Layer | Fill | Outline |
---|
Map layers
Theme | Visible | Selectable | Appearance | Zoom Range (now: 0) |
---|
Fill | Stroke |
---|---|
Collaborating Authors
Abstract With the depletion of conventional fossil resources and growing demand for energy, unconventional energy is playing a more important role in the world energy market. Nowadays, unconventional gas production contributes to around 50% of total gas output in the USA Shale gas has significantly changed the energy portfolio in the USA and reduced America's dependence on oil and gas imports. The case histories of four major shale gas plays in the USA, Antrim, Barnett, Haynesville, and Marcellus, are discussed in this paper. It is concluded that the phenomenal shale gas success in the USA benefitted from improved horizontal drilling and fracturing technology, positive government policy and tax incentives, and mature surface pipeline system. China is facing with soaring energy demand and the pressure to cut greenhouse gas emission. These factors have motivated oil operators to explore and exploit the enormous shale gas resources in China, especially in the Sichuan and Tarim Basins. But several factors may hinder the future of shale gas in China. Firstly, Chinese operators have to develop suitable drilling and fracturing technologies. Secondly, lack of water resources may restrain fracturing operations. Thirdly, China lacks mature pipeline system. Fourthly, the Chinese national oil companies may not be interested in producing shale gas due to its low price and low profits. Therefore, it is emergent for the Chinese government to invest in innovations and infrastructure, and allow independent and private companies to engage in the shale gas business.
- North America > United States > Texas (0.72)
- North America > United States > Pennsylvania (0.72)
- North America > United States > New York (0.50)
- (3 more...)
- Government > Regional Government > Asia Government > China Government (1.00)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.95)
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Utica Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- (32 more...)
Abstract A detailed study of the thermophysical properties of Devonian shales from the central and eastern United States has been carried out. The properties encompass a wide spectrum of material properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat, dielectric constant and sonic velocities. The importance of such measurements in on-field applications in oil shale technology is highlighted. Comparison of the trends in the various properties observed for Devonian shales as a function of temperature with data obtained previously for Green River oil shales is presented. previously for Green River oil shales is presented. Similarities and differences in the thermophysical behavior of the two types of shales are discussed. Introduction Gas-bearing oil shales of Devonian age occur extensively in the central and eastern United States. These shale deposits represent an important potential source of natural gas. Estimates of oil and gas potential of Devonian shales are somewhat variable potential of Devonian shales are somewhat variable although they are in the neighborhood of several hundred trillion cubic feet of gas. Thermophysical characterization of Devonian shales is relevant to the development and optimization of methods that are currently envisaged for the recovery of natural gas from these deposits. Most of these methods rely on the application of heat to pyrolyze the organic constituents of the shale. An understanding of the effect of temperature on the properties of these shales is thus crucial for efficient process design. The term "thermophysical" is used in the present context to represent those parameters which are directly or indirectly related to parameters which are directly or indirectly related to the transport, absorption or release of heat. Properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity Properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat fall naturally into this definitive classification scheme. For materials like oil shales which are thermally active, i.e., those which undergo thermal decomposition or phase transformation, it is also useful to characterize their thermal behavior by techniques such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Electrical and mechanical properties have customarily become an integral part of thermophysical characterization in view of their extreme sensitivity to changes taking place in the material on application of heat. The present article focuses on the above aspects of the thermophysical behavior of Devonian shales. A wide spectrum of measurement parameters has been employed to yield a self-consistent picture on the overall thermophysical behavior of these oil shales. The properties that were measured, the techniques employed and the relevance of these experimental results in some typical on-field applications are listed in Table 1. The work reported in this paper represents the first instance of a complete thermophysical characterization of Devonian shales. In previous papers from this laboratory, the electrical, thermal and mechanical behavior of Green River oil shales was reported. In this article, comparisons of the various aspects in the thermophysical behavior of those shales with the corresponding trends for Devonian shales will be highlighted. EXPERIMENTAL a) Samples: Measurements were performed on cored oil shale samples of appropriate dimensions that were drilled from crack-free massive blocks. Michigan shales were obtained from wells drilled in Sanilac County with core depths ranging between 1303 - 1306 ft. Kentucky oil shale samples were obtained from the Sweetland Creek member (core depth: 2016–2040 ft, average thickness 24 ft) of the New Albany deposits. The Green River oil shale samples were selected from cores drilled in the Anvil Points and Logan Wash deposits. The coring direction was nominally perpendicular to the stratigraphic planes of the shale. perpendicular to the stratigraphic planes of the shale. Oil yields of the various shale samples were obtained from pulsed NMR assay. All samples were carefully dried in pulsed NMR assay. All samples were carefully dried in vacuum at room temperature prior to measurement. Repeatability of the experimental results and any possible variations arising from compositional possible variations arising from compositional inhomogeneity of the shale, were systematically checked by duplicate runs on samples cored at approximately 19 mm intervals from the blocks (vide infra). b) Techniques: An outline of the various techniques employed for the thermophysical characterization (cf Table 1) is given below. Details of the measurement systems, calibration etc. are reported elsewhere.
- North America > United States > Wyoming > Green River Basin (0.99)
- North America > United States > Utah > Green River Basin (0.99)
- North America > United States > Kentucky > Illinois Basin > New Albany Shale Formation (0.98)
- (3 more...)
Summary Drilling activity has increased dramatically in unconventional shale gas reservoirs. The drilling fluid of choice in these shale plays is often nonaqueous-based fluid (NAF). While NAFs can provide advantages such as shale stabilization, lubricity, and contamination tolerance, environmental consequences and associated costs are an issue. These disadvantages cause operators to seek water-based muds (WBMs) for drilling many of these gas reservoirs. Despite some operational similarities, a wide variety of unique downhole conditions can be found in the shale plays. Shale mineralogy and bottomhole temperature (BHT) represent just two highly variable critical factors in unconventional gas reservoirs. Therefore, a single water-based solution for addressing shale plays globally is not a realistic option. Instead, a customized approach that delivers WBMs formulated specifically for a given shale play has been pursued. Customization relies on detailed analysis of the well parameters of a given shale play. This analysis includes not only the shale morphology and lithology but also well drilling program plans, environmental factors, and other reservoir-specific considerations. Applying appropriate drilling-fluid chemistries on the basis of this detailed analysis has led to the successful field deployment of a number of new shale fluids. Details of the process used for customizing a WBM for a shale play, as well as specific examples of new fluids developed for the Barnett, Fayetteville, and Haynesville shales, are presented in this paper. Full laboratory development and testing are described. Additionally, field-trial results are presented that show that specially designed WBMs can provide performance comparable to that of NAFs, but with enhanced environmental and economic benefits. Application of the customization process to develop WBMs for other shale plays around the globe is also discussed.
- North America > United States > Texas (1.00)
- North America > United States > Louisiana (0.91)
- North America > United States > Arkansas > Washington County > Fayetteville (0.30)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (1.00)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play (1.00)
- North America > United States > Texas > Haynesville Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > East Texas Salt Basin > Cotton Valley Group Formation > Bossier Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Oklahoma > Arkoma Basin > Fayetteville Shale Formation (0.99)
- (11 more...)
Shale gas is defined as natural gas occurring in shale formations. It is an unconventional energy resource, which has become an increasingly important source of natural gas globally and has the potential to grow as a major energy source in the next decade. However, production of shale gas remains technically and economically challenging. Having high total organic content and falling in the gas window (302 F–392 F), shale has sufficient potential to generate huge amounts of natural gas. Generally, natural gas is stored in a shale matrix, which is highly porous but has very poor permeability.
- North America > United States > Texas (0.79)
- North America > United States > Arkansas (0.52)
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > West Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
- (13 more...)
World’s Oil Shale Available Retorting Technologies And The Forecast Of Shale Oil Production
Qian, Jialin (School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum Beijing, China) | Wang, Jianqiu (School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum Beijing, China) | Li, Shuyuan (School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum Beijing, China)
ABSTRACT This paper describes the world's shale oil resources; introduces the available oil shale retorting technologies including the lump oil shale retorting and particulate oil shale retorting. And this paper also gives the forecast of shale oil production. INTRODUCTION Due to the high crude oil price, the oil shale retorting for producing shale oil have being paid much attention. It is recognized that the world's proven shale oil reserves are higher than the crude oil exploitable resources. Now in the world, there are three countries produce shale oil commercially: China, Estonia and Brazil. China uses Fushun type retorting, Estonia uses Galoter and Kiviter retorting, Brazil uses Petrosix retorting. Total annual production of shale oil in the world accounts no more than one million tons currently. It is predicted that till 2015, it may reach 3.5 million tons. WORLD's SHALE OIL RESERVES Based on the data, published by Dr. Dyni(2003), and modified by Jialin Qian(2008), the world. in place shale oil,(converted from the in-situ oil shale) accounts for about 400 billion tons, this resources are higher than that of crude oil(more than 300 billion tons). Among the top ten countries, United States ranks first with highest reserves of in place shale oil(300billion tons), the rest nine countries with the decreasing order are as follows: Russia(39billion tons), Zaire(14billion tons), Brazil(12billion tons), Jordan(5.2billion tons), Morocco(5 billion tons), Australia(4.5billion tons), China(2.7billion tons), Estonia(2.5billion tons), and Italia(1.4billion tons) (Dyni,2003;Qian,2008).It should be mentioned that the above figures may not be so accurate, due to the fact that some countries have no proven figures, but only estimated resources. And for some countries such as United States, Russia, Brazil, Jordan, Australia, Estonia and China, the above figures represent their proven reserves. Besides, China's oil shale resources are estimated more than several hundred.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Europe > Estonia (1.00)
- South America > Brazil (1.00)
- (2 more...)