| Title | Reservoir and hydrocarbon fluid characteristics revealed by production data: A case study of liquid rich Duvernay Shale Play with emphasis in Fox Creek area, Alberta Canada |
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| Author | Chen, Z ; Kong,
B; Lee, H S |
| Source | Fuel vol. 329, 125358, 2022 p. 1-17, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125358 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2022 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20220001 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Alberta |
| NTS | 73D; 73E; 73L; 73M; 83 |
| Area | Fox Creek |
| Lat/Long WENS | -120.0000 -110.0000 56.0000 52.0000 |
| Subjects | fossil fuels; Science and Technology; shales; productivity; hydrocarbons; hydrocarbon gases; permeability; hydrocarbon migration; recovery; Duvernay Formation |
| Illustrations | location maps; tables; graphs; cross-plots; plots |
| Program | Geoscience for New Energy Supply (GNES) Shale-hosted petroleum resource assessment |
| Released | 2022 08 22 |
| Abstract | This paper reports the findings on the major factors affecting the hydrocarbon productivity and ultimate resource recovery from the liquid-rich Duvernay Shale play in the Fox Creek area. Essential
drilling and completion parameters, production rate, estimated ultimate reserves from monthly production time series and key geological variables were mapped and combined with statistical data analysis to reveal their spatial variation and
statistical relationships among these parameters and variables. We found that fluid type of the hydrocarbons in shales is essential for hydrocarbon productivity and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) in this area. Although production rate and EUR are
proportional to measures of hydraulic treatment, not all the completion parameters are equally effective in enhancing productivity and recovery. Fracking water volume seems to boost productivity and recovery the most. Parameters from organic
geochemistry and geology are essential for mapping the boundary of the resource play, and determining the hydrocarbon fluid types and their spatial variations. And high positive correlation of HCPV with monthly average production rate and EUR
indicates the importance of those geological factors for the productivity and ultimate recovery of the study area. Gas-to-oil ratio (GOR) mapping from produced fluids in the first 12 months reveals high anomalous GOR channels or linear zones in low
maturity areas that are inconsistent with thermal maturity trends spatially, indicating intra-formation migration of hydrocarbon fluids in the source rock along permeable networks. Major earthquake swarms induced by hydraulic fracturing appear to be
associated with crossing formation faults, and are spatially coincident with reduced productivity and ultimate recovery in de-pressured reservoir spot. These findings provide insights to better understand the distribution of production sweet spots
and for production optimization strategies to facilitate a low carbon energy transition. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This paper reports the findings on the factors affecting the hydrocarbon productivity and resource recovery from the Upper Devonian Duvernay Shale in the
Fox Creek area, west central Alberta. Drilling and completion parameters, production rate, reserve estimates and major geological variables were mapped and combined with statistical data analysis to reveal their spatial variation and statistical
relationships among these parameters and variables. We found that the fluid property of hydrocarbon is the most impportant for hydrocarbon productivity and recovery in the study area, while formation pressure has influential in the early production
period. Organic geochemistry and geologic factors that are important in mapping the boundary of the resource play and determining the hydrocarbon fluid types and their spatial variations show a weak correlation with productivity and recovery,
suggesting that they become secondary in measuring productivity and recovery. Gas to oil ratio mapping from produced fluids shows high GOR channels or linear belts in certain orientations. Some of those cross the thermal maturity predicted fluid
zones. On the other hand, those high GOR channels or linear belts are in spatial accordance with the high productivity spots and zones, indicating redistribution of hydrocarbon fluids along high permeable channels in the source rock. Major hydraulic
fracturing induced earthquakes appear to be associated with crossing formation faults, where the reservoir pressures are low and accompanied with low productivity and recovery. These findings provide insights to better understand the distribution of
production sweet spots and production optimization strategies to facilitate a low carbon energy transition. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 329896 |
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