China's low-permeability gas resources await development

摘要

In China, exploration efforts to date have yielded the discovery of more than 30 large and medium-sized, low-permeability gas reservoirs. The latest national oil and gas resource evaluation released in August 2008 shows that China has 56 trillion cu m of prospective natural gas resources, 35 trillion cu m of geological resources, and 22 trillion cu m of recoverable resources. Geological characteristics of low-permeability gas reservoirs in China include low porosity, deep depth, thin reservoirs, and much heterogeneity. During the past decade, Chinese oil and gas companies have accumulated experiences in applying horizontal drilling in Ordos basin low-permeability gas fields. Overall, Chinese oil and gas companies have mastered a variety of effective reservoir stimulation technologies; however, a gap with the world's advanced technology still exists. In particular, key equipment and assorted technologies for fracturing need improvements before development of many low-permeability reservoirs can proceed.