Understanding the Multicomponent Interaction in Shale Nanopores

Production of gas from shale starts with the desorption and diffusion of gas from the shale matrix into the induced fractures and into the well. Understanding the interaction of gas with other subsurface species (CO2, water, oil) in shale (inorganic and organic) nanopores under relevant subsurface conditions is critical to understanding storage and transport in shale formation. In this talk I will discuss the molecular structure of shale organic materials (i.e., kerogen)1 methane and CO2 competitive adsorption onto the kerogen2 kerogen swelling associated with gas adsorption3 kerogen wettability4 and transport of gas, water, and super critical CO2 in shale nanopores.4,5 These works provide the fundamental insights into the shale production decline, chemo-mechanical properties of porous materials, the effect of wettability, viscosity and friction coefficient on the flow of oil in nanopores.

1. Ho, et al., Sci. Rep., 2016, 6, 28053.

2. Ho, et al., Fuel, 2018, 220, 1-7.

3. Ho, et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, 20, 12390-12395.

4. Ho, et al., Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 19957-19963.

5. Ho, et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019.