Abstract
Shale gas resources are abundantly distributed with low porosity and permeability. Horizontal well and fracturing are prior considerations. Fracturing is a widely-used technology to enhance gas production. In this paper, the author (a) investigated the present stimulation of Barnett and Haynesvile gas fields (Fig. 1) in America, Sichuan basin (Fig. 2) in China and Cooper basin (Fig. 3) in Australia; (b) compared different characteristics and limitations of multi-stage fracturing, water-fracturing, simultaneous fracturing, net fracturing, refracturing and hydraulic jet fracturing; (c) analyzed the critical point of the shale fracturing; (d) offered solutions to the fracturing fluid manufacture, selection and improvement of the fracturing fluids, fractures extension, equipments, fracturing effect evaluation and reservoir protection. It has a farreaching significance to improve fracturing and stimulation of shale gas reservoirs, in view of the high risk, low success ratio and poor stimulation effect the shale gas exploration would face.
Highlights
In China, shale gas resources are widely distributed in marine and terrestrial sedimentary basin, developed in various geologic epoches
Some additives in water such as water recovery agent (WRA), clay inhibitors, surfactants are used in water fracturing, a method for formation fracturing operation, which relies on hydraulic power to induce more fractures with strong flow conductivity to obtain commercial production in low permeability and large net pay reservoirs
In China, the shale gas resources estimation is speculative and sketchy (China Unconventional Gas Resources are shown in Fig. 7), the estimated potential resources in China amount to 1084 to 3530 Tcf [20, 21], For geographical distribution, target areas can be divided into four regions, as shown in Fig. (8), China shale gas reservoirs are different from the U.S in many aspects
Summary
In China, shale gas resources are widely distributed in marine and terrestrial sedimentary basin, developed in various geologic epoches. According to the U.S shale gas exploration practices, the development of reservoir fracturing technology exerts an important role in increasing production and promoting business development. This approach has transformed the industry, making it possible to economically stimulate reservoirs that were previously deemed uneconomic. Hydraulic fracturing has been widely used as a common practice to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons in low permeability reservoirs, and to deploy sand-prevention in high permeability reservoirs [2].
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