Analysis of Optimal Well Spacing in Shale Gas Reservoirs through Numerical Simulation
Open Access
- Author:
- Sutton, Nathan
- Graduate Program:
- Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- October 21, 2024
- Committee Members:
- John Wang, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Anne Menefee, Committee Member
Shimin Liu, Program Head/Chair
Gregory R King, Committee Member
John Wang, Committee Member
Anne Menefee, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- Marcellus Shale
Well Spacing
Optimal Spacing - Abstract:
- The Marcellus Shale formation has been one of the key producers of natural gas in the United States, making it an essential resource for energy extraction. This formation, however, is an unconventional resource and possesses low recovery rates. As a result, additional planning and techniques must be implemented in order to successfully produce the natural gas. Optimizing well spacing is a method allows for higher extraction efficiency, reduces operational presence, and eliminates the need for complex recovery techniques. The heterogenous reservoir properties of the Marcellus shale must be examined in order to understand how they affect the determination of the optimal spacing. The primary objective of this thesis is to determine and understand the influence that reservoir properties have on the optimal spacing of horizontal wells in a representative unit of the Marcellus shale. Through developing models in CMG, matrix permeability, matrix porosity, fracture conductivity, original gas in place, and pore pressure were analyzed to determine their influence on the optimal spacing between identical wells, in addition to the cumulative production. The optimal was found to be highly dependent on the permeability of the formation and the fracture half-length for this model. It was found that 600 feet is the optimal spacing for a given area of the Marcellus shale formation. Through understanding the optimal spacing gas wells, Marcellus shale reservoirs can be developed in a more efficient manner and yield higher quantities of natural gas over its production lifetime.