Methods of Decline Curve Analysis for Shale Gas Reservoirs

Lei Tan, Lihua Zuo and Binbin Wang
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Lei Tan: State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Lihua Zuo: Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Binbin Wang: Geochemical & Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: With help from horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing, shale gas has made a significant contribution to the energy supply. However, due to complex fracture networks and complicated mechanisms such as gas desorption and gas slippage in shale, forecasting shale gas production is a challenging task. Despite the versatility of many simulation methods including analytical models, semi-analytical models, and numerical simulation, Decline Curve Analysis has the advantages of simplicity and efficiency for hydrocarbon production forecasting. In this article, the eight most popular deterministic decline curve methods are reviewed: Arps, Logistic Growth Model, Power Law Exponential Model, Stretched Exponential Model, Duong Model, Extended Exponential Decline Model, and Fractural Decline Curve model. This review article is dedicated to summarizing the origins, derivations, assumptions, and limitations of these eight decline curve models. This review article also describes the current status of decline curve analysis methods, which provides a comprehensive and up-to-date list of Decline Curve Analysis models for petroleum engineers in analysis of shale gas reservoirs. This work could serve as a guideline for petroleum engineers to determine which Decline Curve models should be applied to different shale gas fields and production periods.

Keywords: reservoir modeling; decline curve analysis; shale gas reservoirs; production forecast; estimated ultimate recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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