Research Development of Analytical Techniques for Shale Gas

As an unconventional gas resource with huge exploration potential, shale gas has been successfully exploited in North America and has become a new field of oil and gas exploration. At present, researches on the evaluation of reserves and gas generating capacity for shale gas are focused on lithological composition, origin, occurrence form, reservoir characteristics, reservoir conditions and gas content of the shale gas. All research is based on the accurate measurement of organic geochemistry and petrological parameters and gas contents. Therefore, analytical techniques of shale gas are the key technologies for shale gas exploration and development. Many important parameters, such as the concentration of total organic carbon, maturity, porosity, permeability and gas content etc., can be obtained through the analysis of shale, and play an important role in the study of accumulation and development of shale gas. It is important to establish the routine analysis procedures and special laboratory for the characteristic parameters of shale based on the studying of analysis technologies for shale. Based on literatures, the analytical techniques of shale were reviewed, with particular focus on the geochemical analysis (the concentration of total organic carbon, kerogen type, key indicators of organic matter of oil and gas generation, etc.), shale reservoir characterization (mineral compositions, porosity and permeability of shale) and gas content measurement of shale, which are very important to shale gas exploration and development.