A Feasibility Analysis on Shale Gas Exploitation with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) fluid has the properties of low viscosity and high diffusion capacity near gas and higher density near liquid, so it showed great vitality at the beginning of its use in drilling technology at the end of the last century. This article analyzes the thermophysical properties of SC-CO₂ fluid, and the properties of shale gas and reservoir are analyzed at different aspects of drilling and reservoir formation, while the characteristics of shale gas development are summarized also. Combining the characteristics of SC-CO₂ fluid and shale gas reservoir exploitation, the feasibility of shale gas exploitation with SC-CO₂ is demonstrated in detail. Meanwhile, the technical and economic superiorities of it are also analyzed. It is believed that the shale gas exploitation with SC-CO₂ will achieve great success in economic and technical aspects, and it will provide much more clean energy and make a great contribution to protecting the environment.

Keywords:

• drilling
• feasibility analysis
• fracturing
• shale
• shale gas
• supercritical carbon dioxide