The influence of an anionic surfactant,
a cationic surfactant,
and salinity on adsorbed methane (CH
4
) in shale was assessed
and modeled in a series of systematically designed experiments. Two
cases were investigated. In case 1, the crushed Marcellus shale samples
were allowed to react with anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and
brine. In case 2, another set of crushed Marcellus shale samples were
treated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and brine. The
surfactant concentration and salinity of brine were varied following
the Box–Behnken experimental design. CH
4
adsorption
was then assessed volumetrically in the treated shale at varying pressures
(1–50 bar) and a constant temperature of 30 °C using a
pressure equilibrium cell. Mathematical analysis of the experimental
data yielded two separate models, which expressed the amount of adsorbed
CH
4
as a function of SDS/CTAB concentration, salinity,
and pressure. In case 1, the highest amount of adsorbed CH
4
was about 1 mmol/g. Such an amount was achieved at 50 bar, provided
that the SDS concentration is kept close to its critical micelle concentration
(CMC), which is 0.2 wt %, and salinity is in the range of 0.1–20
ppt. However, in case 2, the maximum amount of adsorbed CH
4
was just 0.3 mmol/g. This value was obtained at 50 bar and high
salinity (∼75 ppt) when the CTAB concentration was above the
CMC (>0.029 wt %). The findings provide researchers with insights
that can help in optimizing the ratio of salinity and surfactant concentration
used in shale gas fracturing fluid.