US 10,591,399 B2 · Methods for analyzing natural gas flow in subterranean reservoirs

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for analyzing and modeling natural gas flow in subterranean shale reservoirs. In preferred embodiments, methodologies and techniques for determining and modeling natural gas flow in shale formations using methodologies and techniques capable of determining natural gas properties related to dual-continuum flow, permeability and pressure within a subterranean shale reservoir. In some embodiments, the natural gas properties are determined by subjecting a subterranean shale reservoir sample to pulse-decay analysis. In certain embodiments, the methodologies and techniques described herein may be used in various reservoirs exhibiting macroporosity and/or microporosity, such as fractured reservoirs and carbonate reservoirs composed of reservoir fluids.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of determining a flow characteristic of a subterranean reservoir formation for the purpose of predicting production capabilities, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a reservoir sample from the subterranean reservoir formation;
creating a plurality of pressure pulses across the reservoir sample;
obtaining from the reservoir sample dual-continuum test data, where the dual-continuum test data comprises late-time stage pressure data;
determining a mass transfer coefficient from the dual-continuum test data, wherein the mass transfer coefficient indicates a mass flow rate between two continua of the subterranean reservoir formation divided by a gas pressure difference between the two continua per unit bulk volume of the subterranean reservoir formation;
and
determining the flow characteristic from the mass transfer coefficient.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for analyzing natural gas flow in subterranean reservoirs

Life of this patent

Methods for analyzing natural gas flow in subterranean reservoirs

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14