Methods and systems of modeling hydrocarbon flow from layered shale formations

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a display device coupled to the processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• simulate hydrocarbon movement through a micro-scale model of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation;
• determine a permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation, based on the simulation through the micro-scale model;
• determine a permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation based on a well log obtained for the layered shale formation;
• adjust parameters of a macro-scale model for use with the layered shale formation, based on the respective permeabilities of the kerogen-rich and kerogen-poor layers of the layered shale formation;
• predict hydrocarbon production for drilling a wellbore within the layered shale formation based on the adjusted parameters of the macro-scale model;
• and
• display on the display device an indication of the predicted hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

• simulate hydrocarbon movement through a micro-scale model of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation;
• determine a permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation, based on the simulation through the micro-scale model;
• determine a permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation based on a well log obtained for the layered shale formation;
• adjust parameters of a macro-scale model for use with the layered shale formation, based on the respective permeabilities of the kerogen-rich and kerogen-poor layers of the layered shale formation;
• and
• predict hydrocarbon production for drilling a wellbore within the layered shale formation, based on the adjusted parameters of the macro-scale model.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• simulating, by a computer system, movement of hydrocarbons through a micro-scale model representing a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation;
• determining, by the computer system, a permeability of the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation based on the simulation through the micro-scale model;
• determining, by the computer system, a permeability of a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation based on a well log obtained for the layered shale formation;
• modeling, by the computer system, hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation, based on the permeability of the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation and the permeability of the kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation;
• and
• planning, by the computer system, a path of a wellbore to be drilled through the layered shale formation, based on the modeled hydrocarbon production.