Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis

Shale gas extraction depends on understanding how natural gas moves through and is stored within mudstones, dense sedimentary rocks whose pore spaces are often measured in nanometers rather than the millimeters typical of conventional reservoirs. Researchers study how organic matter matures under heat and pressure, gradually developing a network of tiny pores that trap methane, and how the surrounding mineral structure controls whether gas can flow toward a well at all. Because permeability in these formations can be extraordinarily low, even small variations in pore geometry, fracture connectivity, or the extent of diagenetic alteration can determine whether a reservoir is commercially viable. Active work centers on quantifying how thermal history shapes organic porosity over geologic time and on distinguishing the relative contributions of matrix flow and natural fractures to overall gas transport.

Works

186,821

Total citations

2,023,906

Keywords

Shale GasPore StructureMudstonesGas PermeabilityThermal MaturityNanopores