Physicochemical properties of methane storage and transport in Devonian shale. Final report, May 1991-December 1993

This report deals with gas adsorption by organic rich shales. Adsorption within the shale matrix effectively doubles the gas capacity of these reservoir materials as compared with the effect of porosity alone. Gas is adsorbed primarily onto the organic (kerogen) components. Isotherms made on kerogen isolates from shale showed that the kerogen adsorptive capacity is similar to that of coal. Finally, a comparison of shale core samples containing native moisture and laboratory-dried samples showed that while both shales absorbed methane, drying increases the adsorptive capacity of the shale.