Upscaling for Natural Gas Estimates in Coal and Shale

With the ever-growing demand for cleaner energy sources, CBM and shale gas have emerged as significant players in the global energy landscape. However, the complex heterogeneity and unique characteristics of these unconventional reservoirs pose challenges in accurately characterizing and simulating their safety and long-term production behaviour. Upscaling reservoir flow properties and geomechanics is pivotal in bridging the gap between laboratory-scale understanding and field-scale applications. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the essential reservoir properties governing gas production, such as permeability, porosity, and gas desorption characteristics. It then explores the limitations of traditional upscaling methods and highlights the need for advanced coupling techniques to capture the intricate details of CBM reservoirs. Reservoir simulations, utilizing numerical models, serve as a powerful tool in this context, allowing for a more realistic representation of the reservoir behaviour. Furthermore, the chapter explores integrating advanced mathematical models and machine learning algorithms to address the challenges posed by multiscale heterogeneity and anisotropy inherent in CBM reservoirs. Case studies and practical applications are presented to illustrate the successful implementation of these upscaling techniques in real-world scenarios. In conclusion, this book chapter serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers, engineers, and practitioners involved in the field of unconventional reservoir development and also provide future research directions for further advancement in upscaling techniques.