Shale gas exploitation worldwide

Shale gas is natural gas, it is not retained in an impermeable layer, so-called

"conventional" gas or oil deposits, but trapped within the rock itself.
Shale gas is usually embedded very deep (1500-3000 meters) in sedimentary
basins, in compact and impermeable rock. It is estimated that its reserves
could provide 120 to 150 years of current consumption of natural gas.
Shale gas is the gas source rock is an unconventional gas.

In the past, the oil and gas industry considered shale gas uneconomical to
produce. However, advances in directional well drilling and reservoir
stimulation have dramatically increased gas production from unconventional
shales.

Recent high natural gas prices have also stimulated interest in
developing gas shales. The decision to exploit a field result of several years
of study :

Gas shale is characterized by a very less permeability and moderate
porosity.
Gas shale log is a high Gamma-ray, a high resistivity, a low density, a high
neutron and sonic porosity and low Pe.
Identification and development of shale gas resources by collection of core
samples from drilled wells or through drilling of selective coreholes into such
shales to generate the following data :
- data on shale lithology : mineralogy and thickness
- Extension of high gamma ray zones and intercalation of sandstones or
siltstones
- rock property data : porosity, permeability, density
- Pyrolysis data to identify the type and maturity of organic matter and to
detect hydrocarbon potential in sediments.
- gas content data.

Recording, analysis and interpretation of different log data.
Developing data base, building geologic models and assessment of
resource potential of basins, also assessing the recoverable resources in
shale gas.


The research aims to optimize the exploration of basements.
The main objectives is to improve the efficiency of fracturing techniques and
reduce water consumption.

Optimal shale gas exploitation require modern technologies such as :
- Drilling horizontal wells
- Introduction of modern rigs
- Hydro fracturing
Its require large volumes of water to hydraulically fractures
require high density drilling, well spacing
To extract shale gas must make a fracturing of the rock, and the gas
obtained after water injection pressure: this is called hydraulic fracturing.

horizontal drilling and well completion technologies, including multi stage
hydraulic fracturing
a typical gas well require 7-10 stages of hydrofracturing and 3-5 lacs
gallons of water for 1 stage of hydrofracturing
The frac water is recycling for reuse in other wells after a little chemical
treatment
Gas in shale is stored in three ways in the shales :
- free gas in the rock pores
- free gas in the natural fractures
- absorbed gas on organic matter and mineral surface

Shale gas wells are not hard to drill, but they are difficult to complete.
In almost every case, the rock around the wellbore must be hydraulically
fractured before the well can produce significant amounts of gas. Fracturing
involves isolating sections of the well in the producing zone, then pumping
fluids and proppant (grains of sand or other material used to hold the cracks
open) down the wellbore through perforations in the casing and out into the
shale.
The pumped fluid, under pressures up to 8,000 psi, is enough to crack shale
as much as 3,000 ft in each direction from the wellbore. In the deeper high-
pressure shales, operators pump slickwater (a low-viscosity water-based
fluid) and proppant. Nitrogen-foamed fracturing fluids are commonly pumped
on shallower shales and shales with low reservoir pressures.




Exploitation of these deposits is expensive and poses risks to the
environment, in the underground, in groundwater and at the surface.
The hydraulic fracturing treatments used to stimulate gas production from
shale have stirred environmental concerns over excessive water
consumption, drinking water well contamination, and surface water
contamination from both drilling activities and fracturing fluid disposal.
The saline flowback water pumped back to the surface after the fracturing
process poses a significant environmental management challenge. The
flowbacks high content of total dissolved solids (TDS) and other
contaminants must be disposed of or adequately treated before discharged to
surface waters.
the risk on the sheets of water (les nappes deau) : Hydraulic fracturing
poses a potential risk to water wells and thus domestic drinking water supply.
The concern is that the chemicals used pose a potential risk to groundwater
quality, and the fracturing may damage aquifers.
the large quantities of water that hydraulic fracturing consumes may tax local
and regional water supplies and that disposing the flowback extracted from
the shale after fracturing may affect surface water and groundwater quality.

Projects Gas shale is temporarily suspended for environmental risks.