• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 2020

Understanding the pore structure including pore shape and connectivity in unconventional reservoirs is essential to increase the recovery rate of unconventional energy resources such as shale gas and oil. In this study, we found analysis condition to probe the nanoscale pore structure in shale reservoirs using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and Ion Milling System (IMS). A-068 core samples from Liard Basin are used to probe the pore structure in shale reservoirs. The pore structure is analyzed with different pretreatment methods and analysis condition because each sample has different characteristics. The results show that surface milling by FIB is effective to obtain pore images of several micrometers local area while milling a large-area by IMS is efficient to observe various pore structure in a short time. Especially, it was confirmed that the pore structure of rocks with high content of carbonate minerals and high strength can be observed with milling by IMS. In this study, the analysis condition and process for observing the pore structure in the shale reservoirs is established. Further studies are needed to perform for probing the effect of pore size and shape on the enhancement of shale gas recovery.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2017

A novel two stage cylindrical cyclone was developed for a 3 phase separator in shale oil production industry. The cyclone performance was compared with a cone type cyclone and multi cyclone at the same experimental condition using water and oil mists generated by a humidifier and atomizer at the flow rate 1 to $2m^3/min$. The removal efficiency of total suspended water droplets by the novel cyclone, calculated using inlet and outlet concentrations measured by an optical particle counter, was 99% which is higher than 90% of oil droplet removal efficiency at $2m^3/min$. It might be due to the evaporation of small water droplets during the tests. The water and oil droplet removal performance of the novel cyclone based on the quality factor which is a function of pressure drop and removal efficiency was the highest among three cyclones. The results indicate that the cyclone could be an economical device to remove water and oil mists from shale gas generation processes where a huge three phase separator is commonly used.

• 해운
• /
• 통권99호
• /
• pp.14-20
• /
• 2013

석유생산이 정점을 짝은 후 감소한다는 피크오일(Peak Oil)의 대표사례로 지목되던 미국에서 원유생산이 39년 만에 증가세로 전환됐다(<그림 1> 참조). 2012년에는 WTI 유가 1% 하락에도 불구하고 미국은 주요 신유국 중에서 이라크에 이어 세계 두 번째로 빠른 석유생산 증가율(8.9%)을 기록하면서 세계 최대 석유 생산국으로 발돋움했다. 최근 들에서는 멜릴린치와 삭소은행 등 일부 투자은행들이 2년 내에 WTI 유가가 배럴당 50달러로까지 하락할 수 있다는 견해를 내 놓았다. 석유 생산 확대세가 이어지면서 미국내에서 거래되는 유가가 절반 가까이 하락할 수 있다는 것이다. 미국이 빠른 석유 생산 확대를 보이는 데에는 비전통 석유인 타이트 오일(Tight Oil)의 역할이 크다. 타이트 오일은 셰일가스가 매장된 셰일층, 즉 모래와 진흙이 굳어진 지하 퇴적암층에 존재하는 원유다. 탄소 함유량이 많고 황 함량이 적은 경질유이기 때문에 LTO(Light Tight Oil)라고 지칭되기도 한다. 일부에서는 셰일층이라는 매장위치를 감안해 셰일오일(Shale Oil)이라 부르기도 한다. IEA와 EIA 등 주요 에너지 기관들은 동식물의 사체가 원유로 변하기 전 단계인 케로젠(Kerogen)이 주성분인 오일셰일(Oil Shale)과 오일셰일에 열을 가해 합성 석유로 만든 셰일오일을 타이트 오일과 구분하고 있다. 타이트 오일의 잠재력을 평가하고 중장기 생산 전망과 이로 인한 국제석유시장 파급효과를 살펴본다. 다음은 엘지경제연구원에서 발표한 '셰일혁명으로 부상한 Tight Oil, 유가 안정 역할 커진다'의 주요 내용을 요약 정리한 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.517-524
• /
• 2014

Two key technologies of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are recognized to achieve the rapid growth of shale gas production, in specific, in the United States during last decade. The claims between environmentalists and oil companies have been debating in terms of water contamination. Nowadays, voluntary publication of chemicals from shale gas players are available in the website, FracFocus. This paper introduces chemicals that are currently used in hydraulic fracturing process. Among chemicals, guar gum and guar derivatives are dominantly consumed to increase the viscosity of hydrofracking fluids. The role of additional additives, such as breakers and biocides, is presented by explaining how they cut down the molecular structure of guar gum and guar derivatives. In addition, crosslinking agent, pH controller, friction reducer, and water soluble polymers are also presented.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• 제23권6호
• /
• pp.538-546
• /
• 2013

This paper deals with a hydraulic fracturing technique, which is one of the methods to maximize the recovery rate and productivity of oil and gas in the petroleum industry. In the hydraulic fracturing, typically water mixed with sand and chemicals is injected into a wellbore in order to create artificial fractures along which formation fluids migrate to the well. In recent years, it is widely used in non-conventional oil and gas such as oil shale and shale gas. Three main stages of the hydraulic fracturing process, the proposed design models for the effective hydraulic fracturing and diagnostics after fracturing treatment are introduced. In addition, this paper introduces reservoir geomechanics to solve various problems in the process of hydraulic fracturing.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2016

Recently, the studies about rock physics model (RPM) in shale reservoir are widely performed. In shale reservoir, the degree of the maturity can be estimated by kerogen and GOR (Gas-Oil Ratio). The researches on the rock physics model of shale reservoir with the amount of kerogen have been actively carried out but not with GOR. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the changes in seismic velocity and density, and AVO (Amplitude Variation with Offset) response depending on changes in GOR and the amount of kerogen. Since the shale consists of plate-like particles, it has vertical transverse isotropy (VTI). Therefore we estimated the seismic velocity and density by using Backus averaging method and analyzed AVO responses based on these estimated properties. The results of analysis showed that the changes in the velocity with the GOR variation are small but the velocity changes with the variation in kerogen amount are relatively larger. In case, GOR 180 (Litre/Litre) which is boundary between heavy oil and light oil, when volume fraction of kerogen increased from 5% to 35%, the P-wave velocity normal to the layering increased 51%. That is, it helps estimating maturity of kerogen through the velocity. Meanwhile, when rates of oil-gas mixture are large, the effect of GOR variation on the velocity change became larger. In case volume fraction of kerogen is 5%, the P-wave velocity normal to the layering was estimated $1.46km/s^2$ in heavy oil (GOR 40) but $1.36km/s^2$ in light oil (GOR 300). The AVO responses analysis showed class 4 regardless of the GOR and amount of kerogen because variation of poisson's ratio is small. Therefore, shale reservoir has possibility to have class 4.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
• /
• 대한자원환경지질학회 2007년도 춘계 지질과학기술 공동학술대회
• /
• pp.604-604
• /
• 2007

See Full Text

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.63-69
• /
• 2013

This paper discusses important environmental issues that must be considered during shale gas development. Shale gas has been attracting many attention as the next key energy resource with its large abundance through easily accessible production fields, and its lower carbon dioxide & sulfur dioxide emission profile upon combustion when compared to the conventional oil and natural gas resources. Successful development of a shale gas field requires the use of hydraulic fracturing to recover hydrocarbon through the very tight shale formation, which has been frequently associated with environmental contamination issue of water, soil, and atmosphere. Therefore, environmental issues and their solution to minimize environmental impact should be considered for successful development of shale play in a future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.291-302
• /
• 2014

The Chinese government and its agencies were trying in order to solve the unstability of resource supply and demand. Ministry of Land and Resources of China(MLR) carried out a lot of national-level policy and planning for estimating the domestic mineral and energy resources potential and recoverable reserves, as the Chinese land and resources survey plan(1999~2010), the Chinese mineral resource survey and exploration plan(2008~2020), announcement for shale gas industry policies of China, the Chinese shale gas resources evaluation and selection project for its development priority areas(2012), and the plan for Chinese shale gas development(2011~2015). The two large sedimentary basins of Chinese shale gas reserves are Sichuan and Tarim basins with excellent potential, accounting for majority of the estimated national reserves. Recoverable gas-bearing shale of China was surveyed to be widespread. The volume of recoverable shale gas reservoirs in China has been estimated to be around 31 trillion cubic meters(1,115 trillion cubic feet). China is one of only three countries with the US and Canada to produce shale gas in commercial quantities. China is concentrating on technology development to enhance commercial production of shale gas, and on survey and exploration activities to increase its recoverable reserves. The trends related to shale gas development and R&D activities in China to respond to changes in international oil market should be actively monitored based on analysis of Chinese policies and technology.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제7권5호
• /
• pp.553-567
• /
• 2014

Borehole instability during drilling process occurs frequently when drilling through shale formation. When a borehole is drilled in shale formation, the low permeability leads to an undrained loading condition. The pore pressure in the compressed area near the borehole may be higher than the initial pore pressure. However, the excess pore pressure caused by stress concentration was not considered in traditional borehole stability models. In this study, the calculation model of excess pore pressure induced by drilling was obtained with the introduction of Henkel's excess pore pressure theory. Combined with Mohr-Coulumb strength criterion, the calculation model of collapse pressure of shale in undrained condition is obtained. Furthermore, the variation of excess pore pressure and effective stress on the borehole wall is analyzed, and the influence of Skempton's pore pressure parameter on collapse pressure is also analyzed. The excess pore pressure decreases with the increasing of drilling fluid density; the excess pore pressure and collapse pressure both increase with the increasing of Skempton's pore pressure parameter. The study results provide a reference for determining drilling fluid density when drilling in shale formation.