Integration and scale application of shale gas exploration and development engineering technologies in Sichuan and Chongqing areas

Abstract

Based on 8 years' exploration and production since the spud in of the first shale gas well in the Changning–Weiyuan national demonstration zone in the Sichuan Basin in 2009, great progress and all-sided development have been achieved in shale gas exploration and development engineering technologies in China. In order to promote scale shale gas development efficiently with high benefits in Sichuan and Chongqing areas, it is of great significance to summarize in time the optimized and integrated support technologies of shale gas exploration and development engineering. And the following research results were obtained. First, 10 principal technology series at the domestic leading level in shale gas well drilling and completion engineering are formed and completed, providing a technical support for a drastic increase of shale gas production. Second, volumetric fracturing support technologies from design to laboratory experiment evaluation and to real time monitoring of fracturing networks based on borehole seismic data are developed, ensuring the implementation effects of shale gas stimulation schemes. Third, simultaneous operation modes are innovatively established, such as drilling–fracturing, drilling–production & transportation and fracturing–production & transportation, and pad arrangement is optimized so that batch, modularized, programmed and integrated operation is realized and the commissioning schedule of shale gas wells is sped up greatly. Fourth, six series of environmental protection and energy saving technologies for shale gas development are developed, and consequently clean and energy saving production of shale gas is realized. Fifth, a technological system with a high-precision 3D seismic prospecting technology as the base is established to provide a basis for the realization of “transparent” gas reservoirs. Sixth, ground gathering technologies are optimized and intellectual and digital management of gas reservoir production and transportation is realized. It is concluded that these support technologies for shale gas exploration and development engineering provide an effective support for the increase of shale gas production of the Changning–Weiyuan shale gas national demonstration zone and they play a guiding and demonstrating role in technological progress and managerial innovation. Keywords: Sichuan Basin, Changning–Weiyuan shale gas national demonstration zone, Engineering series, Drilling-fracturing, Drilling–production & transportation, Fracturing–production & transportation, Large-scale benefit