Sustainable Development of the Shale Gas Supply Chain and the Optimal Drilling Strategy for Nonconventional Wells

DIEGO C. CAFARO E IGNACIO E. GROSSMANN

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014; p. 121 - 126

We present a long-term MINLP planning model for the development of shale gas fields. A key decision is the drilling/fracturing strategy yielding the freshwater consumption profile, which is critical in waterscarce regions with high cumulative demand for water. Results show that the model can help companies to reduce freshwater consumption by optimally planning drilling operations, at the expense of small reductions in the net present value of the projects.