“Extreme utilization” development of deep shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin, SW China

Abstract

To efficiently develop deep shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin, under the guidance of “extreme utilization” theory, a basic idea and solutions for deep shale gas development are put forward and applied in practice. In view of multiple influencing factors of shale gas development, low single-well production and marginal profit of wells in this region, the basic idea is to establish “transparent geological body” of the block in concern, evaluate the factors affecting shale gas development through integrated geological-engineering research and optimize the shale gas development of wells in their whole life cycle to balance the relationship between production objectives and development costs. The solutions are as follows: (1) calculate the gold target index and pinpoint the location of horizontal well drilling target, and shale reservoirs are depicted accurately by geophysical and other means to build underground transparent geological body; (2) optimize the drilling and completion process, improve the adaptability of key tools by cooling, reducing density and optimizing the performance of drilling fluid, the “man-made gas reservoir” is built by comprehensively considering the characteristics of in-situ stress and fractures after the development well is drilled; (3) through efficient management, establishment of learning curve and optimization of drainage and production regime, the development quality and efficiency of the well are improved across its whole life cycle, to fulfil “extreme utilization” development of shale gas. The practice shows that the estimated ultimate recovery of single wells in southern Sichuan Basin increase by 10%-20% than last year.