Simulation of Gas-Water Two-Phase Flow in Tight Gas Reservoirs Considering the Gas Slip Effect

A mathematical model for the gas-water two-phase flow in tight gas reservoirs is elaborated.The model can account for the gas slip effect,stress sensitivity,and high-speed non-Darcy factors.The related equations are solved in the framework of a finite element method.The results are validated against those obtained by using the commercial software CMG(Computer Modeling Group software for advanced recovery process simulation).It is shown that the proposed method is reliable.It can capture the fracture rejection characteristics of tight gas reservoirs better than the CMG.A sensitivity analysis of various control factors(initial water saturation,reservoir parameters,and fracturing parameters)affecting the production in tight gas wells is conducted accordingly.Finally,a series of theoretical arguments are provided for a rational and effective development/exploitation of tight sandstone gas reservoirs.

Pore-Throat Combination Types and Gas-Water Relative Permeability Responses of Tight Gas Sandstone Reservoirs in the Zizhou Area of East Ordos Basin, China

With the aim of better understanding the tight gas reservoirs in the Zizhou area of east Ordos Basin,a total of 222 samples were collected from 50 wells for a series of experiments.In this study,three pore-throat combination types in sandstones were revealed and confirmed to play a controlling role in the distribution of throat size and the characteristics of gas-water relative permeability.The type-I sandstones are dominated by intercrystalline micropores connected by cluster throats,of which the distribution curves of throat size are narrow and have a strong single peak(peak ratio>30%).The pores in the type-II sandstones dominantly consist of secondary dissolution pores and intercrystalline micropores,and throats mainly occur as slice-shaped throats along cleavages between rigid grain margins and cluster throats in clay cement.The distribution curves of throat size for the type-II sandstones show a bimodal distribution with a substantial low-value region between the peaks(peak ratio<15%).Primary intergranular pores and secondary intergranular pores are mainly found in type-III samples,which are connected by various throats.The throat size distribution curves of type-III sandstones show a nearly normal distribution with low kurtosis(peak ratio<10%),and the micro-scale throat radii(>0.5μm)constitute a large proportion.From type-I to type-III sandstones,the irreducible water saturation(Swo)decreased;furthermore,the slope of the curves of Krw/Krg in two-phase saturation zone decreased and the two-phase saturation zone increased,indicating that the gas relative flow ability increased.Variations of the permeability exist in sandstones with different porethroat combination types,which indicate the type-III sandstones are better reservoirs,followed by type-II sandstones and type-I sandstones.As an important factor affecting the reservoir quality,the pore-throat combination type in sandstones is the cumulative expression of lithology and diagenetic modifications with strong heterogeneity.

P-wave and S-wave response of coal rock containing gas-water with different saturation: an experimental perspective

The acoustic response of gas and/or water saturated coal rock is fundamental for establishing the correspondence between the physical properties of the coal reservoir and the characteristics of the well-logging response,which is the technology essential for the geophysical exploration of coalbed methane(CBM).This acoustic response depends on water(Sw)and gas(Sg)saturation among other factors.In this study,we performed acoustic tests on dry and different gas-water saturated coal samples with different degrees of metamorphism and deformation,collected from several coal mining areas in China.These tests enabled us to analyze the influence of coal type and gas-water saturation on the acoustic response of CBM formations.Our results show that the acoustic velocity of P-wave and S-wave(Vp and Vs,respectively),and the relative anisotropy of and Vs,increased with increasing vitrinite reflectance,density,Vp and Sw.WithSw increasing from 0 to 100%,the growth rate of the acoustic velocity decreased with increasing vitrinite reflectance.The Vp/Vs ratio of tectonic coal was generally higher than that of primary coal.The growth rate of the relative anisotropy in tectonic coal was markedly higher than that in primary coal.

Microscopic experiment on efficient construction of underground gas storages converted from water-invaded gas reservoirs

Based on the microfluidic technology,a microscopic visualization model was used to simulate the gas injection process in the initial construction stage and the bottom water invasion/gas injection process in the cyclical injection-production stage of the underground gas storage(UGS)rebuilt from water-invaded gas reservoirs.Through analysis of the gas-liquid contact stabilization mechanism,flow and occurrence,the optimal control method for lifecycle efficient operation of UGS was explored.The results show that in the initial construction stage of UGS,the action of gravity should be fully utilized by regulating the gas injection rate,so as to ensure the macroscopically stable migration of the gas-liquid contact,and greatly improve the gas sweeping capacity,providing a large pore space for gas storage in the subsequent cyclical injection-production stage.In the cyclical injection-production stage of UGS,a constant gas storage and production rate leads to a low pore space utilization.Gradually increasing the gas storage and production rate,that is,transitioning from small volume to large volume,can continuously break the hydraulic equilibrium of the remaining fluid in the porous media,which then expands the pore space and flow channels.This is conducive to the expansion of UGS capacity and efficiency for purpose of peak shaving and supply guarantee.

Simulation of Two-Phase Flowback Phenomena in Shale Gas Wells

The gas-water two-phaseflow occurring as a result of fracturingfluidflowback phenomena is known to impact significantly the productivity of shale gas well.In this work,this two-phaseflow has been simulated in the framework of a hybrid approach partially relying on the embedded discrete fracture model(EDFM).This model assumes the region outside the stimulated reservoir volume(SRV)as a single-medium while the SRV region itself is described using a double-medium strategy which can account for thefluid exchange between the matrix and the micro-fractures.The shale gas adsorption,desorption,diffusion,gas slippage effect,fracture stress sensitivity,and capillary imbibition have been considered.The shale gas production,pore pressure distribution and water saturation distribution in the reservoir have been simulated.The influences of hydraulic fracture geometry and nonorthogonal hydraulic fractures on gas production have been determined and discussed accordingly.The simulation results show that the daily gas production has an upward and downward trend due to the presence of a large amount of fracturingfluid in the reservoir around the hydraulic fracture.The smaller the angle between the hydraulic fracture and the wellbore,the faster the daily production of shale gas wells decreases,and the lower the cumulative production.Nonplanar fractures can increase the control volume of hydraulic fractures and improve the production of shale gas wells.

MRI insight on multiphase flow in hydrate-bearing sediment and development mechanism of hydrate seal

Gas and water migration through the hydrate-bearing sediment are characteristic features in marine gas hydrate reservoirs worldwide.However,there are few experimental investigations on the effect of water-gas flow on the gas hydrate reservoir.In this study,gas-water migration in gas hydrate stability zone(GHSZ)was investigated visually employing a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)apparatus,and the formation of hydrate seal was experimentally investigated.Results revealed that normal flow of gas-water at the low flow rate of 1–0.25 mL/min will induce the hydrate reformation.Conversely,higher gas-water flow rates(at 2–0.5 and 4–1 mL/min)need higher reservoir pressure to induce the hydrate reformation.In addition,the hydrate reformation during the gas-water flow process produced the hydrate seal,which can withstand an over 9.0 MPa overpressure.This high overpressure provides the development condition for the underlying gas and/or water reservoir.A composite MRI image of the whole hydrate seal was obtained through the MRI.The pore difference between hydrate zone and coexistence zone produces a capillary sealing effect for hydrate seal.The hydrate saturation of hydrate seal was more than 51.6%,and the water saturation was more than 19.3%.However,the hydrate seal can be broken through when the overpressure exceeded the capillary pressure of the hydrate seal,which induced the sudden drop of reservoir pressure.This study provides a scientific explanation for the existence of high-pressure underlying gas below the hydrate layer and is significant for the safe exploitation of these common typical marine hydrate reservoirs.

Controlling Effects of Tight Reservoir Micropore Structures on Seepage Ability: A Case Study of the Upper Paleozoic of the Eastern Ordos Basin, China

In this study, the types of micropores in a reservoir are analyzed using casting thin section(CTS) observation and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) experiments. The high-pressure mercury injection(HPMI) and constant-rate mercury injection(CRMI) experiments are performed to study the micropore structure of the reservoir. Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), gas-water relative seepage, and gas-water two-phase displacement studies are performed to examine the seepage ability and parameters of the reservoir, and further analyses are done to confirm the controlling effects of reservoir micropore structures on seepage ability. The experimental results show that Benxi, Taiyuan, Shanxi, and Shihezi formations in the study area are typical ultra-low porosity and ultra-low permeability reservoirs. Owing to compaction and later diagenetic transformation, they contain few primary pores. Secondary pores are the main pore types of reservoirs in the study area. Six main types of secondary pores are: intergranular dissolved pores, intragranular dissolved pores, lithic dissolved pores, intercrystalline dissolved pores, micropores, and microfracture. The results show that reservoirs with small pore-throat radius, medium displacement pressure, and large differences in pore-throat structures are present in the study area. The four types of micropore structures observed are: lower displacement pressure and fine pores with medium-fine throats, low displacement pressure and fine micropores with fine throats, medium displacement pressure and micropores with micro-fine throats, and high displacement pressure and micropores with micro throats. The micropore structure is complex, and the reservoir seepage ability is poor in the study areas. The movable fluid saturation, range of the gas-water two-phase seepage zone, and displacement types are the three parameters that well represent the reservoir seepage ability. According to the characteristic parameters of microscopic pore structure and seepage characteristics, the reservoirs in the study area are classified into four types(Ⅰ–Ⅳ), and types Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ are the main types observed. From type Ⅰ to type Ⅳ, the displacement pressure increases, and the movable fluid saturation and gas-water two-phase seepage zone decrease, and the displacement type changes from the reticulation-uniform displacement to dendritic and snake like.

Experimental study of the development mode of gas-cap edge-water reservoir:A case study of Khasib reservoir of Halfaya oilfield in Iraq

Based on the oil,gas and water distribution characteristics of Khasib reservoir in Halfaya oilfield,Iraq,a core displacement experiment is designed to evaluate the influence of different displacement methods and displacement parameters on oil displacement efficiency.The research shows that,in the displacement method with water injected from the edge of the reservoir,early depletion production is conducive to the elastic expansion of the gas cap,forming the three-dimensional displacement of"upper pressure and lower pushing",and the oil displacement effect is good.When gas injection at the top and water injection at the edge are used for synergistic displacement,the injection timing has different influences on the oil displacement effects of high and low parts.Considering the overall oil displacement efficiency,the injection pressure should be greater than the bubble point pressure of crude oil.Two displacement methods are recommended with the reasonable injection time at 20–25 MPa.The injection speed has the same influence on different injection media.Appropriately reducing the injection speed is conducive to the stability of the displacement front,delaying the breakthrough of injection media and improving the oil displacement effect.The reasonable injection rate of water flooding is 0.075 mL/min,the reasonable injection rates of water and gas are 0.15 mL/min and 0.10 mL/min,respectively in gas-water synergistic displacement.Gas-water synergistic displacement is conducive to the production of crude oil at high position,and has crude oil recovery 5.0%–14.8%higher than water flooding from the edge,so it is recommended as the development mode of Khasib reservoir at the middle and late stages.

Analysis of Gas and Liquid Two-Phase Slug Flow Production Logging Interpretation Model in near Horizontal Shale Gas Wells

The development of shale gas reservoir is mainly based on horizontal well production.Slug flow of gas-liquid two-phase is invariably encountered in inclined wells and horizontal wells of a producing environment.Due to gravitational differentiation,oil-water two-phase flow pattern,the local velocity and local phase holdup along the radial direction of pipe in near horizontal wells will perform complicatedly.This paper presented the results of an experimental study and a theoretical analysis of two-phase gas/water flow in horizontal and highly inclined systems.Extensive experiments were conducted using a test loop made of 124 mm diameter acrylic pipe with inclination angles from the horizontal of 0°,5°,15°,45°,°2°,°5°and°10°,and with the total flow rate ranging from 50 to 800 m3/day.Based on the research on the law of slug flow dynamics model for gas-water two-phase flow in near horizontal pipeline,the theoretical analysis and experimental researches were done to propose the expressions of stable and exact production logging interpretation model for two-phase flow in near horizontal pipeline.The performance of the proposed method for estimating water holdup and water superficial velocity is in good agreement with our measurements.As a result,the slug flow dynamics model of gas-water two-phase flow in near horizontal wellbore was developed.The application effect of production logging in near horizontal wells had been improved.

Methane and nitrous oxide concentration and emission flux of Yangtze Delta plain river net

Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) saturation concentration and gas-water interface emission flux in surface water of the Yangtze Delta plain river net were investigated in summer at representative sites including the upper reaches of the Huangpu River and the rivers in the Chongming Island. The results show that the CH4 concentration in river water ranged from 0.30±0.03 to 6.66±0.14 μmol.L-1, and N2O concentration ranged from 13.8±2.33 to 435±116 nmol.L-1. River surface water had a very high satura- tion level of CH4 (from 468±49.0% to 11560±235%) and that of N2O (from 175±29.5% to 4914±1304%). Dissolved oxygen (DO) was the primary factor controlling the CH4 concentration in water. N2O concentration had significant negative correlation with salinity and a significant positive correlation with nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), chemical oxygen demand (CODcr) concentration and pH of river water. CH4 and N2O of river water were brought about mainly by methanogenesis and denitrification in river bottom sediment that diffused through sediment-water interface into the water body and then into atmosphere through the gas-water interface. The emission flux of CH4 and N2O at river gas-water interface reached 778±59.8 and 236±63.6 μmol.m-2.h-1, respectively in summer. The river net was a potential source of atmospheric CH4 and N2O because of eutrophication of the water body.