Modeling Gas Production from Shale

Reservoir
 Outline
• Characteristic of shale gas reservoir
• Single and multi-component Adsorption
• Gas in Place Quantification for Shale gas reservoir
• Previous Modeling Effort for Unconventional gas
reservoir
• Numerical Model
• Model Results
Characteristic of Shale Gas Reservoir
 Triple Porosity Behavior

Gas Filled Pores

1. Matrix pores
2. Natural fractures
3. Adsorbed gas

4 porosity systems:
1. Organic matter (Kerogen).
Nano-pores
2. Organic matter (Kerogen).
Micro-pores
3. Inorganic matter (Clay,
Silica, etc). Micro-pores
4. Micro (natural) fractures
connecting to wellbore
Shale Gas Production Mechanism
Gas Production Mechanisms

Depletion of free gas stored in the fracture

network (Darcy Flow)

Depletion of free gas stored in the matrix

(Knudsen diffusion and slip flow in
micropores/nanopores)

Desorption of Adsorbed Gas

(Gas diffusion )
 Rate vs Time Curve

ET:
-Lasting 1-3 month
-The response dominated by:
-Fracture permeability
-Fracture spacing
-Effective Lateral Length
MT:
-The response dominated by:
LT:
-Fracture permeability -The response dominated by:
-The width of the stimulated area -Matrix permeability
-Secondary variables during MT: -Matrix porosity
-Matrix porosity and net thickness -Fracture spacing of natural fractures
in the non-stimulated area
Volumetric Calculation For Shale Gas

Langmuir

Darcy flow and gravity-capillary equilibrium which is

Implemented in conventional reservoir is not accurate
for production evaluation from shale reservoir
To increase Kn, either by (1) Increasing MFP (example: gas flowing at very low pressure)
or by (2) decreasing the pore size. Then the contribution of Knudsen layer increases.
It goes to transition flow (pure Knudsen flow).
Shale Gas Production Mechanism (Previous Efforst)

1. Gas Slippage and Diffusion

2. Gas Desorption
 Numerical Model for Shale

Dual Porosity
It is assumed that shales consist of: (1) Organic nano-pores, (2) Micro-fractures
1. Mass balance in Organic Nano-pores
2. Mass balance in Organic Nano-pores
Gas Shale Overview (Patel, 2014)

1. Depositional Environment: To determine the type and quality of

the hydrocarbon that might exist in the shle
2. TOC: directly proportional to the yield of gas
3. Average Gas Content: The amount of natural gas in place
4. Reservoir Thickness: Influences the commercial production of
shale gas
5. Reservoir Pressure: Indicates the gas in place and possible
net gas recovery due to compaction
6. Shale Mineralogy:
-The presence of high clay content increases
the difficulty of fracturing and keeping a fracture propped open
over the production time frame
-The presence of high quartz content makes it nore brittle
and easier to hydraulically fracture
Patel, 2014
Gas Shale Overview (Patel, 2014)