Measure gas-in-place in nanopores of tight reservoir rocks

Xiaolong Yin

xyin@mines.edu

Brian Trewyn

btrewyn@mines.edu

Most pores in unconventional, tight gas reservoir rocks are a few to tens of nanometers in size. Fluid-solid interaction, such as adsorption, can significantly increase the density of fluid adjacent to rock surface. In tight reservoir rocks, the abundance of small pores means that significant amount of fluid will be near rock surface and, hence, is under an adsorbed state. The higher density of adsorbed gas compared to that of free gas means that the net gas-in-place in tight gas reservoirs can be severely under-estimated if one were to ignore gas-solid adsorptive interactions. In this project, we will use an oscillation-based experimental apparatus to determine the amount of gas stored in the pores of tight reservoir rocks.

Student(s) enrolled will work with two professors, one in Petroleum Engineering and another in Chemistry. It is expected that student(s) enrolled will spend time in both labs and learn respective experimental methodologies.

Grand Challenge: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Publication by a previous MURF: Larson Z, Cho Y, Yin X. Experimental technique to measure mass under high pressure conditions using oscillatory motions of a spring-mass system. Meas. Sci. Technol. 28, 065902, 2017. MS thesis on the topic: Krishnan K. Using Oscillations to Detect Capillary Condensation in MCM-41. 2019.

Xiaolong Yin, Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering