Sensitivity Studies of Horizontal Wells with Hydraulic Fractures in Shale Gas Reservoirs

Producing natural gas from shale gas reservoirs has gained momentum over the past few years in North America and will<br>become an increasingly important component of the world’s energy supply. A shale gas reservoir is characterized as an<br>organic-rich deposition with extremely low matrix permeability and clusters of mineral-filled “natural” fractures. Shale gas<br>storage capacity is defined by the adsorbed gas on the organic material within the shale matrix and free gas in the limited<br>pore space of the shale rocks. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are the primary enabling technologies to obtain<br>economical production from the shale gas reservoir.