Optimization Models for Optimal Investment, Drilling, and Water Management in Shale Gas Supply Chains

IGNACIO E. GROSSMANN, DIEGO C. CAFARO, LINLIN YANG

Cle Elum, Washington

Conferencia; 8th International Conference on Foundations of Computer-Aided Process Design ? FOCAPD 2014; 2014

This paper provides an overview of recent optimization models for shale gas production. We first describe a new mixed-integer optimization model for the design of shale gas infrastructures. It is aimed at optimizing the number of wells to drill, size and location of new gas processing plants, section and length of pipelines for gathering raw gas, delivering dry gas and natural gas liquids, power of gas compressors, and planning of freshwater consumption for well drilling and fracturing. We also describe a detailed operational mixed-integer linear model to optimize life cycle water use for well pads. The objective of the model is to determine the fracturing schedule that minimizes costs for freshwater consumption, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal.