Present Situations and Prospects of Multi-Stage Fracturing Technology for Deep Shale Gas Development

China possesses great potential in deep shale gas reserves and some breakthroughs have been achieved in some exploration projects in the past few years. However, most of shale wells are characterized by low productivity and rapid production decline after fracturing. Accordingly, these exploration wells may not attain the requirements for economic development. Under such circumstances, commercial development of deep shale gas in China is still in its preliminary stages. In this paper, geologic features, fracturing techniques, materials, and engineering costs related to deep shale gas development in the Haynesville and the Cana Woodford were reviewed to highlight differences in fracturing operations for deep shale gas development inside and outside China. Research results show that some big difference exisits among porosityies, gas contents, brittleness, stress difference and other parameters of deep shale gas reservoirs. Favorable geologic and engineering conditions, together with tailor-made fracturing techniques and low overall costs of individual wells can be as crucial keys for economic development of deep shale gas. To accelerate the commercial development of deep shale gas reservoirs in China, it is necessary to conduct in-depth studies for formation of fracture networks in deep shale, development of large-scale, high-conductivity, volumetric fracturing techniques under high geo-stress contrast and for the development of temperature and friction-resistant fracturing fluid systems to clearly identify fracturing techniques suitable for development of deep shale gas in China.