Distribution characteristics and oil mobility thresholds in lacustrine shale reservoir:Insights from N_(2)adsorption experiments on samples prior to and following hydrocarbon extraction

The pore structure and oil content of shales have an important influence on the oil mobility and enrichment.In this study,the lacustrine shale samples from the Qingshankou Formation(Q1)of Songliao Basin were selected.TOC,pyrolysis,XRD and nitrogen adsorption were performed on the original and extracted shale samples.Then the influence of mineral composition and organic matter(OM)on the development of nano-scale pore,the oil phase states and mobility were analyzed.The Q1 shale samples can be sub-divided into three types according to the isotherm characteristics.Type A samples are characterized by high kerogen content,with oil mainly existing in the free phase state.Type B samples are characterized by medium kerogen content,oil mainly exists in the absorbed phase state.Type C samples are characterized by low kerogen content,with trace oil found in the absorbed phase state.Nano-scale organic pores are well developed in the Q1 Formation.Oil is primarily found in the pore spaces with diameters less than 10 nm,this being the pore size threshold for mobile shale oil.When TOC>2.0 wt%and EOM>1.0 wt%,Q1 Formation shale oil mobility is high,resulting in prospective drilling targets.

Compositional modeling and simulation of dimethyl ether (DME)-enhanced waterflood to investigate oil mobility improvement

Dimethyl ether （DME） is a widely used industrial compound, and Shell developed a chemical EOR technique called DME- enhanced waterflood （DEW）. DME is applied as a miscible solvent for EOR application to enhance the performance of conventional waterflood. When DME is injected into the reservoir and contacts the oil, the first-contact miscibility process occurs, which leads to oil swelling and viscosity reduction. The reduction in oil density and viscosity improves oil mobility and reduces residual oil saturation, enhancing oil production. A numerical study based on compositional simulation has been developed to describe the phase behavior in the DEW model. An accurate compositional model is imperative because DME has a unique advantage of solubility in both oil and water. For DEW, oil recovery increased by 34% and 12% compared to conventional waterflood and CO2 flood, respectively. Compositional modeling and simulation of the DEW process indicated the unique solubility effect of DME on EOR performance.

A new method for evaluating the oil mobility based on the relationship between pore structure and state of oil

An accurate evaluation of the shale oil mobility is crucial to its cost-effective exploitation.This study presents a method to assess shale oil mobility by integrating the pore structure and oil states distributions.First,a set of three discrete organic extracts(EOM-A,B and C)were obtained by sequential extraction.The relationships among the EOMs and the oil states were inferred from the group compositions and fluorescence properties of the produced shale oil(free state).The results showed that EOMs A and B represent free oil in the open and closed pores,respectively,while the EOM-C represents adsorbed oil.Then,NMR T_(1)-T_(2)map is used to determine the T_(2-cutoff)values that indicate the pore size ranges of different oil states.Free oil resides mainly in larger pore space(T_(2)>0.5 ms),while the adsorbed oil in smaller pore space(0.2 ms<T_(2)<0.5 ms).Finally,the ratio of free to adsorbed oil(F/A)>0.5 and T_(2-cutoff)>1.0 ms suggest that the free oil in connected pores has the highest mobility.This work can provide a reference for evaluating the shale oil potential and prospectivity in other regions.

A Case Study on the Occurrence and Mobility of the Shale Oil from the Muli Coalfield,Qilian Mountain

Shale oil occurs in free state （including condensate state）, adsorption state （adsorbed on kerogen and mineral particles） and dissolved state （dissolved in natural gas, residual water, etc.） in shales and adjacent layers. The characterization of the occurrence of different hydrocarbons in shale oil, especially the quantitative separation of free hydrocarbons （mobile oil）, has been the current focus of shale oil research. Taken the shale oil from the Muli coalfield in Qilian Mountain as an example, this work extracted shale samples with organic solvents of different polarity to obtain different occurrence states of hydrocarbons in the oil-bearing shale and to reveal the compositional differences of the hydrocarbons. The result may provide new geochemical information for the occurrence and mobility of shale oil.

Key factors controlling shale oil enrichment in saline lacustrine rift basin:implications from two shale oil wells in Dongpu Depression,Bohai Bay Basin

Comparative analyses of petroleum generation potential,reservoir volume,frackability,and oil mobility were conducted on 102 shale cores from the Dongpu Depression.Results show the shale has high organic matter contents composed of oil-prone type I and type II kerogens within the oil window.Various types of pores and fractures exist in the shale,with a porosity of up to 14.9%.The shale has high brittle mineral contents,extensive fractures,and high potential for oil mobility due to high seepage capacity and overpressure.Although the petroleum generation potential of the shale at Well PS18-8 is relatively greater than that at Well PS18-1,oil content of the latter is greater due to the greater TOC.The porosity and fracture density observed in Well PS18-1 are greater and more conducive to shale oil enrichment.Although the shales in Wells PS18-1 and PS18-8 have similar brittle mineral contents,the former is more favorable for anthropogenic fracturing due to a higher preexisting fracture density.Besides,the shale at Well PS18-1 has a higher seepage capacity and overpressure and therefore a higher oil mobility.The fracture density and overpressure play key roles in shale oil enrichment.

Effects of low frequency external excitation on oil slug mobilization and flow in a water saturated capillary model

The present research is to experimentally study the joint effects of external pressure and vibratory excitations of low frequency on oil slug mobilization and flow in a capillary model.During and after the oil slug mobilization,the flow phenomena and pressure drop variation across the model are investigated.The distance travelled by the oil slug subjected to various external pressure and vibratory excitations are also studied.The experimental results obtained indicate that the external vibratory excitation acting on the model has positive effect on the flow and mobilization of the oil slug in the model.It is found in the research,with the application of the excitation,the contact angle between the oil slug and tube-wall is changed;the maximum pressure required to mobilize the oil slug is reduced accordingly;and the oil slug travel distance is increased in comparing with that without external excitations.This research contributes to the comprehension of improved liquid mobilization in porous media under the application of external excitations.The finding of the research is significant for studying the two-phase liquid flow in porous media subjected to external excitations and provides insights for Enhanced Oil Recovery with waterflooding and vibratory stimulations.

Quantitative prediction of residual wetting film generated in mobilizing a two-phase liquid in a capillary model

This research studies the motion of immiscible two-phase liquid flow in a capillary tube through a numerical approach employing the volume of fluid method,for simulating the core-annular flow and water flooding in oil reservoirs of porous media.More specifically,the simulations are a representation of water flooding at a pore scale.A capillary tube model is established with ANSYS Fluent and verified.The numerical results matches well with the existing data available in the literature.Penetration of a less viscous liquid in a liquid of higher viscosity and the development of a residual wetting film of the higher viscosity liquid are thoroughly investigated.The effects of Capillary number,Reynolds Number and Viscosity ratio on the residual wetting film are studied in detail,as the thickness is directly related to the residual oil left in the porous media after water flooding.It should be noticed that the liquids considered in this research can be any liquids of different viscosity not necessarily oil and water.The results of this study can be used as guidance in the field of water flooding.