Recent Advances in Shale Gas Exploration, Development and Production

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 1966

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Petroleum Engineering School, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Interests: reservoir geomechanics; rock mechanics; well drilling
College of Carbon Neutral Energy, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Interests: unconventional oil and gas geomechanics; shale reservoir fracturing; wellbore corrosion and sealing integrity
Oil and Gas well Engineering Research Institute, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: shale reservoir fracturing; rock mechanics; wellbore stability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With increasing energy demand, shale gas resources are favored as a clean energy source in fossil fuels. A range of advanced technologies have helped us succeed in the past, such as geological desert, well factory, and hydraulic fracturing. In order to cope with climate change, shale gas development is also facing new challenges in the background of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. And the strong power for the increase in shale gas production is due to advanced, efficient, and environmentally friendly technology. Sharing recent advances in shale gas exploration, development, and production around the world contributes towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

This Special Issue, titled “Recent Advances in Shale Gas Exploration, Development and Production”, aims to cover novel advances in research or practice.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Advances in shale gas reservoir formation theory and evaluation methods;
  • Design, modeling, field practice for shale gas well drilling, well completion, and simulation;
  • Simulation techniques, software, algorithms, or other tools for modeling and simulation in shale gas production;
  • Experiment and simulation research in shale gas exploration, development, and production.

Prof. Dr. Xiangchao Shi
Dr. Wei Yan
Dr. Xian Shi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geological characteristics
  • reservoir
  • well drilling
  • well completion
  • simulation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 8427 KiB  
Article
Selection and Optimization Design of PDC Bits Based on FEM Analysis for Drilling Long Horizontal Sections of Shale Formations
by Lulin Kong, Zhaowei Wang, Haige Wang, Mingyue Cui, Chong Liang, Xiangwen Kong and Ping Wang
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2807; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092807 - 21 Sep 2023
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Abstract
Well structures with ultra-long sections have become one of the most applied technologies in the field of shale gas development. While there have been many technical challenges, enhancing the breaking efficiency and stability of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits has become an essential [...] Read more.
Well structures with ultra-long sections have become one of the most applied technologies in the field of shale gas development. While there have been many technical challenges, enhancing the breaking efficiency and stability of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits has become an essential issue of focus. Since 2013, the well structure in the Duvernay area has been optimized multiple times, and the rate of penetration (ROP) of the entire wellbore has nearly doubled. However, there are significant differences in terms of the performances of different PDC bits, and there is still room for improvement to optimize these drill bits. For this reason, a confined compressive strength test was conducted to obtain the rock mechanical parameters from shale cores extracted from the long horizontal section. Using these data, a finite element model (FEM) was developed with a corresponding scale. A calibration of the elastic-plastic damage constitutive models was then performed using the FEM. The breaking mechanism of three different PDC bits was examined using a “PDC bit-bottom hole” interaction FEM model, facilitating guidance for bit selection and design optimization: (1) The type B PDC bit, which has four blades and 20 cutters, exhibited the highest mechanical specific energy (MSE) and the lowest vibration across three directional mechanical characteristics. This design is recommended for engineering applications. (2) Lower axial vibrations were produced when the CDE was used as the rear element when compared to those when using the BHE. However, an increase within an acceptable range was observed in the TOB and circumferential vibrations. Thus, for redesigning work on the type B bit, the assembly of the CDE is suggested. (3) A decrease in the MSE and vibration in three directional mechanical characteristics was observed when the depth of cut (DOC) was varied between 1.5 and 2.0 mm. A broadening in the range of lateral forces was noted when a DOC of 2.0 mm was used. Therefore, for the redesign of the type B bit, the assembly of CDEs as rear elements at a DOC of 1.5 mm is recommended. In conclusion, a new practical method for the selection and optimization of PDC bit design, based on rock mechanics and the FEM theory, is proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Shale Gas Exploration, Development and Production)
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20 pages, 8845 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Stress Sensitivity of Elastic Wave Velocities for Anisotropic Shale in Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation
by Yutian Feng, Hongming Tang, Haoxuan Tang, Yijiang Leng, Xuewen Shi and Jia Liu
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2607; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092607 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 697
Abstract
The shale of the Wufeng–Longmaxi formation in the Sichuan Basin is the preferred layer for shale gas exploration in China, and its petrophysical characteristics are the key to geological and engineering sweet spot prediction. However, the characteristics and impact mechanisms of its acoustic [...] Read more.
The shale of the Wufeng–Longmaxi formation in the Sichuan Basin is the preferred layer for shale gas exploration in China, and its petrophysical characteristics are the key to geological and engineering sweet spot prediction. However, the characteristics and impact mechanisms of its acoustic wave velocity and elastic anisotropy are currently unclear. In this paper, the Wufeng–Longmaxi shale is taken as the research object, and the P-wave and S-wave velocities of the samples are tested under the loading and unloading processes of confining pressure. The stress sensitivity variations in parameters such as wave velocity, wave velocity ratio, and anisotropy are discussed. P-wave and S-wave anisotropy parameters are correlated under different pressure conditions. X-ray diffraction, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, micron CT scanning, and other analytical techniques are used to explore the mechanisms of stress sensitivity of elastic parameters. The research results indicate that: (1) the acoustic velocities of samples from different angles are V90° > V45° > V0°, and there is a positive correlation between the wave velocity and the confining pressure. After unloading the confining pressure, irreversible plastic deformation occurs due to the closure of some microfractures in the rock core, causing the wave velocity to be higher than the initial value. (2) The stress sensitivity coefficient of the P-wave (The mean is 3.00 m·s−1·MPa−1) is higher than that of the S-wave (the mean is 1.23 m·s−1·MPa−1), and the stress sensitivity coefficient of the compacted stage (the mean is 3.02 m·s−1·MPa−1) is higher than that of the elastic stage (the mean is 1.21 m·s−1·MPa−1). (3) The anisotropy of the P-wave and S-wave is negatively correlated with the confining pressure. When the confining pressure is loaded to 65 MPa, the change rate of the P-wave anisotropy coefficient is 23%, and its stress sensitivity is higher than that of S-wave anisotropy coefficient (the change rate is 13.7%). After unloading the confining pressure, the degree of anisotropy is reduced due to the closure of some microfractures. The empirical formula of P-wave and S-wave anisotropy parameters under different pressures is established through linear regression, which can provide a reference for mutual predictions. (4) The variation in wave velocity anisotropy with stress can be divided into stress and material anisotropy, which are related to the directional arrangement of microfractures and clay minerals, respectively. The quantitative characterization of shale anisotropy can be realized by evaluating the development degree of reservoir fractures and mineral components, providing a reference for logging interpretations, sweet spot prediction, and fracturing construction of shale gas reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Shale Gas Exploration, Development and Production)
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