A Unique Approach of Numerical Simulation with Multistage Hydraulic Fractures Modeling of a Complex Regional Scale Unconventional Biogenic Gas Reservoir. A Case Study of Miocene Gachsaran Formation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Recently unconventional gas resources including the shallow biogenic gas reservoirs have received great attention around the world due to technical advances in the field development and corresponding large in-place resources. However, the technologies needed for the effective development of unconventional reservoirs are still behind the industry needs, for example the gas recovery rates from these unconventional resources are still very low. The Miocene Gachsaran Formation across Onshore Abu Dhabi and Dubai possesses high potential of generating shallow biogenic gas. To understand and evaluate its capability for a promising gas resources a dynamic model and field development plan were generated based on a detail G&G analysis. The Gachsaran biogenic gas potential falls under the category of unconventional resources due to the existence of adsorbed gas within the organic matter and clay. The paper provides a detailed numerical simulation approach from a modified commercial simulators to simplify analytical solutions for adsorbed gas in-place calculation and full field development plan. The construction of dynamic model to tackle the growing advances in drilling and stimulation technologies for such complex tight reservoirs have become possible. These reservoirs are still challenging to produce due to their complex geology, tightness and requirements of advance production technologies such as hydraulic fracturing to achieve economical production rates. The gas flow mechanisms in nano-pores cannot be simply described by Darcy flow equation. In addition, due to large-scale fracturing, the conventional single porosity model is not enough to simulate the characteristics of these source rock type reservoirs. Furthermore, advanced simulation methods such as molecular dynamic simulation are computationally challenging and very time consuming. To mitigate these challenges, two alternative unique approaches were considered to model these reservoirs: (1) application of analytical methods to characterize the primary characteristics of nano-pores, and (2) extending the conventional simulator to effectively model flow from the nano-pores gas reservoirs. The study describes the theory and application utilized to modify and enhance the capability of conventional simulator. Consequently, to properly estimate the adsorbed gas in-place and integrate the effects of Langmuir gas desorption and gas diffusion effects. Therefore, the dual-porosity model was built and coupled with local grid refinement to capture the associated hydraulic fracture design and properties. This robust modeling approach has provided an enhancement in the field development planning of such a complex regional scale unconventional reservoir.