Synergistic anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system with high emulsification efficiency for enhanced oil recovery in low permeability reservoirs

Emulsification is one of the important mechanisms of surfactant flooding. To improve oil recovery for low permeability reservoirs, a highly efficient emulsification oil flooding system consisting of anionic surfactant sodium alkyl glucosyl hydroxypropyl sulfonate(APGSHS) and zwitterionic surfactant octadecyl betaine(BS-18) is proposed. The performance of APGSHS/BS-18 mixed surfactant system was evaluated in terms of interfacial tension, emulsification capability, emulsion size and distribution, wettability alteration, temperature-resistance and salt-resistance. The emulsification speed was used to evaluate the emulsification ability of surfactant systems, and the results show that mixed surfactant systems can completely emulsify the crude oil into emulsions droplets even under low energy conditions. Meanwhile,the system exhibits good temperature and salt resistance. Finally, the best oil recovery of 25.45% is achieved for low permeability core by the mixed surfactant system with a total concentration of 0.3 wt%while the molar ratio of APGSHS:BS-18 is 4:6. The current study indicates that the anionic/zwitterionic mixed surfactant system can improve the oil flooding efficiency and is potential candidate for application in low permeability reservoirs.

A novel profile modification HPF-Co gel satisfied with fractured low permeability reservoirs in high temperature and high salinity

Conformance control and water plugging are a widely used EOR method in mature oilfields.However,majority of conformance control and water plugging agents are unavoidable dehydrated situation in high-temperature and high-salinity low permeability reservoirs.Consequently,a novel conformance control system HPF-Co gel,based on high-temperature stabilizer(CoCl_(2)·H_(2)O,CCH)is developed.The HPF-Co bulk gel has better performances with high temperature(120℃)and high salinity(1×10^(5)mg/L).According to Sydansk coding system,the gel strength of HPF-Co with CCH is increased to code G.The dehydration rate of HPF-Co gel is 32.0%after aging for 150 d at 120℃,showing excellent thermal stability.The rheological properties of HPF gel and HPF-Co gel are also studied.The results show that the storage modulus(G′)of HPF-Co gel is always greater than that of HPF gel.The effect of CCH on the microstructure of the gel is studied.The results show that the HPF-Co gel with CCH has a denser gel network,and the diameter of the three-dimensional network skeleton is 1.5-3.5μm.After 90 d of aging,HPF-Co gel still has a good three-dimensional structure.Infrared spectroscopy results show that CCH forms coordination bonds with N and O atoms in the gel amide group,which can suppress the vibration of cross-linked sites and improve the stability at high temperature.Fractured core plugging test determines the optimized polymer gel injection strategy and injection velocity with HPF-Co bulk gel system,plugging rate exceeding 98%.Moreover,the results of subsequent waterflooding recovery can be improved by 17%.

Development of Superhydrophobic Nano-SiO_(2)and Its Field Application in Low-permeability,High-temperature,and High-salinity Oil Reservoirs

In this study,to meet the stringent requirements on the hydrophobicity of nano-SiO_(2)particles for use in depressurization and enhanced injection operations in high-temperature and high-salinity oil reservoirs,secondary chemical grafting modification of nano-SiO_(2)is performed using a silane coupling agent to prepare superhydrophobic nano-SiO_(2) particles.Using these superhydrophobic nano-SiO_(2)particles as the core agent,and liquid paraffin or diesel as the dispersion medium,a uniform dispersion of nano-SiO_(2)particles is achieved under high-speed stirring,and a chemically enhanced water injection system with colloidal stability that can be maintained for more than 60 d is successfully developed.Using this system,a field test of depressurization and enhanced injection is carried out on six wells in an oilfield,and the daily oil production level is increased by 11 t.The cumulative increased water injection is 58784 m^(3),the effective rate of the measures was 100%,and the average validity period is 661 d.

Numerical Simulation of Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow in Low Permeability Tight Reservoirs Based on Weighted Least Squares Meshless Method

In response to the complex characteristics of actual low-permeability tight reservoirs,this study develops a meshless-based numerical simulation method for oil-water two-phase flow in these reservoirs,considering complex boundary shapes.Utilizing radial basis function point interpolation,the method approximates shape functions for unknown functions within the nodal influence domain.The shape functions constructed by the aforementioned meshless interpolation method haveδ-function properties,which facilitate the handling of essential aspects like the controlled bottom-hole flow pressure in horizontal wells.Moreover,the meshless method offers greater flexibility and freedom compared to grid cell discretization,making it simpler to discretize complex geometries.A variational principle for the flow control equation group is introduced using a weighted least squares meshless method,and the pressure distribution is solved implicitly.Example results demonstrate that the computational outcomes of the meshless point cloud model,which has a relatively small degree of freedom,are in close agreement with those of the Discrete Fracture Model(DFM)employing refined grid partitioning,with pressure calculation accuracy exceeding 98.2%.Compared to high-resolution grid-based computational methods,the meshless method can achieve a better balance between computational efficiency and accuracy.Additionally,the impact of fracture half-length on the productivity of horizontal wells is discussed.The results indicate that increasing the fracture half-length is an effective strategy for enhancing production from the perspective of cumulative oil production.

Numerical study on gas production via a horizontal well from hydrate reservoirs with different slope angles in the South China Sea

It is important to study the effect of hydrate production on the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability clayey–silty reservoirs for the largescale exploitation of hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea.In this study,a multiphysical-field coupling model,combined with actual exploration drilling data and the mechanical experimental data of hydrate cores in the laboratory,was established to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability reservoirs with different slope angles during 5-year hydrate production by the depressurization method via a horizontal well.The result shows that the permeability of reservoirs severely affects gas production rate,and the maximum gas production amount of a 20-m-long horizontal well can reach186.8 m3/day during the 5-year hydrate production.Reservoirs with smaller slope angles show higher gas production rates.The depressurization propagation and hydrate dissociation mainly develop along the direction parallel to the slope.Besides,the mean effective stress of reservoirs is concentrated in the near-wellbore area with the on-going hydrate production,and gradually decreases with the increase of the slope angle.Different from the effective stress distribution law,the total reservoir settlement amount first decreases and then increases with the increase of the slope angle.The maximum settlement of reservoirs with a 0°slope angle is up to 3.4 m,and the displacement in the near-wellbore area is as high as2.2 m after 5 years of hydrate production.It is concluded that the pore pressure drop region of low-permeability reservoirs in the South China Sea is limited,and various slope angles further lead to differences in effective stress and strain of reservoirs during hydrate production,resulting in severe uneven settlement of reservoirs.

An overview of efficient development practices at low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China

Low permeability sandstone reservoirs in China typically have more complicated geological conditions, pore structures, and flow characteristics as compared to medium-to-high-permeability sandstone reservoirs. Traditional geological and seepage theories, and engineering methods are not applicable to the development of these low permeability reservoirs, and wells drilled into them often produce oil and gas at very low rates. Recent breakthroughs in reservoir exploitation technology have greatly improved the productivity of low permeability reservoirs, making them the primary target for oil exploration and extraction in China. The development theories and practices applied to low permeability reservoirs in China are reviewed in this study— based on relevant geological and engineering practices, including drilling, fracturing, recovery, and surface engineering. A unique series of technological advances that aid the development of low permeability reservoirs in China are summarized here. This study may serve as a meaningful guide in achieving scale efficiency for the development of low permeability reservoirs.

Success in Developing Low－permeable Reservoir by Using Modern Fracturing Technique

A research project"Overall Fracturing Refor-mation and Evaluation for Sanjianfang Low-permeable Oil Formations,Shanshan Oilfield'has been jointly accomplished by Branch of CNPC Research Institute of Exploration and Develop-ment and Turpan-Hami Oilfields,and was ap-praised by CNPC recently.This technique improved the development result of Shanshan oil field.Productivity index was increased by 2.28 times and production rate for a signle well was doubled.A total of 117 production wells were fractured from May,1991 to April,1993,and 371900 tons of crude Wwas increased,with an accumulative value of 197 million Yuan.

The coupling of dynamics and permeability in the hydrocarbon accumulation period controls the oil-bearing potential of low permeability reservoirs:a case study of the low permeability turbidite reservoirs in the middle part of the third member of Shahejie

The relationships between permeability and dynamics in hydrocarbon accumulation determine oil- bearing potential （the potential oil charge） of low perme- ability reservoirs. The evolution of porosity and permeability of low permeability turbidite reservoirs of the middle part of the third member of the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Sag has been investigated by detailed core descriptions, thin section analyses, fluid inclusion analyses, carbon and oxygen isotope analyses, mercury injection, porosity and permeability testing, and basin modeling. The cutoff values for the permeability of the reservoirs in the accumulation period were calculated after detailing the accumulation dynamics and reservoir pore structures, then the distribution pattern of the oil-bearing potential of reservoirs controlled by the matching relationship between dynamics and permeability during the accumulation period were summarized. On the basis of the observed diagenetic features and with regard to the paragenetic sequences, the reservoirs can be subdivided into four types of diagenetic facies. The reservoirs experienced two periods of hydro- carbon accumulation. In the early accumulation period, the reservoirs except for diagenetic facies A had middle to high permeability ranging from 10 × 10-3 gm2 to 4207 × 10-3 lain2. In the later accumulation period, the reservoirs except for diagenetic facies C had low permeability ranging from 0.015 × 10-3 gm2 to 62× 10-3 -3m2. In the early accumulation period, the fluid pressure increased by the hydrocarbon generation was 1.4-11.3 MPa with an average value of 5.1 MPa, and a surplus pressure of 1.8-12.6 MPa with an average value of 6.3 MPa. In the later accumulation period, the fluid pressure increased by the hydrocarbon generation process was 0.7-12.7 MPa with an average value of 5.36 MPa and a surplus pressure of 1.3-16.2 MPa with an average value of 6.5 MPa. Even though different types of reservoirs exist, all can form hydrocarbon accumulations in the early accumulation per- iod. Such types of reservoirs can form hydrocarbon accumulation with high accumulation dynamics; however, reservoirs with diagenetic facies A and diagenetic facies B do not develop accumulation conditions with low accumu- lation dynamics in the late accumulation period for very low permeability. At more than 3000 m burial depth, a larger proportion of turbidite reservoirs are oil charged due to the proximity to the source rock, Also at these depths, lenticular sand bodies can accumulate hydrocarbons. At shallower depths, only the reservoirs with oil-source fault development can accumulate hydrocarbons. For flat surfaces, hydrocarbons have always been accumulated in the reservoirs around the oil-source faults and areas near the center of subsags with high accumulation dynamics.

Advances in enhanced oil recovery technologies for low permeability reservoirs

Low permeability oil and gas resources are rich and have great potential all over the world, which has gradually become the main goal of oil and gas development. However, after traditional primary and secondary exploitation, there is still a large amount of remaining oil that has not been recovered.Therefore, in recent years, enhanced oil recovery(EOR) technologies for low permeability reservoirs have been greatly developed to further improve crude oil production. This study presents a comprehensive review of EOR technologies in low permeability reservoirs with an emphasis on gas flooding, surfactant flooding, nanofluid flooding and imbibition EOR technologies. In addition, two kinds of gel systems are introduced for conformance control in low permeability reservoirs with channeling problems. Finally,the technical challenges, directions and outlooks of EOR in low permeability reservoirs are addressed.

Study on Reducing Injection Pressure of Low Permeability Reservoirs Characterized by High Temperature and High Salinity

In view of the problems of high injection pressure and low water injection rate in water injection wells of low permeability reservoirs featuring high temperature and high salinity,two new surfactants were synthesized,including a quaternary ammonium surfactant and a betaine amphoteric surfactant.The composite surfactant system BYJ-1 was formed by mixing two kinds of surfactants.The minimum interfacial tension between BYJ-1 solution and the crude oil could reach 1.4×10^(-3) mN/m.The temperature resistance was up to 140℃,and the salt resistance could reach up to 120 g/L.For the low permeability core fully saturated with water phase,BYJ-1 could obviously reduce the starting pressure gradient of low permeability core.While for the core with residual oil,BYJ-1 could obviously reduce the injection pressure and improve the oil recovery.Moreover,the field test showed that BYJ-1 could effectively reduce the injection pressure of the water injection well,increase the injection volume,and increase the liquid production and oil production of the corresponding production well.

Development of the theory and technology for low permeability reservoirs in China

The development theories of low-permeability oil and gas reservoirs are refined, the key development technologies are summarized, and the prospect and technical direction of sustainable development are discussed based on the understanding and research on developed low-permeability oil and gas resources in China. The main achievements include:(1) the theories of low-permeability reservoir seepage, dual-medium seepage, relative homogeneity, etc.(2) the well location optimization technology combining favorable area of reservoir with gas-bearing prediction and combining pre-stack with post-stack;(3) oriented perforating multi-fracture, multistage sand adding, multistage temporary plugging, vertical well multilayer, horizontal and other fracturing techniques to improve productivity of single well;(4) the technology of increasing injection and keeping pressure, such as overall decreasing pressure, local pressurization, shaped charge stamping and plugging removal, fine separate injection, mild advanced water injection and so on;(5) enhanced recovery technology of optimization of injection-production well network in horizontal wells. To continue to develop low-permeability reserves economically and effectively, there are three aspects of work to be done well:(1) depending on technical improvement, continue to innovate new technologies and methods, establish a new mode of low quality reservoir development economically, determine the main technical boundaries and form replacement technology reserves of advanced development;(2) adhering to the management system of low cost technology & low cost, set up a complete set of low-cost dual integration innovation system through continuous innovation in technology and management;(3) striving for national preferential policies.

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.

Profile improvement during CO_2 flooding in ultra-low permeability reservoirs

Gas flooding such as CO2 flooding may be effectively applied to ultra-low permeability reservoirs, but gas channeling is inevitable due to low viscosity and high mobility of gas and formation heterogeneity. In order to mitigate or prevent gas channeling, ethylenediamine is chosen for permeability profile control. The reaction mechanism of ethylenediamine with CO2, injection performance, swept volume, and enhanced oil recovery were systematically evaluated. The reaction product of ethylenediamine and CO2 was a white solid or a light yellow viscous liquid, which would mitigate or prevent gas channeling. Also, ethylenediamine could be easily injected into ultra-low permeability cores at high temperature with protective ethanol slugs. The core was swept by injection of 0.3 PV ethylenediamine. Oil displacement tests performed on heterogeneous models with closed fractures, oil recovery was significantly enhanced with injection of ethylenediamine. Experimental results showed that using ethylenediamine to plug high permeability layers would provide a new research idea for the gas injection in fractured, heterogeneous and ultra-low permeability reservoirs. This technology has the potential to be widely applied in oilfields.

Timing of advanced water flooding in low permeability reservoirs

It is very important to design the optimum starting time of water injection for the development of low permeability reservoirs. In this type of reservoir the starting time of water injection will be affected by a reservoir pressure-sensitive effect. In order to optimize the starting time of water injection in low permeability reservoirs, this effect of pressure change on rock permeability of low permeability reservoirs was, at first, studied by physical simulation. It was shown that the rock permeability decreases exponentially with an increase in formation pressure. Secondly, we conducted a reservoir engineering study, from which we obtained analytic relationships between formation pressure, oil production rate, water production rate and water injection rate. After our physical, theoretical and economical analyses, we proposed an approach which takes the pressure-sensitive effect into consideration and designed the optimum starting time of water injection, based on the principle of material balance. Finally, the corresponding software was developed and applied to one block of the Jiangsu Oilfield. It is shown that water injection, in advance of production, can decrease the adverse impact of the pressure-sensitive effect on low permeability reservoir development. A water-flooding project should be preferably initiated in advance of production for no more than one year and the optimum ratio of formation pressure to initial formation pressure should be maintained at a level between 1.05 and 1.2.

Study on the Variation Rule of Produced Oil Components during CO_(2) Flooding in Low Permeability Reservoirs

CO_(2) flooding has been widely studied and applied to improve oil recovery from low permeability reservoirs.Both the experimental results and the oilfield production data indicate that produced oil components(POC)will vary during CO_(2) flooding in low permeability reservoirs.However,the present researches fail to explain the variation reason and rule.In this study,the physical model of the POC variation during CO_(2) flooding in low permeability reservoir was established,and the variation reason and rule were defined.To verify the correctness of the physical model,the interaction rule of the oil-CO_(2) system was studied by related experiments.The numerical model,including 34 components,was established based on the precise experiments matching,and simulated the POC variation during CO_(2) flooding in low permeability reservoir at different inter-well reservoir characteristics.The POC monitoring data of the CO_(2) flooding pilot test area in northeastern China were analyzed,and the POC variation rule during the oilfield production was obtained.The research results indicated that the existence of the inter-well channeling-path and the permeability difference between matrix and channeling-path are the main reasons for the POC variation during CO_(2) flooding in low permeability reservoirs.The POC variation rules are not the same at different inter-well reservoir characteristics.For the low permeability reservoirs with homogeneous inter-well reservoir,the variation of the light hydrocarbon content in POC increases initially followed by a decrease,while the variation of the heavy hydrocarbon content in POC is completely opposite.The carbon number of the most abundant component in POC will gradually increase.For the low permeability reservoirs with the channeling-path existing in the inter-well reservoir,the variation rule of the light hydrocarbon content in POC is increase-decrease-increase-decrease,while the variation rule of the heavy hydrocarbon content in POC is completely opposite.The carbon number variation rule of the most abundant component in POC is increase-decrease-increase.

Influences of lithology on in-situ stress field in low permeability reservoirs in Bonan Oilfield, Bohai Bay Basin, China

The differences of rock mechanical properties were analyzed based on triaxial compression test in low permeability reservoirs of the Bonan Oilfield. Through the analysis of reservoir mechanics, the influence mechanisms of different mechanical properties of rocks on reservoir in-situ stress were studied. By means of stress ellipse and finite element simulation, the influence rules of different mechanical properties of rocks on in-situ stress field were discussed. For the low permeability reservoirs of the Bonan Oilfield, the coarser rock has a larger Young’s modulus value and a lower Poisson’s ratio. The rock mechanical parameters and stress-strain relationship of sandstone facies and mudstone facies are different. Different rocks have different mechanical properties, which cause extra stress at the lithological contact interface, and the existence of extra stress affects the reservoir in-situ stress. Without considering the influence of structural features on the in-situ stress field, the reservoir in-situ stress is controlled by the magnitude of extra stress and the angle between lithological contact surface and boundary stress.

A Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Low-permeability Reservoirs

According to the geological characteristics and their influential factors of the low-permeability reservoirs, a comprehensive method for evaluation of low-permeability reservoirs is put forward. The method takes a matrix system as the basis, a fracture system as the focus and a stress field system as the restricted factor. It can objectively reflect not only the storage capability and seepage capability of low-permeability reservoirs, but also the effect on development as well. At the same time, it can predict the seepage characteristics at different development stages and provide a reasonable geological basis for the development of low-permeability reservoirs.

Experimental study of low-damage drilling fluid to minimize waterblocking of low-permeability gas reservoirs

This paper discusses the systematic design and development of low-damage drilling fluid to protect the low-permeability gas reservoir of the Sulige block in the Ordos Basin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Based on investigation of the geological characteristics and the potential formation damage of the Permian formation of the reservoir, waterblocking due to invasion of drilling or completion fluids was identified one of the most severe causes of damage to gas well deliverability. By adopting the phase trap prevention method, ideal packing theory, and film-forming technology, a lowdamage drilling fluid, sodium formate brine containing efficient waterblocking preventing surfactants, optimized temporary bridging agents （TBAs）, and film-forming agents has been developed. The performance of the new drilling fluid was evaluated by using a variety of techniques. The results show that the fluid has good rheological properties, good strong shale-swelling inhibition, good temporary plugging effect, ultra-low filtration, and good lubricity. It can efficiently minimize waterblocking and can be used to drill horizontal wells with minimal intervention of the reservoir in the Sulige Gas Field.

Permeability damage micro-mechanisms and stimulation of low-permeability sandstone reservoirs: A case study from Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

According to the characteristics of"structural elements"(framework grain,interstitial material and pore throat structure)of low-permeability sandstone reservoir,the"step by step dissolution and separation"acidification and acid fracturing technology has been developed and tested in field.There are three main mechanisms affecting permeability of low-permeability sandstone reservoir:(1)The mud fillings between the framework grains block the seepage channels.(2)In the process of burial,the products from crystallization caused by changes in salinity and solubility and uneven migration and variation of the syn-sedimentary formation water occupy the pores and throat between grains.(3)Under the action of gradual increase of overburden pressure,the framework grains of the rock is compacted tighter,making the seepage channels turn narrower.The"step by step dissolution and separation"acidification(acid fracturing)technology uses sustained release acid as main acidizing fluid,supramolecular solvent instead of hydrochloric acid to dissolve carbonate,and a composite system of ammonium hydrogen fluoride,fluoroboric acid,and fluorophosphoric acid to dissolve silicate,and dissolving and implementing step by step,finally reaching the goal of increasing porosity and permeability.By using the technology,the main blocking interstitial material can be dissolved effectively and the dissolution residual can be removed from the rock frame,thus expanding the effective drainage radius and increasing production and injection of single well.This technology has been proved effective by field test.

Diagenesis-porosity evolution and“sweet spot”distribution of low permeability reservoirs:A case study from Oligocene Zhuhai Formation in Wenchang A sag,Pear River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

The characteristics of low permeability reservoirs and distribution of sweet spots in the Oligocene Zhuhai Formation of Wenchang A sag, Pearl River Basin were investigated by core observation and thin section analysis. The study results show that there develop the fine, medium and coarse sandstone reservoirs of tidal flat–fan delta facies, which are of mostly low permeability and locally medium permeability. There are two kinds of pore evolution patterns: oil charging first and densification later, the reservoirs featuring this pattern are mainly in the third member of Zhuhai Formation between the south fault zone and the sixth fault zone, and the pattern of densification first and gas charging later is widespread across the study area. Strong compaction and local calcium cementation are the key factors causing low permeability of the reservoirs in the Zhuhai Formation. Thick and coarse grain sand sedimentary body is the precondition to form "sweet spot" reservoirs. Weak compaction and cementation, dissolution, early hydrocarbon filling and authigenic chlorite coating are the main factors controlling formation of "sweet spot" reservoir. It is predicted that there develop between the south fault and sixth fault zones the Class Ⅰ "sweet spot" in medium compaction zone, Class Ⅱ "sweet spot" in nearly strong compaction zone, Class Ⅲ "sweet spot" reservoir in the nearly strong to strong compaction zone with oil charging at early stage, and Class IV "sweet spot" reservoir in the strong compaction and authigenic chlorite coating protection zone in the sixth fault zone.