A new method to construct reservoir capillary pressure curves using NMR log data and its application

By analyzing hundreds of capillary pressure curves, the controlling factors of shape and type of capillary pressure curves are found and a novel method is presented to construct capillary pressure curves by using reservoir permeability and a synthesized index. The accuracy of this new method is verified by mercury-injection experiments. Considering the limited quantity of capillary pressure data, a new method is developed to extract the Swanson parameter from the NMR T2 distribution and estimate reservoir permeability. Integrating with NMR total porosity, reservoir capillary pressure curves can be constructed to evaluate reservoir pore structure in the intervals with NMR log data. An in-situ example of evaluating reservoir pore structure using the capillary pressure curves by this new method is presented. The result shows that it accurately detects the change in reservoir pore structure as a function of depth.

Characterization of reservoir properties and pore structure based on micro-resistivity imaging logging: Porosity spectrum, permeability spectrum, and equivalent capillary pressure curve

According to the capillary theory,an equivalent capillary model of micro-resistivity imaging logging was built.On this basis,the theoretical models of porosity spectrum(Ф_(i)),permeability spectrum(K_(i))and equivalent capillary pressure curve(pe)were established to reflect the reservoir heterogeneity.To promote the application of the theoretical models,the Archie's equation was introduced to establish a general model for quantitatively characterizing bi,K,and pei.Compared with the existing models,it is shown that:(1)the existing porosity spectrum model is the same as the general equation of gi;(2)the Ki model can display the permeability spectrum as compared with Purcell's permeability model;(3)the per model is constructed on a theoretical basis and avoids the limitations of existing models that are built only based on the component of porosity spectrum,as compared with the empirical model of capillary pressure curve.The application in the Permian Maokou Formation of Well TsX in the Central Sichuan paleo-uplift shows that the Ф_(i),K_(i),and p_(ci) models can be effectively applied to the identification of reservoir types,calculation of reservoir properties and pore structure parameters,and evaluation of reservoir heterogeneity.

A New Empirical Method for Constructing Capillary Pressure Curves from Conventional Logs in Low-Permeability Sandstones

Pore structure reflected from capillary pressure curves plays an important role in low-permeability formation evaluation. It is a common way to construct capillary pressure curves by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance（NMR） log. However, the method＇s efficiency will be severely affected if there is no NMR log data or it cannot reflect pore structure well. Therefore, on the basis of J function and diagenetic facies classification, a new empirical model for constructing capillary pressure curves from conventional logs is proposed here as a solution to the problem. This model includes porosity and the relative value of natural gamma rays as independent variables and the saturation of mercury injection as a dependent variable. According to the 51 core experimental data sets of three diagenetic facies from the bottom of the Upper Triassic in the western Ordos Basin, China, the model＇s parameters in each diagenetic facies are calibrated. Both self-checking and extrapolation tests show a positive effect, which demonstrates the high reliability of the proposed capillary pressure curve construction model. Based on the constructed capillary pressure curves, NMR T_2 spectra under fully brine-saturated conditions are mapped by a piecewise power function. A field study is then presented. Agreement can be seen between the mapped NMR T_2 spectra and the MRIL-Plog data in the location of the major peak, right boundary, distribution characteristics and T_2 logarithmic mean value. In addition, the capillary pressure curve construction model proposed in this paper is not affected by special log data or formation condition. It is of great importance in evaluating pore structure, predicting oil production and identifying oil layers through NMR log data in low-permeability sandstones.

Reconstruction and prediction of capillary pressure curve based on Particle Swarm Optimization-Back Propagation Neural Network method

Capillary pressure curve plays a critical role in the reservoir evaluation.It is essential to reconstruct and predict capillary pressure curve properly.Many traditional capillary pressure correlations have been suggested in the literature.However,their major limitation is mainly applicable to homogenous reservoir,and the larger error will be caused when heterogeneous reservoir is dealt by using these mathematical correlations.This study aims at providing an important method based on Particle Swarm Optimization-Back Propagation Neural Network(PSO-BP neural network)to represent and predict capillary pressure curve for homogenous and heterogeneous reservoir.The combination of PSO algorithm and BP neural network converges quickly,which improves the accuracy and efficiency of simulation.In this paper,core samples from three blocks of the same marine-sand reservoir,whose porosity is between 0.6%and 20.0%and permeability is between 0.1mD and 6117mD,are investigated by PSO-BP neural network method and J-Function method respectively.The reconstruction and prediction results are compared with the results obtained by mercury intrusion method in laboratory.The results show that capillary pressure curves reconstructed and predicted by PSO-BP neural network method are in better agreement with mercury intrusion curves than J-Function method,with 0.1%e5%and 5%e8%relative error respectively,which can totally meet the in-situ requirements.It is also demonstrated that PSO-BP neural network method is more suitable for homogenous and heterogeneous reservoir.©2018 Southwest Petroleum University.

A novel Shan and Chen type Lattice Boltzmann two phase method to study the capillary pressure curves of an oil water pair in a porous media

In this study,an immiscible oil-water two phase flow in a typical porous media was modeled using the well-known Lattice Boltzmann method.A set of flow tests for modeling an oil-water two phase flow in the porous media were conducted to generate the capillary pressure curves for two distinctive initial conditions,namely,water and oil dispersed conditions in two domains of different resolutions.Based on the obtained results,the general trend of these curves has an acceptable agreement with the usual trend of these curves in hydrocarbon reservoirs and the capillary data are independent of the initial conditions.Also,the results showed the effect of grid resolution on capillary data which are validated quantitatively by proposing a new approach using Purcell's equation.One can see that they are compatible with the geometrical characteristics of the porous media as well as the conditions governing the tests.Finally,another set of tests for oil water pairs of higher viscosity ratio up to 4.4 was performed in a low porosity heterogeneous porous media and the viscous coupling effect on capillary data,due to viscosity ratio,was studied to strengthen the model validation.

Effects of sample dimensions and shapes on measuring soil-water characteristic curves using pressure plate

It is well known that soilewater characteristic curve （SWCC） plays an important role in unsaturated soil mechanics, but the measurement of SWCC is inconvenient. In laboratory it requires days of testing time. For fine-grained clays, it may last for a couple of months using pressure plate tests. In this study, the effects of sample dimensions and shapes on the balance time of measuring SWCCs using pressure plate tests and the shape of SWCCs are investigated. It can be found that the sample dimensions and shapes have apparent influence on the balance time. The testing durations for circular samples with smaller diameters and annular samples with larger contact area are significantly shortened. However, there is little effect of sample dimensions and shapes on the shape of SWCCs. Its mechanism is explored and discussed in details through analysing the principle of pressure plate tests and microstructure of the sample. Based on the above findings, it is found that the circular samples with smaller dimensions can accelerate the testing duration of SWCC using the pressure plate.

DETERMINATION OF PRESSURIZING CURVE AND COMPUTER CONTROL OF THICKNESS THINNING FOR SUPERPLASTIC BULGING

This paper proposes the assumption that the flow with viscous friction is the stretch of part of the sheet that lies along the walls of a die during the process of superplastic bulging according to superplastic flow equation and geometrical model of bulging of a sheet into a long trapezoid groove or truncated cone, by introducing the friction-factor P which describes the friction effect on the process. Also, the paper proposes the method of controlling thickness nonuniformity and develops the equipment which for uniform thickness of bulging, is automatically controlled with a computerl it also analyzes the important innuence of lubrication on thickness distribution of bulging materials. By the assumption, the relationship between bulging pressure and time is obtained in bulging of a sheet into the groove and cone, and p-t curve of multi-mould-cavity complicated bulging is discussed based on the analysis of single-mould-cavity bulging characteristics.

Study on the hydrogen absorption properties of a YGdTbDyHo rare-earth high-entropy alloy

This study investigated the microstructure and hydrogen absorption properties of a rare-earth high-entropy alloy(HEA),YGdTbDyHo.Results indicated that the YGdTbDyHo alloy had a microstructure of equiaxed grains,with the alloy elements distributed homogeneously.Upon hydrogen absorption,the phase structure of the HEA changed from a solid solution with an hexagonal-close-packed(HCP)structure to a high-entropy hydride with an faced-centered-cubic(FCC)structure without any secondary phase precipitated.The alloy demonstrated a maximum hydrogen storage capacity of 2.33 H/M(hydrogen atom/metal atom)at 723 K,with an enthalpy change(ΔH)of-141.09 kJ·mol^(-1)and an entropy change(ΔS)of-119.14 J·mol^(-1)·K^(-1).The kinetic mechanism of hydrogen absorption was hydride nucleation and growth,with an apparent activation energy(E_(a))of 20.90 kJ·mol^(-1).Without any activation,the YGdTbDyHo alloy could absorb hydrogen quickly(180 s at 923 K)with nearly no incubation period observed.The reason for the obtained value of 2.33 H/M was that the hydrogen atoms occupied both tetrahedral and octahedral interstices.These results demonstrate the potential application of HEAs as a high-capacity hydrogen storage material with a large H/M ratio,which can be used in the deuterium storage field.

Establishment and application of logging saturation interpretation equation in vuggy reservoirs

Vuggy reservoirs are the most common, albeit important heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs in China. However, saturation calculations using logging data are not well developed, whereas Archie method is more common. In this study, electrical conduction in a vuggy reservoir is theoretically analyzed to establish a new saturation equation for vuggy reservoirs. We found that vugs have a greater effect on saturation than resistivity, which causes inflection in the rock-electricity curve. Using single-variable exPeriments, we evaluated the effects of rug size, vug number, and vug distribution on the rock-electricity relation. Based on the general saturation model, a saturation equation for vuggy reservoirs is derived, and the physical significance of the equation parameters is discussed based on the seepage-electricity similarity. The equation parameters depend on the pore structure, and vugs and matrix pore size distribution. Furthermore, a method for calculating the equation parameters is proposed, which uses nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） data to calculate the capillary pressure curve. Field application of the proposed equation and parameter derivation method shows good match between calculated and experimental results, with an average absolute error of 5.8%.

Stability of rat models of fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury: comparison of three different impact forces

Fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury models have been widely used in experimental research for years. In an experiment, the stability of impaction is inevitably affected by factors such as the appearance of liquid spikes. Management of impact pressure is a crucial factor that determines the stability of these models, and direction of impact control is another basic element. To improve experimental stability, we calculated a pressure curve by generating repeated impacts using a fluid percussion device at different pendulum angles. A stereotactic frame was used to control the direction of impact. We produced stable and reproducible models, including mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury, using the MODEL01-B device at pendulum angles of 6°, 11° and 13°, with corresponding impact force values of 1.0 ± 0.11 atm（101.32 ± 11.16 k Pa）, 2.6 ± 0.16 atm（263.44 ± 16.21 k Pa）, and 3.6 ± 0.16 atm（364.77 ± 16.21 k Pa）, respectively. Behavioral tests, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that models for different degrees of injury were consistent with the clinical properties of mild, moderate, and severe craniocerebral injuries. Using this method, we established fluid percussion models for different degrees of injury and stabilized pathological features based on precise power and direction control.

Pore-throat Structure of Tight Sandstone in Yanchang Formation of Huangling Mining Area Based on Scanning Electron Microscopy and Mercury Porosimmetry

Based on scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimmetry,a large number of experimental data of pores and pore throats of tight sandstone reservoirs are obtained,and the characteristics of pore types,capillary pressure curves and quantitative parameters of pore throats of Yanchang Formation in Huangling mining area are studied.The results show that the main reservoir space types of Yanchang Formation sandstone are primary intergranular pores and feldspar dissolution pores.The pore-throat structure is medium-small pore and thin-small throat type,and the sorting is good to medium.The mercury porosimmetry curve shows a slightly coarse-thin skew.Combining the morphological characteristics of the mercury porosimmetry capillary pressure curve and the quantitative parameter characteristics of pore throats,the Yanchang Formation s micro pore structure is divided into types I,II,III,and IV.Tight oil reservoirs with type I and II pore structure characteristics are favorable.This study has reference significance for the later evaluation of tight sandstone reservoirs in Huangling mining area.

An Algorithm to Determine the Truncated Weibull Parameters for Distribution of Throats and Pores in Random Network Models

In random network models, sizes for pores and throats are distributed according to a truncated Weibull distribution. As a result, parameters defining the shape of the distribution are critical for the characteristic of the network. In this paper, an algorithm to distribute pores and throats in random network was established to more representatively describe the topology of porous media. First, relations between Weibull parameters and the distribution of dimensionless throat sizes were studied and a series of standard curves were obtained. Then, by analyzing the capillary pressure curve of the core sample, frequency distribution histogram of throat sizes was obtained. All the sizes were transformed to dimensionless numbers ranged from 0 to 1. Curves of the core were compared to the standard curves, and truncated Weibull parameters could be determined according an inverse algorithm. Finally, aspect ratio and average length of throats were adjusted to simultaneously fit the porosity and the capillary pressure curves and the whole network was established. The predicted relative permeability curves were in good agreement with the experimental data of cores, indicating the validity of the algorithm.

Rate decline analysis of multiple fractured horizontal well in shale reservoir with triple continuum

Multiple fractured horizontal well(MFHW) is widely applied in the development of shale gas. To investigate the gas flow characteristics in shale, based on a new dual mechanism triple continuum model, an analytical solution for MFHW surrounded by stimulated reservoir volume(SRV) was presented. Pressure and pressure derivative curves were used to identify the characteristics of flow regimes in shale. Blasingame type curves were established to evaluate the effects of sensitive parameters on rate decline curves, which indicates that the whole flow regimes could be divided into transient flow, feeding flow, and pseudo steady state flow. In feeding flow regime, the production of gas well is gradually fed by adsorbed gases in sub matrix, and free gases in matrix. The proportion of different gas sources to well production is determined by such parameters as storability ratios of triple continuum, transmissibility coefficients controlled by dual flow mechanism and fracture conductivity.

Density measurement through elastic electron scattering with a gaseous target at the Jefferson Lab

We report the density measurement through e-3He elastic scattering with a 1.23 GeV electron beam in Jefferson Lab experiment E06-010. The extracted 3He density is （9.26±0.06） amagats and the N2/3He ratio is （1.49±0.08）%. In addition, these results are consistent with the deduced target densities based on pressure broadening measurement.