Shale gas development: technology development and innovation combine learning

Exploitation of  shale gas  is very difficult. USA 1821 ~ 1825 drilled the first shale gas wells, 100 years later, in the 1970s annual production of shale gas is only 1.96 billion cubic meters. 1989 to 1999 10 years of rapid development, the annual output of shale gas 91.5 billion cubic meters. After 154 years, the United States in 2006, a variety of shale gas technology is mature, through the promotion of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing, coiled tubing fracturing and other new technologies, 2007 to 2009, produced a quantum leap from the United States to become the world's largest production National gas, natural gas imports declined for three consecutive years, natural gas import prices decreased by 50%.ceramic proppant In 2010, the U.S. shale gas production reached 137.8 billion cubic meters, equivalent to 110 million tons of oil equivalent.

At present, China has basically mastered the horizontal well technology, but some of them do not have the key technologies. Horizontal wells guide means basically rely on key foreign companies to carry out technical services. Dozen test wells by foreign companies services are adequate, playing 100 000 production wells are also relying on foreign companies, the cost is unbearable. In addition, our current fracturing up to do 15 segments, the United States can do 60 segments. Shale gas fracturing is an artificial construct drainage system, shale has pores but not China Unicom, the need for artificial fracturing the pressure out, fracturing full production will be high, otherwise the yield is low.

Chinese Academy of Sciences, China University of Petroleum, Professor Wang TG said that China's shale gas resources in the study recently done a lot of work, but on the development of equipment, tools and technology research is insufficient.Fracturing proppant Zhai suggested the development of shale gas in the United States learn from some of the experiences and experiments of coalbed methane development lessons, strengthen basic research at the same time, the use of solid pilot experimental area of ​​shale gas exploration Youyidaonan accelerate the development of key technologies. In addition, due to the special geological conditions, in many cases, our country can not copy the U.S. shale gas development technology, the need to innovate with its own characteristics research.

Zhai said that China can not be anxious, you should carefully identify some of shale gas production resources, production methods and production technology. The United States in 2006 after the rapid increases in production from 50 billion to 100 billion in 2011 and to more than 1700 billion cubic meters, technological breakthrough is the key.