Tight and Shale Oil Exploration: A Review of the Global Experience and a Case of West Siberia

Abstract

Shale and tight oil reservoirs, with horizontal wells and hydraulic fractures, typically have a recovery ratio of around 10%. The exploration of tight oil and shale in North America has proven economically viable, thanks to advancements, such as horizontal wells, hydraulic fracturing, and other enhanced oil recovery techniques. Taking inspiration from the global experience (the North American shale experience), the exploration and development of the West Siberian tight and shale reserves was more focused on the reported best practices of the exploration of North American shale. In this study, the advance in the specific areas of shale and tight oil exploration was considered, with more emphasis placed on the progress in the exploration of West Siberian shales. According to the review literature, thermal enhanced recovery methods capable of converting organic matter into hydrocarbons were studied more than other methods of enhanced oil recovery. Aligned with global trends, there has been a growing focus on research aiming to integrate data-driven approaches and pore-scale simulations to enhance recovery from tight and shale formations. Multiple pilot studies have showcased promising prospects for implementing multistage hydraulic fracturing. Nevertheless, there are limited pilot studies dedicated to enhanced oil recovery methods for West Siberian shale.