Extended finite element-based cohesive zone method for modeling simultaneous hydraulic fracture height growth in layered reservoirs

In this study,a fully coupled hydromechanical model within the extended finite element method(XFEM)-based cohesive zone method(CZM)is employed to investigate the simultaneous height growth behavior of multi-cluster hydraulic fractures in layered porous reservoirs with modulus contrast.The coupled hydromechanical model is first verified against an analytical solution and a laboratory experiment.Then,the fracture geometry(e.g.height,aperture,and area)and fluid pressure evolutions of multiple hydraulic fractures placed in a porous reservoir interbedded with alternating stiff and soft layers are investigated using the model.The stress and pore pressure distributions within the layered reservoir during fluid injection are also presented.The simulation results reveal that stress umbrellas are easily to form among multiple hydraulic fractures’tips when propagating in soft layers,which impedes the simultaneous height growth.It is also observed that the impediment effect of soft layer is much more significant in the fractures suppressed by the preferential growth of adjoining fractures.After that,the combined effect of in situ stress ratio and fracturing spacing on the multi-fracture height growth is presented,and the results elucidate the influence of in situ stress ratio on the height growth behavior depending on the fracture spacing.Finally,it is found that the inclusion of soft layers changes the aperture distribution of outmost and interior hydraulic fractures.The results obtained from this study may provide some insights on the understanding of hydraulic fracture height containment observed in filed.

Quantitative evaluation methods for waterflooded layers of conglomerate reservoir based on well logging data

The rapid changing near source, multi-stream depositional environment of conglomerate reservoirs leads to severe heterogeneity, complex lithology and physical properties, and large changes of oil layer resistivity. Quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers has become an important but difficult focus for secondary development of oilfields. In this paper, based on the analysis of current problems in quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers, the Kexia Group conglomerate reservoir of the Sixth District in the Karamay Oilfield was studied. Eight types of conglomerate reservoir lithology were identified effectively by a data mining method combined with the data from sealed coring wells, and then a multi-parameter model for quantitative evaluation of the water-flooded layers of the main oil-bearing lithology was developed. Water production rate, oil saturation and oil productivity index were selected as the characteristic parameters for quantitative evaluation of water-flooded layers of conglomerate reservoirs. Finally, quantitative evaluation criteria and identification rules for water-flooded layers of main oil-bearing lithology formed by integration of the three characteristic parameters of water-flooded layer and undisturbed formation resistivity. This method has been used in evaluation of the water-flooded layers of a conglomerate reservoir in the Karamay Oilfield and achieved good results, improving the interpretation accuracy and compliance rate. It will provide technical support for avoiding perforation of high water-bearing layers and for adjustment of developmental programs.

Research on reservoir bed heterogeneity,interlayers and seal layers and controlling factors of 2+3 sands of upper second member,Shahejie Formation,in the west of the Pucheng Oilfield

Terminal fans have formed the sedimentary system of the 2＋3 sands of the upper second member, Shahejie formation in the west of the Pucheng Oilfield, Bohai Bay Basin, East China. Based on well logging data and physical properties of the reservoir beds, the 2＋3 sands were divided into 16 sublayers. The heterogeneity of reservoir beds and distribution of interlayers and seal layers in the 2＋3 sands were investigated. The intra-layer heterogeneity and inter-layer heterogeneity primarily belong to the severely heterogeneous classification. The spatial differentiation of sedimentary microfacies resulted in a change of reservoir bed heterogeneity, strong in the middle and southern parts, weak in the northern part. Spatial distribution of interlayers and seal layers is dominated by sedimentary microfacies, and they are thick in north-eastern and middle parts, thin in the south-western part.

Layer regrouping for water-flooded commingled reservoirs at a high water-cut stage

Layer regrouping is to divide all the layers into several sets of production series according to the physical properties and recovery percent of layers at high water-cut stage, which is an important technique to improve oil recovery for high water-cut multilayered reservoirs. Dif- ferent regroup scenarios may lead to different production performances. Based on unstable oil-water flow theory, a multilayer commingled reservoir simulator is established by modifying the production split method. Taking into account the differences of layer properties, including per- meability, oil viscosity, and remaining oil saturation, the pseudo flow resistance contrast is proposed to serve as a characteristic index of layer regrouping for high water-cut multilayered reservoirs. The production indices of multi- layered reservoirs with different pseudo flow resistances are predicted with the established model in which the data are taken from the Shengtuo Oilfield. Simulation results show that the pseudo flow resistance contrast should be less than 4 when the layer regrouping is implemented. The K-means clustering method, which is based on the objec- tive function, is used to automatically carry out the layer regrouping process according to pseudo flow resistances. The research result is applied to the IV-VI sand groups of the second member of the Shahejie Formation in the Shengtuo Oilfield, a favorable development performance is obtained, and the oil recovery is enhanced by 6.08 %.

Pore structure differences of the extra-low permeability sandstone reservoirs and the causes of low resistivity oil layers: A case study of Block Yanwumao in the middle of Ordos Basin, NW China

The influence of pore structure difference on rock electrical characteristics of reservoir and oil reservoir was analyzed taking Triassic Chang 6 reservoir in Block Yanwumao in the middle of Ordos Basin as an example. The relationship between the pore structure difference and the low resistivity oil layer was revealed and demonstrated through core observation, lab experiments, geological research, well log interpretation and trial production etc. The results show that there were two kinds of oil layers in Chang 6 oil layer set, normal oil layer and low resistivity oil layer in the region, corresponding to two types of pore structures, pore type mono-medium and micro-fracture-pore type double-medium; the development of micro-fracture changed greatly the micro-pore structure of the reservoir, and the pore structure difference had an important influence on the rock electrical characteristics of the extra-low permeability sandstone reservoir and oil reservoir; the normal oil layers had obvious characteristics of pore-type mono-medium, and were concentrated in Chang 61, Chang 6232 and Chang 62; the low resistivity oil layers had obvious characteristics of micro-fracture-pore type double-medium, which were mainly distributed in Chang 612 and Chang 63. The mud filtrate penetrated deep into the oil layers along the micro-cracks, leading to sharp reduction of resistivity, and thus low resistivity of the oil layer; the low resistivity oil layers had better storage capacity and higher productivity than the normal oil layers.

Three-Dimensional Modelling of a Multi-Layer Sandstone Reservoir： the Sebei Gas Field, China

Multi-layer sandstone reservoirs occur globally and are currently in international production. The 3D characteristics of these reservoirs are too complicated to be accurately delineated by general structural-facies-reservoir modelling. In view of the special geological features, such as the vertical architecture of sandstone and mudstone interbeds, the lateral stable sedimentation and the strong heterogeneity of reservoir poroperm and fluid distribution, we developed a new three-stage and six-phase procedure for 3D characterization of multi-layer sandstone reservoirs. The procedure comprises two-phase structural modelling, two-phase facies modelling and modelling of two types of reservoir properties. Using this procedure, we established models of the formation structure, sand body structure and microfacies, reservoir facies and properties including porosity, permeability and gas saturation and provided a 3D fine-scale, systematic characterization of the Sebei multi-layer sandstone gas field, China. This new procedure, validated by the Sebei gas field, can be applied to characterize similar multi-layer sandstone reservoirs.

Development of Layered Treatment Technique for Multiple Heavy Oil Reservoirs

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Electrical responses and classification of complex waterflooded layers in carbonate reservoirs: A case study of Zananor Oilfield, Kazakhstan

Experiments of electrical responses of waterflooded layers were carried out on porous,fractured,porous-fractured and composite cores taken from carbonate reservoirs in the Zananor Oilfield,Kazakhstan to find out the effects of injected water salinity on electrical responses of carbonate reservoirs.On the basis of the experimental results and the mathematical model of calculating oil-water relative permeability of porous reservoirs by resistivity and the relative permeability model of two-phase flow in fractured reservoirs,the classification standards of water-flooded layers suitable for carbonate reservoirs with complex pore structure were established.The results show that the salinity of injected water is the main factor affecting the resistivity of carbonate reservoir.When low salinity water(fresh water)is injected,the relationship curve between resistivity and water saturation is U-shaped.When high salinity water(salt water)is injected,the curve is L-shaped.The classification criteria of water-flooded layers for carbonate reservoirs are as follows:(1)In porous reservoirs,the water cut(fw)is less than or equal to 5%in oil layers,5%–20%in weak water-flooded layers,20%–50%in moderately water-flooded layers,and greater than 50%in strong water-flooded layers.(2)For fractured,porous-fractured and composite reservoirs,the oil layers,weakly water-flooded layers,moderately water-flooded layers,and severely water-flooded layers have a water content of less than or equal to 5%,5%and 10%,10%to 50%,and larger than 50%respectively.

NEW MODEL OF GAS FLOW PROBLEM IN MULTI-LAYERED GAS RESERVOIR AND APPLICATION

In this paper, the new model of the real gas filtration problem has been presented multi-layered gas reservoir, when a gas well output and wellbore storage may be variable, and have obtained the exact solutions of pressure distribution for each reservoir bed under three kinds of typical out-boundary conditions. As a special case, according to the new model have also obtained the qxact solutions of presssure distribution in homogeneous reservoir and is given important application in gas reservoir development.

Influences of burial process on diagenesis and high-quality reservoir development of deep-ultra-deep clastic rocks:A case study of Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in southern margin of Junggar Basin,NW China

Taking the Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the southern margin of Junggar Basin as an example,the influences of the burial process in a foreland basin on the diagenesis and the development of high-quality reservoirs of deep and ultra-deep clastic rocks were investigated using thin section,scanning electron microscope,electron probe,stable isotopic composition and fluid inclusion data.The Qingshuihe Formation went through four burial stages of slow shallow burial,tectonic uplift,progressive deep burial and rapid deep burial successively.The stages of slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift not only can alleviate the mechanical compaction of grains,but also can maintain an open diagenetic system in the reservoirs for a long time,which promotes the dissolution of soluble components by meteoric freshwater and inhibits the precipitation of dissolution products in the reservoirs.The late rapid deep burial process contributed to the development of fluid overpressure,which effectively inhibits the destruction of primary pores by compaction and cementation.The fluid overpressure promotes the development of microfractures in the reservoir,which enhances the dissolution effect of organic acids.Based on the quantitative reconstruction of porosity evolution history,it is found that the long-term slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift processes make the greatest contribution to the development of deep-ultra-deep high-quality clastic rock reservoirs,followed by the late rapid deep burial process,and the progressive deep burial process has little contribution.

Effect of absorption boundary layer on nonlinear flow in low permeability porous media

Taking low permeability cores of Daqing oilfield for example,the flow characteristics at low velocity were studied with the self-designed micro-flux measuring instrument.Considering the throat distribution and capillary model,the thickness of fluid boundary layer under different pressure gradients was calculated,and the mechanism and influencing factors of nonlinear percolation were discussed.The results show that the percolation curve of ultra-low rocks is nonlinear,and apparent permeability is not a constant which increases with pressure gradient.The absorption boundary layer decreases with the increase of pressure gradient,and changes significantly especially in low pressure gradient,which is the essence of nonlinear percolation.The absorption boundary layer is also found to be impacted by the surface property of rocks.

Numerical simulation and experimental study on dissolving characteristics of layered salt rocks

Underground salt cavern reservoirs are ideal spaces for energy storage. China is rich in salt rock resources with layered lacustrine sedimentary structures. However, the dissolution mechanism of layered salt rocks remains poorly understood, resulting in significant differences between the actual measurements and the designed indices for the layered salt rock water-soluble cavity-making cycle and the cavity shape. In this work, the dissolution rates of 600 groups of layered salt rocks in China under different conditions were determined experimentally.Thus, the established artificial neural network prediction model was used to assess the effects of the contents of NaCl, Na2 SO4, and CaSO4 in the salt rocks, concentrations, dissolution angles, and flow rates on their dissolution rates by performing ANOVA and F-test. The results provide a theoretical basis for evaluating the dissolution rate of layered salt rocks under different conditions and for the numerical simulation of the layered salt rock water-soluble cavity-making process.

Maximum Effective Hole Mathematical Modei and Exact Solution for Commingled Reservoir

The maximum effective hole-diameter mathematical modei describing the flow of slightly compressible fluid through a commingled reservoir was solved rigorously with consideration of wellbore storage and different skin factors. The exact solutions for wellbore pressure and the production rate obtained from layer j for a well production at a constant rate from a radial drainage area with infinite and constant pressure and no flow outer boundary condition were expressed in terms of ordinary Bessel functions. These solutions were computed numerically by the Crump's numerical inversion method and the behavior of systems was studied as a function of various reservoir parameters. The modei was compared with the real wellbore radii modei. The new modei is numerically stable when the skin factor is positive and negative, but the real wellbore radii modei is numerically stable only when the skin factor is positive.

Structural failure mechanism and strengthening method of fracture plugging zone for lost circulation control in deep naturally fractured reservoirs

Focused on the lost circulation control in deep naturally fractured reservoirs, the multiscale structure of fracture plugging zone is proposed based on the theory of granular matter mechanics, and the structural failure pattern of plugging zone is developed to reveal the plugging zone failure mechanisms in deep, high temperature, high pressure, and high in-situ stress environment. Based on the fracture plugging zone strength model, key performance parameters are determined for the optimal selection of loss control material(LCM). Laboratory fracture plugging experiments with new LCM are carried out to evaluate the effect of the key performance parameters of LCM on fracture plugging quality. LCM selection strategy for fractured reservoirs is developed. The results show that the force chain formed by LCMs determines the pressure stabilization of macro-scale fracture plugging zone. Friction failure and shear failure are the two major failure patterns of fracture plugging zone. The strength of force chain depends on the performance of micro-scale LCM, and the LCM key performance parameters include particle size distribution, fiber aspect ratio, friction coefficient, compressive strength, soluble ability and high temperature resistance. Results of lab experiments and field test show that lost circulation control quality can be effectively improved with the optimal material selection based on the extracted key performance parameters of LCMs.

Stress sensitivity of formation during multi-cycle gas injection and production in an underground gas storage rebuilt from gas reservoirs

Permeability sensitivity to stress experiments were conducted on standard core samples taken from Wen 23 Gas Storage at multi-cycle injection and production conditions of the gas storage to study the change pattern of stress sensitivity of permeability.A method for calculating permeability under overburden pressure in the multi-cycle injection and production process was proposed,and the effect of stress sensitivity of reservoir permeability on gas well injectivity and productivity in UGS was analyzed.Retention rate of permeability decreased sharply first and then slowly with the increase of the UGS cycles.The stress sensitivity index of permeability decreased with the increase of cycle number of net stress variations in the increase process of net stress.The stress sensitivity index of permeability hardly changed with the increase of cycle number of net stress variations in the decrease process of net stress.With the increase of cycle number of net stress variation,the stress sensitivity index of permeability in the increase process of net stress approached that in the decrease process of net stress.The lower the reservoir permeability,the greater the irreversible permeability loss rate,the stronger the cyclic stress sensitivity,and the higher the stress sensitivity index of the reservoir,the stronger the reservoir stress sensitivity.The gas zones with permeability lower than 0.3’10-3 mm2 are not suitable as gas storage regions.Stress sensitivity of reservoir permeability has strong impact on gas well injectivity and productivity and mainly in the first few cycles.

Importance of Double Layer Force between a Plat and a Nano-Particle in Restricting Fines Migration in Porous Media

Fines migration is defined as separation of a Nano-sized particle by fluid flow in porous media and its migration along some distances and its entrapment in a narrow pore throat or its settlement on pore wall. Although this phenomenon happens in scales of Nano-meters, it can lead to sever irretrievable damages. This damage includes permeability reduction that causes drastic oil recovery reduction. There are several forces impacting a fine that is placed on a pore wall. Some of most important forces affecting settlement of a fine in porous media in presence of a fluid are electrical forces. Electrical forces consist of several long and short range forces. This study focuses on a long range force called Double Layer Force (DLF) that beside Van der Waals is one of most powerful electrical forces. DLF is a repulsive force that can repel a particle from pore wall and result separation of a Nano-sized solid which subsequently moves along with flowing fluid and clogs a throat. The DLF depends on the solid material (reservoir rock and fine) and fluid properties (i.e. ionic strength, pH). This study investigates how each of these parameters affects DLF and introduces proper conditions for reservoir water flooding for controlling fines migration.

Theoretical Study on Quantitative Characterization of Interlayer Interference in Multi-Layer Commingled Production

X oilfield is a typical layered reservoir with a large vertical span and many oil-bearing formations. There are significant differences in reservoir types and fluid properties among various formations. The interlayer interference is severe in the development process. At present, the interlayer interference research based on dynamic monitoring data cannot meet development adjustment needs. Combined with the field test results, through the indoor physical simulation experiment method, dynamic inversion method, and reservoir engineering method, this paper analyzes the main control factors and interference mechanism of interlayer interference, studies the variation law of interference coefficient, improves and forms the quantitative characteristic Theory of interlayer interference in multi-layer commingled production, and provides theoretical guidance for the total adjustment of the middle strata division in the oilfield.

准噶尔盆地沙湾凹陷二叠系上乌尔禾组流体相态及油气藏类型

准噶尔盆地腹部地区沙湾凹陷超深层蕴含丰富的油气资源。根据烃源岩热演化模拟实验分析了沙湾凹陷二叠系上乌尔禾组烃源岩生烃产物类型,结合地层流体高温高压物性实验数据,运用相图判别法和经验参数法对沙湾凹陷征10井地层流体相态进行深入研究。研究结果表明:①沙湾凹陷征10井上乌尔禾组油气主要来自于下乌尔禾组泥质烃源岩,其有机质类型为Ⅱ1型,镜质体反射率(Ro)为1.05%~1.46%,岩石热解峰温(T_(max))为433~446℃,处于成熟—高成熟演化阶段,目前处于生轻质油阶段。②上乌尔禾组地层流体成分表现为凝析气藏的流体组成,地层温度为166.0℃,介于临界温度和临界凝析温度之间,地层压力为155MPa,远高于露点压力,地-露压差大,表明地层条件下流体呈凝析气相特征,但地下油气相态与地表采出流体相态具有一定差异。相图判别法和经验参数法烃类流体相态分析结果均显示,征10井上乌尔禾组气藏为含大油环的凝析气藏。③沙湾凹陷上乌尔禾组具有优越的成藏条件,紧邻下乌尔禾组烃源岩,油气近源垂向输导,向局部隆起区运聚,巨厚的三叠系及上乌尔禾组中上部区域盖层起到重要的封盖作用,最终在局部隆起区形成岩性-构造凝析气藏。

高含水复杂断块油藏单层系边外注水开发模式

复杂断块油藏在开发后期面临综合含水率高、地层能量不足、剩余油分布复杂、井网适应性差等问题。以济阳坳陷沾化凹陷中部垦71断块油藏为例,基于水驱油藏的油包水和水包油2种油水分布状态,利用理论模型推导和数值模拟方法,开展了单层系边外注水开发模式研究。结果表明:从采液端和注水端的受力分析可获得单层系开发的合理注水量、合理采液量和合理注采井距,单层系开发的合理注水压差、合理注水量、合理采液量是影响其剩余油饱和度、含水饱和度的关键因素,对油层合理地层压力水平及剩余油二次富集起主要控制作用。通过加大注采井距至油水边界外围,以2.9倍含油条带宽度为合理注采井距的临界值,采用短注长静置的非对称周期注采方式,建立单层系边外注水开发模式,有利于保持单层系的压力系统稳定和提高剩余油波及率,从而提高原油采收率。矿场实践表明,采用单层系边外注水开发模式后,垦71断块油藏日产油量提高至254 t/d,含水率控制在93.7%,采收率提高至31.53%,采油速率提高4.9%,显示出良好的增产效果。单层系边外注水开发模式解决了高含水复杂断块油藏开发中的剩余油分布分散、水驱波及率低和井网适应性差等难题,可为复杂断块油藏开发提供指导和借鉴。

油藏不同开发阶段层面建模算法及实例

由于油藏不同开发阶段特征及其研究目的不同,三维地质建模中层面建模采取的模拟方法和模型精度均有所区别。从三维地质建模角度出发,将油藏开发划分为油藏评价、新区建产和老区调整3个阶段,通过港东二区五断块层面模拟过程中各种模拟算法分析及筛选,提出了层面模拟时,油藏评价阶段建模采用Kriging算法,网格精度为100 m×100 m×5.0 m;新区建产阶段建模采用Kriging算法或Global B-spline算法,网格精度为50 m×50 m×1.5 m;老区调整阶段建模采用Local B-spline算法或Converging average算法,网格精度为10 m×10 m×0.5 m,使层面模拟结果更符合地质情况及研究需要。