UW Researchers Publish Article Measuring Shale Permeability, Advancing Research on the Mowry Shale

University of Wyoming researchers have published a comprehensive overview of established techniques for assessing shale permeability.

 

The review is poised to become an essential resource for academics and industry professionals working in the fields of petroleum engineering and unconventional resource development.

 

The article, “A comprehensive review on analysis of permeability measurements and surfactant enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in shale,” was published July 23 in Physics of Fluids, one of the most prestigious journals produced by the American Institute of Physics.

 

Led by UW doctoral student Ifeanyi Nwankwo in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering at the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the article provides an in-depth examination of critical factors influencing oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs.

 

Co-authors include Morteza Dejam, an associate professor in the UW Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering; Tim Fischer, oil and gas program manager in the School of Energy Resources’ (SER) Center for Economic Geology Research; and Scott Quillinan, SER senior director of research.

 

In May, the same team published a related article on shale geomechanics. Both papers stem from an SER-led initiative to consolidate multidisciplinary expertise at UW, all focused on unlocking the potential of Wyoming's Mowry Shale Petroleum System.

 

“This article is one of the most detailed, comprehensive and critical reviews in the literature that addresses analysis of permeability measurements and surfactant enhanced oil recovery in shale,” Dejam says. “The impacts of this study can potentially pave the way for further research and development on production from Mowry Shale.”

 

Shale formations, such as the Mowry, are characterized by their extremely low permeability, which poses unique challenges for hydrocarbon extraction. Understanding and accurately measuring this permeability is crucial for predicting reservoir performance and optimizing production strategies.

 

The article further provides a thorough examination of surfactant EOR methods, which are gaining increasing attention as promising avenues for boosting recovery rates from these tight reservoirs. Surfactants can alter the interfacial properties between oil and rock, allowing more oil to be mobilized and extracted.

 

"Our recent publication represents a significant leap forward for the Mowry Shale Project,” says Fischer, who oversees the research program. “The comprehensive nature of the review helps to consolidate fragmented knowledge and provide a roadmap for future research directions in this vital area. We fully expect it to accelerate new discoveries and drive innovative approaches as we continue to investigate the Mowry's full potential."

 

The full article can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0272106.