SPE 160099-MS

Phase Behavior of Gas Condensates in Shales Due to Pore Proximity Effects: Implications for
Transport, Reserves and Well Productivity
Deepak Devegowda, Kanin Sapmanee, Faruk Civan, Richard Sigal, University of Oklahoma
SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 8-10 October 2012, San Antonio, Texas, USA
The present study investigates the alteration of the properties, transport, and production of gascondensates in shale gas reservoirs and develops and demonstrates an effective and practical
methodology to apply these modifications in existing numerical simulation software. Simple models
that investigate the phenomena can be investigated without the need for any modifications to an
existing simulation code, but realistic models will require significant modifications. Our modeling results
indicate that when pore sizes are in the sub-10 nm range, typical of many gas shales, the influence of
pore walls on the phase behavior and viscosity of typical gas-condensate fluids is dramatic, in both
organic and inorganic pores, and creates favorable fluid and transport conditions leading to enhanced
production. This is because the fluid mixture in such porous formations tends to exhibit behavior similar
to that of a dry gas or a leaner gas-condensate system, thereby reducing the condensate banking effect
considerably in the near-wellbore region and consequently, not impairing the productivity of the
producing well. The results also underscore possible reasons for the significant production of
condensate liquid from these nanoporous media in contrast to what is expected based on the industrys
collective experience with conventional reservoirs. Consequently, the analysis and exercises carried out
in this article provide valuable insights into the nature of fluid behavior and advances our understanding
of the mechanisms of gas-condensate transport in extremely low permeability nanoporous media.