Surface-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals(CNC)and synergisms with surfactant for enhanced oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs

Nanocellulose,a natural polymeric nanomaterial,has attracted significant attention in enhanced oil recovery(EOR)applications due to its abundance,nanoscale,high oil-water interfacial adsorption ef-ficiency.In this study,surface-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals(SF-CNCs)were prepared via hy-drochloric acid hydrolysis and chemical modification,with adaptable nanosize and considerable dispersion stability in low-permeability reservoirs.The SF-CNCs were structurally characterized by FT-IR,Cryo-TEM,which have a diameter of 5-10 nm and a length of 100-200 nm.The SF-CNC dispersions possessed higher stability and stronger salt-tolerance than those of corresponding CNC dispersions,due to the strong hydrophilicity of the sulfonic acid group.It was synergistically used with a non-ionic surfactant(APG1214)to formulate a combined flooding system(0.1 wt%SF-CNC+0.2 wt%APG1214).The combined flooding system exhibits strong emulsification stability,low oil-water interfacial tension of o.03 mN/m,and the ability to alter the wettability for oil-wetting rocks.Furthermore,the combined system was_able to provide an optimum EOR efficiency of 20.2%in low-permeability cores with 30.13×10^(-3)μm^(2).Notably.it can enlarge the sweep volume and increase the displacement efficiency simultaneously.Overall,the newly formulated nanocellulose/surfactant combined system exhibits a remarkable EoR performance in low-permeability reservoirs.

Genesis of the low-permeability reservoir bed of upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Xinchang gas field,western Sichuan Depression

The genesis of a reservoir is a result of the combined action of deposition, diagenesis, tectonic reworking, and interaction of rock and fluid and the evolutionary environment. We discuss the genetic and evolution mechanism of a low-permeability reservoir bed of the Xujiahe Formation in the western Sichuan Depression on the basis of the study of diagenesis, diagenetic reservoir facies and the diagenetic evolution sequence. The research indicated that this reservoir bed can be divided into five types of diagenetic reservoir facies, namely strong dissolution, chlorite-lined intergranular pores, compaction and pressure solution, carbonate cementation and secondary quartz increase. There are, however, just two diagenetic reservoir facies which provide low-permeability reservoir beds, namely strong dissolution and chlorite-lined intergranular pores. We also analyzed their diagenetic evolution sequences and the origin of the low-permeability reservoir bed. Besides, it was also indicated that the composition and structure of sandstones, types of sedimentary microfacies, diagenesis history as well as the tectonic reworking in later periods are the main factors controlling the formation of the low-permeability reservoir bed. The above- mentioned factors establish the foundation for the forecasting the distribution of high quality reservoir beds.

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.

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field, and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic, it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field, for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW.SE, the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults, because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous, in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction, the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults, thus, fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction, stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places, especially at the end of the NE-SE faults, the cross positions of NE-SW, and S-N faults. Therefore, fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults, the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction, the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state, the best connectivity, the widest aperture, the highest permeability, and the minimum opening pressure.

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.

Characteristics and mechanisms of supercritical CO_(2) flooding under different factors in low-permeability reservoirs

In recent years,supercritical CO_(2)flooding has become an effective method for developing lowpermeability reservoirs.In supercritical CO_(2)flooding different factors influence the mechanism of its displacement process for oil recovery.Asynchronous injection-production modes can use supercritical CO_(2)to enhance oil recovery but may also worsen the injection capacity.Cores with high permeability have higher oil recovery rates and better injection capacity,however,gas channeling occurs.Supercritical CO_(2)flooding has a higher oil recovery at high pressure levels,which delays the occurrence of gas channeling.Conversely,gas injection has lower displacement efficiency but better injection capacity at the high water cut stage.This study analyzes the displacement characteristics of supercritical CO_(2)flooding with a series of experiments under different injection and production parameters.Experimental results show that the gas breakthrough stage has the fastest oil production and the supercritical CO_(2)injection capacity variation tendency is closely related to the gas-oil ratio.Further experiments show that higher injection rates represent significant ultimate oil recovery and injection index,providing a good reference for developing low-permeability reservoirs.

Permeability and heterogeneity adaptability of surfactant-alternating-gas foam for recovering oil from low-permeability reservoirs

As the traditional polymer stabilizer is eliminated to improve the injectability of foam in lowpermeability reservoirs,the stability,plugging capacity,conformance control and oil recovery performance of the surfactant-alternating-gas(SAG)foam become significantly important for determining its adaptability to permeability and heterogeneity,which were focused and experimentally researched in this paper.Results show that the SAG bubbles are highly stable in micron-sized channels and porous media(than in the conventional unconstrained graduated cylinder),making it possible to use in enhanced oil recovery(EOR).Such bubbles formed in porous media could be passively adjusted to match their diameter with the size of the pore.This endows the SAG foam with underlying excellent injectability and deep migration capacity.Permeability adaptability results indicate a reduced plugging capacity,but,increased incremental oil recovery by the SAG foam with decreased permeability.This makes it a good candidate for EOR over a wide range of permeability,however,parallel core floods demonstrate that there is a limiting heterogeneity for SAG application,which is determined to be a permeability contrast of 12.0(for a reservoir containing oil of 9.9 m Pa s).Beyond this limit,the foam would become ineffective.

SENSITIVITY COEFFICIENTS OF SINGLE-PHASE FLOW IN LOW-PERMEABILITY HETEROGENEOUS RESERVOIRS

Theoretical equations for computing sensitivity coefficients of wellbore pressures to estimate the reservoir parameters in low-permeability reservoirs conditioning to non-Darcy flow data at low velocity were obtained. It is shown by a lot of numerical calculations that the wellbore pressures are much more sensitive to permeability very near the well than to permeability a few gridblocks away from the well. When an initial pressure gradient existent sensitivity coefficients in the region are closer to the active well than to the observation well. Sensitivity coefficients of observation well at the line between the active well and the observation well are influenced greatly by the initial pressure gradient.

A Method for Identifying Channeling Paths in Low-Permeability Fractured Reservoirs

Often oilfield fractured horizontal wells produce water flowing in multiple directions.In this study,a method to identify such channeling paths is developed.The dual-medium model is based on the principle of inter-well connectivity and considers the flow characteristics and related channeling terms.The Lorentz curve is drawn to qualitatively discern the geological type of the low-permeability fractured reservoir and determine the channeling direction and size.The practical application of such an approach to a sample oilfield shows that it can accurately identify the channeling paths of the considered low-permeability fractured reservoir and predict production performances according to the inter-well connectivity model.As a result,early detection of water channeling becomes possible,paving the way to real-time production system optimization in low-permeability fractured reservoirs.

A new method of building permeability model in low-permeability reservoir numerical simulation

Aiming at solving the problem that big differ-ence exists between logging permeability and true permeability of micro-fractured low-permeability sand reservoir, this paper puts forward a new method to revise logging per-meability by using primiparity data of oil field. This method has been successfully applied to revise logging permeability of micro-fractured low-permeability sand reservoir in Baiyushan area of Jing’An oil field, which shows that the method is reliable because the geological model building through the permeability which has been handled by this method accords with the real reservoir significantly.

Study of the Seepage Mechanism in Thick Heterogeneous Gas Reservoirs

The seepage mechanism plays a crucial role in low-permeability gas reservoirs.Compared with conventional gas reservoirs,low-permeability sandstone gas reservoirs are characterized by low porosity,low permeability,strong heterogeneity,and high water saturation.Moreover,their percolation mechanisms are more complex.The present work describes a series of experiments conducted considering low-permeability sandstone cores under pressuredepletion conditions(from the Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Basin).It is shown that the threshold pressure gradient of a low-permeability gas reservoir in thick layers is positively correlated with water saturation and negatively correlated with permeability and porosity.The reservoir stress sensitivity is related to permeability and rock composition.Stress sensitivity is generally low when permeability is high or in the early stage of gas reservoir development.It is also shown that in sand conglomerates,especially the more sparsely filled parts,the interstitial materials among the conglomerates can be rapidly dislodged from the skeleton particles under stress.This material can therefore disperse,migrate,and block the pore throat producing serious,stress-sensitive damage.

Fractal model of spontaneous imbibition in low-permeability reservoirs coupled with heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and threshold pressure

Spontaneous imbibition(SI)is an important mechanism for enhancing oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs.Due to the strong heterogeneity,and the non-Darcy flow,the construction of SI model for lowpermeability reservoirs is extremely challenging.Commonly,traditional SI models based on single or averaged capillary tortuosity ignore the influence of heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and the threshold pressure(TP)on imbibition.Therefore,in this work,based on capillary model and fractal theory,a mathematical model of characterizing SI considering heterogeneity of pore seepage channels is established.On this basis,the threshold pressure was introduced to determine the pore radius at which the wetted phase can displace oil.The proposed new SI model was verified by imbibition experimental data.The study shows that for weakly heterogeneous cores with permeability of 0-1 m D,the traditional SI model can characterize the imbibition process relatively accurately,and the new imbibition model can increase the coefficient of determination by 1.05 times.However,traditional model has serious deviations in predicting the imbibition recovery for cores with permeability of 10-50 m D.The new SI model coupling with heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and threshold pressure effectively solves this problem,and the determination coefficient is increased from 0.344 to 0.922,which is increased by2.68 times.For low-permeability reservoirs,the production of the oil in transitional pores(0.01-0.1μm)and mesopores(0.1-1μm)significantly affects the imbibition recovery,as the research shows that when the heterogeneity of pore seepage channels is ignored,the oil recovery in transitional pores and mesopores decreases by 7.54%and 4.26%,respectively.Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing interfacial tension,decreasing contact angle,oil-water viscosity ratio and threshold pressure will increase imbibition recovery.In addition,there are critical values for the influence of these factors on the imbibition recovery,which provides theoretical support for surfactant optimization.

Numerical Simulation of a Two-Phase Flow with Low Permeability anda Start-Up Pressure Gradient

A new numerical model for low-permeability reservoirs is developed.The model incorporates the nonlinear characteristics of oil-water two-phase flows while taking into account the initiation pressure gradient.Related numerical solutions are obtained using a finite difference method.The correctness of the method is demonstrated using a two-dimensional inhomogeneous low permeability example.Then,the differences in the cumulative oil and water production are investigated for different starting water saturations.It is shown that when the initial water saturation grows,the water content of the block continues to rise and the cumulative oil production gradually decreases.

Characteristics and mechanism of smart fluid for sweep-controlling during CO_(2) flooding

A smart response fluid was designed and developed to overcome the challenges of gas channeling during CO_(2)flooding in low-permeability,tight oil reservoirs.The fluid is based on Gemini surfactant with self-assembly capabilities,and the tertiary amine group serves as the response component.The responsive characteristics and corresponding mechanism of the smart fluid during the interaction with CO_(2)/oil were studied,followed by the shear characteristics of the thickened aggregates obtained by the smart fluid responding to CO_(2).The temperature and salt resistance of the smart fluid and the aggregates were evaluated,and their feasibility and effectiveness in sweep-controlling during the CO_(2)flooding were confirmed.This research reveals:(1)Thickened aggregates could be assembled since the smart fluid interacted with CO_(2).When the mass fraction of the smart fluid ranged from 0.05%to 2.50%,the thickening ratio changed from 9 to 246,with viscosity reaching 13 to 3100 mPas.As a result,the sweep efficiency in low-permeability core models could be increased in our experiments.(2)When the smart fluid(0.5%to 1.0%)was exposed to simulated oil,the oil/fluid interfacial tension decreased to the level of 1×10^(-2)mN/m.Furthermore,the vesicle-like micelles in the smart fluid completely transformed into spherical micelles when the fluid was exposed to simulated oil with the saturation greater than 10%.As a result,the smart fluid could maintain low oil/fluid interfacial tension,and would not be thickened after oil exposure.(3)When the smart fluid interacted with CO_(2),the aggregates showed self-healing properties in terms of shear-thinning,static-thickening,and structural integrity after several shear-static cycles.Therefore,this fluid is safe to be placed in deep reservoirs.(4)The long-term temperature and salt resistance of the smart fluid and thickened aggregates have been confirmed.

Single-and two-phase flow model in low-permeability reservoir

In petroleum development,low-permeability reservoir means having permeability of porous media lower than 50 micro-Darcy.The mathematical model of liquid flow in low-permeability reservoirs has been difficult to describe for a long time,and an ideal model has not been available until now because of the threshold pressure gradient.With the boundary adhesion layer model of a micro-channel as basis,a new liquid flow model was derived for low-permeability reservoirs in this study.The no-movement liquid layer close to the solid surface was defined as the boundary adhesion layer regarded as the negative slip length.Using the exponential function of the boundary stick layer to the pressure drop gradient,the formulae of the liquid velocity and flow rate of a round channel were derived.The liquid flows model in low permeability reservoirs was then obtained.Finally,the flow model was tested by examples,and applications to a low-permeability reservoir were demonstrated.The analysis results show that the new non-linear model of liquid flows exhibits clear physical definition,and can be easily used to describe liquid flows in low-permeability media.

A study on the flowability of gas displacing water in low-permeability coal reservoir based on NMR technology

Flowability of gas and water through low-permeability coal plays crucial roles in coalbed methane(CBM)recovery from coal reservoirs.To better understand this phenomenon,experiments examining the displacement of water by gas under different displacement pressures were systematically carried out based on nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)technology using low-permeability coal samples of medium-high coal rank from Yunnan and Guizhou,China.The results reveal that both the residual water content(W_(r))and residual water saturation(S_(r))of coal gradually decrease as the displacement pressure(P)decreases.When P is 0-2 MPa,the decline rates of W_(r) and S_(r) are fastest,beyond which they slow down gradually.Coal samples with higher permeability exhibit higher water flowability and larger decreases in W_(r) and S_(r).Compared with medium-rank coal,high-rank coal shows weaker fluidity and a higher proportion of irreducible water.The relationship between P and the cumulative displaced water content(W_(c))can be described by a Langmuir-like equation,W_(c)=WLP/(PL+P),showing an increase in W_(c) in coal with an increase in P.In the low-pressure stage from 0 to 2 MPa,W_(c) increases most rapidly,while in the high-pressure stage(P>2 MPa),W_(c) tends to be stable.The minimum pore diameter(d′)at which water can be displaced under different displacement pressures was also calibrated.The d′value decreases as P increases in a power relationship;i.e.,d′the coal gradually decreases with the gradual increase in P.Furthermore,the d′values of most of the coal samples are close to 20 nm under a P of 10 MPa.

Multi-objective optimization and experiment of nylon cord rubber in expandable packer

Nylon cord rubber has the advantages of small residual deformation and is easy to lift and lower the tubing string in low-permeability oil and gas reservoirs.However,it is associated with low-pressure resistance and poor sealing performance.To enhance the performance of nylon cord rubber,a three-dimensional numerical model of the nylon cord rubber was established and its accuracy experimentally determined.The Plackett-Burman test,the Steepest climbing test and the Response surface method were used to acquire the polynomial response surface model connecting structural parameters with bearing and sealing pressure.Using genetic algorithms,optimal structural parameters of nylon cord rubber were determined depending on field operation.The reliability of the optimized results was verified by laboratory tests.It was shown that after optimization,the bearing capacity of the expandable packer increased by 25%while the sealing performance increased by 66%.In addition,the bearing pressure was 70 MPa while the sealing pressure was 50 MPa.These measurements effectively met the on-site requirements of high-pressure and fine fracturing in low-permeability oil and gas reservoirs.

Rheological property of low-damage,ideal packing,film-forming amphoteric/sulfonation polymer drilling fluids

Low-permeability dense reservoirs,including micro-fractured reservoirs,are commonly characterized by high content of clay substances,high original water saturation,high sensitivity to invasive fluids,high capillary pressure,complicated structure and anisotropic,high flow-resistance and micro pore throats etc,.Generally they also have lots of natural micro fractures,probably leading to stress sensibility.Main damaging factors in such reservoirs are water-sensibility and water-blocking caused by invasive fluids during drilling and production operations.Once damaged,formation permeability can rarely recovered.Numerous studies have shown that damaging extent of water-blocking ranges from 70% to 90%.Main damaging mechanisms and influencing factors of water-blocking were systematically analyzed.Also some feasible precaution or treating approaches of water-blocking were put forward.In a laboratory setting,a new multi-functional drilling fluid composed mainly of amphion polymer,sulfonation polymer,high effectively preventive water-blocking surfactants,ideal packing temporary bridging agents(TBA) and film-forming agents,etc.,were developed.New low-damage drilling fluids has many advantages,such as good rheological properties,excellent effectiveness of water-blocking prevention,good temporary plugging effect,low filtration and ultra-low permeability(API filtration≤5 mL,HTHP filtration≤10 mL,mud cake frictional coefficient≤0.14,permeability recovery>81%),can efficiently prevent or minimize damage,preserve natural formation and enhance comprehensive development-investment effect in TUHA Jurassic dense sandstone reservoir formation with low-permeability,the only one developing integrated condense gas field.Some references can be provided to similar reservoir formations.