Transport properties of shale
The BGS Transport Properties Research Laboratory (TPRL) is a world-leading facility with the capacity to undertake research on the mass transport, fluid movement and rock deformation behavior of ultra-low permeability (10-22 m2) geological materials, including shales.
The laboratory has unique bespoke equipment and experimental systems, designed, constructed and assembled within BGS, to facilitate high-resolution and high accuracy data acquisition.
The BGS capability in deformation and fluid flow relevant to shale gas consists of a blend of standard and bespoke equipment with more than 15 experimental rigs.
These allow stress states and temperature conditions of all major reserves to be investigated.
Tests can be conducted with pure water, brine, helium, carbon dioxide (gaseous and super critical) and nitrogen. The laboratory is able to quantify the following key properties:
- acoustic velocity and acoustic emission
- anisotropy ratio
- coupled flow parameters (e.g. osmotic permeability)
- drained and undrained compressibilties
- fracture transmissivity
- gas permeability function
- intrinsic permeability
- rheological (creep) properties
- saturation and consolidation properties
- specific storage
- threshold capillary entry pressure
Contact
Contact Prof. Mike Stephenson for further information or enquiries about BGS shale gas consultancy services
