Feasibility study, comparative analysis, and optimization of natural gas Huff-n-Puff processes in Duvernay and Eagle Ford formations

Duvernay 和 Eagle Ford 地层天然气吞吐过程的可行性研究、比较分析和优化

• 批准号: 576518-2022
• 负责人: Dehghanpour, HassanH
• 金额: $ 4.05万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748910
• 关键词: Feasibility; study; comparative; analysis; optimization

The global energy demand is expected to increase while the hydrocarbon production rate from conventional resources has been declining. This has motivated the industry to develop unconventional resources by hydraulic fracturing operations. Canada has massive unconventional resources with an estimated 425 billion barrels of shale and tight oil in-place in Alberta alone. However, the industry is facing serious economical and environmental challenges for sustainable development of such resources. Although horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing have successfully unlocked hydrocarbon production from tight resources, the primary oil recovery factors are very low (5-10% of the original oil in-place). Therefore, the industry needs to apply enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques to improve the efficiency of such operations. Injecting the produced natural gas into the depleted unconventional reservoirs has been considered as potential technique to improve oil recovery factor of these reservoirs.The proposed research aims to conduct systematic laboratory experiments and mathematical analyses for feasibility study, comparative analysis, and optimization of cyclic natural gas injection (Huff-n-Puff) in the Duvernay and EagleFord formations. The two formations are source rocks with similar geological, petrographic, and petrophysical properties. The laboratory results will be analyzed in conjunction with the field data to design optimum pilot tests in the two formations by the supporting organizations. Three PhD and twoMSc students and one PDF will conduct the proposed laboratory and modelling studies. The University of Alberta team will collaborate with experts from the supporting organizations to develop guidelines 1) to identify candidate wells based on their rock and fluid properties, and 2) to optimize the composition of Huff-n-Puff fluids and operational parameters. The research team will acquire relevant technical expertise to be well-poised to join the Canadian oil and gas industry, and continue the responsible development of the nation's unconventional resources.

预计全球能源需求将增加，而常规资源的碳氢化合物生产率一直在下降。这促使该行业通过水力压裂作业开发非常规资源。加拿大拥有大量的非常规资源，仅在阿尔伯塔就有估计4250亿桶页岩和致密油。然而，该行业正面临着严重的经济和环境挑战，以实现此类资源的可持续发展。尽管水平钻井和多级水力压裂已经成功地从致密资源中释放出碳氢化合物生产，但一次采油系数非常低（原始石油储量的5-10%）。因此，该行业需要应用强化采油（EOR）技术来提高这种操作的效率。将采出的天然气注入枯竭的非常规油气藏是提高非常规油气藏采收率的一项潜在技术，本研究旨在通过系统的室内实验和数学分析，对Duvernay组和EisileFord组的天然气循环注入（Huff-n-Puff）进行可行性研究、对比分析和优化。这两个地层是具有相似地质、岩相和岩石物理性质的烃源岩。支持机构将结合现场数据分析实验室结果，以设计两个地层中的最佳先导试验。三名博士生和两名硕士生和一名PDF将进行拟议的实验室和建模研究。阿尔伯塔大学团队将与支持组织的专家合作，制定指导方针：1）根据岩石和流体性质确定候选威尔斯井，2）优化哈芬液的成分和操作参数。该研究团队将获得相关的技术专长，为加入加拿大石油和天然气行业做好准备，并继续负责任地开发该国的非常规资源。