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

许多人认为天然气是通往低碳未来的桥梁。它在燃烧时向空气中排放的二氧化碳最少，使其成为最清洁的化石燃料。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1,220万亿立方英尺，其中862万亿立方英尺为非常规天然气资源，包括煤层气、致密气和页岩气。目前，由于渗透率极低，这些储层中的天然气采收率通常低于原始天然气的15%。这种低采收率促使申请人研究这些储层中的潜在的提高采收率方法。 发现补助金的长期（> 5年）目标是以高效、可持续和环保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，重点是调查页岩气藏中CO2提高天然气采收率（CO2 EGR）方法的可行性。CO2 EGR由于其高注入性和对富含有机物的页岩孔隙表面更大的亲和力，可能成为一种有前途的技术。此外，CO2 EGR不仅可以提高页岩气采收率，还可以将CO2储存在深层地层中，减少温室气体排放。该研究旨在了解CO2 EGR的工作机理，预测油井后处理产能，优化CO2 EGR性能，以最大限度地提高采收率，减少环境足迹。通过室内试验、解析建模和数值模拟，为CO2-EGR技术在页岩气藏中的现场试验提供理论依据和设计指导。该计划还将为6名HQP提供先进建模和实验室研究方面的综合研究培训。他们还将协同参与学术推广，贡献和与同行的互动，通过参考期刊，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结果。 天然气是加拿大能源结构的重要组成部分，也是加拿大家庭使用的最大单一能源形式。过渡到天然气发电不仅是一种更清洁的替代方案，而且由于平均单位成本相对较低，因此在财务方面也很有吸引力。该计划将使运营商能够以更小的环境足迹有效地生产非常规天然气。我们预计这项工作将产生多个应用程序，这些应用程序将构成现场试点和新颖的知识产权。凭借加拿大强大的生产和丰富的资源，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的可靠天然气，使加拿大走向更清洁的能源未来。

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.