Overview
Background
Ray is currently Professor of Well Engineering & Production Technology in the School of Chemical Engineering and Energi Simulation Co-chair in the Centre for Natural Gas. There he is researching projects related to low permeability, unconventional reservoirs (i.e., tight gas, coal seam gas, shale gas reservoir). In addition, he is an instructor and course coordinator in several courses in the ME Petroleum Engineering program at the University of Queensland.
Outside of teaching and research, Prof Johnson is the Principal at Unconventional Reservoir Solutions, a provider of reservoir engineering, stimulation consulting, and training services to the petroleum and mining industry, focusing on unconventional resources such as gas or oil from coal, shale, or naturally fractured reservoirs.
From 2014 to 2020 Ray was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the ASP, University of Adelaide.
Availability
- Professor Ray Johnson is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Unconventional Reservoir Appraisal and Development Strategies
Ray's research focuses on integrating elements of reservoir engineering, geomechanics and hydraulic fracturing to improving appraisal and development strategies for unconventional resources such as gas from coal as well as oil and gas from shales and naturally fractured reservoirs.
Research impacts
A lot of people state that they are researching or investigating hydraulic fracturing, which in most cases is limited to modelling some aspect of rock fracture mechanics or fracture propogation in some geological or rock mechanical framework. Whist this may progress the science of hydraulic fracture propagation, hydraulic fracturing design optimisation in a petroleum well stimulation context is not that concise, exact or simple!
Well stimulation in the petroleum industry context is much larger and represents an overall process to create an economic outcome from a low-permeability reservoir by implementing the proper selection of fluids, stage/job placement, proppant selection, onsite job execution, post-frac clean-up and long term production management along with the hydraulic fracturing modelling, a small portion of the process. It is an overall design, execute, and then evaluate process that cannot be optimised by a discrete element model.
My research benefits societies' need to identify and develop unconventional resources as a part of it's overall energy mix by effectively implementing economical hydraulic fracturing solutions in unconventional reservoirs. Advances of my research integrating geomechanics, hydraulic fracturing, reservoir engineering, and production technology will aid us in maintaining low cost energy thereby benefitting overall economic growth in Australia by economically unlocking more of Australia's unconventional gas resources (i.e., tight gas sandstone, shale gas, and coal seam gas reservoirs).
Works
Search Professor Ray Johnson’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Conference Publication
Development of predictive models in support of micro-particle injection in naturally fractured reservoirs
You, Zhenjiang, Wang, Duo, Di Vaira, Nathan, Johnson, Raymond, Bedrikovetsky, Pavel and Leonardi, Christopher (2019). Development of predictive models in support of micro-particle injection in naturally fractured reservoirs. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18 – 19 November 2019. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTEC). doi: 10.15530/AP-URTEC-2019-198276
2019
Conference Publication
Evaluating performance of graded proppant injection into CSG reservoir: a reservoir simulation study
Ribeiro, Ayrton, Santiago, Vanessa, You, Zhenjiang, Johnson Jr., Raymond and Hurter, Suzanne (2019). Evaluating performance of graded proppant injection into CSG reservoir: a reservoir simulation study. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18 - 19 November 2019. Tulsa, OK, United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2019-198324
2019
Conference Publication
An assessment of the current regulatory frameworks for onshore, upstream, unconventional well integrity and strategies for improvement
Thomas, Tim and Johnson Jr., Raymond L. (2019). An assessment of the current regulatory frameworks for onshore, upstream, unconventional well integrity and strategies for improvement. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 30 September - 2 October 2019. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/195967-ms
2019
Conference Publication
Quantifying the influence of three dimensionality on hydraulic fracturing in coal seam gas wells
Leonardi, Christopher R., Flottmann, Thomas, Pandey, Vibhas J. and Johnson, Raymond J. (2019). Quantifying the influence of three dimensionality on hydraulic fracturing in coal seam gas wells. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 18 – 19 November 2019. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTEC). doi: 10.15530/AP-URTEC-2019-198203
2019
Journal Article
Coal identification using neural networks with real-time coalbed methane drilling data
Zhong, Ruizhi, Johnson Jr, Raymond, Chen, Zhongwei and Chand, Nathaniel (2019). Coal identification using neural networks with real-time coalbed methane drilling data. The APPEA Journal, 59 (1), 319-327. doi: 10.1071/aj18091
2018
Conference Publication
What we know, what we don’t know, and things we do not know we don’t know about hydraulic fracturing in high stress environments
Johnson, Raymond L. (2018). What we know, what we don’t know, and things we do not know we don’t know about hydraulic fracturing in high stress environments. 1st Australasian Exploration Geoscience Conference – Exploration Innovation Integration, Sydney, NSW Australia, 18-21 February 2018. Clayton South, VIC Australia: CSIRO. doi: 10.1071/aseg2018abt5_3c
2018
Journal Article
A new experimental extractive technology trial for Cooper Basin unconventional resources: alignment flow technology
Johnson, Raymond L. (2018). A new experimental extractive technology trial for Cooper Basin unconventional resources: alignment flow technology. Preview, 2018 (195), 44-45. doi: 10.1071/pvv2018n195p44
2018
Journal Article
Experimental and numerical investigation into nano-stabilized foams in low permeability reservoir hydraulic fracturing applications
Fei, Yang, Johnson, Raymond L., Gonzalez, Mary, Haghighi, Manouchehr and Pokalai, Kunakorn (2018). Experimental and numerical investigation into nano-stabilized foams in low permeability reservoir hydraulic fracturing applications. Fuel, 213, 133-143. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.10.095
2018
Conference Publication
Well trajectory, completion and fracture design changes improve execution for deep unconventional tight gas targets in the cooper basin, Australia
Johnson, Raymond L., Zhong, Ruizhi and Nguyen, Lan (2018). Well trajectory, completion and fracture design changes improve execution for deep unconventional tight gas targets in the cooper basin, Australia. SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition 2019, HFTC 2019, The Woodlands, TX United States, 5 - 7 February 2019. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/194366-MS
2018
Conference Publication
Impact of laboratory testing variability in fracture conductivity for stimulation effectiveness in permian deep coal source rocks, Cooper basin, South Australia
Fraser, Samuel A. and Johnson, Raymond L. (2018). Impact of laboratory testing variability in fracture conductivity for stimulation effectiveness in permian deep coal source rocks, Cooper basin, South Australia. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2018, APOGCE 2018, Brisbane, Australia, 23-25 October 2018. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/191883-ms
2018
Conference Publication
A review of current knowledge with geomechanical fault reactivation modelling: The importance of CO2 mechano-chemical effects for CO2 sequestration
Altaf, Iftikhar, Towler, Brian, Underschultz, James, Hurter, Suzanne and Johnson, Raymond (2018). A review of current knowledge with geomechanical fault reactivation modelling: The importance of CO2 mechano-chemical effects for CO2 sequestration. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2018, APOGCE 2018, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23 - 25 October 2018. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/192024-MS
2017
Journal Article
Experimental and simulation study of foam stability and the effects on hydraulic fracture proppant placement
Fei, Yang, Pokalai, Kunakorn, Johnson, Ray, Gonzalez, Mary and Haghighi, Manouchehr (2017). Experimental and simulation study of foam stability and the effects on hydraulic fracture proppant placement. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 46, 544-554. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2017.08.020
2017
Journal Article
Methodology for assessing original gas in place and estimated ultimate recovery from a tight marine formation using hydraulic fracture stimulation modelling
Goldman, Matthew and Johnson, Raymond L. (2017). Methodology for assessing original gas in place and estimated ultimate recovery from a tight marine formation using hydraulic fracture stimulation modelling. APPEA Journal, 57 (1), 136-149. doi: 10.1071/aj16176
2016
Journal Article
Productivity enhancement by stimulation of natural fractures around a hydraulic fracture using micro-sized proppant placement
Keshavarz, Alireza, Badalyan, Alexander, Johnson, Raymond, Jr. and Bedrikovetsky, Pavel (2016). Productivity enhancement by stimulation of natural fractures around a hydraulic fracture using micro-sized proppant placement. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 33, 1010-1024. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2016.03.065
2016
Conference Publication
Improving the conductivity of natural fracture systems in conjunction with hydraulic fracturing in stress sensitive reservoirs
Keshavarz, Alireza, Johnson Jr., Ray, Carageorgos, Themis, Bedrikovetsky, Pavel and Badalyan, Alexander (2016). Improving the conductivity of natural fracture systems in conjunction with hydraulic fracturing in stress sensitive reservoirs. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 25-27 October 2016. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/182306-MS
2016
Conference Publication
Next steps to crack the code on tight Permian Toolachee and Patchawarra sandstones of the Cooper Basin, southwest Queensland
Johnson, Raymond L., Nguyen, Lan and Russell, Terry (2016). Next steps to crack the code on tight Permian Toolachee and Patchawarra sandstones of the Cooper Basin, southwest Queensland. APPEA 2016, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5-8 June 2016. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/aj15039
2016
Journal Article
Development of a new approach for hydraulic fracturing in tight sand with pre-existing natural fractures
Pokalai, Kunakorn, Kulikowski, David, Johnson, Raymond L., Haghighi, Manouchehr and Cooke, Dennis (2016). Development of a new approach for hydraulic fracturing in tight sand with pre-existing natural fractures. The APPEA Journal, 56 (1), 225-238. doi: 10.1071/aj15017
2016
Conference Publication
Improving diagnostic fracture injection testing for in situ stress profiling, reservoir characterisation and well optimisation in unconventional gas reservoirs
Johnson, R.L., Jr. (2016). Improving diagnostic fracture injection testing for in situ stress profiling, reservoir characterisation and well optimisation in unconventional gas reservoirs. International Conference on Geomechanics, Geo-energy and Geo-resources, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 28-29 September 2016. Clayton, VIC Australia: 3 Media Group.
2015
Journal Article
Stimulation of coal seam permeability by micro-sized graded proppant placement using selective fluid properties
Keshavarz, Alireza, Badalyan, Alexander, Carageorgos, Themis, Bedrikovetsky, Pavel and Johnson, Raymond, Jr. (2015). Stimulation of coal seam permeability by micro-sized graded proppant placement using selective fluid properties. Fuel, 144, 228-236. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.12.054
2015
Conference Publication
Effect of suspension fluid chemistry on fracture system stimulation using micro-sized proppant placement
Keshavarz, A., Badalyan, A., Carageorgos, T., Johnson, R. L. and Bedrikovetsky, P.G. (2015). Effect of suspension fluid chemistry on fracture system stimulation using micro-sized proppant placement. SPE Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 9-11 November 2015. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/176953-MS
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ray Johnson is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Using Machine Learning to Improve Well Integrity, Drilling Efficiencies and Safety Compliance in Queensland CSG Drilling Data
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving Gas Recovery in Low-Permeability Coals by Deployment of Multi-stage Indirect Hydraulic Fractures
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Dr Christopher Leonardi
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Doctor Philosophy
Regulating well integrity in Australian unconventional oil and gas operations: a comparison between Queensland, Wyoming and Alberta
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimisation of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage in an ultra-shallow heavy oil reservoir
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Suzanne Hurter
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Master Philosophy
Rate of Production Prediction for Coal Seam Gas Drilling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen
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Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating Machine Learning and Data Analysis to Predict Long Term Production from Coal Seam Gas Fields Based on Early Field Data
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Rock mass preconditioning methodology for block caving based on Petroleum state of the art methods
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Professor Peter Knights
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the transport of proppant and micro-proppant in fracture networks via direct numerical simulation of particle-laden flows
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Dr Christopher Leonardi
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Ray Johnson directly for media enquiries about:
- Coal seam gas
- Hydraulic Fracturing
- Shale gas
- Unconventional resources
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