Shale Gas Matrix Permeability from Unsteady-State techniques Review and Modeling

Thesis Project Maria F. Gonzalez

Objectives
Obtain Analytical and/or numerical solutions

Review Methods

Review Models

Review Factors

Obtain Improved Model

Validate and Verification

Data From the Industry

Publish

Fall 2012

Winter 2012 & Spring 2013

1. Highlights on the Review of Methods

Km Measurements
P=Pd-Pu

Core Plugs

Pu

Pd

Km Measurements

Luffel et al. Original GRI method

Crushed Samples

A measured weight of crushed shale (15 to 30 gr) is placed in a sample cell. Helium is then allowed to expand into the sample cell from a reference chamber at 200 psig.

Pressure instantly drops to a level dictated by dead space in the sample cell.
Then, pressure decays with time to a lower pressure (stabilization pressure) as helium moves into the pores within each shale chip

Helium At 200 psig

GRI Method (Luffel et al.)

Tinni, 2011

Km and porosity effect on Pressure Pulse. Haskett et al

Same porosity Different Permeability Changes time required to achieve Stabilization Pressure

Same Permeability Different porosity Changes stabilization pressure

Particle Size and Duration of Test. Profice et al.

Region of the curve being useful to analyze the permeability strongly depends on chips size. This study uses an unimodal distribution of spherical particles. Real case -> several sizes and shapes (drill cuttings)

Sensitivity analysis needed when modeling real samples

Diffusivity Equation

Initial & Boundary Conditions

Solution Approaches

Modeling Approaches

Haskett et al.s approach cores Travis Peak Formation

Dimensionless pseudopressures and adjusted pseudo time
Diffusivity equation Transformation Laplace Solution in Laplace Space Inversion

Cui et al. 2009

Simplifications derived on considering as constant some of the coefficients.

Late Time Technique Cui et al (GRI) Curve Fitting

Javadpour et al. 2012 Crushed Samples

Cui et al.s plus Slip flow Knudsen Diffusion

Javadpour et al. 2012

An idea: Analog Modeling option

Analysis of derivative data from pressure pulse data at late times has been done for CORES.

Different Flow Regimes identification within samples Applicable to cores How to apply to crushed samples?.

What will affect the experiment and model?

Amount of crushed particles in the sample cell Particle size Equilibrium pressures (pressure at which the pressure decay stops) Different gases. Starting state of the crushed rocks Starting state of the measurement apparatus Desorption occurring under different testing conditions?

Next
Modeling
Pseudopressures Pore Proximity Effects Z factor Adsorbed Layer Desorption effects on Pressure pulse tests? Other flow regimes different to slip Try different approaches of Modeling Pressure pulse penetration Pressure Pulse diffusion

Solution (with and without simplifications sensitivity analysis)

Numerical Analytical

Every Shale is Different and the methods should be adaptative