Geomechanics of Montney unconventional hydrocarbon source rock - From fundamental micro-mechanical characterization of the rock to well and multi-well scale modelling

在过去十年中，来自非常规资源的碳氢化合物产量的显著激增主要是由于水平钻井和水力压裂的技术进步（即，水力压裂法），这使得有可能从低渗透性（致密）储层中提取碳氢化合物，这些储层以前无法进入或开采不经济，例如位于埃德蒙顿西北部的艾伯塔-不列颠哥伦比亚边界上的三叠纪Montney地层，该地层现在被认为是北美最重要的天然页岩气资源区之一。该CRD项目将结合联合收割机先进的数值模拟、创新的实验室实验和现场数据，开发更可靠的基于地质力学的方法，以了解从勘探到生产的所有阶段的储层响应。这些方法将提高该行业准确模拟Montney地层作业的能力，其中最大的份额由我们的行业合作伙伴Petronas Canada拥有。此外，我们建议通过基于可用的3D地震背景模型改进源表征（位置/起源时间/机制），为加拿大国家石油公司与压裂相关的微震事件的地面和井下地震记录增加价值。更准确的震源位置将有助于细化底层裂缝网络，而额外的震源机制将用于指示响应于刺激的储层中的脆性破坏类型。该研究将（i）开发一种方法，用于Montney源岩的地质力学特性;（ii）使用实验室校准的数值模型优化支撑剂就位的设计;以及（iii）通过优化关键控制增产和生产参数，最大限度地降低与诱发地震活动相关的风险。该研究项目将促进对预先存在的和水力引起的裂缝以及地质非均质性在与开发的各个阶段（从完井到增产，然后到生产）相关的变化条件下对储层响应的作用的理解。

The significant surge in hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources in the past decade is largely due to the technological advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), which made it possible to extract hydrocarbon from low-permeability (tight) reservoirs formerly inaccessible or uneconomical to exploit, such as the Triassic Montney formation sitting on the Alberta-British Columbia boundary, northwest of Edmonton, which is now considered one of North America's premier natural shale gas resource plays. This CRD project will combine advanced numerical simulations, innovative lab experimentations, and field data to develop more reliable geomechanics-based approaches to understand the reservoir response at all stages, from exploration to production. These approaches will improve the industry's ability to accurately simulate operations in the Montney formation, with the largest share owned by our industry partner Petronas Canada. Furthermore, we propose to add values to Petronas Canada's surface and downhole seismic recordings of microseismic events associated with fracking by improving source characterization (location/origin time/mechanism) based on available 3D seismic background models. More accurate source locations will help refine the underlying fracture networks, while the additional source mechanisms will be used to indicate the brittle failure types in the reservoir in response to stimulation. The research will (i) develop a methodology for the geomechanical characterization of the Montney source rock; (ii) optimize the design of proppant emplacement using a lab calibrated numerical model; and (iii) minimize the risk associated with induced seismicity by optimizing key controlling stimulation and production parameters.Focusing on combining fundamental rock mechanics principles with geophysics imaging, this research project will advance the understanding of the role of pre-existing and hydraulically-induced fractures and geological heterogeneities on the reservoir response under changing conditions associated with the various stages of development, from well completion, to stimulation, and then to production.