Page 381 - Fundamentals of Gas Shale Reservoirs

17

GAS SHALE CHALLENGES OVER
THE ASSET LIFE CYCLE

Robert “Bobby” Kennedy
Petroleum Engineering, Unconventional Resources Team, Baker Hughes, Inc., Tomball, TX, USA

17.1 INTRODUCTION • Begin with a complete understanding of the reservoir
• Use a multidiscipline and integrated approach across
The asset life cycle is a data‐driven, integrated, multidisci- each phase of the life cycle
pline approach for gas shale plays, which includes recom- • Effectively use fit‐for‐purpose modern technology
mended technologies/solutions for operators to use when
analyzing, developing, and producing these unconventional
resource reservoirs. In essence, recommended practices 17.2 THE ASSET LIFE CYCLE
are offered that will address the operator’s challenges over
the complete life cycle of a shale gas reservoir. The earlier The asset life cycle includes five phases: (i) exploration, (ii)
chapters of this book have discussed, in detail, shale charac- appraisal, (iii) development, (iv) production, and (v) rejuve-
teristics and the evaluation, reservoir analysis, drilling, com- nation (see Fig. 17.1). The discussion under each phase will
pletion, and hydraulic fracturing (stimulation) of shale gas be divided into current common practices and recommended
reservoirs. It is not the intent of this author to duplicate that, practices. Choices (technology and application) must be
but only to discuss the integration of these various analysis made at every phase of the life cycle, and these choices can
techniques operational technologies with respect to the affect ultimate recovery. Not all shale gas reservoirs are the
complete asset life cycle. During this process, however, same, and each may require different choices. Also, each
certain aspects of the various technologies and processes choice can affect later options. As this discussion ensues, it
will have to be repeated. will become obvious that the description of the objectives
The asset life cycle includes five phases—exploration, and challenges of the operator, the technologies, and data
appraisal, development, production, and rejuvenation. Most required to implement each phase of the life cycle do address
of these terms for the life cycle phases have been around the uniqueness of shale gas. The following is an outline of
the industry for a number of years, and are not new with the discussion of the five life cycle phases.
the exception of possibly the rejuvenation phase. What is
new, however, are the technologies and solutions that are 17.2.1 Exploration Phase Objectives—Recommended
employed to address operator challenges and proposed Practices
objectives during each phase of the shale gas life cycle.
The three key points to the asset life cycle data‐driven • Conduct a basin/area screening study to identify core
approach which are designed to maximize the net value of an areas (sweet spots) and to determine an initial estimate
operator’s asset are of gas in place

Fundamentals of Gas Shale Reservoirs, First Edition. Edited by Reza Rezaee.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.