Key controlling factors of CO₂ huff and puff in normal-pressure marine shale gas reservoirs and pilot test in the Nanchuan block
Abstract
As China’s dominant shale gas hub, the Sichuan Basin faces declining recovery during late-stage reservoir development. This study uses an integrated approach to investigate the potential of CO₂-enhanced shale gas recovery and geological storage in the normal pressure marine shale of the Nanchuan block. Isothermal adsorption experiments reveal that the Nanchuan shale exhibits a preferential selectivity for CO₂ over CH₄ and a higher gas adsorption capacity compared to other basins, highlighting its inherent potential for both enhanced recovery and carbon sequestration. Using foundational parameters from core experiments and historical production data, a dual-permeability numerical model is constructed. This model is then validated via history matching, demonstrating strong agreement with China’s first CO₂ huff and puff field test in this normal-pressure gas reservoir, achieving a recovery boost of 2.9%. Leveraging this validated model, sensitivity analyses are employed to identify the key controlling parameters, optimizing the CO₂ injection amount to 0.3-0.5 pore volumes at a reservoir pressure depletion of 45%-55%, followed by a shut-in period of 15-60 days. The findings confirm the feasibility of CO₂ enhanced shale gas recovery in Nanchuan shale and provide a robust theoretical and technical basis for practical application.
Document Type: Original article
Cited as: Lu, Y., Wang, B., Lu, Z., Fang, D., Ma, W., Hood, M. Key controlling factors of CO₂ huff and puff in normal-pressure marine shale gas reservoirs and pilot test in the Nanchuan block. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2026, 19(1): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.01.01
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.01.01Keywords:
Normal-pressure shale gas, CO₂ huff and puff, competitive adsorption, displacement replacement, CO₂ storageReferences
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