To reduce CO_(2) emissions in response to global climate change,shale reservoirs could be ideal candidates for long-term carbon geo-sequestration involving multi-scale transport processes.However,most current CO_(2) s...To reduce CO_(2) emissions in response to global climate change,shale reservoirs could be ideal candidates for long-term carbon geo-sequestration involving multi-scale transport processes.However,most current CO_(2) sequestration models do not adequately consider multiple transport mechanisms.Moreover,the evaluation of CO_(2) storage processes usually involves laborious and time-consuming numerical simulations unsuitable for practical prediction and decision-making.In this paper,an integrated model involving gas diffusion,adsorption,dissolution,slip flow,and Darcy flow is proposed to accurately characterize CO_(2) storage in depleted shale reservoirs,supporting the establishment of a training database.On this basis,a hybrid physics-informed data-driven neural network(HPDNN)is developed as a deep learning surrogate for prediction and inversion.By incorporating multiple sources of scientific knowledge,the HPDNN can be configured with limited simulation resources,significantly accelerating the forward and inversion processes.Furthermore,the HPDNN can more intelligently predict injection performance,precisely perform reservoir parameter inversion,and reasonably evaluate the CO_(2) storage capacity under complicated scenarios.The validation and test results demonstrate that the HPDNN can ensure high accuracy and strong robustness across an extensive applicability range when dealing with field data with multiple noise sources.This study has tremendous potential to replace traditional modeling tools for predicting and making decisions about CO_(2) storage projects in depleted shale reservoirs.展开更多
The quantitative understanding of hydraulic fracture(HF)properties guides accurate production forecasts and reserve estimation.Type curve is a powerful technique to characterize HF and reservoir properties from flowba...The quantitative understanding of hydraulic fracture(HF)properties guides accurate production forecasts and reserve estimation.Type curve is a powerful technique to characterize HF and reservoir properties from flowback and long-term production data.However,two-phase flow of water and hydrocarbon after an HF stimulation together with the complex transport mechanisms in shale nanopores exacerbate the nonlinearity of the transport equation,causing errors in type-curve analysis.Accordingly,we propose a new two-phase type-curve method to estimate HF properties,such as HF volume and permeability of fracture,through the analysis of flowback data of multi-fractured shale wells.The proposed type curve is based on a semianalytical solution that couples the two-phase flow from the matrix with the flow in HF by incorporating matrix influx,slippage effect,stress dependence,and the spatial variation of fluid properties in inorganic and organic pores.For the first time,multiple fluid transport mechanisms are considered into two-phase type-curve analysis for shale reservoirs.We analyze the flowback data from a multi-fractured horizontal well in a shale gas reservoir to verify the field application of the proposed method.The results show that the fracture properties calculated by the type-curve method are in good agreement with the long-time production data.展开更多
In shale reservoirs,the organic pores with various structures formed during the thermal evolution of organic matter are the main storage site for adsorbed methane.However,in the process of thermal evolution,the adsorp...In shale reservoirs,the organic pores with various structures formed during the thermal evolution of organic matter are the main storage site for adsorbed methane.However,in the process of thermal evolution,the adsorption characteristics of methane in multi type and multi-scale organic matter pores have not been sufficiently studied.In this study,the molecular simulation method was used to study the adsorption characteristics of methane based on the geological conditions of Longmaxi Formation shale reservoir in Sichuan Basin,China.The results show that the characteristics of pore structure will affect the methane adsorption characteristics.The adsorption capacity of slit-pores for methane is much higher than that of cylindrical pores.The groove space inside the pore will change the density distribution of methane molecules in the pore,greatly improve the adsorption capacity of the pore,and increase the pressure sensitivity of the adsorption process.Although the variation of methane adsorption characteristics of different shapes is not consistent with pore size,all pores have the strongest methane adsorption capacity when the pore size is about 2 nm.In addition,the changes of temperature and pressure during the thermal evolution are also important factors to control the methane adsorption characteristics.The pore adsorption capacity first increases and then decreases with the increase of pressure,and increases with the increase of temperature.In the early stage of thermal evolution,pore adsorption capacity is strong and pressure sensitivity is weak;while in the late stage,it is on the contrary.展开更多
The compressibility of shale matrix reflects the effects of reservoir lithology, material composition, pore structure and tectonic deformation. It is important to understand the factors that influence shale matrix com...The compressibility of shale matrix reflects the effects of reservoir lithology, material composition, pore structure and tectonic deformation. It is important to understand the factors that influence shale matrix compressibility(SMC) and their effects on pore size distribution(PSD) heterogeneity in order to evaluate the properties of unconventional reservoirs.In this study, the volumes of pores whose diameters were in the range 6–100 nm were corrected for SMC for 17 shale samples from basins in China using high-pressure mercury intrusion and low-temperature nitrogen gas adsorption analyses,in order to investigate the factors influencing the SMC values. In addition, the variations in fractal dimensions before and after pore volume correction were determined, using single and multifractal models to explain the effects of SMC on PSD heterogeneity. In this process, the applicability of each fractal model for characterizing PSD heterogeneity was determined using statistical analyses. The Menger and Sierpinski single fractal models, the thermodynamic fractal model and a multifractal model were all used in this study. The results showed the following. The matrix compression restricts the segmentation of the fractal dimension curves for the single fractal Menger and Sierpinski models, which leads to a uniformity of PSD heterogeneity for different pore diameters. However, matrix compression has only a weak influence on the results calculated using a thermodynamic model. The SMC clearly affects the multifractal value variations, showing that the fractal dimension values of shale samples under matrix compression are small. Overall PSD heterogeneity becomes small for pores with diameters below 100 nm and the SMC primarily affects the PSD heterogeneity of higher pore volume areas. The comparison of fractal curves before and after correction and the variance analysis indicate that the thermodynamic model is applicable to quantitatively characterize PSD heterogeneity of shale collected from this sampling area. The results show that PSD heterogeneity increases gradually as micro-pore volumes increase.展开更多
Taking the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation to Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale reservoirs in western Chongqing area as the study target,the argon ion polishing scanning electron microscope and nuclear magneti...Taking the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation to Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale reservoirs in western Chongqing area as the study target,the argon ion polishing scanning electron microscope and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)experiments of different saturated wetting media were carried out.Based on the image processing technology and the results of gas desorption,the pore-fracture configuration of the shale reservoirs and its influence on gas-filled mechanism were analyzed.(1)The reservoir space includes organic pores,inorganic pores and micro-fractures and there are obvious differences between wells in the development characteristics of micro-fractures;the organic pores adjacent to the micro-fractures are poorly developed,while the inorganic pores are well preserved.(2)According to the type,development degree and contact relationship of organic pore and micro-fracture,the pore-fracture configuration of the shale reservoir is divided into four types.(3)Based on the differences in NMR T_(2) spectra of shale samples saturated with oil and water,an evaluation parameter of pore-fracture configuration was constructed and calculated.The smaller the parameter,the better the pore-fracture configuration is.(4)The shale reservoir with good pore-fracture configuration has well-developed organic pores,high porosity,high permeability and high gas content,while the shale reservoir with poor pore-fracture configuration has micro-fractures developed,which improves the natural gas conductivity and leads to low porosity and gas content of the reservoir.(5)Based on pore-fracture configuration,from the perspective of organic matter generating hydrocarbon,micro-fracture providing migration channel,three types of micro gas-filled models of shale gas were established.展开更多
The diagenesis and diagenetic facies of shale reservoirs in Lucaogou Formation of Jimusar Sag were studied by means of microscopic observation and identification of ordinary thin sections and cast thin sections,X-ray ...The diagenesis and diagenetic facies of shale reservoirs in Lucaogou Formation of Jimusar Sag were studied by means of microscopic observation and identification of ordinary thin sections and cast thin sections,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope and electron probe tests.The results show that alkaline and acidic diagenetic processes occurred alternately during the deposition of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag.The evolution of porosity in the shale reservoirs was influenced by compaction and alternate alkaline and acidic diagenetic processes jointly,and has gone through three stages,namely,stage of porosity reduction and increase caused by alkaline compaction,stage of porosity increase caused by acid dissolution,and stage of porosity increase and reduction caused by alkaline dissolution.Correspondingly,three secondary pore zones developed in Lucaogou Formation.The shale reservoirs are divided into three diagenetic facies:tuff residual intergranular pore-dissolution pore facies,tuff organic micrite dolomite mixed pore facies,and micrite alga-dolomite intercrystalline pore facies.With wide distribution,good pore structure and high oil content,the first two facies are diagenetic facies of favorable reservoirs in Lucaogou Formation.The research results provide a basis for better understanding and exploration and development of the Lucaogou Formation shale reservoirs.展开更多
Natural fractures,like tectoclases,are essential in the formation of shale gas reservoirs and have been the focus of study for shale gas development.Tectoclases provide most storage space for gas and are largely contr...Natural fractures,like tectoclases,are essential in the formation of shale gas reservoirs and have been the focus of study for shale gas development.Tectoclases provide most storage space for gas and are largely controlled by the paleo-tectonic stress field in shale reservoirs of the Niutitang Formation,northern Guizhou area,China.An accurate prediction of the development and distribution of tectoclases in the reservoirs is of great significance to exploring and developing shale gas sweet spots in the area.Based on geological structure evolution and fracture characterization,this study is focused on factors that control the fracture development in the Niutitang Formation shale reservoirs in northern Guizhou through characterization and modeling of geomechanisms and tectonic movements.A geomechanical model is formulated for the shale reservoirs against the geological background of the area.On this basis,the fractures are predicted by using the acoustic emission data.Numerical simulation results show that the development and distribution of tectoclase is controlled by fault zones,some of which have no obvious turning points with tectoclase in the middle sections being more developed and fragmented than those at the two ends.Some of these have obvious S-shaped turning points where tectoclases are the most developed and fragmented.展开更多
The Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,which is the key stratum for marine shale gas exploration and development(E&D)in China.Based o...The Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,which is the key stratum for marine shale gas exploration and development(E&D)in China.Based on sedimentary environment,material basis,storage space,fracability and reservoir evolution data,the reservoir characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale and their significance for shale gas E&D are systematically compared and analyzed in this paper.The results show that(1)the depocenter of the Wufeng(WF)-Longmaxi(LM)shale gradually migrates from east to west.The high-quality shale reservoirs in the eastern Sichuan Basin are mainly siliceous shales,which are primarily distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM5.The high-quality reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are mainly calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales,which are distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM7.(2)Deep shale gas(the burial depth>3500 m)in the Sichuan Basin has high-ultrahigh pressure and superior physical properties.The organic-rich siliceous,calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales have suitable reservoir properties.The marginal area of the Sichuan Basin has a higher degree of pressure relief,which leads to the argillaceous and silty shales evolving into direct cap rocks with poor reservoir/good sealing capacity.(3)Combining shale gas exploration practices and impacts of lithofacies,depth,pressure coefficient and brittle-ductile transition on the reservoir properties,it is concluded that the favorable depth interval of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale gas is 2200~4000 m under current technical conditions.(4)Aiming at the differential reservoir properties of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,several suggestions for future research directions and E&D of shale gas are formulated.展开更多
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) storage and sequestration in unconventional shale resources has been attracting interest since last couple of years due to the very unique characteristics of such formations have made them a feasi...Carbon Dioxide (CO2) storage and sequestration in unconventional shale resources has been attracting interest since last couple of years due to the very unique characteristics of such formations have made them a feasible option for this object. Shale formations are found all around the world and the conventional assets are easily accessible, and also the huge move of operators toward developing unconventional reservoirs during past years leaves many of such formations ready for sequestering CO2. Today, the use of long horizontal wells that are drilled on a pad has the lowest amount of environmental footprint in which for storage and sequestration purpose also provides much more underground pore spaces available for CO2. In this paper we study the state of the art of the technology of CO2 storage and sequestration and provide different and fresh look for its complex phenomena from a mathematical modeling point of view. Moreover, we hope this study provides valuable insights into the use of depleted shale gas reservoirs for carbon sequestration, which as a result, a cleaner atmosphere will be achieved for the life of our next generations. Also, we present that the depleted shale gas reservoirs are very adequate for this purpose as they already have much of the infrastructure required to perform CO2 injection available in sites.展开更多
The main area of the Jiaoshiba anticline of the Fuling shale gas field was taken as the research object,laboratory rock mechanical experiments and direct shear experiments were conducted to clarify the mechanical anis...The main area of the Jiaoshiba anticline of the Fuling shale gas field was taken as the research object,laboratory rock mechanical experiments and direct shear experiments were conducted to clarify the mechanical anisotropy characteristics and parameters of rock samples with rich beddings.Based on the experimental results,a 3D fracture propagation model of the target reservoir taking mechanical anisotropy,weak bedding plane and vertical stress difference into account was established by the discrete element method to analyze distribution patterns of hydraulic fractures under different bedding densities,mechanical properties,and fracturing engineering parameters(including perforation clusters,injection rates and fracturing fluid viscosity).The research results show that considering the influence of the weak bedding plane and longitudinal stress difference,the interlayer stress difference 3–4 MPa in the study area can control the fracture height within the zone of stress barrier,and the fracture height is less than 40 m.If the influence of the weak bedding plane is not considered,the simulation result of fracture height is obviously higher.Although the opening of high-density bedding fractures increases the complexity of hydraulic fractures,it significantly limited the propagation of fracture height.By reducing the number of clusters,increasing the injection rate,and increasing the volume and proportion of high-viscosity fracturing fluid in the pad stage,the restriction on fracture height due to the bedding plane and vertical stress difference can be reduced,and the longitudinal propagation of fractures can be promoted.The fracture propagation model was used to simulate one stage of Well A in Fuling shale gas field,and the simulation results were consistent with the micro-seismic monitoring results.展开更多
Modeling and simulation of unconventional reservoirs are much more complicated than the conventional reservoir modeling, because of their complex flow characteristics. Mechanisms, which control the flow in the reservo...Modeling and simulation of unconventional reservoirs are much more complicated than the conventional reservoir modeling, because of their complex flow characteristics. Mechanisms, which control the flow in the reservoir, are still under the investigation of researchers. However, it is important to investigate applications of mechanisms which are present to our knowledge. This paper presents the theory and applications of flow mechanisms in unconventional reservoir modeling. It is a well-known fact that most of the reservoir flow problems are non-linear due to pressure dependency of particular parameters. It is also widely accepted that fully numerical solutions are costly both computational and time wise. Therefore, the presented model in this paper follows semi-analytical solution methods. Gas adsorption in unconventional reservoirs is the major pressure dependent mechanism;in addition existence of natural fractures is also taken considerable attention. This paper aims to investigate combined effect of existence of natural fractures gas adsorption, and gas slippage effect while keeping the computational effort in acceptable range. Unlike the existing literature (Langmuir is widely used), BET multi-layer isotherm employed in this paper for gas adsorption modeling. A modified dual porosity modeling is used for natural fracture and gas slippage effect modeling. For model verification purposes a history matched is performed with real field data from Marcellus shale. The proposed model in this paper shows a good agreement with the field data. It is observed that BET isotherm models early time production performance more accurately than Langmuir isotherm. It is also concluded that gas adsorption significantly improves the production performances of unconventional reservoirs, with natural fractures. In addition, gas slippage has a slight effect in long term production.展开更多
Shales can form a complex fracture network during hydraulic fracturing, which greatly increases the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) and thus significantly increases oil or gas production. It is therefore important t...Shales can form a complex fracture network during hydraulic fracturing, which greatly increases the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) and thus significantly increases oil or gas production. It is therefore important to accurately predict the probability of formation of the hydraulic fracture network for shale gas exploration and exploitation. Conventional discriminant criteria are presented as the relationship curves of stress difference vs. intersection angle. However, these methods are inadequate for application in the field. In this study, an effective and quantitative prediction method relating to the probability of complex fracture network formation is proposed. First, a discriminant criterion of fracture network was derived. Secondly, Monte Carlo simulation was applied to calculate the probability of the formation of the complex fracture network. Then, the method was validated by applying it to individual wells of two active shale gas blocks in the Sichuan Basin, China. Results show that the probabilities of fracture network are 0.98 for well JY1 and 0.26 for well W204, which is consistent with the micro-seismic hydraulic fracturing monitoring and actual gas production. Finally, the method was further extended to apply for the regional scale of the Sichuan Basin, where the general probabilities of fracture network formation are 0.32–1 and 0.74–1 for Weiyuan and Jiaoshiba blocks, respectively. The Jiaoshiba block has, therefore, an overall higher probability for formation of fracture network than the Weiyuan block. The proposed method has the potential in further application to evaluation and prediction of hydraulic fracturing operations in shale reservoirs.展开更多
The production performances of a well with a shale gas reservoir displaying a complex fracture network are simulated.In particular,a micro-seismic cloud diagram is used to describe the fracture network,and accordingly...The production performances of a well with a shale gas reservoir displaying a complex fracture network are simulated.In particular,a micro-seismic cloud diagram is used to describe the fracture network,and accordingly,a production model is introduced based on a multi-scale flow mechanism.A finite volume method is then exploited for the integration of the model equations.The effects of apparent permeability,conductivity,Langmuir volume,and bottom hole pressure on gas well production are studied accordingly.The simulation results show that ignoring the micro-scale flow mechanism of the shale gas leads to underestimating the well gas production.It is shown that after ten years of production,the cumulative gas production difference between the two scenarios with and without considering the micro-scale flow mechanisms is 19.5%.The greater the fracture conductivity,the higher the initial gas production of the gas well and the cumulative gas production.The larger the Langmuir volume,the higher the gas production rate and the cumulative gas production.With the reduction of the bottom hole pressure,the cumulative gas production increases,but the growth rate gradually decreases.展开更多
This paper was conducted on the shale reservoir in the Dongying depression in the Shahejie Formation of Paleogene. Based on detailed core description, rock thin sections, argon ion polishing, scanning electron microsc...This paper was conducted on the shale reservoir in the Dongying depression in the Shahejie Formation of Paleogene. Based on detailed core description, rock thin sections, argon ion polishing, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) analysis, CT scanning and carbon-oxygen isotopic test, the formation mechanism of the inter-laminar fractures(or seams) and their development conditions were discussed by comprehensive analysis of the diagenetic evolution features and the reservoir space evolution characteristics. The results show that the laminated composite pattern in Dongying depression was dominated by vertical distribution of laminated calcite and clay minerals. Contrasted to the traditional understanding, development degree of inter-laminar fractures was much lower. Pure fluid between layers cannot exist without framework minerals, and the pre-existing well connected pore or horizontal overpressure micro seam was favorable paths of fluid migration. From the points of inter-laminar fractures origin mechanism and its evolution, the so called seams, were much more complex than traditional understanding that hydrocarbon generation raised the pore pressure and led to the parallel microfractures. But the inter-laminar fractures had little relationship with that whether the lamination was developed or bedding boundary was clear or not. In fact, the shale reservoir inter-laminar fractures were not rigorous fracture. They were controlled by pre-existing inter-granular pore(or seam) or dissolved pore, which distributed along carbonate laminae boundary and were connected by later super pressure, dissolution and the seepage force. And the development conditions were burial depth(bigger than 3 000 m) and the Ro value(>0.6%). Discussion on its origin and evolution has important petroleum geological significance on optimizing reservoir segment and favorable target areas selection.展开更多
The premise of hydraulic fracturing is to have an accurate and detailed understanding of the rock mechanical properties and fracture propagation law of shale reservoirs. In this paper,a comprehensive evaluation of the...The premise of hydraulic fracturing is to have an accurate and detailed understanding of the rock mechanical properties and fracture propagation law of shale reservoirs. In this paper,a comprehensive evaluation of the mechanical properties of the shale oil reservoir in the south of Songliao Basin is carried out. Based on the experiments and the in-situ stress analysis, the fracture propagation law of three types of shale reservoirs is obtained,and the suggestions for fracturing are put forward. The results have shown that the fracture propagation of pure shale and low mature reservoir is easy to open along the bedding plane under compression loading,which is greatly influenced by the bedding. Sand-bearing shale is slightly better,the fractures of which are not easy to open along the bedding plane. The mechanical experimental results show that all the samples have the characteristics of low compressive strength,low Young’s modulus and strong anisotropy,indicating that the shale oil reservoir is certain plastic,which is related to its high clay mineral content and controlled by the bedding development. Compared with pure shale and low mature shale,the sandbearing shale has less clay content and less developed bedding,which maybe the main reason for its slightly better brittleness. Overall,the expansion of hydraulic fracture is controlled by in-situ stress and bedding. Because of the development of bedding,it is easy to form horizontal fractures. Thus it is not suitable for horizontal well fracturing.Because of the high content of clay minerals,the applicability of conventional slick hydraulic fracturing fluid is poor. It is suggested to use vertical well or directional well to carry out volume fracturing. In this way,the effect of bedding can be effectively used to open and connect the bedding and form a larger fracture network.展开更多
Unconventional resources like shale gas has been the focus of intense research and development for two decades. Apart from intrinsic geologic factors that control the gas shale productivity (e.g. organic matter conten...Unconventional resources like shale gas has been the focus of intense research and development for two decades. Apart from intrinsic geologic factors that control the gas shale productivity (e.g. organic matter content, bedding planes, natural fractures, porosity and stress regime among others), external factors like wellbore orientation and stimulation design play a role. In this study, we present a series of true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments conducted on Lushan shale to investigate the interplay of internal factors (bedding, natural fractures and in situ stress) and external factors (wellbore orientation) on the growth process of fracture networks in cubic specimens of 200 mm in length. We observe relatively low breakdown pressure and fracture propagation pressure as the wellbore orientation and/or the maximum in situ stress is subparallel to the shale bedding plane. The wellbore orientation has a more prominent effect on the breakdown pressure, but its effect is tapered with increasing angle of bedding inclination. The shale breakdown is followed by an abrupt response in sample displacement, which reflects the stimulated fracture volume. Based on fluid tracer analysis, the morphology of hydraulic fractures (HF) is divided into four categories. Among the categories, activation of bedding planes (bedding failure, BF) and natural fractures (NF) significantly increase bifurcation and fractured areas. Under the same stress regime, a horizontal wellbore is more favorable to enhance the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks. This is attributed to the relatively large surface area in contact with the bedding plane for the horizontal borehole compared to the case with a vertical wellbore. These findings provide important references for hydraulic fracturing design in shale reservoirs.展开更多
The research on the correlation between hydrocarbon accumulations and magmatic activities has always attracted aroused much wide attention.Existing research has primarily the hydrocarbon generations capability of sour...The research on the correlation between hydrocarbon accumulations and magmatic activities has always attracted aroused much wide attention.Existing research has primarily the hydrocarbon generations capability of source rocks and the quality of reservoirs by diabase intrusions.whereas,rare systematic research has been conducted on the oiliness and enrichment mechanism.To be specific,the diabase intrusive zone,the contact metamorphic zone and the normal shale zone of the Funing Formation in the Gaoyou Sag,Subei Basin were taken as the object of this study.Moreover,in this study,the hydrocarbon generation quality,reservoir quality,and oil-bearing quality of diabase-metamorphic zone-normal shale were evaluated using X-ray diffractions,argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscope,energy spectrum,rock slice/light-sheet microscopic observations,organic geochemical tests,N_(2) gas adsorption and 2D NMR tests.The results indicated that the intrusive zone,the metamorphic zone,and the normal zone were formed in order by the degree of effect of diabase intrusions.Secondly,the oil content of different parts exhibited significant heterogeneity due to the baking effect of diabase,and the metamorphic zone had the significantly better oil-bearing nature than the intrusive zone.Lastly,a distribution model was proposed for the diabase intrusive zone-metamorphic zone-normal surrounding rock zone.展开更多
Hydrocarbon production from shale has attracted much attention in the recent years. When applied to this prolific and hydrocarbon rich resource plays, our understanding of the complexities of the flow mechanism(sorpti...Hydrocarbon production from shale has attracted much attention in the recent years. When applied to this prolific and hydrocarbon rich resource plays, our understanding of the complexities of the flow mechanism(sorption process and flow behavior in complex fracture systems- induced or natural) leaves much to be desired. In this paper, we present and discuss a novel approach to modeling, history matching of hydrocarbon production from a Marcellus shale asset in southwestern Pennsylvania using advanced data mining, pattern recognition and machine learning technologies. In this new approach instead of imposing our understanding of the flow mechanism, the impact of multi-stage hydraulic fractures, and the production process on the reservoir model, we allow the production history, well log, completion and hydraulic fracturing data to guide our model and determine its behavior. The uniqueness of this technology is that it incorporates the so-called "hard data" directly into the reservoir model, so that the model can be used to optimize the hydraulic fracture process. The "hard data" refers to field measurements during the hydraulic fracturing process such as fluid and proppant type and amount, injection pressure and rate as well as proppant concentration. This novel approach contrasts with the current industry focus on the use of "soft data"(non-measured, interpretive data such as frac length, width,height and conductivity) in the reservoir models. The study focuses on a Marcellus shale asset that includes 135 wells with multiple pads, different landing targets, well length and reservoir properties. The full field history matching process was successfully completed using this data driven approach thus capturing the production behavior with acceptable accuracy for individual wells and for the entire asset.展开更多
To investigate the height growth of multi-cluster fractures during variable fluid-viscosity fracturing in a layered shale oil reservoir,a two-dimensional finite element method(FEM)-discrete fracture network(DFN)model ...To investigate the height growth of multi-cluster fractures during variable fluid-viscosity fracturing in a layered shale oil reservoir,a two-dimensional finite element method(FEM)-discrete fracture network(DFN)model coupled with flow,stress and damage is proposed.A traction-separation law is used to describe the mixed-mode response of the damaged adhesive fractures,and the cubic law is used to describe the fluid flow within the fractures.The rock deformation is controlled by the in-situ stress,fracture cohesion and fluid pressure on the hydraulic fracture surface.The coupled finite element equations are solved by the explicit time difference method.The effects of the fracturing treatment parameters including fluid viscosity,pumping rate and cluster spacing on the geometries of multifractures are investigated.The results show that variable fluid-viscosity injection can improve the complexity of the fracture network and height of the main fractures simultaneously.The pumping rate of15 m^(3)/min,variable fluid-viscosity of 3-9-21-36-45 mPa s with a cluster spacing of 7.5 m is the ideal treatment strategy.The field application shows that the peak daily production of the application well with the optimized injection procedu re of variable fluid-viscosity fracturing is 171 tons(about 2.85 times that of the adjacent well),which is the highest daily production record of a single shale oil well in China,marking a strategic breakthrough of commercial shale oil production in the Jiyang Depression,Shengli Oilfield.The variable fluid-viscosity fracturing technique is proved to be very effective for improving shale oil production.展开更多
As an important pilot target for shale gas exploration and development in China,the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dianqianbei Area is characterized by high content of nitrogen,which severely increases exploration ri...As an important pilot target for shale gas exploration and development in China,the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dianqianbei Area is characterized by high content of nitrogen,which severely increases exploration risk.Accordingly,this study explores the genesis of shale gas reservoir and the mechanism of nitrogen enrichment through investigating shale gas compositions,isotope features,and geochemical characteristics of associated gases.The high-nitrogen shale gas reservoir in the Longmaxi Formation is demonstrated to be a typical dry gas reservoir.Specifically,the alkane carbon isotope reversal is ascribed to the secondary cracking of crude oil and the Rayleigh fractionation induced by the basalt mantle plume.Such a thermogenic oil-type gas reservoir is composed of both oil-cracking gas and kerogen-cracking gas.The normally high nitrogen content(18.05%-40.92%) is attributed to organic matter cracking and thermal ammoniation in the high-maturity stage.Specifically,the high heat flow effect of the Emeishan mantle plume exacerbates the thermal cracking of organic matter in the Longmaxi Formation shale,accompanied by nitrogen generation.In comparison,the abnormally high nitrogen content(86.79%-98.54%) is ascribed to the communication between the atmosphere and deep underground fluids by deep faults,which results in hydrocarbon loss and nitrogen intrusion,acting as the key factor for deconstruction of the primary shale gas reservoir.Results of this study not only enrich research on genetic mechanism of high-maturity N_@ shale gas reservoirs,but also provide theoretical guidance for subsequent gas reservoir resource evaluation and well-drilling deployment in this area.展开更多
基金This work is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42202292,42141011)the Program for Jilin University(JLU)Science and Technology Innovative Research Team(No.2019TD-35).The authors would also like to thank the reviewers and editors whose critical comments are very helpful in preparing this article.
文摘To reduce CO_(2) emissions in response to global climate change,shale reservoirs could be ideal candidates for long-term carbon geo-sequestration involving multi-scale transport processes.However,most current CO_(2) sequestration models do not adequately consider multiple transport mechanisms.Moreover,the evaluation of CO_(2) storage processes usually involves laborious and time-consuming numerical simulations unsuitable for practical prediction and decision-making.In this paper,an integrated model involving gas diffusion,adsorption,dissolution,slip flow,and Darcy flow is proposed to accurately characterize CO_(2) storage in depleted shale reservoirs,supporting the establishment of a training database.On this basis,a hybrid physics-informed data-driven neural network(HPDNN)is developed as a deep learning surrogate for prediction and inversion.By incorporating multiple sources of scientific knowledge,the HPDNN can be configured with limited simulation resources,significantly accelerating the forward and inversion processes.Furthermore,the HPDNN can more intelligently predict injection performance,precisely perform reservoir parameter inversion,and reasonably evaluate the CO_(2) storage capacity under complicated scenarios.The validation and test results demonstrate that the HPDNN can ensure high accuracy and strong robustness across an extensive applicability range when dealing with field data with multiple noise sources.This study has tremendous potential to replace traditional modeling tools for predicting and making decisions about CO_(2) storage projects in depleted shale reservoirs.
基金This research is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52204057)the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(No.2462021BJRC003 and 2462021YJRC012).
文摘The quantitative understanding of hydraulic fracture(HF)properties guides accurate production forecasts and reserve estimation.Type curve is a powerful technique to characterize HF and reservoir properties from flowback and long-term production data.However,two-phase flow of water and hydrocarbon after an HF stimulation together with the complex transport mechanisms in shale nanopores exacerbate the nonlinearity of the transport equation,causing errors in type-curve analysis.Accordingly,we propose a new two-phase type-curve method to estimate HF properties,such as HF volume and permeability of fracture,through the analysis of flowback data of multi-fractured shale wells.The proposed type curve is based on a semianalytical solution that couples the two-phase flow from the matrix with the flow in HF by incorporating matrix influx,slippage effect,stress dependence,and the spatial variation of fluid properties in inorganic and organic pores.For the first time,multiple fluid transport mechanisms are considered into two-phase type-curve analysis for shale reservoirs.We analyze the flowback data from a multi-fractured horizontal well in a shale gas reservoir to verify the field application of the proposed method.The results show that the fracture properties calculated by the type-curve method are in good agreement with the long-time production data.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41772141,41972171)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20181362),the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD).
文摘In shale reservoirs,the organic pores with various structures formed during the thermal evolution of organic matter are the main storage site for adsorbed methane.However,in the process of thermal evolution,the adsorption characteristics of methane in multi type and multi-scale organic matter pores have not been sufficiently studied.In this study,the molecular simulation method was used to study the adsorption characteristics of methane based on the geological conditions of Longmaxi Formation shale reservoir in Sichuan Basin,China.The results show that the characteristics of pore structure will affect the methane adsorption characteristics.The adsorption capacity of slit-pores for methane is much higher than that of cylindrical pores.The groove space inside the pore will change the density distribution of methane molecules in the pore,greatly improve the adsorption capacity of the pore,and increase the pressure sensitivity of the adsorption process.Although the variation of methane adsorption characteristics of different shapes is not consistent with pore size,all pores have the strongest methane adsorption capacity when the pore size is about 2 nm.In addition,the changes of temperature and pressure during the thermal evolution are also important factors to control the methane adsorption characteristics.The pore adsorption capacity first increases and then decreases with the increase of pressure,and increases with the increase of temperature.In the early stage of thermal evolution,pore adsorption capacity is strong and pressure sensitivity is weak;while in the late stage,it is on the contrary.
基金funded by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (Nos. ZR2021QD072 and ZR2020QD040)。
文摘The compressibility of shale matrix reflects the effects of reservoir lithology, material composition, pore structure and tectonic deformation. It is important to understand the factors that influence shale matrix compressibility(SMC) and their effects on pore size distribution(PSD) heterogeneity in order to evaluate the properties of unconventional reservoirs.In this study, the volumes of pores whose diameters were in the range 6–100 nm were corrected for SMC for 17 shale samples from basins in China using high-pressure mercury intrusion and low-temperature nitrogen gas adsorption analyses,in order to investigate the factors influencing the SMC values. In addition, the variations in fractal dimensions before and after pore volume correction were determined, using single and multifractal models to explain the effects of SMC on PSD heterogeneity. In this process, the applicability of each fractal model for characterizing PSD heterogeneity was determined using statistical analyses. The Menger and Sierpinski single fractal models, the thermodynamic fractal model and a multifractal model were all used in this study. The results showed the following. The matrix compression restricts the segmentation of the fractal dimension curves for the single fractal Menger and Sierpinski models, which leads to a uniformity of PSD heterogeneity for different pore diameters. However, matrix compression has only a weak influence on the results calculated using a thermodynamic model. The SMC clearly affects the multifractal value variations, showing that the fractal dimension values of shale samples under matrix compression are small. Overall PSD heterogeneity becomes small for pores with diameters below 100 nm and the SMC primarily affects the PSD heterogeneity of higher pore volume areas. The comparison of fractal curves before and after correction and the variance analysis indicate that the thermodynamic model is applicable to quantitatively characterize PSD heterogeneity of shale collected from this sampling area. The results show that PSD heterogeneity increases gradually as micro-pore volumes increase.
基金Supported by the Petro China-Southwest Petroleum University Innovation Consortium Project(2020CX020104)Higher Education Innovative Talents Program(Plan 111)(D18016)Sichuan Collaborative Innovation Center for Shale Gas Resources and Environment SEC-2018-03)。
文摘Taking the Upper Ordovician Wufeng Formation to Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale reservoirs in western Chongqing area as the study target,the argon ion polishing scanning electron microscope and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)experiments of different saturated wetting media were carried out.Based on the image processing technology and the results of gas desorption,the pore-fracture configuration of the shale reservoirs and its influence on gas-filled mechanism were analyzed.(1)The reservoir space includes organic pores,inorganic pores and micro-fractures and there are obvious differences between wells in the development characteristics of micro-fractures;the organic pores adjacent to the micro-fractures are poorly developed,while the inorganic pores are well preserved.(2)According to the type,development degree and contact relationship of organic pore and micro-fracture,the pore-fracture configuration of the shale reservoir is divided into four types.(3)Based on the differences in NMR T_(2) spectra of shale samples saturated with oil and water,an evaluation parameter of pore-fracture configuration was constructed and calculated.The smaller the parameter,the better the pore-fracture configuration is.(4)The shale reservoir with good pore-fracture configuration has well-developed organic pores,high porosity,high permeability and high gas content,while the shale reservoir with poor pore-fracture configuration has micro-fractures developed,which improves the natural gas conductivity and leads to low porosity and gas content of the reservoir.(5)Based on pore-fracture configuration,from the perspective of organic matter generating hydrocarbon,micro-fracture providing migration channel,three types of micro gas-filled models of shale gas were established.
基金Supported by the China National Science and Technology Major Project(2017ZX05008-004-008)the PetroChina Science and Technology Major Project(2017E-0401)
文摘The diagenesis and diagenetic facies of shale reservoirs in Lucaogou Formation of Jimusar Sag were studied by means of microscopic observation and identification of ordinary thin sections and cast thin sections,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope and electron probe tests.The results show that alkaline and acidic diagenetic processes occurred alternately during the deposition of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag.The evolution of porosity in the shale reservoirs was influenced by compaction and alternate alkaline and acidic diagenetic processes jointly,and has gone through three stages,namely,stage of porosity reduction and increase caused by alkaline compaction,stage of porosity increase caused by acid dissolution,and stage of porosity increase and reduction caused by alkaline dissolution.Correspondingly,three secondary pore zones developed in Lucaogou Formation.The shale reservoirs are divided into three diagenetic facies:tuff residual intergranular pore-dissolution pore facies,tuff organic micrite dolomite mixed pore facies,and micrite alga-dolomite intercrystalline pore facies.With wide distribution,good pore structure and high oil content,the first two facies are diagenetic facies of favorable reservoirs in Lucaogou Formation.The research results provide a basis for better understanding and exploration and development of the Lucaogou Formation shale reservoirs.
基金We thank the Special Fund for Science and Technology of Water Resources Department of Guizhou Province(Project No.KT201804)Guizhou Science and Technology Fund(Project No.[2020]4Y046,Project No.[2019]1075,Project No.[2018]1107)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project Nos.51964007 and 51774101)and the Scientific Research Project of Guiyang Rail Transit Line 2 Phase I Project(Project No.D2(I)e FW-YJ-2019-001-gs4WT)for their support.This study is also funded by Teaching reform project of Guizhou University(Project No.JG 201990).
文摘Natural fractures,like tectoclases,are essential in the formation of shale gas reservoirs and have been the focus of study for shale gas development.Tectoclases provide most storage space for gas and are largely controlled by the paleo-tectonic stress field in shale reservoirs of the Niutitang Formation,northern Guizhou area,China.An accurate prediction of the development and distribution of tectoclases in the reservoirs is of great significance to exploring and developing shale gas sweet spots in the area.Based on geological structure evolution and fracture characterization,this study is focused on factors that control the fracture development in the Niutitang Formation shale reservoirs in northern Guizhou through characterization and modeling of geomechanisms and tectonic movements.A geomechanical model is formulated for the shale reservoirs against the geological background of the area.On this basis,the fractures are predicted by using the acoustic emission data.Numerical simulation results show that the development and distribution of tectoclase is controlled by fault zones,some of which have no obvious turning points with tectoclase in the middle sections being more developed and fragmented than those at the two ends.Some of these have obvious S-shaped turning points where tectoclases are the most developed and fragmented.
基金granted by the National Science and Technology Major Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2017ZX05036002–001)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41202103, 41872124)SINOPEC Ministry of Science and Technology Project (Grant No. P17027–2)
文摘The Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale is widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,which is the key stratum for marine shale gas exploration and development(E&D)in China.Based on sedimentary environment,material basis,storage space,fracability and reservoir evolution data,the reservoir characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale and their significance for shale gas E&D are systematically compared and analyzed in this paper.The results show that(1)the depocenter of the Wufeng(WF)-Longmaxi(LM)shale gradually migrates from east to west.The high-quality shale reservoirs in the eastern Sichuan Basin are mainly siliceous shales,which are primarily distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM5.The high-quality reservoirs in the southern Sichuan Basin are mainly calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales,which are distributed in the graptolite shale interval of WF2-LM7.(2)Deep shale gas(the burial depth>3500 m)in the Sichuan Basin has high-ultrahigh pressure and superior physical properties.The organic-rich siliceous,calcareous-siliceous and organic-rich argillaceous shales have suitable reservoir properties.The marginal area of the Sichuan Basin has a higher degree of pressure relief,which leads to the argillaceous and silty shales evolving into direct cap rocks with poor reservoir/good sealing capacity.(3)Combining shale gas exploration practices and impacts of lithofacies,depth,pressure coefficient and brittle-ductile transition on the reservoir properties,it is concluded that the favorable depth interval of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale gas is 2200~4000 m under current technical conditions.(4)Aiming at the differential reservoir properties of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery,several suggestions for future research directions and E&D of shale gas are formulated.
文摘Carbon Dioxide (CO2) storage and sequestration in unconventional shale resources has been attracting interest since last couple of years due to the very unique characteristics of such formations have made them a feasible option for this object. Shale formations are found all around the world and the conventional assets are easily accessible, and also the huge move of operators toward developing unconventional reservoirs during past years leaves many of such formations ready for sequestering CO2. Today, the use of long horizontal wells that are drilled on a pad has the lowest amount of environmental footprint in which for storage and sequestration purpose also provides much more underground pore spaces available for CO2. In this paper we study the state of the art of the technology of CO2 storage and sequestration and provide different and fresh look for its complex phenomena from a mathematical modeling point of view. Moreover, we hope this study provides valuable insights into the use of depleted shale gas reservoirs for carbon sequestration, which as a result, a cleaner atmosphere will be achieved for the life of our next generations. Also, we present that the depleted shale gas reservoirs are very adequate for this purpose as they already have much of the infrastructure required to perform CO2 injection available in sites.
基金Supported by the China National Science and Technology Major Project(2016ZX05060001-032)
文摘The main area of the Jiaoshiba anticline of the Fuling shale gas field was taken as the research object,laboratory rock mechanical experiments and direct shear experiments were conducted to clarify the mechanical anisotropy characteristics and parameters of rock samples with rich beddings.Based on the experimental results,a 3D fracture propagation model of the target reservoir taking mechanical anisotropy,weak bedding plane and vertical stress difference into account was established by the discrete element method to analyze distribution patterns of hydraulic fractures under different bedding densities,mechanical properties,and fracturing engineering parameters(including perforation clusters,injection rates and fracturing fluid viscosity).The research results show that considering the influence of the weak bedding plane and longitudinal stress difference,the interlayer stress difference 3–4 MPa in the study area can control the fracture height within the zone of stress barrier,and the fracture height is less than 40 m.If the influence of the weak bedding plane is not considered,the simulation result of fracture height is obviously higher.Although the opening of high-density bedding fractures increases the complexity of hydraulic fractures,it significantly limited the propagation of fracture height.By reducing the number of clusters,increasing the injection rate,and increasing the volume and proportion of high-viscosity fracturing fluid in the pad stage,the restriction on fracture height due to the bedding plane and vertical stress difference can be reduced,and the longitudinal propagation of fractures can be promoted.The fracture propagation model was used to simulate one stage of Well A in Fuling shale gas field,and the simulation results were consistent with the micro-seismic monitoring results.
文摘Modeling and simulation of unconventional reservoirs are much more complicated than the conventional reservoir modeling, because of their complex flow characteristics. Mechanisms, which control the flow in the reservoir, are still under the investigation of researchers. However, it is important to investigate applications of mechanisms which are present to our knowledge. This paper presents the theory and applications of flow mechanisms in unconventional reservoir modeling. It is a well-known fact that most of the reservoir flow problems are non-linear due to pressure dependency of particular parameters. It is also widely accepted that fully numerical solutions are costly both computational and time wise. Therefore, the presented model in this paper follows semi-analytical solution methods. Gas adsorption in unconventional reservoirs is the major pressure dependent mechanism;in addition existence of natural fractures is also taken considerable attention. This paper aims to investigate combined effect of existence of natural fractures gas adsorption, and gas slippage effect while keeping the computational effort in acceptable range. Unlike the existing literature (Langmuir is widely used), BET multi-layer isotherm employed in this paper for gas adsorption modeling. A modified dual porosity modeling is used for natural fracture and gas slippage effect modeling. For model verification purposes a history matched is performed with real field data from Marcellus shale. The proposed model in this paper shows a good agreement with the field data. It is observed that BET isotherm models early time production performance more accurately than Langmuir isotherm. It is also concluded that gas adsorption significantly improves the production performances of unconventional reservoirs, with natural fractures. In addition, gas slippage has a slight effect in long term production.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41872123 and 42125205).
文摘Shales can form a complex fracture network during hydraulic fracturing, which greatly increases the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) and thus significantly increases oil or gas production. It is therefore important to accurately predict the probability of formation of the hydraulic fracture network for shale gas exploration and exploitation. Conventional discriminant criteria are presented as the relationship curves of stress difference vs. intersection angle. However, these methods are inadequate for application in the field. In this study, an effective and quantitative prediction method relating to the probability of complex fracture network formation is proposed. First, a discriminant criterion of fracture network was derived. Secondly, Monte Carlo simulation was applied to calculate the probability of the formation of the complex fracture network. Then, the method was validated by applying it to individual wells of two active shale gas blocks in the Sichuan Basin, China. Results show that the probabilities of fracture network are 0.98 for well JY1 and 0.26 for well W204, which is consistent with the micro-seismic hydraulic fracturing monitoring and actual gas production. Finally, the method was further extended to apply for the regional scale of the Sichuan Basin, where the general probabilities of fracture network formation are 0.32–1 and 0.74–1 for Weiyuan and Jiaoshiba blocks, respectively. The Jiaoshiba block has, therefore, an overall higher probability for formation of fracture network than the Weiyuan block. The proposed method has the potential in further application to evaluation and prediction of hydraulic fracturing operations in shale reservoirs.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52004237)Science and Technology Cooperation Project of the CNPC-SWPU Innovation Alliance(Grant No.2020CX020202)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2022JDJQ0009).
文摘The production performances of a well with a shale gas reservoir displaying a complex fracture network are simulated.In particular,a micro-seismic cloud diagram is used to describe the fracture network,and accordingly,a production model is introduced based on a multi-scale flow mechanism.A finite volume method is then exploited for the integration of the model equations.The effects of apparent permeability,conductivity,Langmuir volume,and bottom hole pressure on gas well production are studied accordingly.The simulation results show that ignoring the micro-scale flow mechanism of the shale gas leads to underestimating the well gas production.It is shown that after ten years of production,the cumulative gas production difference between the two scenarios with and without considering the micro-scale flow mechanisms is 19.5%.The greater the fracture conductivity,the higher the initial gas production of the gas well and the cumulative gas production.The larger the Langmuir volume,the higher the gas production rate and the cumulative gas production.With the reduction of the bottom hole pressure,the cumulative gas production increases,but the growth rate gradually decreases.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2014CB239102)the National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2016ZX05049-4)the National Natural Science Fundation of China (Nos. 41372107, 41572087)
文摘This paper was conducted on the shale reservoir in the Dongying depression in the Shahejie Formation of Paleogene. Based on detailed core description, rock thin sections, argon ion polishing, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) analysis, CT scanning and carbon-oxygen isotopic test, the formation mechanism of the inter-laminar fractures(or seams) and their development conditions were discussed by comprehensive analysis of the diagenetic evolution features and the reservoir space evolution characteristics. The results show that the laminated composite pattern in Dongying depression was dominated by vertical distribution of laminated calcite and clay minerals. Contrasted to the traditional understanding, development degree of inter-laminar fractures was much lower. Pure fluid between layers cannot exist without framework minerals, and the pre-existing well connected pore or horizontal overpressure micro seam was favorable paths of fluid migration. From the points of inter-laminar fractures origin mechanism and its evolution, the so called seams, were much more complex than traditional understanding that hydrocarbon generation raised the pore pressure and led to the parallel microfractures. But the inter-laminar fractures had little relationship with that whether the lamination was developed or bedding boundary was clear or not. In fact, the shale reservoir inter-laminar fractures were not rigorous fracture. They were controlled by pre-existing inter-granular pore(or seam) or dissolved pore, which distributed along carbonate laminae boundary and were connected by later super pressure, dissolution and the seepage force. And the development conditions were burial depth(bigger than 3 000 m) and the Ro value(>0.6%). Discussion on its origin and evolution has important petroleum geological significance on optimizing reservoir segment and favorable target areas selection.
基金sponsored by the National Science and Technology Major Project(2017ZX05039-004)。
文摘The premise of hydraulic fracturing is to have an accurate and detailed understanding of the rock mechanical properties and fracture propagation law of shale reservoirs. In this paper,a comprehensive evaluation of the mechanical properties of the shale oil reservoir in the south of Songliao Basin is carried out. Based on the experiments and the in-situ stress analysis, the fracture propagation law of three types of shale reservoirs is obtained,and the suggestions for fracturing are put forward. The results have shown that the fracture propagation of pure shale and low mature reservoir is easy to open along the bedding plane under compression loading,which is greatly influenced by the bedding. Sand-bearing shale is slightly better,the fractures of which are not easy to open along the bedding plane. The mechanical experimental results show that all the samples have the characteristics of low compressive strength,low Young’s modulus and strong anisotropy,indicating that the shale oil reservoir is certain plastic,which is related to its high clay mineral content and controlled by the bedding development. Compared with pure shale and low mature shale,the sandbearing shale has less clay content and less developed bedding,which maybe the main reason for its slightly better brittleness. Overall,the expansion of hydraulic fracture is controlled by in-situ stress and bedding. Because of the development of bedding,it is easy to form horizontal fractures. Thus it is not suitable for horizontal well fracturing.Because of the high content of clay minerals,the applicability of conventional slick hydraulic fracturing fluid is poor. It is suggested to use vertical well or directional well to carry out volume fracturing. In this way,the effect of bedding can be effectively used to open and connect the bedding and form a larger fracture network.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52064006 and 52004072)It was.also supported by the program(Grant No.202006050112)of China Scholarship Council(CSC)for the first author's visit at the Helm-holtz Centre Potsdam,GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
文摘Unconventional resources like shale gas has been the focus of intense research and development for two decades. Apart from intrinsic geologic factors that control the gas shale productivity (e.g. organic matter content, bedding planes, natural fractures, porosity and stress regime among others), external factors like wellbore orientation and stimulation design play a role. In this study, we present a series of true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments conducted on Lushan shale to investigate the interplay of internal factors (bedding, natural fractures and in situ stress) and external factors (wellbore orientation) on the growth process of fracture networks in cubic specimens of 200 mm in length. We observe relatively low breakdown pressure and fracture propagation pressure as the wellbore orientation and/or the maximum in situ stress is subparallel to the shale bedding plane. The wellbore orientation has a more prominent effect on the breakdown pressure, but its effect is tapered with increasing angle of bedding inclination. The shale breakdown is followed by an abrupt response in sample displacement, which reflects the stimulated fracture volume. Based on fluid tracer analysis, the morphology of hydraulic fractures (HF) is divided into four categories. Among the categories, activation of bedding planes (bedding failure, BF) and natural fractures (NF) significantly increase bifurcation and fractured areas. Under the same stress regime, a horizontal wellbore is more favorable to enhance the complexity of hydraulic fracture networks. This is attributed to the relatively large surface area in contact with the bedding plane for the horizontal borehole compared to the case with a vertical wellbore. These findings provide important references for hydraulic fracturing design in shale reservoirs.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42072150).
文摘The research on the correlation between hydrocarbon accumulations and magmatic activities has always attracted aroused much wide attention.Existing research has primarily the hydrocarbon generations capability of source rocks and the quality of reservoirs by diabase intrusions.whereas,rare systematic research has been conducted on the oiliness and enrichment mechanism.To be specific,the diabase intrusive zone,the contact metamorphic zone and the normal shale zone of the Funing Formation in the Gaoyou Sag,Subei Basin were taken as the object of this study.Moreover,in this study,the hydrocarbon generation quality,reservoir quality,and oil-bearing quality of diabase-metamorphic zone-normal shale were evaluated using X-ray diffractions,argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscope,energy spectrum,rock slice/light-sheet microscopic observations,organic geochemical tests,N_(2) gas adsorption and 2D NMR tests.The results indicated that the intrusive zone,the metamorphic zone,and the normal zone were formed in order by the degree of effect of diabase intrusions.Secondly,the oil content of different parts exhibited significant heterogeneity due to the baking effect of diabase,and the metamorphic zone had the significantly better oil-bearing nature than the intrusive zone.Lastly,a distribution model was proposed for the diabase intrusive zone-metamorphic zone-normal surrounding rock zone.
基金RPSEA and U.S.Department of Energy for partially funding this study
文摘Hydrocarbon production from shale has attracted much attention in the recent years. When applied to this prolific and hydrocarbon rich resource plays, our understanding of the complexities of the flow mechanism(sorption process and flow behavior in complex fracture systems- induced or natural) leaves much to be desired. In this paper, we present and discuss a novel approach to modeling, history matching of hydrocarbon production from a Marcellus shale asset in southwestern Pennsylvania using advanced data mining, pattern recognition and machine learning technologies. In this new approach instead of imposing our understanding of the flow mechanism, the impact of multi-stage hydraulic fractures, and the production process on the reservoir model, we allow the production history, well log, completion and hydraulic fracturing data to guide our model and determine its behavior. The uniqueness of this technology is that it incorporates the so-called "hard data" directly into the reservoir model, so that the model can be used to optimize the hydraulic fracture process. The "hard data" refers to field measurements during the hydraulic fracturing process such as fluid and proppant type and amount, injection pressure and rate as well as proppant concentration. This novel approach contrasts with the current industry focus on the use of "soft data"(non-measured, interpretive data such as frac length, width,height and conductivity) in the reservoir models. The study focuses on a Marcellus shale asset that includes 135 wells with multiple pads, different landing targets, well length and reservoir properties. The full field history matching process was successfully completed using this data driven approach thus capturing the production behavior with acceptable accuracy for individual wells and for the entire asset.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52192622,51874253,U20A202)
文摘To investigate the height growth of multi-cluster fractures during variable fluid-viscosity fracturing in a layered shale oil reservoir,a two-dimensional finite element method(FEM)-discrete fracture network(DFN)model coupled with flow,stress and damage is proposed.A traction-separation law is used to describe the mixed-mode response of the damaged adhesive fractures,and the cubic law is used to describe the fluid flow within the fractures.The rock deformation is controlled by the in-situ stress,fracture cohesion and fluid pressure on the hydraulic fracture surface.The coupled finite element equations are solved by the explicit time difference method.The effects of the fracturing treatment parameters including fluid viscosity,pumping rate and cluster spacing on the geometries of multifractures are investigated.The results show that variable fluid-viscosity injection can improve the complexity of the fracture network and height of the main fractures simultaneously.The pumping rate of15 m^(3)/min,variable fluid-viscosity of 3-9-21-36-45 mPa s with a cluster spacing of 7.5 m is the ideal treatment strategy.The field application shows that the peak daily production of the application well with the optimized injection procedu re of variable fluid-viscosity fracturing is 171 tons(about 2.85 times that of the adjacent well),which is the highest daily production record of a single shale oil well in China,marking a strategic breakthrough of commercial shale oil production in the Jiyang Depression,Shengli Oilfield.The variable fluid-viscosity fracturing technique is proved to be very effective for improving shale oil production.
基金financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project (2017ZX05063002–009)National Natural Science Foundation of China (41772150)+1 种基金Sichuan Province’s Key Project of Research and Development (18ZDYF0884)Qian Ke He Platform Talents [2017]5789-16。
文摘As an important pilot target for shale gas exploration and development in China,the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Dianqianbei Area is characterized by high content of nitrogen,which severely increases exploration risk.Accordingly,this study explores the genesis of shale gas reservoir and the mechanism of nitrogen enrichment through investigating shale gas compositions,isotope features,and geochemical characteristics of associated gases.The high-nitrogen shale gas reservoir in the Longmaxi Formation is demonstrated to be a typical dry gas reservoir.Specifically,the alkane carbon isotope reversal is ascribed to the secondary cracking of crude oil and the Rayleigh fractionation induced by the basalt mantle plume.Such a thermogenic oil-type gas reservoir is composed of both oil-cracking gas and kerogen-cracking gas.The normally high nitrogen content(18.05%-40.92%) is attributed to organic matter cracking and thermal ammoniation in the high-maturity stage.Specifically,the high heat flow effect of the Emeishan mantle plume exacerbates the thermal cracking of organic matter in the Longmaxi Formation shale,accompanied by nitrogen generation.In comparison,the abnormally high nitrogen content(86.79%-98.54%) is ascribed to the communication between the atmosphere and deep underground fluids by deep faults,which results in hydrocarbon loss and nitrogen intrusion,acting as the key factor for deconstruction of the primary shale gas reservoir.Results of this study not only enrich research on genetic mechanism of high-maturity N_@ shale gas reservoirs,but also provide theoretical guidance for subsequent gas reservoir resource evaluation and well-drilling deployment in this area.
