Experimental evaluation of liquid nitrogen fracturing on the development of tight gas carbonate rocks in the Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan

Tight gas carbonate formations have enormous potential to meet the supply and demand of ever-growing population. However, it is impossible produce from these due reduced permeability lower marginal porosity. Several methods been used extract unconventional tight reservoirs, including hydraulic fracturing acidizing. field studies demonstrated that environmental flaws technical problems. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) an effective stimulation technique provides sudden thermal stress in rock matrix, creating vivid fractures improving petro-physical potential. In this study, we acquired samples thin sections Laki limestone formation Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan, experimentally quantify effects LN2 fracturing. Initially, were characterized based on mineralogical (X-ray diffraction), petrography, (permeability porosity) properties. Additionally, LK-18-06 exposed for different time intervals (30, 60, 90 mins), various techniques applied comprehend before after treatment, such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron energy-dispersive spectroscopy, nano-indentation, characterization. Our results reveal treatment was very induced up 38 µm. The surface roughness increased 275 946 nm, indentation moduli significantly decreased compressibility matrix. Petro-physical measurements revealed porosity by 47% 67% at optimum interval mins. This data can aid accurate assessment better development reservoirs.