The state-of-the-art of the surface gathering and transportation technologies in US shale gas fields and its enlightenment to China

Compared to the conventional natural gas development, commercial shale gas production will have to meet with particular challenges such as high rates of shale formation pressure drop and deliverability decline, a long service life of shale gas production wells, a short exploitation cycle of pressure boost shale gas recovery, a high yield of water production at the initial stage of a shale gas well, and so on. Accordingly, the planning and design of surface engineering in a shale gas field will also have to face up with the following difficulties. First, the ground surface engineering planning and design should match well with the underground shale gas resources conditions. Second, a ground surface engineering project design scale is not easy to determine. Third, a layout of ground gathering and transmission lines and stations is quite difficult to decide upon. Fourth, the pressure boost shale gas recovery should be considered at the preliminary design phase. Fifth, ground surface flow processes should be managed and operated under a standardized and modular program. Sixth, waste water treatment should be also taken into account in design. Taking the classical Barnett and Marcellus shale gas fields as cases of studies, we summarized and analyzed the state-of-the-art technical process of a ground surface gathering and transmission system, in terms of well site processing facilities, infield and central processing facilities, gathering and transportation pipeline layout forms as well as water treatment technologies. In addition to the discussion on the adaptability of the US shale gas experience in China, we also presented some proposals on how to make our optimal planning and design of the surface gathering system in shale gas fields in China. This study provides a valuable reference for the high-efficient and low-cost development of shale gas fields in China.