Non Conventional Gas

Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: Unlocking the Potential: Non-Conventional Gas in the Oil & Gas Industry

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a type of non-conventional gas?

a) Shale gas b) Tight gas c) Conventional gas d) Coalbed methane

2. What is the primary method used to extract shale gas?

a) Horizontal drilling b) Hydraulic fracturing c) Acidizing d) Water flooding

3. Which of the following is a major environmental concern associated with non-conventional gas extraction?

a) Depletion of groundwater resources b) Air pollution c) Soil erosion d) All of the above

4. What is a key advantage of using natural gas as an energy source compared to coal?

a) Natural gas is more abundant than coal b) Natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel c) Natural gas is cheaper to extract than coal d) Natural gas is easier to transport than coal

5. What is a major challenge faced by the non-conventional gas industry?

a) Lack of technological advancements b) Lack of demand for natural gas c) High extraction costs and environmental mitigation measures d) Lack of skilled labor

Exercise:

Scenario: You are working for a company considering investing in a non-conventional gas extraction project. Research and analyze the potential benefits and challenges of investing in a specific type of non-conventional gas resource, such as shale gas, tight gas, coalbed methane, or gas hydrates.

Instructions:

1. Choose a specific type of non-conventional gas:
2. Research: Explore the following aspects of your chosen resource:
   • Extraction technology: What methods are used to extract this type of gas?
   • Environmental impact: What are the potential environmental risks associated with extraction?
   • Economic viability: What are the costs associated with extraction, and what is the potential for profitability?
   • Regulations: What regulations govern the exploration and production of this resource in your region?
3. Analyze: Compare the potential benefits and challenges of investing in this resource.
4. Conclusion: Based on your research, would you recommend investing in this resource? Explain your reasoning.

Techniques

Unlocking the Potential: Non-Conventional Gas in the Oil & Gas Industry

Chapter 1: Techniques

Non-conventional gas extraction requires specialized techniques due to the nature of the reservoirs. The key techniques vary depending on the type of non-conventional gas:

Shale Gas:

• Horizontal Drilling: Allows for longer wellbores to intersect multiple shale layers, maximizing gas production. This technique involves directional drilling to create a horizontal section after reaching the target depth.
• Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking): This process involves injecting high-pressure fluid (water, sand, and chemicals) into the shale formation to create fractures, enhancing permeability and allowing gas to flow to the wellbore. Different fracturing fluids and proppants (sand or ceramics) are used depending on the shale characteristics. Multi-stage fracturing is often employed to optimize fracture network creation.
• Well Completion: This involves installing specialized casing and perforating the wellbore to allow gas flow into the production tubing. This also includes placing sand and other proppants to keep the fractures open.

Tight Gas:

• Advanced Drilling Techniques: Similar to shale gas, horizontal drilling is often used, along with advanced directional drilling techniques to reach the target reservoirs efficiently.
• Stimulation Techniques: While hydraulic fracturing is also employed for tight gas reservoirs, the pressure and volume of fluid may be adjusted based on the lower permeability of the reservoir compared to shale. Acidizing and other stimulation methods may be used to enhance permeability.

Coalbed Methane (CBM):

• Dewatering: This involves pumping water out of the coal seam to reduce the pressure and allow the adsorbed methane to desorb and flow to the wellbore. This process can be very water intensive.
• Well Design: Well design considerations focus on maximizing the contact area between the wellbore and the coal seam.

Gas Hydrates:

• Thermal Stimulation: This technique involves injecting heated fluids or utilizing other methods to increase the temperature of the hydrate reservoir, causing the hydrates to dissociate into methane and water.
• Pressure Reduction: Lowering the pressure in the reservoir can also cause the hydrates to dissociate.
• Chemical Stimulation: Injecting specific chemicals that can promote hydrate dissociation is under research and development.

The success of these techniques is highly dependent on geological knowledge, reservoir characterization, and optimization of the parameters involved in each process. Ongoing research and development focus on improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and expanding the application of these techniques to different geological settings.

Chapter 2: Models

Accurate reservoir modeling is crucial for optimizing non-conventional gas extraction. Several models are employed, often in combination:

• Geological Models: These models integrate geological data (seismic surveys, well logs, core analysis) to create a three-dimensional representation of the reservoir, including its geometry, stratigraphy, and rock properties (porosity, permeability).
• Geomechanical Models: These models simulate the response of the reservoir to hydraulic fracturing and other stimulation techniques, predicting fracture propagation, stress changes, and potential induced seismicity.
• Reservoir Simulation Models: These models simulate the flow of gas and fluids within the reservoir, predicting production rates, well performance, and the impact of different production strategies. They incorporate data from geological and geomechanical models.
• Production Forecasting Models: These models integrate reservoir simulation results with economic data to predict future production volumes, revenue, and profitability. They help in optimizing production strategies and investment decisions.

The complexity of non-conventional reservoirs requires sophisticated models incorporating multiple parameters. Data integration, model calibration, and uncertainty quantification are crucial for reliable predictions. Advancements in computing power and data analytics are continually improving the accuracy and efficiency of these models.

Chapter 3: Software

Several software packages are used in the modeling, simulation, and management of non-conventional gas resources:

• Geological Modeling Software: Petrel (Schlumberger), Kingdom (IHS Markit), and Gocad are examples of software used to create geological models from seismic data and well logs.
• Geomechanical Modeling Software: ABAQUS, ANSYS, and FLAC are commonly used to model the mechanical behavior of the reservoir during fracturing and production.
• Reservoir Simulation Software: CMG (Computer Modelling Group), Eclipse (Schlumberger), and STARS (Computer Modelling Group) are industry-standard software for simulating reservoir performance.
• Production Optimization Software: Specialized software helps optimize production strategies, including well placement, completion design, and production scheduling. Examples include production optimization modules within reservoir simulators and dedicated production management software.
• Data Analytics Software: Tools like Python with libraries like Pandas and Scikit-learn are increasingly used for data processing, analysis, and machine learning applications in non-conventional gas.

The selection of software depends on the specific application, the scale of the project, and the available data. Integration between different software packages is crucial for seamless workflow and efficient data management.

Chapter 4: Best Practices

Several best practices are essential for safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible non-conventional gas development:

• Comprehensive Site Characterization: Detailed geological and geophysical studies are critical to understand the reservoir properties and optimize extraction strategies.
• Optimized Well Design and Completion: Well placement, horizontal reach, fracturing design, and proppant selection need careful planning to maximize production and minimize environmental impact.
• Water Management: Minimizing water usage, recycling produced water, and managing wastewater disposal are critical to reduce environmental impact.
• Environmental Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of air and water quality is essential to detect and mitigate potential environmental issues. This includes induced seismicity monitoring.
• Community Engagement: Transparent communication and engagement with local communities are vital to building trust and addressing concerns about environmental and social impacts.
• Regulatory Compliance: Strict adherence to all applicable environmental regulations and safety standards is crucial.
• Technology Innovation: Continuous investment in research and development of new technologies is crucial for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact.

Adherence to these best practices is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of non-conventional gas development.

Chapter 5: Case Studies

Several case studies illustrate successful and less successful non-conventional gas developments:

• Marcellus Shale (USA): This case study highlights the successful application of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to extract large volumes of shale gas, but also the environmental challenges associated with water usage and waste disposal.
• Bakken Formation (USA & Canada): This case study illustrates the challenges of developing a resource that is both oil and gas producing, impacting drilling and production strategies.
• CBM in Australia: This case study highlights the complexities of developing CBM resources, focusing on the unique challenges posed by water management and reservoir heterogeneity.

Analysis of these and other case studies provides valuable lessons learned in optimizing production techniques, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring economic viability in various geological settings. Studying both successes and failures helps refine best practices and guide future development efforts.