Miscibility of light oil and flue gas under thermal action

The miscibility of flue gas and different types of light oils is investigated through slender-tube miscible displacement experiment at high temperature and high pressure.Under the conditions of high temperature and high pressure,the miscible displacement of flue gas and light oil is possible.At the same temperature,there is a linear relationship between oil displacement efficiency and pressure.At the same pressure,the oil displacement efficiency increases gently and then rapidly to more than 90% to achieve miscible displacement with the increase of temperature.The rapid increase of oil displacement efficiency is closely related to the process that the light components of oil transit in phase state due to distillation with the rise of temperature.Moreover,at the same pressure,the lighter the oil,the lower the minimum miscibility temperature between flue gas and oil,which allows easier miscibility and ultimately better performance of thermal miscible flooding by air injection.The miscibility between flue gas and light oil at high temperature and high pressure is more typically characterized by phase transition at high temperature in supercritical state,and it is different from the contact extraction miscibility of CO_(2) under conventional high pressure conditions.

Migration and accumulation characteristics of natural gas hydrates in the uplifts and their slope zones in the Qiongdongnan Basin,China

Various factors controlling the accumulation of natural gas hydrates(NGHs)form various enrichment and accumulation modes through organic combination.This study mainly analyzes the geological and geophysical characteristics of the NGHs occurrence in the uplifts and their slope zones within the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan(QDN)Basin(also referred to as the study area).Furthermore,it investigates the dominant governing factors and models of NGHs migration and accumulation in the study area.The results are as follows.(1)The uplifts and their slope zones in the study area lie in the dominant pressure-relief direction of fluids in central hydrocarbon-rich sags in the area,which provide sufficient gas sources for the NGHs accumulation and enrichment through pathways such as gas chimneys and faults.(2)The top and flanks of gas chimneys below the bottom simulating reflectors(BSRs)show high-amplitude seismic reflections and pronounced transverse charging of free gas,indicating the occurrence of a large amount of gas accumulation at the heights of the uplifts.(3)Chimneys,faults,and high-porosity and high-permeability strata,which connect the gas hydrate temperature-pressure stability zones(GHSZs)with thermogenic gas and biogenic gas,form the main hydrate migration system.(4)The reservoir system in the study area comprises sedimentary interlayers consisting of mass transport deposits(MTDs)and turbidites.In addition,the reservoir system has developed fissure-and pore-filling types of hydrates in the pathways.The above well-matched controlling factors of hydrate accumulation enable the uplifts and their slope zones in the study area to become the favorable targets of NGHs exploration.

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.

International Law on Liability and Compensation in the Offshore Oil ＆ Gas Industry

Offshore oil and gas exploration and production comes with risk of release of hydrocarbons in to sea. Today, the probability of such an event is relatively low, but the consequences are nevertheless significant and can cover a vast geographical area. As such, it raises the question as to whether liability and compensation in oil ＆ gas related incidents should be covered under international law. Current international legislation addresses the issue mainly in terms of shipping. This paper attempts to shed light on the topic in relation to oil and gas exploration whilst investigating notable events in the UK and the USA. The findings show that domestic laws of these countries cover the matter sufficiently. However, the question of whether the regulation should fall under international regulation can unfortunately not be answered with confidence as it would require a test-case of a situation where an oil spill affects multiple littoral states.

Formation of Natural Bitumen and its Implication for Oil/gas Prospect in Dabashan Foreland

Natural bitumen is the evolutionary residue of hydrocarbon of sedimentary organic matter. Several kinds of bitumen with different occurrences, including bitumen in source rock, migration bitumen filled in fault, oil-bed bitumen and paleo-reservoir bitumen, are distributed widely in the Dabashan foreland. These kinds of bitumen represent the process of oil/gas formation, migration and accumulation in the region. Bitumen in source rock fiUed in fractures and stylolite and experienced deformation simultaneously together with source rock themselves. It indicated that oil/gas generation and expelling from source rock occurred under normal buried thermal conditions during prototype basin evolution stages prior to orogeny. Occurrences of bitumen in source rock indicated that paleo- reservoir formation conditions existed in the Dabashan foreland. Migration bitumen being widespread in the fault revealed that the fault was the main channel for oil/gas migration, which occurred synchronously with Jurassic foreland deformation. Oil-bed bitumen was the kind of pyrolysis bitumen that distributed in solution pores of reservoir rock in the Dabashan foreland depression, the northeastern Sichuan Basin. Geochemistry of oil-bed bitumen indicated that natural gas that accumulated in the Dabashan foreland depression formed from liquid hydrocarbon by pyrolysis process. However, paleo-reservior bitumen in the Dabashan forleland was the kind of degradation bitumen that formed from liquid hydrocarbon within the paleo-reservior by oxidation, alteration and other secondary changes due to paleo-reservior damage during tectonics in the Dabashan foreland. In combination with the tectonic evolution of the Dabashan foreland, it is proposed that the oil/gas generated, migrated and accumulated to form the paleo-reservoir during the Triassic Indosinian tectonic movement. Jurassic collision orogeny, the Yanshan tectonic movement, led to intracontinental orogeny of the Dabashan area accompanied by geofluid expelling and paleo-reservoir damage in the Dabashan foreland. The present work proposed that there is liquid hydrocarbon exploration potential in the Dabashan foreland, while there are prospects for the existence of natural gas in the Dabashan foreland depression.

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.

Fluid Potential Distribution and Oil & Gas Accumulation in Tertiary of Western Qaidam Basin

With the development of oil and gas exploration industry, researchers and engineers have realized that the key element controlling the migration of underground oil and gas and other fluid is not the pressure of stratum, but the underground fluid potential. Therefore, it is very crucial to study the distribution rule of fluid potential in order to correctly determine the exploration target areas. This paper studies the fluid potential distribution in Tertiary of west Qaidam Basin, puts forward the model of underground oil and gas migration and predicts the areas for further exploration.

Contract Labor and the Right to Freedom of Association in the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria

Contract labor is one of several terms, which are widely used to describe work arrangements, which do not fall within the traditional definition of employment. Contracting out services and getting employees through contractors have become widespread practice by many employers because it helps them to cut cost since these contractors could often supply these workers more cheaply and efficiently. Labor rights and standards are sometimes seen as sacrificial lambs on the altar of competitive edge by companies due to the perception that they constitute ＂costs＂ which if eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum, will impact positively on the ability of companies to compete favorably in the global market and consequent improvement of their balance sheets, to the joy of shareholders. Contract work is increasingly becoming the norm in Nigeria＇s oil and gas industry as companies undergo restructuring, concentration on core activities and modifications in work organization and technology. These factors certainly affect traditional employment relations and the exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights inherent in them. Contract workers now make up about 60% of the workforce in the industry and they are denied the right to organize into Unions. The denial of this right has resulted in exploitation of these workers. This paper seeks to examine the adequacy of labor law governing trade unionism in Nigeria in ensuring the right of contract workers to freedom of association, as well as its conformity to international labor standards. It is argued that Nigerian labor laws need to be enforced to ensure that this category of workers benefits from this right. In addition a proposal is made for a law reform which will define contract labor and provide a legal framework for the regulation and protection of contract workers in Nigeria in order to guarantee their right to unionize and enable them to improve their rights at work.

Hydrocarbon Migration and Accumulation in Dongying Basin

ＨｙｄｒｏｃａｒｂｏｎＭｉｇｒａｔｉｏｎａｎｄＡｃｃｕｍｕｌａｔｉｏｎｉｎＤｏｎｇｙｉｎｇＢａｓｉｎＬｉＣｈｕｎｇｕａｎｇ（ＳｅｎｉｏｒＥｎｇｉｎｅｅｒ，ＧｅｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＳｃｉｅｎｔｉｆｉｃＲｅｓｅａｒｃｈＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅ，ＳｈｅｎｇｌｉＰｅｔ...

Mesh model building and migration and accumulation simulation of 3D hydrocarbon carrier system

Migration and accumulation simulation of oil and gas in carrier systems has always been a difficult subject in the quantitative study of petroleum geology. In view of the fact that the traditional geological modeling technology can not establish the interrelation of carriers in three dimensional space, we have proposed a hybrid-dimensional mesh modeling technology consisting of body(stratum), surfaces(faults and unconformities), lines and points, which provides an important research method for the description of geometry of sand bodies, faults and unconformities, the 3 D geological modeling of complex tectonic areas, and the simulation of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. Furthermore, we have advanced a 3 D hydrocarbon migration pathway tracking method based on the hybrid-dimensional mesh of the carrier system. The application of this technology in western Luliang Uplift of Junggar Basin shows that the technology can effectively characterize the transport effect of fault planes, unconformities and sand bodies, indicate the hydrocarbon migration pathways, simulate the process of oil accumulation, reservoir adjustment and secondary reservoir formation, predict the hydrocarbon distribution. It is found through the simulation that the areas around the paleo-oil reservoir and covered by migration pathways are favorable sites for oil and gas distribution.

Discovery of “Enveloping Surface of Oil and Gas Overpressure Migration” in the Songliao Basin and its bearings on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation mechanisms

The Fuyang oil layer of the Songliao Basin is a tight and low-permeability sandstone pay zone formed in the fluvial-shallow water delta environment.In the formation are mainly lithologic reservoir and tight reservoir.The lacustrine-mudstone of K2qn1 is a good source rock and also acts as a good regional cap rock.The Fuyang oil layer is a typical upper-source and lower-reservoir pattern distributed in a large area.Based on a large number of exploration and development data, a macroscopic enveloping surface is found developed in the Fuyang oil layer, which is below K2qn1.The effective reservoirs within the enveloping surface are commonly saturated with oil, and below the enveloping surface are mainly water layers.The distance from the enveloping surface to the bottom of the source rock is usually 100-350 m and at most 550 m.Through the research of the distribution patterns and the physical properties of the sandbodies above or beneath the source rock, it is concluded that: 1) the enveloping surface is the boundary of the overpressure hydrocarbon migration; 2) the spacial distribution of the pressure release beds controls the direction and the distance of the overpressure hydrocarbon migration; 3) tight oil reservoirs and lenticular oil reservoirs are mainly formed inside the envelope surface, whereas, conventional reservoirs are formed outside the envelope surface as a result of the buoyancy hydrocarbon migration.The discovery of the "overpressure hydrocarbon migration enveloping surface" and the concepts of overpressure hydrocarbon migration and buoyancy hydrocarbon migration not only challenge the old notion that "hydrocarbon migrates along the faults and is distributed along fault belts" in the Fuyang oil layer of the Songliao Basin, give a new explanation to the long-distance-oil-downwards migration (hundreds of meters) and expand the exploration potential of the Fuyang oil layer, and provide a rational guidance to the exploration of syncline plays, but also better categorize tight oil/gas and conventional reservoirs in all of the key elements related to hydrocarbon migration, accumulation, reservoir characteristics and oil and gas spatial distribution.

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.

TECTONIC MIGRATION OF OIL AND GAS BASINS IN EASTERN CHINA

This paper deals with the tectonic migration of various types of basins and the regu-larity of time-space distribution of oil and gas in the eastern China basins from the availa-ble geological, geophysical and drill data, and then a preliminary discussion is made onthe relationship between tectonic migration and oil and gas formation.

断块油藏高含水井关井后剩余油再动用运移规律微观模拟

基于微观可视化光刻玻璃模型,从微观角度定性、定量研究了断块油藏高含水井关井后剩余油再动用运移规律,并开展了影响因素分析。结果表明:水驱后关井期间剩余油再动用类型主要为滴状、柱状和簇状。关井期间剩余油会沿模型倾斜方向向高部位运移聚集,有利于后续水驱阶段进一步提高驱油效率。地层倾角的增大、原油黏度的减小有利于剩余油再动用;关井时间的增加有利于剩余油向高部位采出端接近聚集;后续水驱阶段注入速度的增大会增加波及面积。

Hydrocarbon accumulation and orderly distribution of whole petroleum system in marine carbonate rocks of Sichuan Basin,SW China

Based on the situation and progress of marine oil/gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin,SW China,the whole petroleum system is divided for marine carbonate rocks of the basin according to the combinations of hydrocarbon accumulation elements,especially the source rock.The hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics of each whole petroleum system are analyzed,the patterns of integrated conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation are summarized,and the favorable exploration targets are proposed.Under the control of multiple extensional-convergent tectonic cycles,the marine carbonate rocks of the Sichuan Basin contain three sets of regional source rocks and three sets of regional cap rocks,and can be divided into the Cambrian,Silurian and Permian whole petroleum systems.These whole petroleum systems present mainly independent hydrocarbon accumulation,containing natural gas of affinity individually.Locally,large fault zones run through multiple whole petroleum systems,forming a fault-controlled complex whole petroleum system.The hydrocarbon accumulation sequence of continental shelf facies shale gas accumulation,marginal platform facies-controlled gas reservoirs,and intra-platform fault-and facies-controlled gas reservoirs is common in the whole petroleum system,with a stereoscopic accumulation and orderly distribution pattern.High-quality source rock is fundamental to the formation of large gas fields,and natural gas in a whole petroleum system is generally enriched near and within the source rocks.The development and maintenance of large-scale reservoirs are essential for natural gas enrichment,multiple sources,oil and gas transformation,and dynamic adjustment are the characteristics of marine petroleum accumulation,and good preservation conditions are critical to natural gas accumulation.Large-scale marginal-platform reef-bank facies zones,deep shale gas,and large-scale lithological complexes related to source-connected faults are future marine hydrocarbon exploration targets in the Sichuan Basin.

二连盆地岩性地层油藏形成条件与油气分布规律

二连盆地具有形成岩性、地层油藏的良好条件。通过对油气成藏条件的综合分析认为,岩性、地层油藏主要沿地层不整合面、最大湖泛面和断面分布;岩性、地层油藏既可以分布在低位体系域,也可以分布在高位体系域;既可以分布在高势区,也可以分布在低势区;在有利的沉积与储集相带内,可以形成富集油藏。因此在地层、岩性油气藏勘探程度很低的二连盆地具有良好的勘探前景。

气顶油环协同开发下油气界面运移规律研究

针对气顶油环协同开发时,油气界面运移规律认识不清的问题,展开了不同采气速度下油气界面运移规律的研究,研究中通过三维可视化气顶油环油藏物理模拟装置和与室内实验等尺寸的数值实验模型,模拟不同采气速度下气顶油环油藏的开发过程,通过模型可视窗口和数值模型饱和度场,实时观察记录油气界面运移规律以及油井生产动态。实验结果表明,随着采气速度增加,气顶膨胀能得到有效抑制,油气界面运移速度减慢,且内、外油气界面运移速度逐渐趋于平衡,油气界面运移形态逐渐稳定,有效减缓油井气窜的发生,增加气顶膨胀驱油的动用范围。通过物质平衡原理,建立气顶油环协同开采的油藏工程方法,推导不同开发方式下的油气界面运移规律,计算结果表明,当采油速度越小,采气速度越大时,油气界面向油环侵入的速度越小,合适的采油速度和采气速度可以保持油气界面平衡。

济阳坳陷埕岛潜山油气成藏特征

为了揭示埕岛潜山油气成藏规律,以指导该区潜山油气勘探有利目标优选,综合运用有机地球化学、同位素和原油物性等资料,系统进行了埕岛潜山精细油源对比、油气藏特征和油气运聚过程研究。结果表明:埕岛潜山明显受埕北20断层和埕北30北断层控制,分割为西、中、东排山,受源储配置、输导方式等油气成藏条件的控制,西、中、东排山油气来源、运聚过程和富集规律各异。西排山以埕北凹陷控盆的埕北断层为油源断层,油气垂向运聚为主,在埕北断层上升盘的断鼻和断块圈闭成藏,表现为含油面积小且独立、顶部风化壳油藏富集的特点;中排山以埕北20断层和一系列北北东向走滑断层为油源输导断层,渤中凹陷生成的油气沿走滑断层走向运聚,再侧向分配至邻侧圈闭中聚集成藏,表现为油气沿大型走滑断裂带分布的特征;东排山的油气来源于黄河口凹陷沙三段下亚段烃源岩,油气通过多套不整合和断裂复合输导体系在多层系富集。不同潜山油气差异性运聚的特点,决定了不同潜山勘探方向亦有所不同。

天然气沿断裂运移规律的物理及数值模拟

利用自行设计组装的模拟实验装置,对原油沿断裂运移的规律进行了物理模拟,结果表明,原油沿断裂运移速度具有与断裂带倾角成正比、与断裂带填充物粒度和泥质含量成反比的规律。利用模拟实验研究了原油和天然气通过岩样运移速度之间的函数关系,结果查明其比值大小与砂岩孔隙度成直线反比关系、与渗透率成指数反比关系。在此基础上,利用原油沿断裂运移规律对天然气沿断裂运移规律进行了数值模拟,在相同条件下发现了天然气沿断裂运移速度较原油大两个数量级以上和天然气沿断裂运移速度与断裂带倾角也成正比、与断裂带填充物粒度和泥质含量也成反比的规律。