Production prediction for fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs using electric imaging logging data

Considering the fluid flow non-darcy characteristics in fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs, a new multi-scale conduit flow model production prediction method for fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs was presented using image segmentation technique of electric imaging logging data. Firstly, based on Hagen-Poiseuille's law of incompressible fluid flow and the different cross-sectional areas in single fractures and vugs in carbonate reservoirs, a multi-scale conduit flow model for fracture-vug carbonate reservoir was established, and a multi-scale conduit radial fluid flow equation was deduced. Then, conduit flow production index was introduced. The conduit flow production index was calculated using fracture-vug area extracted from the result of electrical image segmentation. Finally, production prediction of fracture-vug carbonate reservoir was realized by using electric imaging logging data. The method has been applied to Ordovician fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs in the Tabei area, and the predicted results are in good agreement with the oil testing data.

Practice and theoretical and technical progress in exploration and development of Shunbei ultra-deep carbonate oil and gas field,Tarim Basin,NW China

In this review on the exploration and development process of the Shunbei ultra-deep carbonate oil and gas field in the Tarim Basin, the progress of exploration and development technologies during the National 13th Five-Year Plan of China has been summarized systematically, giving important guidance for the exploration and development of ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoirs in China and abroad. Through analyzing the primary geological factors of “hydrocarbon generation-reservoir formation-hydrocarbon accumulation” of ancient and superposed basin comprehensively and dynamically, we point out that because the Lower Cambrian Yuertusi Formation high-quality source rocks have been located in a low-temperature environment for a long time, they were capable of generating hydrocarbon continuously in late stage, providing ideal geological conditions for massive liquid hydrocarbon accumulation in ultra-deep layers. In addition, strike-slip faults developed in tectonically stable areas have strong control on reservoir formation and hydrocarbon accumulation in this region. With these understandings, the exploration focus shifted from the two paleo-uplifts located in the north and the south to the Shuntuoguole lower uplift located in between and achieved major hydrocarbon discoveries. Through continuing improvement of seismic exploration technologies for ultra-deep carbonates in desert, integrated technologies including seismic acquisition in ultra-deep carbonates,seismic imaging of strike-slip faults and the associated cavity-fracture systems, detailed structural interpretation of strike-slip faults, characterization and quantitative description of fault-controlled cavities and fractures, description of fault-controlled traps and target optimization have been established. Geology-engineering integration including well trajectory optimization,high efficiency drilling, completion and reservoir reformation technologies has provided important support for exploration and development of the Shunbei oil and gas field.

“Second quantitative characterization”and its application in fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs

The Ordovician fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs of Tarim Basin,are featured by developed vugs,caves and fractures.The strong heterogeneity results in huge uncertainty when these reservoirs are quantitatively characterized using merely static seismic data.The effective quantitative characterization of the reservoirs has been an urgent problem to be solved.This study creatively proposes the"second quantitative characterization"technique with the combination of dynamic and static data based on the primary static quantitative characterization and fully considering lots of key influence factors when conducting characterization.In this technique,dynamic analysis methods such as well testing,production rate transient analysis,dynamic reserve evaluation and dynamic connectivity evaluation are used to get understandings on this kind of reservoir.These understandings are used as statistical parameters to constrain the inversion of seismic wave impedance to improve the relationship between wave impedance and porosity and determine the fracture-vug morphology,calculate dynamic reserves,and then a more accurate fracture-vugmodel can be selected and used to calculate the oil-water contact inversely based on the results of"second quantitative characterization".This method can lower the uncertainties in the primary quantitative characterization of fracture-vug reservoirs,enhance the accuracy of characterization results significantly,and has achieved good application results in the fracture-vug carbonate reservoirs of Tarim Basin.

Permeability analysis of fractured vuggy porous media based on homogenization theory

Based on the characteristics of fractured vuggy porous media,a novel mathematical model was proposed to model fluid flow in such media on fine scale,i.e.,the discrete fracture-vug network model.The new model consists of three systems:porous rock system,fracture system,and vug system.The fractures and vugs are embedded in porous rock,and the isolated vugs could be connected via the discrete fracture network.The flow in porous rock and fractures follows Darcy's law,and the vugs system is free fluid region.Using a two-scale homogenization limit theory,we obtained a macroscopic Darcy's law governing the media on coarse scale.The theoretical formula of the equivalent permeability of the fractured vuggy porous media was derived.The model and method of this paper were verified by some numerical examples.At the end the permeability of some fractured vuggy porous media with typical fracture-vug structures was analyzed.

An Efficient Numerical Model for Immiscible Two-Phase Flow in Fractured Karst Reservoirs

Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in fractured karst reservoirs is still a challenging issue.The triple-porosity model is the major approach up to now.However,the triple-continuum assumption in this model is unacceptable for many cases.In the present work,an efficient numerical model has been developed for immiscible two-phase flowin fractured karst reservoirs based on the idea of equivalent continuum representation.First,based on the discrete fracture-vug model and homogenization theory,the effective absolute permeability tensors for each grid blocks are calculated.And then an analytical procedure to obtain a pseudo relative permeability curves for a grid block containing fractures and cavities has been successfully implemented.Next,a full-tensor simulator has been designed based on a hybrid numerical method(combining mixed finite element method and finite volume method).A simple fracture system has been used to demonstrate the validity of our method.At last,we have used the fracture and cavity statistics data fromTAHE outcrops in west China,effective permeability values and other parameters from our code,and an equivalent continuum simulator to calculate the water flooding profiles for more realistic systems.