Evaluation of the remaining reserves of shale gas and countermeasures to increase the utilization of reserves: Case study of the Wufeng–Longmaxi formations in Changning area, southern Sichuan Basin, China

The evaluation of remaining reserves is crucial for assessing the developmental effect and further enhancing the recovery of a gas field. In this research, with the Changning shale gas field in the southern Sichuan Basin as the center of study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on reservoir distribution, remaining reserves, and strategies to enhance recovery through the utilization of diverse methodologies, including organic geochemical testing, triaxial rock mechanics experiments, and numerical simulations. The results show that, in the study area, the recovery percentage of the well-controlled reserves ranges from 45% to 70%, with the average remaining reserves of wells falling within the (50–150) × 10⁶ m³ range, alongside the potential for additional development in specific local areas. The Changning shale gas field exhibits three distinct types of undeveloped reserves, identified in areas where no wells have been drilled, inadequately fractured zones, and vertically undeveloped areas, respectively. In the areas where the average remaining reserves of wells are exceeding 100 × 10⁶ m³, wells for repeated fracturing are selected depending on the coupling of geological, engineering, and development. In the case of well infilling, areas characterized by developed reticular fractures and existing well spacing >500 m are prioritized, taking into account the surface wellsite conditions. Through an extensive analysis, which include reservoir assessments, rock mechanics evaluations, and numerical modeling, sublayer⑤ is identified as the optimal target in the upper gas interval, with a vertical distance of more than 20 m from sublayer① in the lower gas interval. Zones with well-developed reticular natural fractures, a pressure coefficient >1.2, and a continuous thickness of Class I reservoirs in the upper gas interval >10 m, are selected for staggered tridimensional development with an expected increase in the platform-level recovery percent by 30%. These findings can provide valuable references and guidance for the deployment of well patterns in shale gas blocks.