Improve shale gas production forecasts

摘要

Assessing the potential of shale gas resources requires an understanding of the shale properties. The depletion of conventional gas reservoirs has shifted the focus of the petroleum industry to unconventional resources. Unconventional gas resources such as coalbed methane (CBM), tight gas, hydrates and shale gas account for a large majority of the remaining gas resources in the world. While CBM and tight gas have been attractive targets for companies operating in Western Canada, shale resources remain relatively untouched. Assessing the potential of shale gas resources requires an understanding of the geochemistry of the shale. Two geo-chemical parameters are particularly important: total organic carbon (TOC) content and thermal maturity. The TOC content is used to evaluate the shale's potential to produce large volumes of hydrocarbons. Thermal maturity measures the conversion of the organic carbon contained in the shale to hydrocarbons. An ideal shale gas play can be identified by finding a proper combination of the TOC content and thermal maturity.