Notes 7
Notes 7
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What are the different phases of CO2 at different pressure and temperature conditions?
scCO assisted fracking
- • Answer: At low pressures and temperatures, CO2 exists as a solid (dry ice). At moderate
pressures 2 and temperatures, it exists as a gas. At high pressures and moderate temperatures,
it exists as a supercritical fluid.
-
• Biocides,
What is the surfactants,
critical point ofscale inhibitors
CO2 and what does and many other fracturing-fluid additives
it represent?
• may
Answer:beThe
unnecessary ifCO2
critical point of scCO 2 is used
is where as the
the liquid working
and gas phasesfluid.
become indistinguishable. At this
.
point, the density difference between the liquid and gas phases disappears. The critical temperature of
However, an increase
CO2 is approximately 31.1°C,inand
viscosity may
the critical be required
pressure if scCO
is about 73.8 atm. 2 must carry
proppant.
scCO
How 2 may
does also more
the phase diagram effectively
of CO2 differ fracture
from thatrock due to coupled compressibility-
of water?
thermal shock effects. Specifically, strong Joule-Thompson
• Answer: Unlike water, CO2 does not have a liquid phase cooling may
under standard atmospheric enhance
pressure (1 atm).
rock fracturing due to thermal stress created as CO2 expands into a new fracture
Instead, it sublimates directly from solid to gas. CO2 also has a lower critical temperature and pressure
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compared to water.
volume and cools the crack tip.
Assuming
What happens to theCO2shale formation
at room temperatureis ultimately
and increasing pressurized
pressure? with CO2 to 150 bar, as
• much as At300 standard cubic feet25°C),
(SCF) CO2ofexists
COas 2 could
Answer: room temperature (around a gas atbe adsorbed
atmospheric per ton
pressure. As of
pressure
increases, it may transition to a supercritical fluid phase before eventually becoming a solid at very high
shale. Thus,
pressures.
a fully accessible shale seam 1000m x 300m x 20m could potentially
adsorb and sequester up to 1.7 x 107 SCF of CO2.
Explain the triple point of CO2 and its significance.
• Answer: The triple point of CO2 occurs at a temperature of -56.6°C and a pressure of 5.11 atm. At this
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point, CO2 can coexist in equilibrium as a solid, liquid, and gas. It's significant because it represents a -
unique set of conditions where all three phases are in equilibrium.
Geologic considerations: CO2-assisted fracking may not be suitable for all geological formations, and site-specific
factors such as porosity, permeability, and depth must be carefully evaluated.
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* Project: Design a CO2 assisted fracking
What is CO2-assisted fracking, and how does it differ from traditional hydraulic fracturing?
• Answer: CO2-assisted fracking, also known as carbon dioxide fracking, involves injecting carbon dioxide
protocol
(CO2) into underground formations to enhance the recovery of oil and gas. Unlike traditional hydraulic
fracturing, which primarily uses water and chemicals, CO2 fracking utilizes CO2 as the fracturing fluid.
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• Reduced environmental impact: CO2 can be sourced from industrial processes or captured from the atmosphere,
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making it a more sustainable option than water-intensive hydraulic fracturing.
3. Plan the experiments which needs to be done
• Enhanced oil and gas recovery: CO2 can dissolve in oil and gas, reducing their viscosity and improving their flow
properties, thus enhancing production rates.
4. Clearly identify the process and provide suitable parameters
• Reduced water usage: Since CO2 is the primary fracturing fluid, there is less reliance on freshwater resources,
mitigating water scarcity concerns.
5. Prepare a process flow diagram for the process
• Potential for carbon sequestration: CO2 captured during fracking operations can be permanently stored
underground, contributing to carbon capture and storage (CCS) efforts.
~
A review of experimental apparatus for supercritical CO2 fracturing of
shale
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109515
How does CO2-assisted fracking contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
• Answer: CO2-assisted fracking can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by:
• Utilizing captured CO2: By using CO2 sourced from industrial processes or captured from the atmosphere,
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CO2 fracking prevents these emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
• Enhancing oil and gas recovery: Injected CO2 can displace and mobilize trapped oil and gas, increasing
production rates and ultimately reducing the need for additional drilling operations, which would emit more
greenhouse gases.
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Coalbed Methane (CBM)/ Coal Mine Gas (CMM)
Coalbed methane (or coal mine gas) is a form of natural gas and has a
worldwide resource estimated at more than 8100 tcf or=
- 229 trillion m3
CBM resources, along with shale gas and tight gas, are considered important
unconventional natural gas sources. In recent years, CBM has accounted for
about 7% of the annual natural gas production in USA about 10% in Australia
and about 3% in China
CBM is a clean fuel because its combustion releases no toxins, produces no ash
and emits less carbon dioxide per unit of energy than the combustion of coal.
Extraction of CBM, in addition to providing economic value, also reduces the
hazard of gas explosions in coal mines.
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How is coal bed methane (CBM) extracted, and what are its primary applications?
• Answer: CBM is extracted by drilling wells into coal seams and removing the methane that is adsorbed onto
the coal surfaces. Its applications include electricity generation, heating, industrial processes, and as a
feedstock for chemical production.
Origin of CBM
CBM can be either biogenic, thermogenic or mixed. Biogenic coal bed gas is
generated by the breakdown of coal organic matter by methanogenic
microorganisms at low temperature (~50C)
Low-rank coals are the starting material for microbial generation, previously
overlooked coal basins having low-rank coal have now become important targets
for CBM exploration.
There has been a lot of progress in understanding the microbial generation
pathways that transform the coal components into methane in steps.
Thermogenic gas is produced from the organic matter in coal by chemical
degradation and thermal cracking, at temperatures higher than 100C
Thermogenic gas generation commences at the high volatile bituminous rank,
where coal has vitrinite reflectance values (Ro) between (0.8 - 1.2)%
↓ Biogenic methane: Thermogenic methane:
• Formed through biological processes in • Formed through geological processes involving heat and pressure
environments like wetlands, landfills, and deep within the Earth's crust.
animal digestive systems. • Organic matter undergoes chemical transformation
• Produced by microorganisms breaking down (thermogenesis) over millions of years.
organic matter anaerobically. • High temperatures and pressures cause the breakdown of organic
• Contains lighter isotopes of carbon matter into hydrocarbons, including methane.
(carbon-12). • Contains heavier isotopes of carbon (carbon-13).
• Often found in shallower geological • Found in deeper geological formations like coal beds and shale
formations. formations.
Chemistry of CBM
Above Ro of 3.0 %, the organic hydrogen in coal is severely depleted and the
remaining organic carbon is largely present in condensed aromatic structures.
Therefore, higher rank coal is expected to generate more thermogenic CBM than
relatively lower rank coal.
Some research also shows that gas can be generated at lower temperatures and
without microbial involvement as a result of mineral-mediated catalytic reactions.
The capacity to store methane increases with depth. Thus, within a given coal
rank, deep coal seams tend to have a higher methane content than shallow ones.
Basins with coal seams hosting mixed (i.e. thermogenic and biogenic) CBM
require complex exploration and production strategies.
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Methane management in coal mines
In many underground mines,- methane emissions is controlled by pumping large
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quantities of air through the mine in order to dilute the methane to safe levels.
The coal mine methane released to the atmosphere by the mine ventilation
②
system is typically below 1%.
A more eco-friendly and economic approach is to use a methane drainage
system along with ventilation system discussed above.
· Drainage systems reduce the quantity of methane in the working areas by
draining the gas from the coal-bearing strata before, during, or after mining.
Today, methane drainage is a proven technology and much of the gas that is
recovered can be used in various applications.
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Gob Wells
In some very- low permeability
coal seams, vertical wells may
not be a cost-effective
technology due to limited
methane flow.
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Gob wells are drilled from the
surface to a point 10 to 50 feet
above the target seam prior to
mining.
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Vertical Well
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Cryogenic liquids are substances that are cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically below -150°C (-238°F),
at which point they become liquids. Some common examples include:
• Liquid nitrogen (N2) Proppant is used to keep the fractures open after the frac job is complete. Proppant
• Liquid oxygen (O2) provides a high-conductivity pathway for hydrocarbons to flow from the reservoir to the well.
• Liquid hydrogen (H2) After the frac job is completed, proppant prevents the fractures from closing due to
• Liquid helium (He) overburden pressure.
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What is nitrogen fracturing, and how does it differ from traditional hydraulic fracturing?
• Answer: Nitrogen fracturing is a method of well stimulation that involves injecting nitrogen gas into
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Nitrogen (N2) fracturing
underground rock formations to create fractures and enhance oil or gas recovery. Unlike traditional
hydraulic fracturing, which primarily uses water-based fluids, nitrogen fracturing uses nitrogen gas as
the fracturing fluid.
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⑦
Gaseous nitrogen is also a non-aqueous, non-damaging fracturing fluid and is also a viable
What are the advantages of using nitrogen as the fracturing fluid?
stimulation technique in coal seams.
°Z
• Answer: Nitrogen offers several advantages, including its non-reactive nature, which reduces formation
Nitrogen is pumped
damage, its as a cryogenic
ability to displace liquid
water and andwater
reduce thenconsumption,
heated to form
and aitsgas prior
high to being injected
compressibility, allowing
for deeper
into penetration into the formation.
the well.
=
>
HowPumping
x[@\@
nitrogen
are proppants gas in
used eliminates
nitrogen the possibility
fracturing, andof
whattransporting
role do theyproppants,
play in theand as such,
process?
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• nitrogen
Answer:fracturing
Proppants,can
suchbeasclassified as a proppantless,
sand or ceramic nonreactive
beads, are mixed stimulation
with nitrogen gas andtechnique.
injected into fractures
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to prop them open after fracturing. Proppants prevent the fractures from closing and allow oil or gas to flow
Fracturing using
more freely anwellbore
to the aqueous-based fluid and proppant technique, usually takes a minimum of
during production.
one week and up to a month for flow back operation and thus nitrogen fracturing may be of
greatest
What benefit. considerations are associated with nitrogen fracturing compared to traditional
environmental
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.
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methods?
• The use ofNitrogen
Answer: nitrogen as a fracturing
fracturing may havefluid may also assist
environmental in thesuch
advantages production of water
as reduced CBMusage
throughandthe
enhanced
minimizedproduction properties
formation damage the nitrogen
compared has with
to traditional methane
hydraulic in the
fracturing coal seam
methods. reservoir.
However, nitrogen gas
itself is a potent greenhouse gas, so proper handling and disposal measures are necessary to mitigate
The dry coals found in the Alberta Basin in Canada contain very little or no water and nitrogen
emissions.
is used extensively as a fracturing fluid to avoid adding water to the coal reservoir.
What types of formations are most suitable for nitrogen fracturing, and why?
• Answer: Tight formations with low permeability, such as shale or coal beds, are often suitable for nitrogen
fracturing because nitrogen can penetrate deeper into the rock and create fractures more effectively,
enhancing hydrocarbon recovery.
t
How does the use of nitrogen impact well productivity and production rates compared to other
Coiled tubing fracturing
fracturing fluids?
• Answer: Nitrogen fracturing can improve well productivity and production rates by creating more extensive
and conductive fractures in the formation, allowing for increased flow of oil or gas to the wellbore.
What are the challenges or limitations of nitrogen fracturing, and how can they be addressed?
• Answer: Challenges include nitrogen's high cost and the need for specialized equipment and infrastructure.
Additionally, controlling nitrogen leakage and ensuring proper wellbore integrity are important considerations
for minimizing environmental impact.
How does nitrogen fracturing contribute to the overall efficiency and economics of oil and gas extraction
operations?
• Answer: Nitrogen fracturing can improve the efficiency and economics of oil and gas extraction by enhancing
production rates, increasing recovery factors, and reducing water usage and formation damage compared to
traditional fracturing methods.
What advancements or innovations are being made in the field of nitrogen fracturing technology?
• Answer: Advancements include improved nitrogen injection techniques, development of environmentally
friendly fracturing fluids, and integration of nitrogen fracturing with other enhanced oil recovery methods to
maximize hydrocarbon extraction efficiency.
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Horizontal Boreholes
e
Horizontal boreholes (200 - 300 ft) are drilled inside the mine and they drain
methane from the unmined areas of the coal seam.
Several hundred boreholes may be drilled within a single mine and connected to
an in-mine vacuum piping system, which transports the methane out of the
mine and to the surface.
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Longhole horizontal boreholes (~1000 ft) are drilled using directional
techniques in unmined seams in advance of mining.
This technique is most effective for low permeability coal seams that require
long diffusion periods.
>
Cross-measure boreholes are drilled at an angle through the rock strata to
degasify the overlying and underlying rock strata surrounding the coal seam
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Examples
CNX Gas, at their southern Virginia mining operations, has drilled thirteen
in-seam long holes, the longest of which is 1,569 m (5,148 ft).
These holes were directionally drilled into virgin coal sections that were
already being drained by hydraulically fractured vertical wells.
The boreholes were drilled accurately to avoid the main fracture zones
around the vertical wells.
The total drilled distance, including sidetracks, was 22,960 m, and the
boreholes produced 31 MMcm (1.1 Bcf) of methane with no negative
impact on the vertical well production volumes.
Source: [CNX, 2007]
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Water disposal
As discussed pre-mining drainage of CMM usually involves the drainage of
water from the coal seam to lower reservoir pressure, so that methane will
desorb from the coal and flow via the wellbore to the surface.
The volumes of water involved vary among coal basins around the world,
depending primarily on reservoir thickness, porosity, permeability, well spacing,
pump rates, proximity to aquiferous sandstones etc.
In the U.S., average daily water production rates from CBM wells vary from 2-5
m3 (17-42 bbl) per day to over 60 m3 (500 bbls) per day
In some regions, the water is of good enough quality to be used for irrigation,
drinking water, or industrial use.
In poor quality water areas the water contains high concentrations of salt (up to
5 times that of seawater) and must be intensively treated before use, or disposed
of by reinjection into a suitable aquifer.
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Resource potential
The largest CBM resources are located in Russia, United States of America, China,
Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Poland, Germany and France
Production growth
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Thus gas production from the different coal seams varies significantly.
Permeability was the main influencing factor on CBM production
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Costs
The major variables in determining the cost of drilling and completing a
vertical well are the
• drilling depth,
• the method of completion,
• the number of coal seams completed,
• the size and type of any hydraulic fracturing process used
• and the cost of building the well site infrastructure.
Do a cost calculation for methane transportation through CNG / LNG, identify the Capex, Opex and pay back time.
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