vapor intrusion is potentially a public health risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three sites located in the northeast United States to determine the frequency of naphthalene detection in indoor air. A total of 79 properties were included in the study. A total of 546 indoor air samples were analyzed for naphthalene on 161 occasions. Naphthalene concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 51 μg/m3 of air. Only 3 of the 546 indoor air samples detected naphthalene above the ninety-fifth percentile background value of 12 μg/m3 of air. Risk analysis indicated naphthalene vapor intrusion was not a public health risk among the 79 properties built on or near the former MGP sites.

Pore Structure Heterogeneity of the Xiamaling Formation Shale Gas Reservoir in the Yanshan Area of China: Evaluation of Geological Controlling Factors

Micro-heterogeneity is an integral parameter of the pore structure of shale gas reservoir and it forms an essential basis for setting and adjusting development parameters.In this study,scanning electron microscopy,high-pressure mercury intrusion and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption experiments were used to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the pore structure of black shale from the third member of the Xiamaling Formation in the Yanshan area.The pore heterogeneity was studied using fractal theory,and the controlling factors of pore development and heterogeneity were evaluated in combination with geochemical parameters,mineral composition,and geological evolution history.The results show that the pore structure of the reservoir was intricate and complicated.Moreover,various types of micro-nano scale pores such as dissolution pores,intergranular pores,interlayer pores,and micro-cracks are well developed in member 3 of the Xiamaling Formation.The average porosity was found to be 6.30%,and the mean value of the average pore size was 4.78 nm.Micropores and transition pores provided most of the storage space.Pore development was significantly affected by the region and was mainly related to the total organic carbon content,vitrinite reflectance and mineral composition.The fractal dimension,which characterizes the heterogeneity,is 2.66 on average,indicating that the pore structure is highly heterogeneous.Fractal dimension is positively correlated with maturity and clay mineral content,while it is negatively correlated with brittle mineral content and average pore size.These results indicate that pore heterogeneity is closely related to thermal history and material composition.Combined with the geological background of this area,it was found that the pore heterogeneity was mainly controlled by the Jurassic magmatism.The more intense the magma intrusion,the stronger the pore heterogeneity.The pore structure and its heterogeneity characteristics present today are a general reflection of the superimposed geological processes of sedimentary-diagenetic-late transformation.The influence of magmatic intrusion on the reservoir is the main geological factor that should be considered for detailed evaluation of the Xiamaling Formation shale gas reservoir in the Yanshan area.

Theory, technology and prospects of conventional and unconventional natural gas

The development of natural gas in China has entered a golden and leap-forward stage, which is a necessary bridge to clean energy. This in-depth study on the status quo, theory, technology and prospect of natural gas development shows:(1) The global remaining proven recoverable reserves of natural gas are 186×1012 m3, and the reserves-production ratio is 52.4, indicating a solid resource base for long-term and rapid development.(2) Ten formation and distribution laws of conventional and unconventional natural gas reservoirs have been proposed. In terms of exploration geology, the theory of conventional "monolithic" giant gas fields with different gas sources, and an unconventional gas accumulation theory with continuous distribution of "sweet areas" in different lithologic reservoirs have been established; in terms of development geology, a development theory of conventional structural gas reservoirs is oriented to "controlling water intrusion", while a development theory of unconventional gas is concentrated on man-made gas reservoirs.(3) With the geological resources(excluding hydrates) of 210×1012 m3 and the total proven rate of the resources less than 2% at present, the natural gas in China will see a constant increase in reserve and production; by 2030, the proven geological reserves of natural gas are expected to reach about(6 000-7 000)×108 m3, the production of conventional and unconventional natural gas each will reach about 1 000×108 m3, and the gas consumption will reach 5 500×108 m3. The dependence on imported natural gas may be 64% by 2030, and 70% by 2050.(4) Ten measures for future development of natural gas have been proposed, including strengthening exploration in large-scale resource areas, increasing the development benefits of unconventional gas, and enhancing the peak adjusting capacity of gas storage and scale construction of liquified natural gas.

Interactions between the Design and Operation of Shale Gas Networks, Including CO_2 Sequestration

As the demand for energy continues to increase, shale gas, as an unconventional source of methane(CH_4), shows great potential for commercialization. However, due to the ultra-low permeability of shale gas reservoirs, special procedures such as horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, periodic well shut-in, and carbon dioxide(CO_2) injection may be required in order to boost gas production, maximize economic benefits, and ensure safe and environmentally sound operation. Although intensive research is devoted to this emerging technology, many researchers have studied shale gas design and operational decisions only in isolation. In fact, these decisions are highly interactive and should be considered simultaneously. Therefore, the research question addressed in this study includes interactions between design and operational decisions. In this paper, we first establish a full-physics model for a shale gas reservoir. Next, we conduct a sensitivity analysis of important design and operational decisions such as well length, well arrangement, number of fractures, fracture distance, CO_2 injection rate, and shut-in scheduling in order to gain in-depth insights into the complex behavior of shale gas networks. The results suggest that the case with the highest shale gas production may not necessarily be the most profitable design; and that drilling, fracturing, and CO_2 injection have great impacts on the economic viability of this technology. In particular, due to the high costs, enhanced gas recovery(EGR) using CO_2 does not appear to be commercially competitive, unless tax abatements or subsidies are available for CO_2 sequestration. It was also found that the interactions between design and operational decisions are significant and that these decisions should be optimized simultaneously.

The Controversial Genesis of Thermogenic Gas-A Polemical Article

The article contains a critique of the biogenic theory of natural gas,which incorrectly combines the phenomenon of methane formation in the anaerobic process of decomposition of organic matter with the phenomenon of methane expulsion in the process of pyrolysis and cracking.The view of the organic origin of methane is treated as a paradigm,despite the lack of thermal conditions to induce expulsion.The mineralized organic substance for which the name“kerogen”was created undergoes the process of carbonization and this process,under the conditions of the deposit,is a one-way process.The paradox of the petroleum geology methodology is the determination of the oil potential from the TOC(Total Organic Carbon)in the rock.In reservoir conditions,methane is produced by chemical reactions of igneous gases,mainly hydrogen,carbon and oxygen.These elements are formed in the process of hot plasma recombination in zone D and the formation of basalt magma.The change in the structure of matter causes stresses in the rock mass and the formation of igneous intrusions.After lowering the temperature of post-igneous solutions,the release of igneous gases and a rapid increase in pressure occurs.In the created dislocation zones tectonic pressure in natural gas deposits is more than twice the hydrostatic pressure.The process of the evolution of igneous gases and reactions between them are,among others,methane explosions in hard coal mines.The inorganic origin of methane also has a positive aspect,the conclusion is that natural gas resources are renewable and that they are ubiquitous.

“硬关井”水击压力计算及其应用

根据气侵后环空气液两相流分布特点及水击压力在气液两相流及单相流中传播特点，计算了“硬关井”情况下的水击压力变化情况。研究表明：对于气侵情况，硬关井引起的水击压力对井眼中下部影响很小，主要作用于井口装置；如果并口流速不太大，可以采用硬关并，以便减少地层流体进一步侵入。

A prediction method of natural gas hydrate formation in deepwater gas well and its application

To prevent the deposition of natural gas hydrate in deepwater gas well,the hydrate formation area in wellbore must be predicted.Herein,by comparing four prediction methods of temperature in pipe with field data and comparing five prediction methods of hydrate formation with experiment data,a method based on OLGA&PVTsim for predicting the hydrate formation area in wellbore was proposed.Meanwhile,The hydrate formation under the conditions of steady production,throttling and shut-in was predicted by using this method based on a well data in the South China Sea.The results indicate that the hydrate formation area decreases with the increase of gas production,inhibitor concentrations and the thickness of insulation materials and increases with the increase of thermal conductivity of insulation materials and shutdown time.Throttling effect causes a plunge in temperature and pressure in wellbore,thus leading to an increase of hydrate formation area.