Date of Graduation

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Committee Chair

Kashy Aminian

Committee Co-Chair

Samuel Ameri

Committee Member

Mehrdad Zamirian

Abstract

Pore proximity effect in shale reservoirs, unlike the conventional reservoirs, is very significant because the shale matrix contains pores in the range of nano meter that impact the phase behavior and fluid properties of the gas mixtures. The changes to the critical properties of the natural gas impacts the storage and flow in shale matrix. For optimization of gas extraction, understanding the gas properties is of great research interest.;In this research the impact of confinement on the gas viscosity and compressibility factor were evaluated using two typical composition of Marcellus shale gas. The results are to be used in formulating a new calculation method for gas storage and flow in shale reservoirs.;The results of the study indicate that the compressibility factor and viscosity of natural gas is changed by the pore proximity effect. The extent of gas properties change due to confinement depends on the composition of the gas mixture and the size of the nano-pores. Using two gas samples from Marcellus Shale, it was found that the viscosity and z-factor of confined gas deviated by an average of 20% and 6% respectively when compared to unconfined gases.

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