The AVO Effect of Formation Pressure on Time-Lapse Seismic Monitoring in Marine Carbon Dioxide Storage

The phase change of CO_(2) has a significant bearing on the siting, injection, and monitoring of storage. The phase state of CO_(2) is closely related to pressure. In the process of seismic exploration, the information of formation pressure can be response in the seismic data. Therefore, it is possible to monitor the formation pressure using time-lapse seismic method. Apart from formation pressure, the information of porosity and CO_(2) saturation can be reflected in the seismic data. Here, based on the actual situation of the work area, a rockphysical model is proposed to address the feasibility of time-lapse seismic monitoring during CO_(2) storage in the anisotropic formation. The model takes into account the formation pressure, variety minerals composition, fracture, fluid inhomogeneous distribution, and anisotropy caused by horizontal layering of rock layers(or oriented alignment of minerals). From the proposed rockphysical model and the well-logging, cores and geological data at the target layer, the variation of P-wave and S-wave velocity with formation pressure after CO_(2) injection is calculated. And so are the effects of porosity and CO_(2) saturation. Finally, from anisotropic exact reflection coefficient equation, the reflection coefficients under different formation pressures are calculated. It is proved that the reflection coefficient varies with pressure. Compared with CO_(2) saturation, the pressure has a greater effect on the reflection coefficient. Through the convolution model, the seismic record is calculated. The seismic record shows the difference with different formation pressure. At present, in the marine CO_(2) sequestration monitoring domain, there is no study involving the effect of formation pressure changes on seismic records in seafloor anisotropic formation. This study can provide a basis for the inversion of reservoir parameters in anisotropic seafloor CO_(2) reservoirs.

A Three-Dimensional Model for the Formation Pressure in Wellbores under Uncertainty

Formation pressure is the key parameter for the analysis of wellbore safety.With increasing drilling depth,how-ever,the behavior of this variable becomes increasingly complex.In this work,a 3D model of the formation pres-sure under uncertainty is presented.Moreover a relevant algorithm is elaborated.First,the logging data of regional key drilling wells are collected and a one-dimensional formation pressure profile along the well depth is determined.Then,a 3D model of regional formation pressure of the hierarchical group layer is defined by using the Kriging interpolation algorithm relying on a support vector machine(SVM)and the formation pressure of the drilled wells.To validate the method,the formation pressure of one pre-drilled well is compared with the well logging results.The comparison reveals that the maximum relative error is less than 4.5%.The software based on this model is complemented by a computer visualization technology,which provides a relevant tool for under-standing and analyzing the 3D formation pressure.The outcomes of this study are intended to support the char-acterization of areas with missing or poor 3D seismic data and provide more accurate information for the analysis of wellbore integrity.

A formation pressure prediction method based on tectonic overpressure

Traditional formation pressure prediction methods all are based on the formation undercompaction mechanism and the prediction results are obviously low when predicting abnormally high pressure caused by compressional structure overpressure.To eliminate this problem,we propose a new formation pressure prediction method considering compressional structure overpressure as the dominant factor causing abnormally high pressure.First,we establish a model for predicting maximum principal stress,this virtual maximum principal stress is calculated by a double stress field analysis.Then we predict the formation pressure by fitting the maximum principal stress with formation pressure. The real maximum principal stress can be determined by caculating the sum of the virtual maximum principal stresses.Practical application to real data from the A1 and A2 wells in the A gas field shows that this new method has higher accuracy than the traditional equivalent depth method.

Influence of tectonic uplift-erosion on formation pressure

The formation of abnormally low-pressure hydrocarbon reservoirs in petroliferous basins has a close relationship with tectonic uplift and the consequent erosion. In order to understand abnormally low-pressure reservoirs and to provide a scientific basis for exploration and development, we established, through numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, a set of equations for the formation pressure in a closed system influenced by uplift-erosion, discussed the relationship between the genesis of abnormal pressure and uplift-erosion, and put forward the concept of balance pressure （P b ）. The results showed that abnormally high pressure coefficient may form when the current formation pressure was higher than P b , and abnormally low pressure may form when the current formation pressure was lower than P b . In the Santanghu Basin, the current formation pressure of abnormally low pressure reservoirs is lower than P b , so tectonic uplift-erosion leads to the decrease of the pressure coefficient. There is a positive correlation between the pressure drop caused by the decrease of fluid temperature and the rebound of rock porosity and strata erosion. Calculation results indicated that the reservoir pressure of Jurassic strata in the Santanghu Basin was decreased by 11.6-17.1 MPa due to tectonic uplift-erosion during the Late Yanshanian period.

Evolution of gas kick and overflow in wellbore and formation pressure inversion method under the condition of failure in well shut-in during a blowout

With ongoing development of oil exploration and techniques,there is a significant need for improved well control strategies and formation pressure prediction methods.In this paper,a gas-liquid transient drift flow model was established according to the gas-liquid two-phase flow characteristics during the gas kick.A Roe scheme was used for numerical calculation based on the finite volume method.The changes of bottom-hole pressure,casing pressure,the development law of cross-sectional gas holdup,and gas velocity,along with the vertical well depth,were analyzed through simulation examples.The time-series characteristics of mud pit gain were obtained by adjusting the formation parameter.The complex nonlinear mapping relationship between the formation parameters and the mud pit gain was established.The long short-term memory network(LSTM)of deep learning was used to obtain a formation pressure inversion when the blowout is out of control and the well cannot be shut-in.Experimental data from a well were used to verify the gas-liquid two-phase transient drift flow model based on the finite volume method,demonstrating that this method is reliable,with greatly improved prediction accuracy.This approach provides theoretical support for the early monitoring of gas kick during drilling,and for well-killing design and construction after uncontrolled blowout.

Clay Minerals Properties as Downhole Formation Pressure Indicator

The successful estimation of formation pressures （or formation pore gradient） is fundamental and the basis for many engineering works including drilling and oilfield development planning. Common log data are used for formation pressure calculation. Modern techniques for pressure prediction have several disadvantages, notably, incorrect account of the downhole nonsteady thermal field and clay mineral composition. We propose a way to overcome listed shortcomings： a technique for thermal field proper account while formation pressure estimation and a petrophysical model, which reflects relationships between clay minerals composition and rock properties, derived from log data.

Multi-Stage Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Formation Pressure Evolution in Sinian Dengying FormationCambrian Longwangmiao Formation, Gaoshiti-Moxi Structure, Sichuan Basin

Sichuan Basin is a typical superimposed basin, which experienced multi-phase tectonic movements, meanwhile Sinian–Cambrian underwent complex hydrocarbon accumulation processes, causing exploration difficulties in the past 60 years. Based on the microscopic evidence of fluid inclusions, combined with basin-modelling, this paper determines stages and time of hydrocarbon accumulation, reconstructs evolution of formation pressure and dynamic processes of hydrocarbon accumulation in Sinian Dengying Formation-Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation of Gaoshiti-Moxi structure. Three stages of inclusions are detected, including a stage of yellow-yellowgreen fluorescent oil inclusions, a stage of blue fluorescent oil-gas inclusions and a stage of non-fluorescent gas inclusions, reflecting the study area has experienced a series of complex hydrocarbon accumulation processes, such as formation of paleo-oil reservoirs, cracking of crude oil, formation of paleo-gas reservoirs and adjustment to present gas reservoirs, which occurred during 219–188, 192–146 and 168–0 Ma respectively. During the period of crude oil cracking, Dengying Formation-Longwangmiao Formation showed weak overpressure to overpressure characteristics, then after adjustment of paleo-gas reservoirs to present gas reservoirs, the pressure in Dengying Formation changed into overpressure but finally reduced to normal pressure system. However, due to excellent preservation conditions, the overpressure strength in Longwangmiao Formation only slightly decreased and was still kept to this day.

Pressure Prediction for High-Temperature and High-Pressure Formation and Its Application to Drilling in the Northern South China Sea

There are plentiful potential hydrocarbon resources in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins in the northern South China Sea. However, the special petrol-geological condition with high formation temperature and pressure greatly blocked hydrocarbon exploration. The conventional means of drills, including methods in the prediction and monitoring of underground strata pressure, can no longer meet the requirements in this area. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has allocated one well with a designed depth of 3200 m and pressure coefficient of 2.3 in the Yinggehai Basin (called test well in the paper) in order to find gas reservoirs in middle-deep section in the Miocene Huangliu and Meishan formations at the depth below 3000 m. Therefore, combined with the '863' national high-tech project, the authors analyzed the distribution of overpressure in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins, and set up a series of key technologies and methods to predict and monitor formation pressure, and then apply the results to pressure prediction of the test well. Because of the exact pressure prediction before and during drilling, associated procedure design of casing and their allocation in test well has been ensured to be more rational. This well is successfully drilled to the depth of 3485 m (nearly 300 m deeper than the designed depth) under the formation pressure about 2.3 SG (EMW), which indicate that a new step in the technology of drilling in higher temperature and pressure has been reached in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Analysis of the Applicability of a Risk Quantitative Evaluation Method to High Temperature-Pressure Drilling Engineering

The optimization of methods for the quantitative evaluation of risks in drilling engineering is an effective means to ensure safety in situations where high temperature and high pressure blocks are considered.In such a context,this study analyzes the complexity of the drilled wells in such blocks.It is shown that phenomena such as well kick,loss,circulation,and sticking,are related to the imbalance of wellbore pressure.A method for risk quantitative evaluation is proposed accordingly.The method is used to evaluate the risk for 9 drilled wells.By comparing the predictions of the method with actual historical data related to these wells,it is found that the coincidence rate is about 95%.

Application of wireline formation tester in Tarim Oilfield

The application of wireline formation tester(WFT)gradually extends in oil-field with the constant improvement of instrument functions.Applications of WFT in oil and gas exploration in Tarim Oilfield,such as formation pressure measurement,are described,and testing efficiency between drill stem testing(DST)and WFT are compared,especially comprised of PVT sampling,hydrocarbon composition estimation,fluid characterization analysis and formation permeability analysis.The test results between WFT and traditional DST show that their functions can be complementary.The influence factors of WFT and the suitable applying conditions for WFT and DST are also discussed.

Research of the electrical anisotropic characteristics of water-conducting fractured zones in coal seams

Water flooding disasters are one of the five natural coal-mining disasters that threaten the lives of coal miners. The main causes of this flooding are water-conducting fractured zones within coal seams. However, when resistivity methods are used to detect water-conducting fractured zones in coal seams, incorrect conclusions can be drawn because of electrical anisotropy within the water-conducting fractured zones. We present, in this paper, a new geo-electrical model based on the geology of water-conducting fractured zones in coal seams. Factors that influence electrical anisotropy were analyzed, including formation water resistivity, porosity, fracture density, and fracture surface roughness, pressure, and dip angle. Numerical simulation was used to evaluate the proposed electrical method. The results demonstrate a closed relationship between the shape of apparent resistivity and the strike and dip of a fracture. Hence, the findings of this paper provide a practical resistivity method for coal-mining production.

Key geological factors controlling the estimated ultimate recovery of shale oil and gas: A case study of the Eagle Ford shale, Gulf Coast Basin, USA

Based on 991 groups of analysis data of shale samples from the Lower Member of the Cretaceous Eagle Ford Formation of 1317 production wells and 72 systematic coring wells in the U.S. Gulf Basin, the estimated ultimate recovery(EUR) of shale oil and gas of the wells are predicted by using two classical EUR estimation models, and the average values predicted excluding the effect of engineering factors are taken as the final EUR. Key geological factors controlling EUR of shale oil and gas are fully investigated. The reservoir capacity, resources, flow capacity and fracability are the four key geological parameters controlling EUR. The storage capacity of shale oil and gas is directly controlled by total porosity and hydrocarbon-bearing porosity, and indirectly controlled by total organic carbon(TOC) and vitrinite reflectance(Ro). The resources of shale oil and gas are controlled by hydrocarbon-bearing porosity and effective shale thickness etc. The flow capacity of shale oil and gas is controlled by effective permeability, crude oil density, gas-oil ratio, condensate oil-gas ratio, formation pressure gradient, and Ro. The fracability of shale is directly controlled by brittleness index, and indirectly controlled by clay content in volume. EUR of shale oil and gas is controlled by six geological parameters: it is positively correlated with effective shale thickness, TOC and fracture porosity, negatively correlated with clay content in volume, and increases firstly and then decreases with the rise of Ro and formation pressure gradient. Under the present upper limit of horizontal well fracturing effective thickness of 65 m and the lower limit of EUR of 3×10^(4) m^(3), when TOC<2.3%, or Ro<0.85%, or clay content in volume larger than 25%, and fractures and micro-fractures aren’t developed, favorable areas of shale oil and gas hardly occur.

Quantitative reconstruction of formation paleo-pressure in sedimentary basins and case studies

Paleo-pressure reconstruction in sedimentary basins is one of the most important aspects of hydrocarbon accumulation research.In view of the advantages and disadvantages of the current methods for paleo-pressure research,a new method to reconstruct the paleo-pressure is presented in this paper.According to the geological background,quantitative analyses of the factors that might control overpressure were first conducted to clarify the contributions of each mechanism during different geological periods.Pressure evolution was reconstructed by fluid-compaction modelling with constraints imposed by the paleo-pressures obtained from fluid inclusions or differential stress methods.Determining the mechanisms responsible for overpressures during geological history is the basic prerequisite for paleo-pressure research.Thus,quantitative studies were conducted of the contributions of disequilibrium compaction,gas charging,oil cracking,temperature reduction,and tectonic uplift and subsidence to overpressures.Three case studies of paleo-pressure reconstruction were performed for the Sinian strata in the Sichuan Basin,Ordovician strata in the north uplift in the Tarim Basin and the Permian strata in the Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin,where these three study sites are normally pressured,weakly over-pressured and abnormally low pressured at present,respectively.The new method developed in this paper is very important for the practical reconstruction of the paleopressure in marine strata and ancient strata in deep basins.

BLOCKING EFFECT OF HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM ON THE FORMATION OF EXTRA-INTENSE HEAVY RAIN

Commonly the centre of an intense heavy rain occurs in a very limited area,but for the three extra- intense heavy rains of the present study,63-8 in North China,75-8 in central China and 77-8 in the desert region of Inner Mongolia,which all appeared under the environments of“Western Low and Eastern Blocking” (EB)pattern.From this study,the following effects of the EB are found:(1)It affects the precipitation systems staggering in a local place and/or changes the trajectories of low votices and urges them into the same raining areas intermittently.(2)It transports water vapour into raining areas.The air flows by the west side of EB produce strong cyclonic vorticity behind EB frequently,which transports water vapour and forms mesoscale precipitation systems more favourably than the low level jets.(3)Air flows behind EB con- jugate with adequate topographic relief,which enhances the precipitation and makes the raining areas over- lapped.So that extra-intense heavy rains could occur in higher latitudes of semi-aird areas,and occasionally even in the desert region of North China. Such extra-intense heavy rains could not be explained by static local humidity and temperature only. This is also a principal discrimination between the prolonged extra-intense heavy rain and the short-range convective precipitation and/or the common precipitation.