Abstract
Shale gas reservoirs are characterized by nano-Darcy permeability, rich organic matter, ultralow water saturation, developed bedding, and micro-fractures, leading to multi-scale transportation of shale gas. Multistage fracturing of horizontal wells is the main development technology to stimulate shale gas reservoirs, and tens of thousands of cubic meters of fluids are injected into the reservoir. Retention and flowback of fracturing fluids on gas transfer plays an important role on the effect of hydraulic fracturing. Through the analysis of geological and engineering factors controlling water imbibition and diffusion in shale gas reservoirs, the mechanisms of low recovery of fracturing fluids and the reasons that some shale gas wells with low recovery of fracturing fluids have high gas production rate were revealed. This paper carried out a series of experiments of the fluid imbibition and fracture initiation in the shale selected from the Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan basin. In detail, this paper investigated imbibition and dispersion the fluid in shale and analyzed the mechanisms of the shale-water interactions causing the reduction of shale strength and fracture initiation and propagation. Based on the field case studies of well shut-in after fracturing, its influence on the well production was assessed. Formation damage caused by fracturing fluid is multi-scale, and the evaluation of formation damage caused by fracturing fluids should take the influence on the gas transmission capacity into consideration, and residual fracturing fluids may have a positive effect on gas transfer. It should take the long-term stable production of shale gas well and the effect of fracturing fluids transmission on gas multi-scale transport into consideration when determining the timing and pressure difference of fracturing fluids flowback from shale gas reservoirs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akrad OM, Miskimins JL, Prasad M (2011) The effects of fracturing fluids on shale rock mechanical properties and proppant embedment. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. November, Colorado
Bennion DB, Bietz RF, Thomas FB, Cimolai MP (1994) Reductions in the productivity of oil and low permeability gas reservoirs due to aqueous phase trapping. J Can Pet Technol 33:45–54
Bennion DB, Thomas FB, Bietz RF (1996) Water and hydrocarbon phase trapping in porous media-diagnosis, prevention and treatment. J Can Pet Technol 35:29–36
Binazadeh M, Xu M, Zolfaghari A, Dehghanpour H (2015) Effect of electrostatic interactions on water uptake of gas shales: the interplay of solution ionic strength and electrostatic double layer. Energy Fuel 30:119–131. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b02990
Bonnelye A, Schubnel A, David C, Henry P, Guglielmi Y, Gout C, Fauchille A, Dick P (2017) Strength anisotropy of shales deformed under uppermost crustal conditions. J Geophys Res-sol Ea 122:110–129. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013040
Bustin A, Bustin RM, Cui X (2008) Importance of fabric on the production of gas shales. SPE Unconventional Reservoirs Conference, Keystone. https://doi.org/10.2118/114167-MS
Butkovskyi A, Faber A, Wang Y, Grolle K, Hofmancaris R, Bruning H, Van A, Rijnaarts H (2018) Removal of organic compounds from shale gas flowback water. Water Res 100:76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.041
Cai J, You L, Hu X, Wang J, Peng R (2012) Prediction of effective permeability in porous media based on spontaneous imbibition effect. Int J Mod Phys C 23:1393. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0129183112500544
Chalmers GR, Bustin RM, Power IM (2012) Characterization of gas shale pore systems by porosimetry, pycnometry, surface area, and field emission scanning electron microscopy/transmission electron microscopy image analyses: examples from the Barnett, Woodford, Haynesville, Marcellus, and doig unit. AAPG Bull 96:1099–1119. https://doi.org/10.1306/10171111052
Chen M, Kang Y, Zhang T, You L, Li X, Chen Z, Wu K, Yang B (2018) Methane diffusion in shales with multiple pore sizes at supercritical conditions. Chem Eng J 334:1455–1465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.11.082
Civan F (2014) Analyses of processes, mechanisms, and preventive measures of shale-gas reservoir fluid, completion, and formation damage. SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. https://doi.org/10.2118/168164-MS
Cui G, Liu J, Wei M, Shi R, Elsworth D (2018) Why shale permeability changes under variable effective stresses: new insights. Fuel 213:55–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.10.068
Curtis JB (2002) Fractured shale-gas systems. AAPG Bull 86:1921–1938. https://doi.org/10.1306/61EEDDBE-173E-11D7-8645000102C1865D
Dennis D (2010) Thirty years of gas shale fracturing: what have we learned? J Pet Technol 62:88–90. https://doi.org/10.2118/133456-MS
Fakcharoenphol P, Torcuk M, Kazemi H, Wu YS (2016) Effect of shut-in time on gas flow rate in hydraulic fractured shale reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 32:109–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.03.068
Fan L, Thompson JW, Robinson JR (2010) Understanding gas production mechanism and effectiveness of wellstimulation in the Haynesville shale through reservoir simulation. Canadian Unconventional Resources and International Petroleum Conference. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Fang CH, Huang ZL, Wang QZ, Zheng DW, Liu HL (2014) Cause and significance of the ultra-low water saturation in gas-enriched shale reservoir. Nat Gas Geosci 25:471–476. https://doi.org/10.11764/j.issn.1672-1926.2014.03.0471
Farmani Z, Azin R, Fatehi R, Escrochi M (2018) Analysis of pre-Darcy flow for different liquids and gases. J Pet Sci Eng 168:17–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.05.004
Fontenot B, Hunt L, Hildenbrand Z, Jr D, Oka H, Walton J, Dan H, Osorio A, Bjorndal B, Hu Q (2013) An evaluation of water quality in private drinking water wells near natural gas extraction sites in the Barnett shale formation. Environ Sci Technol 47:10032–10040
Gale J, Reed R, Holder J (2007) Natural fractures in the Barnett shale and their importance for hydraulic fracture treatments. AAPG Bull 91:603–622. https://doi.org/10.1306/11010606061
Ghanbari E, Abbasi M A, Dehghanpour H, Bearinger D (2013) Flowback volumetric and chemical analysis for evaluating load recovery and its impact on early-time production. SPE Unconventional Resources Conference Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada https://doi.org/10.2118/167165-MS.
Ghanbari E, Dehghanpour H (2015) Impact of rock fabric on water imbibition and salt diffusion in gas shales. Int J Coal Geol 138:55–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2014.11.003
Ghanbari E, Dehghanpour H (2016) The fate of fracturing water: a field and simulation study. Fuel. 163:282–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.09.040
Guo J, Liu Y (2014) Opening of natural fracture and its effect on leakoff behavior in fractured gas reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 18:324–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2014.03.013
Gupta A, Xu M, Dehghanpour H, Bearinger D (2017) Experimental investigation for microscale stimulation of shales by water imbibition during the shut-in periods. SPE Unconventional Resources Conference, Calgary
Haluszczak LO, Rose AW, Kump LR (2013) Geochemical evaluation of flowback brine from Marcellus gas wells in pennsylvania, usa. Appl Geochem 28:55–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.10.002
Han H, Yang B, Peng J (2019) Fracture initiation & propagation in shale due to imbibition during well shut-in after fracturing: a case study from one well platform in Longmaxi FM of the changing block, Sichuan Basin. Nat Gas Ind 39:74–80
Hou Z, Yang C, Guo Y, Zhang B, Wei Y, Heng S, Wang L (2015) Experimental study on anisotropic properties of Longmaxi Formation shale under uniaxial compression. Rock Soil Mech 36:2541–2550
Hu J, Li G, Meng Y (2012) Reservoir protection in the process of shale gas drilling. Nat Gas Ind 32:66–70. https://doi.org/10.3787/j.issn.1000-0976.2012.12.014
Hu M, Hueckel T (2013) Environmentally enhanced crack propagation in a chemically degrading isotropic shale. Géotechni. 63:313–321. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.020
Ji L, Geehan T (2013) Shale failure around hydraulic fractures in water fracturing of shale gas. SPE Unconventional Resources Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada https://doi.org/10.2118/167155-MS
Kang Y, Yang B, Li X, Yang J, You L, Chen Q (2017) Quantitative characterization of micro forces in shale hydration and field applications. Pet Explor Dev 44:301–308
Kang Y, You L, Xu X, Liao Z (2012) Prevention of formation damage induced by mud lost in deep fractured tight gas reservoir in western Sichuan basin. J Can Pet Technol 10:46–51. https://doi.org/10.2118/131323-PA
Kang Z, Zhao H, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Li Y, Sun H (2014) Research on applied mechanics with reservoir interwell dynamic connectivity model and inversion method in case of shut-in wells. Appl Mech Mater 540:296–301. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.540.296
Li Y, Li H, Chen S, Mbia E, Wu K (2019) The second critical capillary number for chemical flooding in low permeability reservoirs: experimental and numerical investigations. Chem Eng Sci 196:202–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.11.004
Liang L, Xiong J, Liu X (2015) Experimental study on crack propagation in shale formations considering hydration and wettability. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 23:492–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.02.032
Lin C, Kang Y, You L, Yan X, Chen Q (2019) Effect of fluid exposure on mechanical properties of organic-rich shale and field applications. International Field Exploration and Development Conference. Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Lin S, Wu X, Sun C, Liao X, Ren Y, Li X (2016) Experimental study on chemical damage and mechanical deterioration of black shale due to water-rock chemical action. J Exp Mech 31:511–524
Liu W, Ye L, Wang Z, Yu S (2019) Formation mechanism of organic-rich source rocks in Bozhong sub-Basin, Bohai bay basin. China Arab J Geosci 12:504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4659-7
Lin Y, Gao S, Zeng Y (2017) Study of shale micro-fracture propagation based on tomographic technique. Sci Sinica Phys Mech Astrono 47:59–65
Liu X, Xiong J, Liang L (2016) Hydration experiment of hard brittle shale of the Longmaxi Formation. J Sw Petrol U 38:178–186. https://doi.org/10.11885/j.issn.1674-5086.2014.04.10.05
Loucks R, Reed R, Ruppel S, Jarvie D (2009) Morphology, genesis, and distribution of nanometer-scale pores in siliceous mudstones of the Mississippian Barnett shale. J Sediment Res 79:848–861. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2009.092
Ma T, Yang C, Chen P, Wang X, Guo Y (2016) On the damage constitutive model for hydrated shale using CT scanning technology. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 28:204–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.11.025
Mao X, Liu Y, Guan W, Feng Y (2018) Experimental and numerical simulation on the influence of anisotropic fracture network deformation to shale gas percolation. Arab J Geosci 11:615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3973-9
Makhanov K, Habibi A, Dehghanpour H, Kuru E (2014) Liquid uptake of gas shales: a workflow to estimate water loss during shut-in periods after fracturing operations. J Unconv Oil Gas Resour 7:22–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juogr.2014.04.001
Naik S, You Z, Bedrikovetsky P (2015) Rate enhancement in unconventional gas reservoirs by wettability alteration. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 26:1573–1584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.06.016
Parmar J, Dehghanpour H, Ergun K (2014) Displacement of water by gas in propped fractures: combined effects of gravity, surface tension, and wettability. J Unconv Oil Gas Resour 5:10–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juogr.2013.11.005
Parmer J, Dehghanpour H, Ergun K (2012) Unstable displacement: a missing factor in fracturing fluid recovery. SPE Canadian Unconventional Resources Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Parmer J, Dehghanpour H, Ergun K (2013) Drainage against gravity: factors impacting the load recovery in fractures. SPE Unconventional Resources Conference, Woodlands
Qian B, Zhu J, Yang H, Liang X, Yin C (2017) Experiments on shale reservoirs plugs hydration. Pet Explor Dev 44:615–621
Ren L, Su Y, Zhan S, Hao Y, Meng F, Sheng G (2016) Modeling and simulation of complex fracture network propagation with SRV fracturing in unconventional shale reservoirs. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 28:132–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.11.042
Roshan H, Ehsani S, Marjo C, Andersen M, Acworth R (2015) Mechanisms of water adsorption into partially saturated fractured shales: an experimental study. Fuel. 159:628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.07.015
Roychaudhuri B, Tsotsis T, Jessen K (2013) An experimental investigation of spontaneous imbibition in gas shales. J Pet Sci Eng 111:87–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2013.10.002
Røyne A, Dalby K, Hassenkam T (2015) Repulsive hydration forces between calcite surfaces and their effect on the brittle strength of calcite-bearing rocks. Geophys Res Lett 42:4786–4794. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL064365
Singh H (2016) A critical review of water uptake by shales. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 34:751–766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.07.003
Song F, Zang X, Huang X, Long Y (2016) The flow characteristics of shale gas through shale rock matrix in nano-scale and water imbibition on shale sheets. Sci Sinica Technol 46:120. https://doi.org/10.1360/N092016-00011
Sun F, Yao Y, Li G, Li X (2019) A slip-flow model for multi-component shale gas transport in organic nanopores. Arab J Geosci 12:143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4303-6
Takahashi S, Kovscek A (2010) Wettability estimation of low-permeability, siliceous shale using surface forces. J Pet Sci Eng 75:33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2010.10.008
Tian T, Zhou S, Fu D, Yang F, Li J (2019) Characterization and controlling factors of pores in the lower Cambrian Niutitang shale of the Micangshan Tectonic Zone, SW China. Arab J Geosci 12:251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4407-z
Vidic RD, Brantley S, Vandenbossche J, Yoxtheimer D, Abad J (2013) Impact of shale gas development on regional water quality. Science. 340:1235009. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1235009
Wang H, Zhao F, Huang Z, Yao Y, Yuan G (2017a) Experimental study of mode-I fracture toughness for layered shale based on two ISRM-suggested methods. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50:1933–1939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1180-8
Wang J, Fang H, Gong Y, Zou Y, Liu J (2017b) Control of medium- to small-scale tectonic deformations on fracture development in Longmaxi Formation shale. Arab J Geosci 10:23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2810-2
Wei Z, Wei X (2014) Comparison of gas-bearing property between different pore types of shale: a case from the upper Ordovician Wufeng and Longmaxi fms in the Jiaoshiba area, Sichuan Basin. Nat Gas Ind 34:37–41. https://doi.org/10.3787/j.issn.1000-0976.2014.06.006
Xu C, Kang Y, Chen F, You Z (2017a) Analytical model of plugging zone strength for drill-in fluid loss control and formation damage prevention in fractured tight reservoir. J Pet Sci Eng 149:686–700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.10.069
Xu F, Yang C, Guo Y, Wang L, Hou Z, Li H, Hu X, Wang T (2017b) Effect of bedding planes on wave velocity and ae characteristics of the Longmaxi shale in China. Arab J Geosci 10:141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-2943-y
Xu L, Liu H, Meng Y (2014) Experiment study on relationship between swelling pressure and mechanical parameters. Sci Tech Eng 14:151–154
Xu Y, Adefidipe OA, Dehghanpour H (2015) Estimating fracture volume using flowback data from the horn river basin: a material balance approach. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 25:253–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.04.036
Yalcın E (2015) Paleoenvironment characteristics and hydrocarbon potential of the lower Miocene bituminous shales in Sivas Basin (central Anatolia, Turkey). Arab J Geosci 9:18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2063-5
Yan C, Deng J, Hu L, Chen C, Yan X, Lin H, Tan Q, Yu B (2015a) Brittle failure of shale under uniaxial compression. Arab J Geosci 8:2467–2475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1373-3
Yan Q, Lemanski C, Karpyn ZT, Ayala LF (2015b) Experimental investigation of shale gas production impairment due to fracturing fluid migration during shut-in time. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 24:99–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2015.03.017
Yang F, Luo Zuo HZ, Wu H, Wu J, Luo L, Limited S (2016) Researching the water imbibition characteristic of shale by experiment. Sci Tech Eng 16:63–66
You L, Kang Y, Chen Y, Cheng Q, You H (2006) Stress sensitivity of fractured tight gas sands in consideration of fractures and water saturation. J China U Petrol 30:59–63
You L, Wang F, Kang YL, Fang CH, Chen Q (2016) Evaluation and scale effect of aqueous phase damage in shale gas reservoir. Nat Gas Geosci 27:2024–2029. https://doi.org/10.11764/j.issn.1672-1926.2016.11.2023
You L, Chen Q, Kang Y, Yu Y, He J (2015) Evaluation of formation damage using microstructure fractal in shale reservoirs. Fractals. 23:1540008. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X15400083
You L, Cheng Q, Kang Y, Tian J, Yang B (2018) Experimental study on spontaneous water imbibition in fracture networks of shale rocks. J China U Petrol 42:82–89
You L, Kang Y, Chen Z, Chen Q, Yang B (2014) Wellbore instability in shale gas wells drilled by oil-based fluids. Int J Rock Mech Min 72:294–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.08.017
You L, Kang Y, Li X, Zhou G (2013) Mitigating borehole instability and formation damage with temporary shielding drilling fluids in low permeability fractured reservoirs. SPE European Formation Damage Conference & Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands https://doi.org/10.2118/165133-MS.
Yu Y, Kang Y, You L, Chen Q, Yang B (2013) Alkali corrosion: a new mechanism of shale borehole instability. Acta Petrol Sin 30:353–355. https://doi.org/10.7623/syxb201305021
Zhang H, Zhong Y, She J, Li G (2018) Characterization of shale matrix pore structure via experiment and model. Arab J Geosci 11:320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3698-9
Zhao T, Li X, Ning Z, Zhao H, Zhang J, Zhao W (2018) Pore structure and adsorption behavior of shale gas reservoir with influence of maturity: a case study of lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in China. Arab J Geosci 11:353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3673-5
Zhou L, Das S, Ellis BR (2016a) Effect of surfactant adsorption on the wettability alteration of gas-bearing shales. Environ Eng Sci 33. https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2016.0003
Zhou Z, Abass H, Li X, Teklu T (2016b) Experimental investigation of the effect of imbibition on shale permeability during hydraulic fracturing. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 29:413–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2016.01.023
Zheng X, Liu J, Bian K, Liu S, Liu Z, Ai F (2017) Softening micro-mechanism and mechanical properties of water-saturated shale in Northwestern Hubei. Rock Soil Mech 38:2022–2028
Zolfaghari A, Dehghanpour H, Noel M, Bearinger D (2016) Laboratory and field analysis of flowback water from gas shales. J Unconv Oil Gas Res 14:113–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juogr.2016.03.004
Acknowledgments
The financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51674209), Sichuan Province Youth Science and technology innovation team project (No. 2016TD0016), and the Major cultivation project of Sichuan scientific and technological achievements transformation, China (No. 17CZ0040) are greatly appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Santanu Banerjee
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
You, L., Zhou, Y., Kang, Y. et al. Fracturing fluid retention in shale gas reservoirs:mechanisms and functions. Arab J Geosci 12, 779 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4955-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4955-2