Numerical simulation of pore-scale flow in chemical flooding process

Chemical flooding is one of the effective technologies to increase oil recovery of petroleum reservoirs after water flooding.Above the scale of representative elementary volume(REV), phenomenological modeling and numerical simulations of chemical flooding have been reported in literatures,but the studies alike are rarely conducted at the pore-scale,at which the effects of physicochemical hydrodynamics are hardly resolved either by experimental observations or by traditional continuum-based simulations.In this paper,dissipative particle dynamics(DPD),one of mesoscopic fluid particle methods,is introduced to simulate the pore-scale flow in chemical flooding processes.The theoretical background,mathematical formulation and numerical approach of DPD are presented.The plane Poiseuille flow is used to illustrate the accuracy of the DPD simulation,and then the processes of polymer flooding through an oil-wet throat and a water-wet throat are studies, respectively.The selected parameters of those simulations are given in details.These preliminary results show the potential of this novel method for modeling the physicochemical hydrodynamics at the pore scale in the area of chemical enhanced oil recovery.

Pore-scale study of the pressure-sensitive effect of sandstone and its influence on multiphase flows

The pressure-sensitive effect on the pore structure of sandstone was investigated using X-ray computed micro-tomography and QEMSCAN quantitative mineral analysis. In a physical simulation study, we extracted the pore network model from digital cores at different confining pressures and evaluated the effect of pressure sensitivity on the multiphase displacement process. In both the pore network model and QEMSCAN scanning, the pore structure was observed to be damaged under a high confining pressure. Due to their different scales, the pores and throats exhibited inhomogeneous changes; further, the throats exhibited a significant variation compared to that exhibited by the pores. Meanwhile, the heterogeneity of the pore structure under the two aforementioned activities was aggravated by the elastic-plastic deformation of the pore structure.The pressure-sensitive effect increased the proportion of mineral particles, such as quartz(the main component of the core skeleton), and reduced the proportion of clay minerals. The clay minerals were originally attached to the pore walls or interspersed in the pores; however, as the pressure increased, the clay minerals accumulated in the pores resulting in blockage of the pores. While simulating the multiphase displacement process, increasing the confining pressure was observed to severely restrict the flowability of oil and water. This study promises to improve the efficiency of reservoir development in terms of oil and gas exploitation.

Pore opening and binder flow during initial stage of thermal debinding in MIM

Pore opening and binder flow during the initial stage of thermal debinding in metal injection molded parts was investigated. Scaning electron microscopy(SEM) pictures of 316 L stainless steel parts using wax based binder show that small particles will move to the surface with the process of debinding. SEM pictures of different mass loss rate specimens indicate that initial pores will emerge when as little as 4% binder removes. During the initial stage of thermal debinding, vapor tension varies in different place due to the difference of curvature. Thus more binders will be removed in places with smaller cavity between metal powders, and in these places small openings emerge.

Vertical Migration of Fine-Grained Sediments from Interior to Surface of Seabed Driven by Seepage Flows–‘Sub-Bottom Sediment Pump Action'

A scientific hypothesis is proposed and preliminarily verified in this paper: under the driving of seepage flows, there might be a vertical migration of fine-grained soil particles from interior to surface of seabed, which is defined as ‘sub-bottom sediment pump action' in this paper. Field experiments were performed twice on the intertidal flat of the Yellow River delta to study this process via both trapping the pumped materials and recording the pore pressures in the substrate. Experimental results are quite interesting as we did observe yellow slurry which is mainly composed of fine-grained soil particles appearing on the seabed surface; seepage gradients were also detected in the intertidal flat, under the action of tides and small wind waves. Preliminary conclusions are that ‘sediment pump' occurs when seepage force exceeds a certain threshold: firstly, it is big enough to disconnect the soil particles from the soil skeleton; secondly, the degree of seabed fluidization or bioturbation is big enough to provide preferred paths for the detached materials to migrate upwards. Then they would be firstly pumped from interior to the surface of seabed and then easily re-suspended into overlying water column. Influential factors of ‘sediment pump' are determined as hydrodynamics(wave energy), degree of consolidation, index of bioturbation(permeability) and content of fine-grained materials(sedimentary age). This new perspective of ‘sediment pump' may provide some implications for the mechanism interpretation of several unclear geological phenomena in the Yellow River delta area.

Effect of slope gradient on the subsurface water flow velocity of sand layer profile

Subsurface water flow velocity influences the hydrodynamic characteristics of soil seepage and the interaction between subsurface water flow and surface runoff during soil erosion and sediment transport.A visualized method and equipment was adopted in this study to observe the subsurface water flow.Quartz sand was used as the test material of subsurface water flow and fluorescent dye was used as the indicator for tracing subsurface water flow.Water was supplied at the same flow discharge to the three parts at the bottom of the test flume,and the subsurface water flow were determined with four slope gradients(4°,8°,10°,and 12°).The results showed that the seepage velocity gradually increased with increasing slope gradient.The pore water velocity at different depths of sand layer profile increased with increasing slope gradient,whereas the thickness of the flow front gradually decreased.For the same slope gradient,the pore water velocity in the lower layer was the largest,whereas the thickness of the flow front was the smallest.Comparative analysis of the relationship between seepage velocity and pore water velocity at different depths of sand layer profile showed that the maximum relative difference between the measured pore water velocity and the computational pore water velocity at different depths of sand profile in the experiment was 4.38%.Thus,the test method for measuring the subsurface water flow velocity of sand layer profile adopted in this study was effective and feasible.The development of this experiment and the exploration of research methods would lay a good test foundation for future studies on the variation law of subsurface water flow velocity and the determination of flow velocity in purple soils,thus contributing to the improvement of the hydrodynamic mechanism of purple soils.

Quantitative criteria for identifying main flow channels in complex porous media

To identify the type of main flow channels of complex porous media in oil and gas reservoirs,the"main flow channel index"is defined as the ratio of comprehensive permeability obtained from well test to matrix permeability obtained from core analysis or well logging.Meanwhile,a mathematical model is established based on equivalent flow assumption,the classification method for main flow channels is put forward,and quantitative characterization of main flow channels is realized.The method has been verified by analysis of typical gas reservoirs.The study results show that the"main flow channel index"can quantitatively classify types of flow channels.If the index is less than 3,the matrix pore is the main flow channel;if the index is between 3 and 20,the fracture is the main flow channel and the matrix pore acts as the supplement one;if the index is more than 20,the fracture is the only seepage channel.The dynamic analysis of typical gas reservoirs shows that the"main flow channel index"can be used to identify the type of flow channel in complex porous media,guiding the classified development of gas reservoirs,and avoiding development risk.

Natural consolidation characteristics of viscous debris flow deposition

Pore water pressure and water content are important indicators to both deposition and consolidation of debris flows, enabling a direct assessment of consolidation degree. This article gained a more comprehensive understanding about the entire consolidation process and focused on exploring pore water pressure and volumetric water content variations of the deposit body during natural consolidation under different conditions taking the viscous debris flow mass as a study subject and by flume experiments. The results indicate that, as the color of the debris changed from initial dark green to grayish-white color, the initial deposit thickness declined by 3% and 2.8% over a permeable and impermeable sand bed, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between pore water pressure and depth in the deposit for both scenarios, with deeper depths being related to greater pore water pressure. For the permeable environment, the average dissipation rate of pore water pressure measured at depths of 0.10 m and 0.05 m were 0.0172 Pa/d and 0.0144 Pa/d, respectively, showing a positivechanging trend with increasing depth. Under impermeable conditions, the average dissipation rates at different depths were similar, while the volumetric water content in the deposit had a positive correlation with depth. The reduction of water content in the deposit accelerated with depth under impermeable sand bed boundary conditions, but was not considerably correlated with depth under permeable sand bed boundary conditions. However, the amount of discharged water from the deposit was greater and consolidation occurred faster in permeable conditions. This indicates that the permeability of the boundary sand bed has a significant impact on the progress of consolidation. This research demonstrates that pore water and pressure dissipations are present during the entire viscous debris consolidation process. Contrasting with dilute flows, pore pressure dissipation in viscous flows cannot be completed in a matter of minutes or even hours, requiring longer completion time — 3 to 5 days and even more. Additionally, the dissipation of the pore water pressure lagged the reduction of the water content. During the experiment, the dissipation rate fluctuated substantially, indicating a close relationship betweenthe dissipation process and the physical properties of broadly graded soils.

Measurement of Fluid Flow in Pipe and Porous Media by High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The objective of this study is to understand the process of fluid flow in pipe and porous media with different pore structures. High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging （MRI） technique was used to visualize the pore structure and measure fluid flow. The porous media was formed by packed bed of glass beads. Flow measurement was carried out by a modified spin echo sequence. The results show that the velocity distribution in pipe is annular and the linear relation between MRI velocity and actual velocity is found in pipe flow measurement. The flow distribution in porous media is rather heterogeneous, and it is consistent with heterogeneous pore structure. The flow through pores with the high volume flow rate is determined largely by geometrical effects such as pore size and cross-sectional area.

Permeability Prediction Using Hydraulic Flow Units: Baltim North Gas Field, Nile Delta, Egypt

168 core samples data of two production wells in the Baltim North field were used to identify the complex discrepancies in reservoir pore geometry which governing the Abu Madi reservoir fluid flow properties. Permeability prediction from well logs is significant goal when the core data is rarely available in most cases because of its expensive cost. The hydraulic flow unit approach was used to classify reservoir rocks according to its pore aperture size in the cored wells. The predicted permeability was calculated from core porosity and core permeability relationship for each flow unit. The difference between Neutron porosity and Density porosity was recognized to distinguish different hydraulic flow units. The higher difference indicates higher quality flow unit and vice versa. For model’s verification the predicted permeability was plotted against the laboratory measured permeability in all studied wells and shows highly matching.

排渗失效下尾矿库溃坝三维模型试验研究

针对尾矿库渗透破坏模式,为克服二维试验槽边壁效应对模型渗流走向及溃决位置的影响,本文以某尾矿库为原型,基于自主设计的三维尾矿库溃坝模型试验平台,进行了排渗设施失效诱发的尾矿库溃坝模型试验研究,揭示了该尾矿库的溃决模式及溃决机理。结果表明:(1)排渗失效导致的溃坝呈现局部流土破坏-坝体累计变形-深层滑动面发展贯通-整体突发失稳的渐进伴突发型溃决演化模式;(2)坝体孔隙水压力骤变是坝体发生滑动破坏的关键响应指标,预示着坝体将在短时间内由滑动体前后缘局部散浸软化、流土、塌陷转变为大范围溃决,可作为坝体溃决事故的前兆信息;(3)排渗失效导致的尾矿库溃坝过程具有渐进性和突发性的特点,发生散浸与流土破坏的过程时间较长,发生深层滑动和溃决的时间短暂,该特征可为尾矿库渗透破坏隐患治理及坝体溃决应急响应提供参考。研究结果对尾矿库溃坝的灾害预防具有重要的现实意义。

破孔面积对燃气弹射性能影响机理分析

为探究发射筒破损面积对燃气弹射过程的影响,采用RNG k-ε湍流模型、有限速率/涡耗散模型和动态分层网格技术,建立包含筒壁损伤的发射筒三维数值模型,在数值验证的基础上通过改变破孔直径,仿真得到不同破孔面积下发射筒内流场分布与内弹道参数。结果表明:在发射筒内部整体流场形态近似呈对称分布,但由于燃气产生附壁效应和旋转涡的出现,局部流场呈现非对称性;随孔径增大筒内压力减小,孔径为160 mm时,t_(0)时速度相比完整筒壁的速度下降高达13.17%,在设定的出筒条件下当孔径大于140 mm后不能满足出筒要求;进行各参数相关性分析时发现破孔面积与第一次压力峰值及t_(0)时速度之间呈负线性相关。

高速来流作用下带孔隙容腔建压过程及特性

高速来流作用下带孔隙的容腔内部压强演变过程对弹体头罩分离、整流罩脱落、舱门开启等有着重要影响。围绕带进气口和卸流孔隙的容腔结构,建立了预估容腔压强变化的理论模型和数值模型,并结合实验验证探讨了开孔位置、进出口面积以及容积大小对容腔建压过程的影响。结果表明排气孔位置和大小对容腔建压效果具有显著影响。当进排气口面积比为0.75时,容腔迎风区域孔隙在初始建压阶段能够提升建压速率,但稳定状态下孔隙由进气转变为排气,容腔压强相对无排气孔隙状态降低约39%;容腔表面斜率过渡区域孔隙受流动形态演化影响,相应容腔压强变化较为复杂,在稳定阶段容腔压强相对无排气状态降至50%;孔隙位于容腔后部时,稳定阶段压强最低,约为无排气状态的44%。同时,进口面积增加会显著增加容腔压强,排气孔隙面积增加会降低容腔压强并减少建压时间。容腔体积对建压速度具有一定影响,但对最终建压结果影响较小。

秸秆还田下土壤孔隙演化及其对溶质穿透特征的影响机理分析

为揭示秸秆粉碎还田后,不同腐解进程下土壤孔隙演化及其对水分和溶质穿透特征的影响机理,设置不同秸秆还田量(0、5、10、15 t/hm^(2))和还田时间(0、30、60 d)处理,采用CT断层扫描技术,视觉量化了土壤孔隙结构特征演变,并基于溶质穿透试验,分析了水分-溶质迁移优先流规律。结果表明,秸秆还田引起土壤孔隙/喉道特征变化,抑制水分-溶质迁移过程,田间持水率和土壤含水率上升,溶质穿透变慢,优先流现象减少,土壤水肥有效持留;随秸秆腐解至60 d,孔隙/喉道特征改变,优先流开始发育,但土壤水肥持留能力增强。秸秆还田5、10、15 t/hm^(2)初期,和CK组相比大孔隙体积占比分别减少7%、14%、50%,连通孔隙减少11%、39%、66%,表层含水率增加1%、3%、6%。腐解60 d后,和0 d相比大孔隙体积占比分别增加331%、200%、357%,连通孔隙增加33%、84%、195%,表层含水率增加6%、5%、5%,完全穿透试样所需溶质减少55%、76%、67%。基于Green-Ampt模型和指数衰减模型估算了不同秸秆初始投入量在不同腐解时间下的导水特征,发现饱和导水率在秸秆还田后减小,且随秸秆腐解增大。研究可为控制大孔隙流和无效灌溉提供依据,进一步为秸秆科学还田提供实践指导。

致密油藏水平井组井间地应力场时空演化特征

水平井组开发致密油藏时,孔隙压力大幅下降会显著改变井间地应力的大小与方向,迫使加密井压裂裂缝朝向老井压力衰竭区扩展,导致加密井产量受限。因此,掌握致密油藏井间地应力场时空演化特征是加密井布井与压裂时机优选的重要基础。针对新疆油田金龙2井区致密油藏,基于岩石多孔弹性理论,建立了双水平井组应力渗流耦合模型,数值模拟得到随孔隙压力下降,井间地应力场的动态变化规律。以水平主应力方向发生反转时的孔隙压力变化值为评价指标,开展了储层物性和压裂完井参数对地应力时空演化特征的影响规律。结果表明,随孔隙压力下降,井间最大水平主应力方向发生反转;储层基质渗透率、井间距减小,单井单位储层厚度日产量及压裂缝间距增加会加快主应力反转,而初始储层孔隙压力对水平主应力变化趋势无影响,其中主要影响因素为井间距。

致密砂岩孔隙尺度下气-水界面动态演化可视化实验研究

水相圈闭是非常规天然气开发面临的主要储层损害问题之一,采用岩心驱替实验无法直观揭示孔隙内部气水两相分布和流动演化过程,因此,对水相圈闭损害微观作用机理的认识有待提高.根据致密砂岩铸体薄片,设计出一维通道和二维孔隙网络两种玻璃芯片模型,可视化研究了孔隙尺度下渗吸和返排过程中气-水界面演化和两相流动行为;结合岩心驱替实验,探讨了孔隙尺度气-水界面演化与致密砂岩宏观气体流动的关联机制.结果表明:(1)孔隙尺度下气-水界面随含水饱和度的增加由水膜水气-水界面向毛管水气-水界面演化,并主要通过卡断和绕流两种形式破坏气体流动连续性;(2)优势通道既是孔隙尺度下水相返排的快速走廊,也是气泡运移和贾敏效应发生的主要通道,是造成储层产水但不产气的一个重要原因;(3)孔隙尺度下气-水界面演化引起的水封气现象是水相圈闭损害的具体微观作用形式,宏观表现为岩心尺度上水相难以彻底返排和气体渗透能力不能完全恢复.实验结果可为储层岩石孔隙尺度下水相圈闭作用机理和气水可动性分析提供理论依据.

不排水循环荷载下纤维加固砂土的超孔压及流动液化特性研究

通过对纤维加固超疏松和疏松饱和砂土开展不排水动三轴试验,分析了其超孔压发展规律和流动液化特性。结果表明,未加固超疏松和疏松饱和砂土具有较高的液化势,其在不排水循环荷载下均发生流动液化。离散纤维向砂土骨架提供加密效应和约束效应,从而提高其抗流动液化特性,然而,纤维的约束效应受到加载路径和试样应变发展模式的显著影响。纤维加固改变了饱和砂土残余孔压的发展规律,当纤维向砂土骨架施加较强的约束效应时,试样的残余孔压发展呈倒L型,明显不同于未加固砂土的S型发展。在双向非对称和单向循环荷载下,纤维应力贡献较大,砂土骨架的有效应力在超孔压上升100%后远大于0,加固试样的强度损失低于11%,纤维阻止了液化的发生。

济阳页岩油渗流机理及开发规律研究

济阳页岩油资源潜力巨大,但受复杂地质条件影响,对压裂后多尺度空间渗流机理及开发规律缺乏系统认识,规模效益开发难度大。为厘清济阳页岩油开发规律的内在机制,针对济阳页岩油多尺度裂缝发育特征,综合物理实验与数值模拟等多种手段,研究压裂后复合缝网的形成机制及组合模式,开展多尺度裂缝应力敏感、多级孔缝内流体非线性渗流、孔缝系统渗吸置换等多重介质空间渗流机理研究。依据压裂改造后多尺度缝网的分布及其渗流规律的差异性,建立了页岩油“易流-缓流-滞流”三区渗流模式,明确了济阳页岩油不同流动阶段的渗流特征与开发规律。研究结果表明:层理缝发育可改善储层物性条件,提高渗吸置换效率,降低启动压力梯度;弹性开发阶段随地层压力下降,渗流通道减小,缝网导流能力降低,具有明显的应力敏感性。济阳页岩油开发过程中,开发初期流态以易流区供液的裂缝线性流和裂缝椭圆流为主;开发中期缓流区向易流区供能,流态转变为地层椭圆流;开发后期滞流区内的页岩油逐渐动用,流态转变为边界控制流。受地质条件和生产制度影响,不同水平井能量变化、含水率下降和产量变化规律具有较大差异。合理优化闷井时间和生产制度,能够保证渗吸置换效果,高效利用地层能量,提高页岩油产能。

考虑干缩裂隙动态变化的优势流入渗模型

为解决定量评估干缩裂隙优势流的难题,基于双孔隙域入渗理论,将开裂土体分为裂隙两侧基质域、裂隙底部基质域与裂隙域三部分,结合Green-Ampt入渗模型,提出了一种考虑干缩裂隙动态变化的优势流入渗模型,并基于该模型探讨了降雨强度、裂隙初始面积率及裂隙深度对土体两域积水时间、优势流入渗量及入渗深度的影响规律。结果表明:干缩裂隙产生的优势流入渗量占总降水量的73.4%~91.4%,入渗深度为裂隙深度的3.1~7.2倍;降雨强度增大将缩短土体基质域积水时间,增大优势流入渗深度;降雨过程中干缩裂隙面积率减小使优势流入渗量减小;裂隙初始面积率增大使两侧基质域入渗量减小,优势流入渗量增大但入渗深度减小;裂隙深度增大使裂隙域积水时间延后,优势流入渗深度增大;模型计算结果与干缩裂隙实际入渗规律相符,同时避免了为裂隙域赋水力学参数带来的误差与不便。

柳赞油田多层砂岩优势渗流通道特征及喉道体积

陆相油藏储集层非均质性强,长期注水开发容易形成优势渗流通道,导致油井快速水淹,驱油效率降低,开发效果变差。以柳赞油田古近系渐新统沙河街组为例,综合分析测井岩电响应、储集层非均质性、注采特征、储集层孔隙特征等,描述柳赞油田多层砂岩优势渗流通道特征,确定了该区优势渗流通道形成条件,通过建立优势渗流通道喉道体积的计算方法,明确了油藏下一步调驱剂用量,达到了有效封堵优势渗流通道的目的,研究成果可为油田下一步稳油控水提供技术支撑。

基于孔隙尺度多孔介质的圆柱绕流控制数值分析

为深入理解多孔介质参数对圆柱绕流的影响机制及其效果,本文基于微观孔隙尺度,对覆盖有多孔介质的圆柱在雷诺数为150条件下的绕流流动进行了数值模拟。主要对不同孔隙率与结构下圆柱绕流的流动特性进行了分析,结果表明,多孔介质的覆盖改变了圆柱原有的流体动力学特征:改变多孔介质结构后,尾流稳定性特征均呈现为先增大后减小的趋势;随着多孔介质结构复杂化,圆柱尾部脱落涡的延迟程度有所降低,但涡的边缘化程度保持相对稳定,且流出多孔介质的流体会再次进入多孔介质,导致涡附着于多孔介质表面。在相同结构条件下,当孔隙率达到0.992时,多孔介质尾部涡的周期性脱落延迟与边缘化程度均达到最大值。以上现象归因于多孔介质内部的小尺度流动,流体在穿越小圆柱时经历多次分离与剪切,特别是在多孔介质尾部流出量较大时,形成的剪切层加厚,从而延长了圆柱尾部涡的脱落过程。此外,随着结构复杂化,流体更倾向于在多孔介质尾部附近流出,这进一步增加了多孔介质上下表面剪切层的厚度。本研究揭示了多孔介质孔隙尺度内流体的流动行为对圆柱绕流的影响规律,可为多孔介质在流动及噪声控制领域的工程应用提供参考。