Unconventional Petroleum Reservoirs: fluid-rock interactions and induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing and reservoir characterisation

在过去的15年中，北美发生了从常规可渗透储层到超低渗透非常规储层的油气生产的范式转变。非常规资源的开采是通过在高压下注入大量（数百万升）流体，以水力方式在储层中形成可渗透的裂缝网络来实现的。某些地区的水力压裂过程导致异常诱发地震（AIS），所使用的流体可能会损害储层，并被一些人视为潜在的污染物。AIS的可能性以及与所使用的大量流体相关的真实的或感知的问题是当前非常规烃资源的可持续开发所面临的最重要的问题。我们的研究将有助于：1）预防和/或减轻由于水力压裂引起的AIS; 2）了解流体岩石相互作用，以最大限度地减少储层和流体损害; 3）更好地描述储层，以优化勘探和生产。

Over the last 15 years there has been a paradigm shift in North America from hydrocarbon production from conventional, permeable reservoirs to ultra-low permeability, unconventional reservoirs. The exploitation of unconventional resources is made possible by injection of large volumes (millions of litres) of fluid at high pressures to hydraulically create a permeable fracture network in the reservoir. The process of hydraulically fracturing in some areas result in anomalous induced seismicity (AIS), and the fluids used may damage the reservoir and are viewed by some as potential contaminants. The potential for AIS and real or perceived problems associated with the large volume of fluid utilised are the most important issues currently facing sustainable development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Our research will contribute to: 1) prevention and/or mitigation of AIS due to hydraulic fracturing; 2) understanding fluid rock interactions to minimize reservoir and fluid damage; and 3) better characterisation of reservoirs to optimise exploration and production.