Influence of Natural Fractures on Tight Oil Migration and Production: A Case Study of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China

Natural fractures,as the main flow channels and important storage spaces,have significant effects on the migration,distribution,and accumulation of tight oil.According to outcrop,core,formation micro image(FMI),cast-thin-section,and scanning electron microscopy data from the tight reservoir within the Permian Lucaogou Formation of the Junggar Basin,tectonic fractures are prevalent in this formation mainly on micro to large scale.There are two types of fractures worth noticing:diagenetic fractures and overpressure-related fractures,primarily at micro to medium scale.The diagenetic fractures consist of bedding fractures,stylolites,intragranular fractures,grain-boundary fractures,and diagenetic shrinkage fractures.Through FMI interpretation and Monte Carlo method evaluation,the macro-fractures could be considered as migration channels,and the micro-fractures as larger pore throats that function as storage spaces.The bedding fractures formed earlier than all tectonic fractures,while the overpressure-related fractures formed in the Middle and Late Jurassic.The bedding fractures and stylolites function as the primary channels for horizontal migration of tight oil.The tectonic fractures can provide vertical migration channels and reservoir spaces for tight oil,and readjust the tight oil distribution.The overpressure-related fractures are fully filled with calcite,and hence,have little effect on hydrocarbon migration and storage capacity.The data on tight oil production shows that the density and aperture of fractures jointly determine the productivity of a tight reservoir.

Geochemical Characteristics and Migration Pathways of Ordovician Carbonate Oil Reservoirs in the Tuoputai Area,Tarim Basin,Northwestern China

Exploration potential is huge and the oil resources are rich in the Ordovician reservoirs of the Tarim Basin.However,the mechanism of hydrocarbon accumulation is complex and not yet fully understood.In the Tuoputai area,the hydrocarbon migration pathways and characteristics of deep hydrocarbon accumulation are revealed through analyses of the physical data of rich oil and gas,the geochemical parameters of oil,and fluid inclusions.The results show that the Ordovician oils in the Tuoputai area have the same geochemical characteristics as the mixed oil from the Lower Cambrian source rock and the Middle–Upper Ordovician source rock.The Ordovician reservoirs have been charged three times:in the late Caledonian,late Hercynian,and Himalayan stages.Oil charging occurred in the Hercynian stage,in particular,as it is the main filling period of hydrocarbon.The north-northeast(NNE)-trending TP12 CX major fault,active in in these times and is dominant migration channel of hydrocarbon,but there is segmentation affected by the difference of activities.Oil maturity is higher in the south than in the north and is abnormally high near the major fault.Parameters related to migration indicate that oil migrated northeastward along the NNE-trending TP12 CX major fault and adjusted laterally along the secondary faults and weathering crust,forming the present characteristics of oil and gas distribution.

Oil source and migration process in oblique transfer zone of Fushan Sag,northern South China Sea

The oblique transfer zone in the Fushan Sag, a syndepositional dome sandwiched between the Bailian and Huangtong sub-sags, has been the most important exploration target. The major oil observation occurs in the E_2l_1^(L+M) and the E_2l_3~U. 46 oil and rock samples reveal that the oil in the transfer zone is mostly contributed by the Bailian sub-sag, though the source rock conditions, hydrocarbon generation and expulsion histories of the Bailian and Huangtong sub-sags are similar. The E_2l_3~U oil, characterized by high maturity, Pr/Ph ratio and oleanane/C_(30)-hopane ratio, shows a close genetic affinity with the E_2l_3~b source rocks, while the E_2l_1^(L+M) oil, characterized by lower maturity, Pr/Ph ratio and oleanane/C_(30)-hopane ratio, is suggested to be derived from the E_2l_(1+2)~b source rocks. The homogenization temperatures of aqueous fluid inclusions, taking the burial history of the reservoirs into account, reflect that the oil charge mainly occurred from mid-Miocene to Pliocene in the oblique transfer zone. The oil transporting passages include connected sand bodies, unconformities and faults in the Fushan Sag. Of these, the faults are the most complicated and significant. The faults differ sharply in the west area, the east area and the oblique transfer zone, resulting in different influence on the oil migration and accumulation. During the main hydrocarbon charge stage, the faults in the west area are characterized by bad vertical sealing and spatially dense distribution. As a result, the oil generated by the Huangtong source rocks is mostly lost along the faults during the vertical migration in the west area. This can be the mechanism proposed to explain the little contribution of the Huangtong source rocks to the oil in the oblique transfer zone. Eventually, an oil migration and accumulation model is built in the oblique transfer zone, which may provide theoretical and practical guides for the oil exploration.

PARALLEL ARITHMETIC NUMERICAL SIMULATION AND APPLICATION OF SECONDARY MIGRATION- ACCUMULATION OF OIL RESOURCES

From such actual conditions as the effects of characteristics of miltilayer petroleum geology and permeation fluid mechanics, a new numerical model is put forward and coupling splitting-up implicit interactive scheme is formed. For the actual situation of Dongying hollow (four-layer) and Tanhai region (three-layer) of Shengli Petroleum Field, the numerical simulation test results and the actual conditions are coincident.

Investigation of oil and water migrations in lacustrine oil shales using 20 MHz 2D NMR relaxometry techniques

The behavior of oil and water in tight rocks can change the distribution of oil or water in pores,which affects the production of crude oil.Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(NMR)method is an effective and nondestructive tool for evaluating rocks with comparison and analysis both quantitatively and qualitatively.In our study,20 MHz NMR Relaxometry is used as a key technique to study the changes of water and oil behaviors in Chinese lacustrine Qingshankou shales under different saturated states(imbibition and evaporation without pressure).The results show that variation in different proton populations(water,oil and organic)can be distinguished using 2D T_(1)-T_(2)maps.The comparison among T_(1)-T_(2)maps with different saturated states shows that different signal regions changed during oil and water migrations,which the 1D NMR Relaxometry may be not easy to approach.Combined with the pyrolysis analysis,T2 shift and differences of signal regions in T_(1)-T_(2)maps can reflect properties such as wettability and composition(organic matter,clay and magnetic minerals)to some extent.This study provides better insight into oil and water behaviors in lacustrine oil shales with further understanding of 20 MHz NMR 2D T_(1)-T_(2)maps both in qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Distribution and Significance of Carbazole Compounds in Palaeozoic Oils from the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim

Carbazole compounds in crude oils from the Tazhong uplift of the Tarim basin have been fractionated and detected and successfully used to study petroleum migration and trace source rocks in the study area. Alkylcarbazoles have been found in large amounts in the oil samples analyzed and alkylbenzocarbazoles detected in a small concentration only in part of the samples, but alkyldibenzocarbazoles have not been found in oils. Based on the distribution of G1, G2 and G3 of C2-alkylcarbazoles, the ratio of C3-carbazoles to C2-carbazoles and the relative amounts of alkylcarbazoles and alkylbenzocarbazoles, one can know that the vertical oil migration in the Tazhong uplift is generally from below upward, i.e. from the Ordovician through the Silurian to the Carboniferous. Evidently, source rocks in the uplift should be lower Palaeozoic strata (Ordovician and Cambrian). This study shows that carbazoles are of great importance in the study of petroleum migration and source rocks.

Oil filling history of the Bashituo Oilfield in the Markit Slope,SW Tarim Basin,China

The Markit Slope is an important area for the petroleum exploration in the Tarim Basin. Elucidation of the oil filling history of discovered oilfields has great significance for recognizing the accumulation processes of the whole region. Using molecular geochemistry, fluid inclusion techniques and basin modeling, we studied the oil filling process of the Bashituo Oilfield that is located in the west of the Markit Slope. The molecular migration indexes, such as the methyldibenzothiophene ratio （4-/1-MDBT）, trimethylnaphthalene ratio （TMNr） and pyrrolic nitrogen compounds content, decrease from west to east, indicating that the charging direction and migration pathways are from west to east. Lithological analysis and homogenization temperatures of saline fluid inclusions accompanied with oil fluid inclusions suggest that two charging periods occurred in the Devonian oil reservoir. Combining the burial history and heating history of well BT4, Basinmod 1D software modeling shows the two oil filling periods are from 290 Ma to 285 Ma and from l0 Ma to 4 Ma, respectively, and later oil filling dominates. This study may be helpful to understand the accumulation process and provide useful references for oil and gas exploration in the Markit Slope.

Origin of Oils in“Subtle pools”in the Dongying Depression,Bohai Bay Basin, China

Subtle traps or oil pools have become an important exploration play in the Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, east China. Despite recent successes in exploration, the formation mechanisms of subtle traps are still not well understood. The majority of subtle oil pools in the Dongying Depression are developed in the middle interval of the Es3 Member of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation with the subtle traps being primarily of lenticular basin-floor turbidite sands encompassed in mudstones. Oil in the subtle traps was previously thought to have migrated directly from the surrounding source rocks of the same formation （Es3）. Detailed geochemical investigation of 41 oils and 41 rock samples from the depression now indicates that the oils from the subtle traps cannot be correlated well with the surrounding Es3 source rocks, which are characterized by high Pr/ Ph （〉1）, low Gammacerane/C30hopane, representing a freshwater lacustrine setting. In contrast the oils features low Pr/Ph （〈1） and relatively high Gammacerane content, showing a genetic affinity with the underlying Es4 source rocks, which also have the same qualities, indicating a brackish lacustrine setting. Oils in the Es3 subtle traps are probably derived from mixed sources with the contribution from the upper Es4 source rocks predominating. Therefore unconventional oil migration and accumulation mechanisms need to be invoked to explain the pooling of oils from the ES4 source rocks, which probably came through a thick low interval of the Es3 source rocks with no apparent structural or stratigraphic pathways. We suggest that the subtle oil migration pathway probably plays an important role here. This finding may have significant implications for future exploration and the remaining resource evaluation in the Dongying Depression.

Characteristics of Oil and Gas Accumulation in Yong'an-Meitai Area of the Fushan Depression,Beibuwan Basin,South China Sea

The Yong＇an-Meitai area is the focus of the present exploration in the Fushan Depression, Beibuwan Basin, South China Sea. All oils from this area are geochemically characterized by higher Pr/Ph ratio, higher proportion of heavy molecular weight hydrocarbons, and higher proportion of C29 regular steranes, which indicate that the organic matter of source rocks might have been deposited in an oxidizing palaeoenvironment and be dominated by higher plant organic matter input. The oil from E3w2 （the second member of Weizhou Fro. of the Oligocene） has a much higher density, relatively higher Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18 ratios, and a ＂UCM--unresolved complex mixture＂ on gas chromatograms, which indicate that it has been slightly biodegraded. CPI and other terpane and sterane isomer ratios suggest they are all mature oils. The timing of oil charging in E3w2 and E2I1 （the first member of the Liushagang Fro. of the Eocene） determined by the homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions and thermal evolution history are from 9-3 Ma and 8-3 Ma, respectively. Thus, the interpretation of E3w2 as a secondary reservoir is unlikely. The timing of oil charging is later than that of hydrocarbon generating and expulsion of Liushagang Fin. source rocks and trap formation, which is favorable for oil accumulation in this area. All molecular parameters that are used for tracing oil filling direction decrease with shallower burial depth, which suggests vertical oil migration. The widely occurring faults that penetrate through the source rocks of the Liushagang Fro. may serve as a fine oil charging conduit.

Characteristics of Oil Sources from the Chepaizi Swell,Junggar Basin,China

So far there has been no common opinion on oil source of the Chepaizi swell in the Junggar Basin. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the pathway system and trend of hydrocarbon migration, and this resulted in difficulties in study of oil-gas accumulation patterns. In this paper, study of nitrogen compounds distribution in oils from Chepaizi was carried out in order to classify source rocks of oils stored in different reservoirs in the study area. Then, migration characteristics of oils from the same source were investigated by using nitrogen compounds parameters. The results of nitrogen compounds in a group of oil/oil sand samples from the same source indicate that the oils trapped in the Chepaizi swell experienced an obvious vertical migration. With increasing migration distance, amounts and indices of carbazoles have a regular changing pattern （in a fine linear relationship）. By using nitrogen compounds techniques, the analyzed oil/oil sand samples of Chepaizi can be classified into two groups. One is the samples stored in reservoir beds of the Cretaceous and Tertiary, and these oils came from mainly Jurassic source rock with a small amount of Cretaceous rock; the other is those stored in the Jurassic, Permian and Carboniferous beds, and they originated from the Permian source. In addition, a sample of oil from an upper Jurassic reservoir （Well Ka 6）, which was generated from Jurassic coal source rock, has a totally different nitrogen compound distribution from those of the above-mentioned two groups of samples, which were generated from mudstone sources. Because of influence from fractionation of oil migration, amounts and ratios of nitrogen compounds with different structures and polarities change regularly with increasing migrating distance, and as a result the samples with the same source follow a good linear relationship in content and ratio, while the oil samples of different sources have obviously different nitrogen compound distribution owing to different organic matter types of their source rocks. These conclusions of oil source study are identical with those obtained by other geochemical bio-markers. Therefore, nitrogen compounds are of great significance in oil type classification and oil/source correlation.

Oil source and accumulation in the overthrust belt in the Ke-Bai region,Junggar Basin,west China

The region around the Karamay-Baikouquan （Ke-Bai） overthrust belt is the richest in hydrocarbon accumulation in the Junggar Basin. Previous research has indicated that oil in the region came from the Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Depression to the northeast of the region, but the oil distribution around the Mahu Depression is remarkably uneven. Large amounts of oil have been found in the Ke-Bai overthrust belt to the west of the depression and only some small oilfields have been discovered in the eastern margin of the depression. This uneven distribution revealed that the oil source of the Ke- Bai region might not be from the Mahu Depression. The oil type distribution and the oil migration pattern revealed in this paper showed that there may be another oil source under the Karamay overthrust. Based on geochemical data, the oil was classified into two types from the sterane and terpane characteristics. Type A oil was mainly distributed in the Huwan area and blocks V and VIII of the Karamay Oilfield in the southern part of the region, while type B oil was mainly distributed in the Baikouquan Oilfield in the northern part of the region. In addition, oil migration pathways and direction were determined by the values of diasterane / regular sterane and C30 moretane / C30 hopane ratios. It is shown that the oil of Huwan area on the hanging wall of the overthrust was mainly charged along the overthrust fault surfaces and then migrated to the west, whereas the oil in blocks V and VIII on the foot wall of the overthrust came from the Mahu Depression in the east. As a result, there may be at least two hydrocarbon source kitchens in the study area. The hydrocarbons in the blocks V and VIII on the footwall of the overthrust belt and in the Baikouquan Oilfield mainly came from the Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Depression, and the hydrocarbons in the Huwan area on the hanging wall of the overthrust belt may come from another hydrocarbon source kitchen below the overthrust. This recognition indicates that there is substantial exploration potential in the deep Carboniferous strata on the hanging wall of the overthrust belt.

Quantitative investigation of nanofluid imbibition in tight oil reservoirs based on NMR technique

Nanofluids have been effective chemical additives for enhanced oil recovery(EOR)in tight oil reservoirs due to their special properties.However,oil imbibition recoveries vary for different nanofluids.The oil/water distribution in rocks during imbibition using various nanofluids was less discussed in previous studies.In this study,we systematically examined the imbibition efficiencies of various nanofluids at60℃.Furthermore,the migration of nanofluids and oil distribution in the rock pores were monitored using nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR).The nanofluids were prepared by dispersing silica nanoparticles and five different types of surfactants i.e.,anionic-nonionic,anionic,nonionic,amphoteric and cationic surfactants in deionized(DI)water.Subsequently,interfacial tension(IFT)and contact angle measurements were conducted to reveal the underlying EOR mechanisms of various nanofluids.The experimental results showed that the EOR potential of the different types of nanofluids was in the order anionic-nonionic>anionic>nonionic>amphoteric>cationic>brine.Anionic-nonionic(sodium lauryl ether sulfate(SLES))and anionic(sodium dodecyl sulfonate(SDS))nanofluids exhibited excellent capability of wettability alteration,and increased oil recovery by 27.96%and 23.08%,respectively,compared to brine.The NMR results also showed that mesopores(0.1-1μm)were the dominant developed pores in the rocks,and contributed the most to imbibition efficiency.In addition,the imbibition of nanofluids initially took place in mesopores and micropores before moving into macropores.This study provides fundamental information on the selection of nanofluids for EOR in tight oil reservoirs.The study also improved the understanding of oil/water distribution during the imbibition of the proposed nanofluids.

Features of the fault system and its relationship with migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon in Liaodong Bay

The fault system of Liaodong Bay developed extensively under the control of the Tanlu Fault. The fault system can be grouped into strike-slip faults of grade Ⅰ, trunk faults of grade Ⅱand branch faults （induced faults） of grade Ⅲ respectively based on its developmental scale. The faults of grade Ⅰ and Ⅱwere deep, early and large while the faults of grade Ⅲwere shallow, late and small. The formation, evolution and distribution features played a significant role in controlling the migration of oil and gas in both horizontal and vertical directions. The fluid transfer in the fault system occurred in the process of faulting. The strike-slip and trunk faults moved actively forming predominant pathways for oil and gas migration. The branch faults, with weak activity, generally controlled the development of traps and were beneficial for the accumulation and preservation of oil and gas. The faults of grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ formed the major migration pathways for oil and gas, but their fault activity rates appeared to vary along their strikes. The zones with a relatively low fault activity rate might be favorable for oil and gas accumulation. When the activities of strike-slip, trunk, and branch faults came to a halt, the fault seal behavior had a vitally important effect on the accumulation of oil and gas. The controlling role of the fault over fluid distribution was further analyzed by calculating the fault activity quantitatively.

Oil/Gas Migration and Aggregation in Intra-Continental Orogen Based on Numerical Simulation: A Case Study from the Dabashan Orocline, Central China

Geofluid, driven by tectonic stress, can migrate and aggregate in geological body. Thus, numerical simulation has been widely used to rebuild paleo-tectonic stress field and probe oil/gas （one type of geofluid） migration and aggregation. Based on geological mapping, structural data, and mechanical parameters of rocks, we reconstruct the traces for gas/oil migration and aggregation in Dabashan intra-continental orogen using numerical simulation. The study shows that gas/oil, obviously dominated by late Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous paleo-tectonic stress field that is characterized by NE-SW shortening in the Dabashan thrust belt and SW-emanating shortening in its foreland belt, massively migrate from the Dabashan thrust belt to its foreland belt, that is, NE to SW, resulting in the formation of some probable favorable areas for oil/gas mainly along the Tiexi -Wuxi fault, in some superposed structure （e.g., Zhenba , Wanyuan , Huangjinkou , and Tongnanba areas）, and in the Zigui Basin. Thus, our study shows that numerical simulation can be effectively applied to study oil/gas migration and aggregation in intra-continental orogen and provided some significant evidences for oil/gas exploration.

A Study of Fluid Flow in Sediments and the Effect of Tidal Pumping

Offshore drilling and production operations can result in spills or leaks of hydrocarbons into seabed sediments, which can potentially contaminate these sediments with oil. If this oil later mi- grates to the water surface it has the potential for negative environmental impacts. For proper contin- gency planning and to avoid larger consequences in the environment, it is essential to understand me- chanisms and rates for hydrocarbon migration from oil containing sediments to the water surface as well as how much will remain trapped in the sediments. It is believed that the amount of oil transported out of the sediment can be affected by tidal pumping, a common form of subterranean groundwater dis- charge （SGD）. However, we could find no study experimentally investigating the phenomenon of fluid flow in subsea sediments containing oil and the effects of tidal pumping. This study presents an experi- mental investigation of tidal pumping to determine if it is a possible mechanism that may contribute to the appearance of an oil sheen on the ocean surface above a sediment bed containing oil. An experimen- tal apparatus was constructed of clear PVC pipe allowing for oil migration to be monitored as it flowed out of a sand pack containing oil, while tidal pressure oscillations were applied in three different man- ners. The effect of tidal pumping was simulated via compression of air above the water （which simulated the increasing static head from tidal exchange）. Experimental results show that sustained oil release oc- curred from all tests, and tests with oscillating pressure produced for longer periods of time. Further- more, the experimental results showed that the oil migration rate was affected by grain size, oil satura- tion, and oscillation wave type. In all oscillating experiments the rate and ultimate recovery was less than the comparable static experiments. For the conditions studied, the experimental results indicate that with an oscillating pressure on top of a sand pack, movement of a non-replenishing source of oil is sup- pressed by pressure oscillation.