Masters Theses

Malek Elgmati

Keywords and Phrases

Dual-beam SEM-FIB

Abstract

"Determining shale gas petrophysical properties is the cornerstone to any reservoir-management practice. Hitherto, conventional core analyses are inadequate to attain the petrophysical properties of shale gas at submicron-scale. This study combines interdisciplinary techniques from material science, petrophysics, and geochemistry to characterize different shale gas samples from North America including Utica, Haynesville and Fayetteville shale gas plays. Submicron pore structure, clay mineralogy, wettability and organic matter maturation were investigated to evaluate the petrophysical properties of shale gas rocks and to determine the impact of organic and inorganic matters on wettability alteration for different fracturing fluids on shale gas rocks.

High pressure (up to 60,000 psi) mercury porosimetry analysis (MICP) determined the pore size distributions. A robust detailed sequential milling and imaging procedure using dual beam (SEM/FIB) instrument was implemented successfully to characterize the submicron-pore structures. Various types of porosities were observed on SEM images. Pores were found in organic matters with the size of nano level and occupied 40-50% of the kerogen body. The reconstructed 3D pore model provided key insights into the petrophysical properties of shale gas such as pore size histogram, porosity, tortuosity and anisotropy, etc. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed high illite content in Haynesville shale. It also suggested high calcite content in Utica shale samples. Wettability tests showed that most of the additives that were used can alter shale gas surfaces toward hydrophilic-like system (water-wet). Moreover, palynofacies analysis provided valuable information about kerogen type and its degree of thermal maturation, which are key parameters in shale gas exploration"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Bai, Baojun
Flori, Ralph E.

Committee Member(s)

Oboh-Ikuenobe, Francisca
Eckert, Andreas

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Petroleum Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2011

Pagination

xi, 78 pages

Geographic Coverage

Haynesville Shale
Fayetteville (Ark.)

Rights

© 2011 Malek Elgmati, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Oil-shales -- AnalysisOrganic geochemistrySediments (Geology) -- AnalysisShale -- Arkansas -- Fayetteville

Thesis Number

T 9815

Print OCLC #

784152311

Electronic OCLC #

729256076

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