Characterization and prevention of formation damage for fractured carbonate reservoir formations with low permeability

Stress sensitivity and water blocking in fractured carbonate reservoir formations with low permeability were determined as the main potential damage mechanisms during drilling and completion operations in the ancient buried hill Ordovician reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. Geological structure, lithology, porosity, permeability and mineral components all affect the potential for formation damage. The experimental results showed that the permeability loss was 83.8%-98.6% caused by stress sensitivity, and was 27.9%-48.1% caused by water blocking. Based on the experimental results, several main conclusions concerning stress sensitivity can be drawn as follows： the lower the core permeability and the smaller the core fracture width, the higher the stress sensitivity. Also, stress sensitivity results in lag effect for both permeability recovery and fracture closure. Aimed at the mechanisms of formation damage, a modified low-damage mixed metal hydroxide （MMH） drilling fluid system was developed, which was mainly composed of low-fluorescence shale control agent, filtration control agent, lowfluorescence lubricant and surfactant. The results of experimental evaluation and field test showed that the newly-developed drilling fluid and engineering techniques provided could dramatically increase the return permeability （over 85%） of core samples. This drilling fluid had such advantages as good rheological and lubricating properties, high temperature stability, and low filtration rate （API filtration less than 5 ml after aging at 120 ℃ for 4 hours）. Therefore, fractured carbonate formations with low permeability could be protected effectively when drilling with the newly-developed drilling fluid. Meanwhile, field test showed that both penetration rate and bore stability were improved and the soaking time of the drilling fluid with formation was sharply shortened, indicating that the modified MMH drilling fluid could meet the requirements of drilling engineering and geology.

New Insights into the Depositional Environments of Ordovician Carbonate Formations in the Yubei Area of Tarim Basin Based on Standard Microfacies Types

Objective The Yubei area is located in the mid-east Maigaiti slope of southwestern Tarim Basin, China, with an exploration history of several years. Recent exploration has preliminarily indicated that the Ordovician carbonate formations in this area have some oil and gas potential. Carbonate microfacies provides material basis for reservoir development, seal formation and hydrocarbon generation. Therefore, this work utilized the standard microfacies （SMF） types to study the microfacies of the Ordovician formations in the Yubei area in order to provide theoretical basis for the next exploration.

Diagenesis and Restructuring Mechanism of Oil and Gas Reservoir in the Marine Carbonate Formation,Northeastern Sichuan:A Case Study of the Puguang Gas Reservoir

Based on the technology of balanced cross-section and physical simulation experiments associated with natural gas geochemical characteristic analyses, core and thin section observations, it has been proven that the Puguang gas reservoir has experienced two periods of diagenesis and restructuring since the Late Indo-Chinese epoch. One is the fluid transfer controlled by the tectonic movement and the other is geochemical reconstruction controlled by thermochemical sulfate reduction （TSR）. The middle Yanshan epoch was the main period that the Puguang gas reservoir experienced the geochemical reaction of TSR. TSR can recreate the fluid in the gas reservoir, which makes the gas drying index higher and carbon isotope heavier because C2＋ （ethane and heavy hydrocarbon） and 12C （carbon 12 isotope） is first consumed relative to CH4 and 13C （carbon 13 isotope）. However, the reciprocity between fluid regarding TSR （hydrocarbon, sulfureted hydrogen （H2S）, and water） and reservoir rock results in reservoir rock erosion and anhydrite alteration, which increases porosity in reservoir, thereby improving the petrophysical properties. Superimposed by later tectonic movement, the fluid in Puguang reservoir has twice experienced adjustment, one in the late Yanshan epoch to the early Himalayan epoch and the other time in late Himalayan epoch, after which Puguang gas reservoir is finally developed.

Effects of cooling rate and Al on MnS formation in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steels

The effect of Al on the morphology of MnS in medium-carbon non-quenched and tempered steel was investigated at three different cooling rates of 0.24, 0.43, and 200°C·s^-1. The formation mechanisms of three types of MnS were elucidated based on phase diagram information combined with crystal growth models. The morphology of MnS is governed by the precipitation mode and the growth conditions. A monotectic reaction and subsequent fast solidification lead to globular Type I MnS. Type II MnS inclusions with different morphological characteristics form as a result of a eutectic reaction followed by the growth in the Fe matrix. Type III MnS presents a divorced eutectic morphology. At the cooling rate of 0.24°C·s^-1, the precipitation of dispersed Type III MnS is significantly enhanced by the addition of 0.044wt% acid-soluble Al（Als）, while Type II MnS clusters prefer to form in steels with either 0.034wt% or 0.052wt% Als. At the relatively higher cooling rates of 200°C·s^-1 and 0.43°C·s^-1, the formation of Type I and Type II MnS inclusions is promoted, and the influence of Al is negligible. The results of this work are expected to be employed in practice to improve the mechanical properties of non-quenched and tempered steels.

Monte Carlo simulation for pulsed neutron-neutron logging in fractured and cavernous carbonate formation

The influence of carbonate formation on Pulsed Neutron logging(such as Pulsed Neutron-Neutron logging)is quite different from that of sandstone due to the complexity of reservoir architecture and the development of fracture in carbonate reservoir.To study the factors affecting Pulsed Neutron-Neutron(PNN)logging in carbonate formation,the responses on fracture or cave are simulated by Monte Carlo method,getting the relationships among the macroscopic capture cross section(Σ),the count ratio of the thermal neutron at far spacing and near spacing detectors(RATIO),the fracture porosity,oil-bearing and shale content of fracture.The results show that PNN logging can be used to detect caves,and there exist linear relationships among the macroscopic capture cross section(Σ),the count ratio(RATIO)and the above factors.The research findings in this paper provides theoretical basis for the interpretation and data correction of the PNN logging in carbonate reservoirs.

The Formation of Ethane from Carbon Dioxide under Cold Plasma

Pulsed-corona plasma has been used as a new method for ethane dehydrogenation at low temperature and normal pressure using carbon dioxide as an oxidant in this paper. The effect of carbon dioxide content in the feed, power input, and flow rate of the reactants on the ethane dehydrogenation has been investigated. The experimental results show that the conversion of ethane increases with the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the feed. The yield of ethylene and acetylene decreases with the increase in the yield of carbon monoxide, indicating that the increased carbon dioxide leads to the part of ethylene and acetylene being oxidized to carbon monoxide. Power input is primarily an electrical parameter in pulsed-corona plasma, which plays an important role in reactant conversion and product formation. When the power input reaches 16 W, ethane conversion is 41.0% and carbon dioxide conversion is 26.3%. The total yield of ethylene and acetylene is 15.6%. The reduced flow rate of feed improves the conversion of ethane, carbon dioxide and the yield of acetylene, and induces carbon deposit as well.

Facies analysis and depositional environments of the OligoceneeMiocene Asmari Formation, Zagros Basin, Iran

The Asmari Formation （a giant hydrocarbon reservoir） is a thick carbonate sequence of the Oligocene Miocene in the Zagros Basin, southwest of h＇an. This formation is exposed at Tang-e-Lendeh in the Fars interior zone with a thickness of 190 m comprising medium and thick to massive bedded carbonates. The age of the Asmari Formation in the study area is the late Oligocene （Chattian）-early Miocene （Burdigalian）. Ten microfacies are defined, characterizing a gradual shallowing upward trend; the related environments are as follows： open marine （MF 8-10）, restricted lagoon （MF 6-7）, shoal （MF 3 5）, lagoon （MF 2）, and tidal fiat （MF 1 ）. Based on the environmental interpretations, a homoclinal ramp consisting of inner and middle parts prevails. MF 3-7 are characterized by the occmrence of large and small porcelaneous benthic foraminifera representing a shallow-water setting of an inner ramp, influenced by wave and tidal pro- cesses. MF 8-10, with large particles of coral and algae, represent a deeper fair weather wave base of a middle ramp setting.

Selective synthesis of carbon monoxide via formates in reverse water–gas shift reaction over alumina-supported gold catalyst

Thermal decomposition of formic acid on SiO2, CeO2 and γ-Al2O3 was studied as an elementary step of reverse water–gas shit reaction（RWGS） over supported Au catalysts. γ-Al2O3 showed the highest CO selectivity among the tested oxides in the decomposition of formic acid. Infrared spectroscopy showed the formation of four formate species on γ-Al2O3： three η~1-type and one μ~2-type species, and these formates decomposed to CO at 473 K or higher. Au-loaded γ-Al2O3 samples were prepared by a depositionprecipitation method and used as catalysts for RWGS. The supported Au catalyst gave CO with high selectivity over 99% from CO2 and H2, which is attributed to the formation of formates on Au and subsequent decomposition to CO on γ-Al2O3.

Optimization of gas lift system for well performance improvement in Asmari formation:A techno-economic perspective

Well productivity in the Asmari carbonate formation of southwest Iran has decreased in recent years as a result of production issues.The production rate must be maintained below 1500 STB/day to prevent water coning.In this study,a gas lift well is modeled using data from one of the producing wells of this field.Nodal analysis is performed using lift-gas injection rates and wellhead pressures at different reservoir pressures and water cut conditions to optimize production.Economic aspects are considered to optimize the artificial gas injection rates at different tubing head pressures and water cut conditions.Increasing the lift-gas injection rate from 0.4 MMscf/day to 1 MMscf/day enhances the oil production rate by 37.71%and 43.89%for 10%and 30%water cut conditions,respectively.Gas injection rates of 5.2 MMscf/day and 5.4 MMscf/day are determined to be economically optimal for 30%water cut with tubing head pressures of 260 psig and 270 psig,respectively.

Numerical analysis of the hydraulic fracture communication modes in fracture-cavity reservoirs

The fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs in the Tahe Oilfield in China are mainly exploited by fracturing.We need the hydraulic fractures to communicate with caves to create a flow channel.However,due to the existence of the fracture-cavity systems,the hydraulic fracture propagation morphology is complicated,while the propagation characteristics are not clear.To analyze the hydraulic fracture propagation in fracture-cavity carbonate formations,based on the discontinuous discrete fracture model,we developed a solid-seepage-freeflow coupled fracturing model for fracture-cavity formations,which can simulate the complex interaction behavior of fractures and caves.Based on the simulation results,we found the interaction rule between hydraulic fractures and fracture-cavity systems:the stress concentration around caves is the main factor that determines the fracture propagation path.Deflection due to stress concentration is usually not conducive to communication,while natural fractures distributed around caves could break the rejection action.Increasing the hydraulic energy in the hydraulic fracture can make fracture propagate directly and reduce the influence of deflection.The steering fracture formed by temporary plugging is beneficial to the communication of fracture-cavity systems in the non-principal stress direction.According to the simulation results of different fracture-cavity characteristics,we raised four optimization communication modes for fracture-cavity carbonate formation to provide references for fracturing optimization design and parameter optimization.

Beijing’s Underground Wonder World of Eternal Spring

IF you are keen on spelaeology(the study of caves and other karst features),you will doubtless have heard of a cave in southwest Beijing known as Shihuadong.The so-called"Subterranean Pearl of Beijing"is well worth a visit even for those of us who are unfamiliar with this pursuit.