Shale Gas: H.-M.

Schulz

SS 2013

Shale Gas

Hans-Martin Schulz

13th - 14th of June 2013

TheKeyFactorforProduction:Mineralogy
bestBarnettShaleproductioncomesfrom
zoneswith45%quartzandonly27%clay
brittlenesscontrolsfrac stimulation

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

! Shale gas is self-contained HC system !

Total Organic Carbon (wt%)

- Heterogeneities -

12

16

20
Mesozoic black shale:
different colours
Indicate different wells

TOC (%)

compare,
Barnett Shale

150

100

40
Depth (m)

50

0
0

10

12

TOC (Wt%)

60

80

Courtesy Brian Horsfield (2011)

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

on the surface of
the organic fraction

on the surface of
clay minerals

in
sorbed
state

+
dissolved methane

Methane in gas shales is stored

as
free
gas

matrix porosity
(blue)

Fracture
porosity

Fracture gasis produced immediately

Adsorbed gasis released dueto pressure declines

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

Processes in a source rock leading to oil, gas, and

carbon-rich residue (pyrobitumen)

High-maturity shale-gas systems derive high gas contents

from the indigenous generation of gas from kerogen, bitumen, and oil cracking.

Jarvie et al. (2007): Unconventional shale-gas systems: The Mississippian Barnett Shale of north-central Texas
as one model for thermogenic shale-gas assessment AAPG Bulletin, v. 91, no. 4 (April 2007), pp. 475499

Gas Content vs. TOC in Two Shale Gas Plays Implication:

Gas Associated with Organic Matter

Courtesy A. Aplin (2011)

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

Sorbed CH4 Increases with Pressure and Amount

of Organic Matter

Increasing TOC

Methane adsorption isotherms, Antrim shale, Michigan Basin

Courtesy A. Aplin (2011)

.but CH4 Sorption Decreases with

Temperature

^^

Data for Dietz Coal

Courtesy A. Aplin (2011)

Bustin and Bustin (2008)

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

Typical sorption isotherm

Bob Cluff (2006)

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

How Much of the Porosity is Associated

with Organic Matter?

Passey et al. (2010)

Loucks et al. (2011): Origin and Classification of Pores in Mudstones from Shale-Gas Systems. Search and Discovery Article #40855

Shale Gas: H.-M. Schulz

SS 2013

Loucks et al. (2011): Origin and Classification of Pores in Mudstones from Shale-Gas Systems. Search and Discovery Article #40855

Dark grey:
organic matter

Grey: mineral matrix