A Physics Based Model of Enhanced Gas Production in Mudrocks

Gas flow in mudrocks depends on the complex, multiscale connectivity among nanopores, microfractures and macrofractures. Hydraulic fractures stimulate reservoir volume near a horizontal well and create other fractures at all scales. Elsewhere, we have described the Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV) as a fractal with its own fracture network that accesses the organic-rich matrix. In the practically impermeable mudrock, the known volume of fracturing water (and proppant) must create an equal volume of fractures at all scales. Thus, we can constrain the physical structure of SRV, i.e., the number of macrofractures and surface area created after hydrofracturing. Nanopores in the organic matrix act as the source of almost all gas. Here, we present a comprehensive, physics-based microscale model of (a) the increased permeability to gas flow in a mudrock and (b) the effects of smallest nanopores on well production rates and gas storage capacity in this mudrock.