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Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation

Received: 20 January 2022     Accepted: 17 February 2022     Published: 19 May 2022
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Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations has led to energy boom both in China and abroad. Currently, water is regularly used as fracturing fluid in commercial shale gas and oil production, but it has raised concerns in many aspects such as environment and reservoir protection. Supercritical CO2, as a non-aqueous fracturing fluid, combined with coiled tubing fracturing technology, can effectively increase shale gas production, shorten operation period, reduce cost, conserve water resources, and minimize environmental impacts. Firstly, the process of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing of shale gas formation was introduced, and the potential advantages of using CO2 as working fluid in coiled tubing fracturing of shale gas formation were analyzed, including enhanced fracturing and fracture propagation, reduction of flow-blocking, increased desorption of methane adsorbed in organic-rich parts of the shale, and a reduction or elimination of the deep re-injection of flow-back water that has been linked to induced seismicity and other environmental concerns. In addition, shale gas formations may also become a major utilization option for carbon sequestration. Then, the computational fluid dynamics were applied to simulate the flow fields inside cavity of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing, and the pressure boost capability was verified. By comparing the pressure boost effects of water fracturing and supercritical CO2 fracturing, it could be concluded that supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing has stronger pressure boost effect than water fracturing under the same conditions. The research and development status of supercritical CO2 fracturing equipment and field test were also analyzed. The research results can provide references for the application of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing in shale gas formations and the development of related tools.

Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11
Page(s) 46-52
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Shale Gas, Supercritical CO2, Coiled Tubing, Fracturing, Pressure Boost

References
[1] Richard S. Middleton, J. William Carey, Robert P. Currier, et al. Shale Gas and Non-Aqueous Fracturing Fluids: Opportunities and Challenges for Supercritical CO2 [J]. Applied Energy 2015; 147: 500-509.
[2] Gupta S. Unconventional fracturing fluids: what, where and why. Technical workshops for the hydraulic fracturing study, US EPA, presented at Arlington, VA (February 2011); 2011.
[3] Middleton RS, Keating GN, Viswanathan HS, et al. Effects of geologic reservoir uncertainty on CO2 transport and storage infrastructure. Int J Greenhouse Gas Control 2012; 8: 132–42.
[4] CHENG Yuxiong, LI Gensheng, WANG Haizhu, et al. Feasibility analysis on coiled-tubing jet fracturing with supercritical CO2 [J]. Oil Drilling & Production Technology, 2013, 35 (6): 73-77.
[5] LI Gensheng, WANG Haizhu, SHEN Zhonghou, et al. Application investigations and prospects of supercritical carbon dioxide jet in petroleum engineering [J]. Journal of China University of Petroleum, 2013, 37 (5): 76-80.
[6] ZHANG Yi. Advantages and challenges of supercritical CO2 fracturing in shale gas exploitation [J]. Modern Chemical Industry, 2021, 41 (1): 1-6.
[7] CHENG Yuxiong, LI Gensheng, WANG Haizhu, et al. Flow field character in cavity during supercritical carbon dioxide jet fracturing [J]. Journal of China University of Petroleum, 2014, 38 (4): 81-86.
[8] WANG Fujun. Computational fluid dynamics analysis: theory and application of CFD software [M]. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, 2004: 196-200.
[9] REEVES S R, PEKOT L J, WEIDA S D, et al. Liquid CO2 and tip-screenout fracturing as techniques for restimulating gas storage wells [R]. SPE-37343-MS, 1996.
[10] SONG Zhenyun, SU Weidong, YANG Yanzeng, et al. Experimental studies of CO2 / sand dry-frac process [J]. Natural Gas Industry, 2014, 34 (6): 55-59.
[11] ZHANG Shuli, HAN Zengping, PAN Jiadong. Review of CO2 non-aqueous fracturing process and key equipment [J]. China Petroleum Machinery, 2016, 44 (8): 79-84.
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[13] WANG Haizhu, LI Gensheng, ZHENG Yong, et al. Research status and prospects of supercritical CO2 fracturing technology [J]. ACTA PETROLEI SINICA, 2020, 41 (1): 116-126.
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  • APA Style

    Yi Zhang. (2022). Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 10(3), 46-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11

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    ACS Style

    Yi Zhang. Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2022, 10(3), 46-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11

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    AMA Style

    Yi Zhang. Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation. Am J Chem Eng. 2022;10(3):46-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11,
      author = {Yi Zhang},
      title = {Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation},
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {46-52},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.20221003.11},
      abstract = {Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations has led to energy boom both in China and abroad. Currently, water is regularly used as fracturing fluid in commercial shale gas and oil production, but it has raised concerns in many aspects such as environment and reservoir protection. Supercritical CO2, as a non-aqueous fracturing fluid, combined with coiled tubing fracturing technology, can effectively increase shale gas production, shorten operation period, reduce cost, conserve water resources, and minimize environmental impacts. Firstly, the process of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing of shale gas formation was introduced, and the potential advantages of using CO2 as working fluid in coiled tubing fracturing of shale gas formation were analyzed, including enhanced fracturing and fracture propagation, reduction of flow-blocking, increased desorption of methane adsorbed in organic-rich parts of the shale, and a reduction or elimination of the deep re-injection of flow-back water that has been linked to induced seismicity and other environmental concerns. In addition, shale gas formations may also become a major utilization option for carbon sequestration. Then, the computational fluid dynamics were applied to simulate the flow fields inside cavity of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing, and the pressure boost capability was verified. By comparing the pressure boost effects of water fracturing and supercritical CO2 fracturing, it could be concluded that supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing has stronger pressure boost effect than water fracturing under the same conditions. The research and development status of supercritical CO2 fracturing equipment and field test were also analyzed. The research results can provide references for the application of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing in shale gas formations and the development of related tools.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Analysis of Supercritical CO2 Coiled Tubing Fracturing Technology for Shale Gas Formation
    AU  - Yi Zhang
    Y1  - 2022/05/19
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11
    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    SP  - 46
    EP  - 52
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8613
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20221003.11
    AB  - Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations has led to energy boom both in China and abroad. Currently, water is regularly used as fracturing fluid in commercial shale gas and oil production, but it has raised concerns in many aspects such as environment and reservoir protection. Supercritical CO2, as a non-aqueous fracturing fluid, combined with coiled tubing fracturing technology, can effectively increase shale gas production, shorten operation period, reduce cost, conserve water resources, and minimize environmental impacts. Firstly, the process of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing of shale gas formation was introduced, and the potential advantages of using CO2 as working fluid in coiled tubing fracturing of shale gas formation were analyzed, including enhanced fracturing and fracture propagation, reduction of flow-blocking, increased desorption of methane adsorbed in organic-rich parts of the shale, and a reduction or elimination of the deep re-injection of flow-back water that has been linked to induced seismicity and other environmental concerns. In addition, shale gas formations may also become a major utilization option for carbon sequestration. Then, the computational fluid dynamics were applied to simulate the flow fields inside cavity of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing, and the pressure boost capability was verified. By comparing the pressure boost effects of water fracturing and supercritical CO2 fracturing, it could be concluded that supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing has stronger pressure boost effect than water fracturing under the same conditions. The research and development status of supercritical CO2 fracturing equipment and field test were also analyzed. The research results can provide references for the application of supercritical CO2 fracturing with coiled tubing in shale gas formations and the development of related tools.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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  • Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation, Beijing, China

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