CO2 Assisted Enhanced Recovery for Unconventional Shale Gas Resources in Western Canada

许多人认为天然气是通向低碳未来的桥梁。它燃烧时向空气中排放的二氧化碳最少，使其成为所有燃烧的化石燃料中最清洁的。加拿大是世界上最大的天然气生产国之一。加拿大的天然气储量约为1220万亿立方英尺，其中862万亿立方英尺是非常规天然气资源，包括煤层气、致密气和页岩气。目前，由于渗透率极低，这些油藏的天然气采收率通常低于原始天然气原地采收率的15%。这种低采收率促使申请者研究在这些油藏中潜在的提高采收率的方法。 探索基金的长期目标是以高效、可持续和环境友好的方式促进非常规致密和页岩资源的开发。该计划的短期目标是探索补助金的主题，重点是研究在页岩气藏中采用二氧化碳增强天然气回收(CO2 EGR)方法的可行性。由于CO2 EGR的高注入性和在富含有机质的页岩孔隙表面的更大亲和力，CO2 EGR可能是一种很有前途的技术。此外，CO2 EGR不仅可以提高页岩气采收率，还可以将CO2储存在深层，减少温室气体排放。该研究旨在了解二氧化碳废气再循环的工作机理，预测后处理产能，优化二氧化碳废气再循环性能，以更小的环境足迹最大化采收率。通过室内试验、解析建模和数值模拟，为CO2-EGR技术在页岩气藏的现场试验提供理论基础和设计指导。拟议方案还将为6个HQP提供基于研究的综合高级建模和实验室研究培训。他们还将协同参与学术外联、贡献和与同行的互动，通过被引用的期刊、会议和其他此类知识共享平台，如论坛和研讨会，传播我们的研究成果。 天然气是加拿大能源组合的重要组成部分，也是加拿大家庭使用的最大形式的能源。改用天然气发电不仅是一种更清洁的选择，而且由于平均单位成本相对较低，它在财务上也很有吸引力。该计划将使运营商能够以更小的环境足迹以高效的方式生产非常规天然气。我们预计，这项工作将产生几项应用，构成实地试点和新的知识产权。凭借加拿大强大的产量和丰富的资源，该计划将帮助加拿大的天然气行业向加拿大人提供负担得起和可靠的天然气，将加拿大连接到更清洁的能源未来。

Many consider natural gas a bridge to a lower-carbon future. It emits the least amount of carbon dioxide into the air when combusted, making it the cleanest burning fossil fuel of all. Canada is one of the world's largest producers of natural gas. Natural gas reserves in Canada are ~ 1,220 trillion cubic feet, of which 862 trillion cubic feet is in unconventional gas resources including coal-bed methane, tight and shale gas. At present, gas recovery in these reservoirs is typically lower than 15% of the original gas in-place due to the extremely low permeability. This low recovery motivates the applicant to investigate the potential enhanced recovery methods in these reservoirs. The long-term (> 5 years) goal of the Discovery Grant is to facilitate the development of the unconventional tight and shale resources in an efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The short-term objectives of the program, which are the subjects of the Discovery Grant, focus on investigating the feasibility of CO2 enhanced gas recovery (CO2 EGR) method in the shale gas reservoirs. CO2 EGR may serve as a promising technique due to its high injectivity and its greater affinity on the pore surface of the organic-rich shales. In addition, CO2 EGR can not only enhance the shale gas recovery but also store CO2 in the deep formations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed research aims to understand the working mechanisms of CO2 EGR, predict the well after-treatment productivity, and optimize the CO2 EGR performance to maximize the recovery factor with smaller environmental footprints. Lab tests, analytical modeling, and numerical simulation will be conducted to provide the theoretical foundation and design guidance on the field pilots of the CO2-EGR technique in shale gas reservoirs. The proposed program will also provide comprehensive research-based training in advanced modeling and laboratory studies for 6 HQPs. They will also engage synergistically in scholarly outreach, contributions and interactions with peers in the dissemination of our findings through refereed journals, conferences, and other such knowledge-sharing platforms, like forums and workshops. Natural gas is an important part of Canada's energy mix and is the single-largest form of energy used in Canadian homes. Transitioning to power generated from natural gas isn't just a cleaner alternative, it's also attractive for financial reasons because of relatively low average unit costs. This program will enable operators to produce unconventional natural gas in an efficient manner with smaller environmental footprints. We anticipate that there will be several applications stemming from this work that will constitute field pilots and novel Intellectual Property. With strong production and an abundant resource in Canada, this program will assist Canada's natural gas industry to deliver affordable and reliable natural gas to Canadians, bridging Canada to a cleaner energy future.