Shale Gas: Research needs from a European perspective...Technology for a better society • Shale gas • Shale oil • Non-shale un-conventionals • Tight gas • Coal bed methane

Technology for a better society 1

Maria Barrio, SINTEF Petroleum GTS Seminar, 27th May 2014

Shale Gas: Research needs from a European perspective

Technology for a better society

Conventional and unconventional oil and gas

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Source: America’s New Energy Future: The Unconventional Oil and Gas Revolution and the US Economy. Volume 1: National Economic Contributions. An HIS Report. October 2012.


• Shale gas • Shale oil • Non-shale un-conventionals

• Tight gas • Coal bed methane • Methane hydrates • Tar sand (Canada) • Heavy oil (Venezuela) – is this unconventional?

• Gas-to-liquid (GTL) • Coal-to-liquid (CTL)

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What is "unconventional"?

Tight oil ≠ Shale oil Resources ≠ Economically recoverable resources


Source: IEA Energy Technology Perspectives, 2012


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Source: IEA Energy Technology Perspectives, 2012


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Source: World Energy Outlook 2013


Source: World Energy Outlook 2013

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1: Shale gas is a transnational issue

Major unconventional natural gas resources in Europe


Public perception

2: Need for independent research based knowledge


The role of SINTEF

• SINTEF, as a non-commercial foundation, is able and willing to provide objective information. To be in that position, insight in the technical issues is absolutely necessary.

• SINTEF will provide independent research based knowledge for the industry,

public, politicians and decision makers. Public perception is a critical issue for all decision makers, and the public and politicians should get access to credible information sources.

• In those areas where unconventional O&G activities are undertaken, there is also a need for independent R&D in order to ensure continuous efforts to develop and use technology with less environmental impact.

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VERSUS

3: Not possible to copy US shale gas production


• Assessment of shale gas potential • Technology for safe exploitation • Environmental impact & footprint • Energy and carbon efficiencies • Regulations, market and policy issues • Public perception

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Multiple disciplines in Shale Gas


* Output maps: - Total organic carbon (TOC) - Hydrogen index (HI) - Accu. thickness (m) of organic facies classes

C15+ ARO

NSOC15+ SAT

Primary Migration

Generation

Reservoir

* Natural fracturing and pressure modeling in shale gas

Seismic interpretation

Well data Rock properties TOC from logs using OF-MOD

Petroleum System Modelling using SEMI

Reconstruction of geopressure using SEMI-Pressim*

Estimate expulsion and retention processes of HC in gas shales using SEMI PriMig

Our modelling workflow strategic

development Source rock modelling on basin scale using OF-

MOD* Sensitivity and

risk analysis


• Industrial challenges: • Increase recovery and extend production plateau of producing reservoirs • Reduce environmental footprints to a public acceptable minimum

• This requires new technology for:

• Characterization of low permeability heterogeneous reservoirs • Drilling of horizontal & well sealed wells • Optimized & controlled fracturing • Monitoring of fracturing operations and reservoir scale recovery

Gas & Oil Shale Production

Particle model for layers in shale


• In situ matrix & fracture system permeability from laboratory measurements and geomechanically coupled reservoir simulation • Adsorbed vs. free gas vs. bound water vs. free water… • Water- Shale interaction? • Role of shale anisotropy • A multi-scale challenge!

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New Technology for Characterization of low permeability heterogeneous reservoirs

m mm µm nm

Optical microscope SEM

SEM / TEM

FIB/SEM analysis of Mancos Shale (Torsæter et al., SINTEF, SPE 2012) →


• Borehole stability has to be assured • Drillability in hard rock may be an issue • Long term sealing is essential, requires high cement quality

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Drilling of horizontal & well sealed wells

Experimental tests with small samples • Fast triaxial tests on cm size samples • Uniaxial & Shale punch tests on mm size

samples (e.g. drill cuttings) • Core scratch & ultrasonic velocities to assess

shale strength

Borehole collapse in hollow cylinder test

performed at SINTEF

Illustration of undamaged small core sections (orange) vs. damaged large samples (white)

In-house developed shale punch test holder for

mm size samples


Mancos Shale (5000 frames per second,

Orientation 15°)

Mancos Shale (200 frames per second,

Orientation 60°)

Nat Simpson, MSc project 2013 + Gas Shale SIP; ARMA 2014

Lab Example of fracture initiation: Brazilian tests with high speed camera + AE


Fracturing in a naturally-fractured formation: Anisotropic in-situ stresses

• Fractures run approximately normal to the minimum in-situ stress.

• The simulation ends with a fracture breakthrough to the boundary of the model.

1 MPa

1 MPa

2 M

Pa 2 M

Pa


Well integrity

• Improved materials and procedures for remediation of well leakages

• Diagnostics of well failure

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Thanks to the Gas Technology Centre for support to EERA Shale Gas participation

Slide Number 1Conventional and unconventional oil and gasSlide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7 1: Shale gas is a transnational issue Public perceptionThe role of SINTEFSlide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Fracturing in a naturally-fractured formation:�Anisotropic in-situ stressesWell integritySlide Number 20

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Shale Gas: Research needs from a European perspective...Technology for a better society • Shale gas • Shale oil • Non-shale un-conventionals • Tight gas • Coal bed methane