Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
James M. Wood, Tristan Euzen, Lana Sharp, Scott Leroux
Summary: Tight hydrocarbon systems can experience significant depressurization through gas leakage in response to uplift, with methane content showing regional trends increasing with depth and thermal maturity. Secondary migration of methane-rich gas along suitably oriented fairways plays a crucial role in modifying hydrocarbon compositions and should be recognized for effective evaluation and exploitation in the Montney Formation and other similar systems.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
James M. Wood, Mark E. Curtis, Omid H. Ardakani, Hamed Sanei
Summary: The study observed dynamic oil and brine movement phenomena within unconventional rocks at the scale of nanometers to micrometers, providing important in-situ information about fluid distribution. These phenomena demonstrate the intimate coexistence of oil and solid bitumen within the pore network of oil and gas reservoir rocks, as well as the presence of well-connected brine.
Article
Energy & Fuels
James M. Wood
Summary: Kim et al. (2019) found a positive linear relationship between total organic carbon (TOC) and peak monthly gas rate in the Montney Formation, but inclusion of an unrelated sample from the Nordegg Member disrupted this relationship, questioning the proposal that productivity in the Montney gas play can be solely quantified and forecasted based on organic carbon content parameters.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jaime Cesar, Bernhard Mayer, Christine Deblonde, Andy Mort, Omid H. Ardakani
Summary: This study assessed the occurrence of methane, ethane, and propane in the Montney Formation using parameters based on molecular interconversion between C1-C3 alkanes, which helped identify boundaries between hydrocarbon plays, migration zones, maturity indicators, and target areas for natural gas liquids production. The approach used in this study can be further explored in other low-permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Patricia E. Fraino, Carolyn M. Furlong, Per K. Pedersen
Summary: Geological and geomechanical heterogeneities in fine-grained rocks exist at multiple scales, but the complexity at the centimeter- to microscale heterogeneities is not well understood. This study analyzed representative samples from the Lower Triassic Montney Formation to describe sedimentological heterogeneity based on sedimentary fabric, compositional, and geomechanical properties. The results showed that sedimentary fabric, elemental composition, and hardness have significant influences on mechanical properties and natural fractures. This dataset provides valuable insights for modeling and predicting fine-grained deposit characteristics.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Olenka N. Forde, Aaron G. Cahill, Bernhard Mayer, Roger D. Beckie, K. Ulrich Mayer
Summary: Fugitive gas migration (GM) from compromised oil and gas wells is a global concern. This study investigated the transport and fate of fugitive gas in the vadose zone through simulations and monitoring. The results showed that methane oxidation partially attenuated the natural gas, but variations in grain-size distribution and barometric pressure strongly influenced gas transport and fate, leading to episodic effluxes and lateral gas transport.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ming Yue, Bingbing Li, Qiang Chen, Jidong Gao, Weiyao Zhu, Zhiyong Song
Summary: Spontaneous imbibition is considered an important method for enhanced oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs. This study experimentally investigated the variation characteristics of spontaneous imbibition at different pore scales and found a relationship between capillary diameter and imbibition recovery.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Marta Gasparrini, Olivier Lacombe, Sebastien Rohais, Moh Belkacemi, Tristan Euzen
Summary: The study analyzed differently oriented calcite-filled fractures in organic-rich mudrocks in British Columbia through a multidisciplinary approach, revealing the correlation between the formation timing of vertical and horizontal fractures with basin evolution.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tristan Euzen, Neil Watson, Martin Fowler, Andy Mort, Thomas F. Moslow
Summary: Petroleum accumulations in sedimentary basins are controlled by factors such as source-rock distribution, thermal maturity, migration pathways, and traps. The Montney Formation serves as a well-documented example of a hybrid system, where petroleum distribution is influenced by factors like thermal maturity, fluid migration, and pressure compartmentalization. Integrating gas compositional mapping with reservoir pressure data reveals the strong control of the structural framework on petroleum migration routes.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nanjun Lai, Jiawen Deng, Ziqiang Wang, Junqi Wang, Wenguang Guo, Lei Tang
Summary: Imbibition after fracturing is an important method for enhancing oil recovery in shale oil reservoirs. The porosity, permeability, and wettability of the reservoir in Jimsar Sag were analyzed to understand the mobility of shale oil. The experimental results showed well-developed micro nano pores, poor pore connectivity, and neutral wettability to oil wetting.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Kunpeng Zhang, Mian Chen, Shiguo Wang, Jiaxin Li, Muhammad Taufiqurrahman
Summary: This paper analyzes the significance of formation parameters on hydraulic fracturing and presents conclusions on the influence of factors such as breakdown pressure, stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), and fracture morphology. The research is based on experimental design and numerical simulation experiments using the extended finite element method (XFEM).
GEOMECHANICS FOR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shihang Rao, Zhenchao Li, Yajun Deng, Xin Huang, Hailong Lu
Summary: This study investigates the influence of material surface on the formation and dissociation of gas hydrates. Visual observations show that the more hydrophilic surface facilitates hydrate formation, while the less hydrophilic surface promotes hydrate dissociation. The results suggest that the surface properties of materials play a significant role in hydrate processes.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. Yaghoubi, M. B. Dusseault, Y. Leonenko
Summary: This study uses a probabilistic approach to assess the slip tendency of known faults in the compartmentalized Montney Formation. The results provide useful input for seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhongnan Wang, Xiaorong Luo, Keyu Liu, Yuhong Lei, Likuan Zhang, Ming Cheng, Xiangzeng Wang
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of mixed wettability in sandstone samples by integrating petrographic, petrophysical, and pore-scale wettability analyses. It was found that oil-free sandstones were generally water-wet, while oil-bearing sandstones exhibited mixed wettability. Different pores within the same sandstone sample displayed different wetting states, with chlorite surfaces becoming oil-wet after being in contact with oil.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jing-Dong Liu, Cun-Jian Zhang, You-Lu Jiang, Guo-Shuai Bai
Summary: This paper presents a method for evaluating overpressure and its effect on natural gas charging in tight sandstone in a compressional basin using the example of the Xujiahe Formation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin. The study reveals that hydrocarbon generation and tectonic compression are the main causes of overpressure. The residual pressure difference between the source rocks and reservoir is the major driving force for tight sandstone gas charging. The research provides important insights into evaluating overpressure and pressure difference, as well as investigating natural gas charging space in compressed basins.
Article
Energy & Fuels
John B. Gordon, Hamed Sanei, Per K. Pedersen
Summary: This study evaluated the use of Random Forest (RF) machine learning model to predict Hydrogen Index (HI) and Oxygen Index (OI) from four wells offshore east coast of Newfoundland, Canada. The model showed excellent correlation coefficients and low error ranges for predicting HI and OI, demonstrating the great potential of machine learning models in predicting geochemical parameters from wireline logs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Katrine Elnegaard Hansen, Jacques Giraudeau, Audrey Limoges, Guillaume Masse, Arka Rudra, Lukas Wacker, Hamed Sanei, Christof Pearce, Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz
Summary: This study focuses on radiocarbon dating of Arctic marine sediment, revealing significant discrepancies between bulk organic matter dating and dating based on fossils. The composition of organic matter, including input sources and variations in age offsets, plays a key role in controlling these discrepancies. The presence of terrigenous organic matter and reworked ancient organic matter influences the age offsets between bulk and foraminifera dates.
QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Leibo Bian, Anthony Chappaz, Niels Hemmingsen Schovsbo, Arne Thorshoj Nielsen, Hamed Sanei
Summary: This study investigates mercury enrichments in a unique Alum Shale drilled core from southeast Sweden during the late Miaolingian to Furongian period. Four mercury anomalies were found, with the most pronounced one attributed to volcanic activities.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
John B. Gordon, Hamed Sanei, Per K. Pedersen
Summary: This study examines the diagenetic processes that have contributed to the preservation of anomalously high secondary porosity and permeability in deeply buried Tithonian-aged stacked incised valley reservoir sandstone intervals. The findings indicate that thermal maturity and early calcite dissolution may have played key roles in the development of secondary porosity in these sandstones. The study also suggests a possible second phase of meteoric water flushing as a mechanism for calcite cement dissolution.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xiaowei Zheng, Niels H. Schovsbo, Qingyong Luo, Jia Wu, Ningning Zhong, Fariborz Goodarzi, Hamed Sanei
Summary: This study investigates the anomalous breakdown in the gradient of graptolite reflectance (GR) versus thermal maturity during artificial maturation of the Alum Shale. The suppressed GR gradient is attributed to the generation and evasion of hydrocarbon gases that cause nano-porosity vacuolation of the graptolite tissues. Applying a linear conversion formula between random GR and vitrinite reflectance (VRo) directly may lead to an underestimation of thermal maturity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mastaneh H. Liseroudi, Omid H. Ardakani, Per K. Pedersen, Hamed Sanei
Summary: The diagenetic evolution of sedimentary basins is crucial to resource exploration, development, and CCUS. This study investigates the carbonate diagenesis in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin to understand the origin of diagenetic fluids, flow systems, and their association with the tectonics and hydrogeology of the basin. Integrated petrographic and isotope geochemical studies provide insights into the regional history of paleofluid flow and driving mechanisms.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Leibo Bian, Anthony Chappaz, Niels H. Schovsbo, Xiaomei Wang, Wenzhi Zhao, Hamed Sanei
Summary: The late Cambrian extinction - Early Ordovician biodiversification is a crucial lower Paleozoic biological change, but the mechanisms behind this transition are not well understood. This study reconstructed the paleoenvironmental changes and assessed the Cambro-Ordovician biological turnover. The results showed that depositional environments became extremely sulfidic with lower nutrient inputs, leading to the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion event. Intense volcanic activity in the early Jiangshanian contributed to recurrent bio-calamities. Later, enhanced terrestrial weathering and oceanic water upwelling facilitated biological recovery and laid the foundation for the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Stephane Bodin, Mickael Charpentier, Clemens Ullmann, Arka Rudra, Hamed Sanei
Summary: This study investigates the environmental changes and formation mechanisms of OAE 1b by analyzing the Briers section in the Vocontian Basin of France. The results suggest that the variations in organic matter during OAE 1b are mainly related to changes in continental weathering and marine primary productivity. The global carbon isotope fluctuations during OAE 1b are primarily influenced by Milankovitch-paced changes in monsoonal activity.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jin Wu, Qingyong Luo, Ningning Zhong, Fariborz Goodarzi, Vaclav Suchy, Hamed Sanei, Christian B. Skovsted, Meijun Li, Ye Zhang, Dahua Li, Jia Wu, Daofu Song
Summary: Vitrinite-like macerals (VLM) are commonly used as a substitute for classical vitrinite in evaluating the thermal maturity of marine shales. However, the molecular structure of VLM itself has received limited attention. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the molecular structures and thermal evolution of VLM in natural and artificial shales. The results showed that the molecular structure of VLM gradually evolved with increasing thermal maturity, similar to classical vitrinite. Raman spectroscopy, particularly the RBS parameter, proved to be a useful tool for evaluating the thermal maturity of VLM-rich sediments.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jennifer M. Galloway, Stephen E. Grasby, Feiyue Wang, Thomas Hadlari, Keith Dewing, Stephane Bodin, Hamed Sanei
Summary: The geochemical record of the Christopher Formation on Axel Heiberg Island, Canada, indicates variations in redox conditions and the presence of carbon isotopic excursions associated with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1b (OAE 1b). The elevated concentrations of mercury in the formation are likely sourced from sulphide minerals rather than organic matter. The input of mercury into marine basins can be predominantly detrital, and there are no clear atmospheric sources of mercury anomalies associated with specific sub-levels of OAE 1b.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Sobek, Sebastian Abel, Hamed Sanei, Stefano Bonaglia, Zhe Li, Gisela Horlitz, Arka Rudra, Kazumasa Oguri, Ronnie N. N. Glud
Summary: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are found in hadal trench sediment in the Atacama trench at depths down to 8085 m. High turnover of organic matter in the trench contributes to elevated contaminant concentrations in this extreme and remote place.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Nanna Andreasen, Rebecca Jackson, Arka Rudra, Henrik Nohr-Hansen, Hamed Sanei, Jorgen Bojesen-Koefoed, Marit-Solveig Seidenkrantz, Christof Pearce, Nicolas Thibault, Sofia Ribeiro
Summary: The origin, composition and preservation of organic matter in a marine sediment core recovered from the NE Greenland shelf were investigated using different techniques. The study revealed the continuous but variable input of land-derived organic carbon to the marine environment, with the highest input during the late Younger Dryas. The sediments represented a significant sink of recycled organic carbon, with a large proportion of inert carbon and terrigenous organic carbon.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rasmus Stensh, Arash Abarghani, Nidhal Badrouchi, Yang Yu, Steven A. Smith, Arka Rudra, Henrik I. Petersen, Hamed Sanei
Summary: This study investigates the effects of supercritical CO2 injection on hydrocarbon residues in the Danish North Sea. The results indicate that sc-CO2 can effectively mobilize lighter hydrocarbon fractions while leaving behind heavier immiscible asphaltene-rich hydrocarbons. Pressure differences can cause the precipitation of solid bitumen, which can significantly alter the flow of sc-CO2 in the reservoir.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xiao-Wei Zheng, Niels-H. Schovsbo, Lei-Bo Bian, Arka Rudra, Hamed Sanei
Summary: This study used organic geochemistry and organic petrology to investigate the depositional environment, organic matter characteristics, and thermal maturity of the Cambrian-Ordovician organic-rich marine shales in the Baltic Basin. The results showed that as the maturity increased, solid bitumen became more abundant and dispersed. Additionally, a Semifusinite-like maceral was observed in one of the studied samples, indicating a possible intrusion of Permo-Carboniferous dolerite dikes. The pyrolysis data also supported the presence of immature, early mature, and over-mature samples.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James M. Wood, Jaime Cesar, Omid H. Ardakani, Arka Rudra, Hamed Sanei
Summary: The study provides evidence for widespread migration of gas-condensate in the Montney unconventional petroleum system using carbon isotope and PVT data from co-produced hydrocarbon gas and liquid. The recognition of this migration adds complexity to the internal hydrocarbon migration history within the Montney tight-petroleum system.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)