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

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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.