Investigating microscopic seepage characteristics and fracture effectiveness of tight sandstones:a digital core approach

Microscopic seepage characteristics are critical for the evaluation of tight sandstone reservoirs.In this study,a digital core approach integrating microscopic seepage simulation and CT scanning was developed to characterize microscopic seepage and fracture effectiveness(the ratio of micro-fractures that contributes to fluid flow)of tight sandstones.Numerical simulations were carried out for characterizations of tight sandstones.The results show that the axial permeability of the investigated cylindrical tight sandstone from Junggar Basin in China is 0.460μm~2,while the radial permeability is 0.3723μm~2,and the axial and radial effective fracture ratios are 0.4387 and 0.4806,respectively,indicating that cracks are not fully developed and the connectivity between micro-cracks is poor.Directional permeability that is difficult to measure by laboratory experiments can be obtained readily using the proposed method in this paper.The results provide important information for improving the exploration and development of tight sandstone reservoirs.

Experimental Study on Seepage Characteristics of a Soil-Rock Mixture in a Fault Zone

A mixture of fault gouge and rubble taken out from a fault zone is used to prepare a S-RM(Soil-Rock Mixture)sample with rock block proportions of 20%,30%,40%,50%,60%and 70%,respectively.A GDS triaxial test system is used accordingly to measure the seepage characteristics of such samples under different loading and unloading confining pressures in order to determine the variation law of the permeability coefficient.The test results show that:(1)The permeability coefficient of the S-RM samples decreases as the pressure increases,and the decrease rate of this coefficient in the initial stage of confining pressure loading is obviously higher than in the semi-late period;(2)The permeability coefficient at different confining pressure levels presents a common trend as the rock block proportion is increased,i.e.,it decreases first then it increases(the permeability coefficient of the sample with rock block proportion 40%being the smallest,70%the largest);(3)In the stage of confining pressure unloading,the recovery degree of the permeability coefficient grows with the increase of rock block proportion(the recovery rate of S-RM sample with rock block proportion 70%reaches 50.2%);(4)In the stage of confining pressure loading and unloading,the sensitivity of the permeability coefficient to the rock block proportion displays the inverse“Z”variation rule(when rock block proportion reaches 60%,the sensitivity is highest);(5)In the stage of confining pressure loading,the relationship between the permeability coefficient and confining pressure can be described by an exponential relationship.

Numerical analysis of seepage flow characteristic of collapse column under the influence of mining

Based on the importance of fractured rock mass seepage research, in order to analyze seepage flow characteristics of collapse column under the influence of mining, a method by embedding fractured rock mass flow solid coupling relationship into FLAC3D internal flow models is presented according to fluid-solid coupling theory and strength criterion. A calculation model of numerical analysis was established, and the influences of mining pressure and plastic damage to pore water pressure and seepage vector change rule were studied. The results show that collapse column is the main channel of confined water seepage upward. The impact is not big when the workface is away from the collapse column. But when the workface is nearing a collapse column, there will be a seepage channel on a side near the workface, in which seepage vector and head are comparatively large. With workface pushing through collapse column, the seepage channel transfers to the other side of the column. In addition, when the plastic damage area within the collapse column breaks through, a "pipeline flow" will be formed within the column, and seepage field will change remarkably and the possibility of water bursting will be greater.

A novel pore-fracture dual network modeling method considering dynamic cracking and its applications

Unconventional reservoirs are normally characterized by dual porous media, which has both multi-scalepore and fracture structures, such as low permeability or tight oil reservoirs. The seepage characteristicsof such reservoirs is mainly determined by micro-fractures, but conventional laboratory experimentalmethods are difficult to measure it, which is attribute to the dynamic cracking of these micro-fractures.The emerging digital core technology in recent years can solve this problem by developing an accuratepore network model and a rational simulation approach. In this study, a novel pore-fracture dualnetwork model was established based on percolation theory. Fluid flow in the pore of two scales, microfracture and matrix pore, were considered, also with the impact of micro-fracture opening and closingduring flow. Some seepage characteristic parameters, such as fluid saturations, capillary pressure, relative permeabilities, displacement efficiency in different flow stage, can be predicted by proposedcalculating method. Through these work, seepage characteristics of dual porous media can be achieved.

The influence of water disposal method on the property of chemical oil-displacement agent–taking Guan 109-1 area of Dagang oilfield as example

Aiming at the actual demand of Guan 109-1 block in Dagang oilfield,by means of instrumental analysis,chemical analysis,modern physical simulation,viewing polymer viscosity and seepage characteristic as evaluation index,the experimental research on the influence of water disposal method on the property of chemical oil-displacement agent was carried out.Results showed that through adding scaling agent,scale was formed because of the reaction between scaling agent and Ca^2+,Mg^2+ in the flooding water,which could enhance the viscosity of polymer solution.Through comparing the resistance factor and residual resistance factor of polymer solution which was respectively prepared with flooding water,softened water and scale,the resistance factor and residual resistance factor of polymer solution with scale was the largest,that of polymer solution prepared with softened water was second and that of polymer solution prepared with flooding water came last.Furthermore,scaling agent weakened the gelling effect between cross-linking agent Cr^3+ and polymer molecule chains.The earlier the crosslinking agent Cr^3+ was added,the larger the polymer viscosity,resistance factor and residual resistance factor of Cr3t polymer were.