Heated Pressurized Gas Shale Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shale gas extraction systems are inefficient in extracting gas from shale reservoirs as the fractures created during fracking do not effectively reach and extract the majority of trapped gas.
Innovation Solution
The system involves heating and pressurizing gas to be injected into the shale, which facilitates easier extraction by increasing the temperature and pressure of the gas within the reservoir, allowing for enhanced gas release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fracking is used to create fractures in shale, then the shale is broken apart for gas extraction, but the fractures do not effectively reach and extract the majority of trapped gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by heating the injected gas to elevated temperatures (e.g., 100°C to 500°C) and pressurizing it to high pressures (e.g., 1000 psi to 10000 psi). These parameter changes cause thermal expansion of the gas, increasing its volume and pressure within the shale formations, which enhances the gas's ability to reach and liberate trapped gas molecules that conventional cold injection cannot access.
2Productivity
If more fractures are created to increase gas contact area, then extraction coverage improves, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical fracking approach with a thermally-enhanced system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical pressure to create and propagate fractures, the system uses heated gas that expands thermally to provide additional driving force. This substitution reduces the need for increasingly complex mechanical fracturing systems while maintaining or improving extraction effectiveness.
3Productivity
If higher pressure is applied during injection to force gas into shale, then extraction efficiency improves, but energy consumption and system stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions and thermal effects by heating the injected gas. The thermal energy causes the gas to expand and undergo changes in its physical state, increasing its volume and reducing its density. This thermal expansion provides natural pressure buildup that reduces the need for high-energy mechanical compression systems, thereby lowering overall energy consumption while maintaining effective injection pressures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the production rate of gas extraction by ensuring the heated and pressurized gas effectively liberates trapped gas within the shale, overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
heating and pressurizing gas to be injected into the shale, which facilitates easier extraction by increasing the temperature and pressure of the gas within the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
heating and pressurizing gas to be injected into the shale, which facilitates easier extraction by increasing the temperature and pressure of the gas within the reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A shale gas extraction system includes a gas storage container configured to store gas, a heater in gaseous communication with the gas storage container, and a pump in gaseous communication with the gas storage container. The method includes extracting the shale gas from a layer of shale material, which includes the steps of heating a gas to predetermined temperature, pressurizing the gas to a predetermined pressure, driving the gas to the layer of shale material, and heating the shale gas with the gas.