Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference |
| Publisher | Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) |
| ISBN (electronic) | 9781613993606 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
| Event | SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference - Denver, United States Duration: 25 Aug 2014 → 27 Aug 2014 |
Abstract
The main barrier to sustainable development of US shale, the pore structure of the nanopores storing and transporting hydrocarbon, has been quietly ignored. Fluid flow and mass transport in porous media is controlled by pore structure, which has both geometric and topological characteristics; these characteristics therefore affect exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Considering the composition of mineral and kerogen phases and their associated nanopores in shales, we have studied tracer penetration and distribution, and its association with mineral and organic kerogen phases. We examined imbibition behavior, and imbibed tracer distribution, for fluids (API brine or n-decane) imbibed into initially dry Barnett shale samples. Pore connection was also probed by injecting molten Wood's metal alloy at pressures as high as 6,000 bars, followed by imaging and elemental mapping. The extremely sensitive detection of Wood's metal component elements by laser ablation-ICP-MS mapping reveals that only about 1/1000th of the edge-accessible porosity is connected in the sample interior, which is consistent with other experimental approaches and theoretical interpretation of pore connectivity based on percolation theory. This sparse pore space connection within the shale matrix limits fracture-matrix exchange in fractured shale, resulting in steep initial production decline and overall low recovery.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Sustainable Development Goals
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Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), 2016.
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Pore accessibility and connectivity of mineral and kerogen phases in shales
AU - Hu, Qinhong
AU - Gao, Xubo
AU - Gao, Zhiye
AU - Ewing, Robert
AU - Dultz, Stefan
AU - Kaufmann, Josef
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The main barrier to sustainable development of US shale, the pore structure of the nanopores storing and transporting hydrocarbon, has been quietly ignored. Fluid flow and mass transport in porous media is controlled by pore structure, which has both geometric and topological characteristics; these characteristics therefore affect exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Considering the composition of mineral and kerogen phases and their associated nanopores in shales, we have studied tracer penetration and distribution, and its association with mineral and organic kerogen phases. We examined imbibition behavior, and imbibed tracer distribution, for fluids (API brine or n-decane) imbibed into initially dry Barnett shale samples. Pore connection was also probed by injecting molten Wood's metal alloy at pressures as high as 6,000 bars, followed by imaging and elemental mapping. The extremely sensitive detection of Wood's metal component elements by laser ablation-ICP-MS mapping reveals that only about 1/1000th of the edge-accessible porosity is connected in the sample interior, which is consistent with other experimental approaches and theoretical interpretation of pore connectivity based on percolation theory. This sparse pore space connection within the shale matrix limits fracture-matrix exchange in fractured shale, resulting in steep initial production decline and overall low recovery.
AB - The main barrier to sustainable development of US shale, the pore structure of the nanopores storing and transporting hydrocarbon, has been quietly ignored. Fluid flow and mass transport in porous media is controlled by pore structure, which has both geometric and topological characteristics; these characteristics therefore affect exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Considering the composition of mineral and kerogen phases and their associated nanopores in shales, we have studied tracer penetration and distribution, and its association with mineral and organic kerogen phases. We examined imbibition behavior, and imbibed tracer distribution, for fluids (API brine or n-decane) imbibed into initially dry Barnett shale samples. Pore connection was also probed by injecting molten Wood's metal alloy at pressures as high as 6,000 bars, followed by imaging and elemental mapping. The extremely sensitive detection of Wood's metal component elements by laser ablation-ICP-MS mapping reveals that only about 1/1000th of the edge-accessible porosity is connected in the sample interior, which is consistent with other experimental approaches and theoretical interpretation of pore connectivity based on percolation theory. This sparse pore space connection within the shale matrix limits fracture-matrix exchange in fractured shale, resulting in steep initial production decline and overall low recovery.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959191496&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.15530/urtec-2014-1922943
DO - 10.15530/urtec-2014-1922943
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84959191496
BT - Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference
PB - Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
T2 - SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference
Y2 - 25 August 2014 through 27 August 2014
ER -