Characterization and Modeling of Multimechanistic Flow Behaviors from Nano- to Macro-scale in Shale Matrix

Pi：Liu，Shimin Proposal编号：1438398建议的研究重点是研究致密孔隙中的气体流动，如页岩地层中发现的气体流动。建议对围岩的流动、吸附、解吸、滑移和变形进行实验和理论研究。这是一个适时的研究项目，对美国经济和能源生产具有至关重要的影响。拟议工作的结果将有利于石油和天然气生产行业、公共政策制定者和碳管理实体。对页岩中气体流动的准确预测对于开发二氧化碳封存策略也很重要。这项拟议的研究的目标是促进流体动力学知识在致密页岩中的流动--这对页岩气生产至关重要。影响渗流的物理机制有多种，如吸附、扩散、平流和吸附引起的有机质变形，随着天然气的产生，储层压力逐渐降低。用实验来量化流动的特征以及与吸附引起的孔隙有机质变形的相互作用。将开展一系列实验室和理论研究，包括：使用橡树岭国家实验室(ORNL)的小角中子散射(SANS)和超小角中子散射(USANS)仪器表征孔结构，这将为后续的流动测量和建模研究、原位条件下的吸附和扩散系数测量、吸附诱导变形测量和表观渗透率测量提供可靠的孔结构。模拟工作将得到一个考虑吸附、扩散和吸附诱导变形的表观渗透率模型，并将通过测量的实验数据进行验证。该教育计划的核心是为研究生和本科生提供跨学科的教育体验。教育工作将通过路易斯·斯托克斯少数族裔参与联盟(LSAMP)计划发挥杠杆作用，该计划由美国国家科学基金会资助，旨在鼓励STEM学科中代表性不足的少数族裔学生。

PI: Liu, ShiminProposal Number: 1438398The focus of the proposed research in to study gas flow in tight pores, such as those found in shale formations. Flow, adsorption, desorption, slippage and deformation of the surrounding rock are proposed to be studied with both experiments and theory. This is a timely research project with implications in an area of critical importance for the economy and the energy production of the U.S. Results for the proposed work would be of benefit to the oil and gas production industry, to public policy makers and to carbon management entities. Accurate prediction of the flow of gases in shales is also important for developing CO2 sequestration strategies.The goal of the proposed research is to advance fluid dynamics knowledge for flow through tight shales -- critical for shale gas production. There are multiple physical mechanisms that affect the flow, such as sorption, diffusion, advection, and sorption-induced organic matter deformation with the progressive decrease in reservoir pressure as the gas is produce. Experiments are proposed to quantify the characteristics of the flow and the interactions with the sorption-induced deformation of the pore organic matter. A series of laboratory and theoretical studies will be conducted that will include: pore structure characterization using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) instruments at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which will provide reliable pore architecture for the subsequent flow measurement and modeling studies, sorption and diffusivity measurement at in situ conditions, sorption-induced deformation measurement, and apparent permeability measurement. The modeling effort would result to an apparent permeability model by considering sorption, diffusion and sorption-induced deformation, and would be validated by the measured experimental data. The educational plan centers on an interdisciplinary educational experience that will be offered to the graduate and undergraduate students involved. Educational efforts will be leveraged through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program, which was funded by NSF to encourage underrepresented minority students in the STEM disciplines.