Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies

Xu, Hongwu

doi:10.1016/j.coal.2019.103325

Title: Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies

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Abstract

Although continued growth in unconventional oil and gas production is generally projected, its long-term growth potential and sustainability have significant uncertainties. A critical problem is the low hydrocarbon recovery rates from shale and other tight formations using the horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques: < 10% for tight oil and ~ 20% for shale gas. Moreover, the production rate for a given well typically declines rapidly within one year. The low recoveries and declining production of shale oil and gas reservoirs are apparently related to the small porosity (a few to a few hundred nm) and low permeability (10^–16–10^–20 m²) of shale matrix, which make the enclosed hydrocarbon fluids difficult to access. Furthermore, to enhance the hydrocarbon recovery from shale matrix, it is essential to study its nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior.

Authors:

^[1]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Earth and Environmental Sciences Div.

Publication Date:: 2019-10-31

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), Oil & Natural Gas

OSTI Identifier:: 1573995

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1575318

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-18-26067
Journal ID: ISSN 0166-5162

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: International Journal of Coal Geology

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 217; Journal ID: ISSN 0166-5162

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 58 GEOSCIENCES; Earth Sciences; Shale; Nanopore; Fluid; Small-angle neutron scattering

Citation Formats


                    Xu, Hongwu. Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.103325.

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                    Xu, Hongwu. Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.103325

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                    Xu, Hongwu. Thu .  
"Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.103325.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1573995.

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@article{osti_1573995,

  title        = {Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies},

  author       = {Xu, Hongwu},

  abstractNote = {Although continued growth in unconventional oil and gas production is generally projected, its long-term growth potential and sustainability have significant uncertainties. A critical problem is the low hydrocarbon recovery rates from shale and other tight formations using the horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques: < 10% for tight oil and ~ 20% for shale gas. Moreover, the production rate for a given well typically declines rapidly within one year. The low recoveries and declining production of shale oil and gas reservoirs are apparently related to the small porosity (a few to a few hundred nm) and low permeability (10–16–10–20 m2) of shale matrix, which make the enclosed hydrocarbon fluids difficult to access. Furthermore, to enhance the hydrocarbon recovery from shale matrix, it is essential to study its nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.coal.2019.103325},

  journal      = {International Journal of Coal Geology},

  number       = ,

  volume       = 217,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2019},

  month        = {10}

}

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