Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Overview
What is Shale Gas?
The nature of shale
How is Natural Gas Stored in Shale?
The concept of adsorption and organic content
Where is Shale Gas Found in Canada and in North America?
The size and distribution of shale gas basins in Canada and in North America
Stages of Shale Gas Exploration & Development
The process that leads to commercial development
How do you get the Gas from the Shale?
The drilling and completion process
Fracture Fluids and Water
The need to protect water resources
Optimizing Production of Shale Gas
The application of technology to maximize production
Environmental Concerns
Effective methods to reduce environmental impact
(a)
(b)
(c)
The amount of natural gas that is stored within shale is variable depending on the amount of
open pore space, amount of organic material present, reservoir pressure and thermal maturity of
the rock. Thermal maturity is a measure of how much pressure and temperature the rock has
been subjected to. It also measures whether oil or gas has been generated during the process.
Core samples are often collected to allow laboratory tests to be taken that will measure the
amount of organic material present as well as the thermal maturity.
Both of these measurements can be used to help determine the type and amount
of natural gas or oil that is present in the rock.
Stage 2:
Early
Evaluation
Drilling
Stage 3:
Pilot Project
Drilling
Stage 4:
Pilot Production
Testing
Stage 5:
Commercial
Development
Project
Reclamation
All stages of
development include
stakeholder dialogue
and consultation
Pace of development
is largely dependent
on resource
complexity, technical
success, local
circumstances and
market conditions
Understand the Reservoir: No two shale formations are the same. Their mechanical
properties greatly influence how they will fracture and how well they will produce hydrocarbons.
Core data is a key component to understanding the rock.
Unconventional
must be controlled. The use of multi-well drilling pads and manufacturing style processes are
critical for economic success. A full scale plan of development is developed to examine critical
elements such as water usage, water disposal, surface impacts, air quality, conservation and
public safety.
Utilize
are all advanced technologies that can have a demonstrable effect on production. During
hydraulic fracturing the utilization of seismic can determine the fracture orientation, its distance
and geometry. Both its lateral and vertical extent can be determined. This information allows for
more effective reservoir drainage and also ensures that the fracturing operation remains
confined to the targeted zone.
THANK YOU
D.K. Allan
Executive Vice President