Fractal model of spontaneous imbibition in low-permeability reservoirs coupled with heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and threshold pressure

Spontaneous imbibition(SI)is an important mechanism for enhancing oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs.Due to the strong heterogeneity,and the non-Darcy flow,the construction of SI model for lowpermeability reservoirs is extremely challenging.Commonly,traditional SI models based on single or averaged capillary tortuosity ignore the influence of heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and the threshold pressure(TP)on imbibition.Therefore,in this work,based on capillary model and fractal theory,a mathematical model of characterizing SI considering heterogeneity of pore seepage channels is established.On this basis,the threshold pressure was introduced to determine the pore radius at which the wetted phase can displace oil.The proposed new SI model was verified by imbibition experimental data.The study shows that for weakly heterogeneous cores with permeability of 0-1 m D,the traditional SI model can characterize the imbibition process relatively accurately,and the new imbibition model can increase the coefficient of determination by 1.05 times.However,traditional model has serious deviations in predicting the imbibition recovery for cores with permeability of 10-50 m D.The new SI model coupling with heterogeneity of pore seepage channels and threshold pressure effectively solves this problem,and the determination coefficient is increased from 0.344 to 0.922,which is increased by2.68 times.For low-permeability reservoirs,the production of the oil in transitional pores(0.01-0.1μm)and mesopores(0.1-1μm)significantly affects the imbibition recovery,as the research shows that when the heterogeneity of pore seepage channels is ignored,the oil recovery in transitional pores and mesopores decreases by 7.54%and 4.26%,respectively.Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing interfacial tension,decreasing contact angle,oil-water viscosity ratio and threshold pressure will increase imbibition recovery.In addition,there are critical values for the influence of these factors on the imbibition recovery,which provides theoretical support for surfactant optimization.

Turbidite Dynamics and Hydrocarbon Reservoir Formation in the Tano Basin: A Coastal West African Perspective

This study examines the turbidite dynamics and hydrocarbon reservoir formation in Ghana’s Tano Basin, which is located in coastal West Africa. Through an exploration of geological processes spanning millions of years, we uncover key factors shaping hydrocarbon accumulation, including source rock richness, temperature, pressure, and geological structures. The research offers valuable insights applicable to exploration, management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa. It facilitates the identification of exploration targets with higher hydrocarbon potential, enables the anticipation of reservoir potential within the Tano Basin, and assists in tailoring exploration and management strategies to specific geological conditions of the Tano Basin. Analysis of fluvial channels sheds light on their impact on landscape formation and hydrocarbon exploration. The investigation into turbidite systems unveils intricate interactions involving tectonics, sea-level fluctuations, and sedimentation patterns, influencing the development of reservoirs. An understanding of sediment transport and depositional settings is essential for efficient reservoir management. Geomorphological features, such as channels, submarine canyons, and distinct channel types, are essential in this situation. A detailed examination of turbidite channel structures, encompassing canyons, channel complexes, convex channels, and U-shaped channels, provides valuable insights and aids in identifying exploration targets like basal lag, channel levees, and lobes. These findings underscore the enduring significance of turbidite systems as conduits for sediment transport, contributing to enhanced reservoir management and efficient hydrocarbon production. The study also highlights how important it is to examine the configuration of sedimentary layers, stacking patterns, and angular laminated facies to identify turbidites, understand reservoir distribution, and improve well design. The dynamic nature of turbidite systems, influenced by basin characteristics such as shape and slope, is highlighted. The research provides valuable insights essential for successful hydrocarbon exploration, reservoir management, and sustainable resource exploitation in coastal West Africa.

Surface-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals(CNC)and synergisms with surfactant for enhanced oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs

Nanocellulose,a natural polymeric nanomaterial,has attracted significant attention in enhanced oil recovery(EOR)applications due to its abundance,nanoscale,high oil-water interfacial adsorption ef-ficiency.In this study,surface-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals(SF-CNCs)were prepared via hy-drochloric acid hydrolysis and chemical modification,with adaptable nanosize and considerable dispersion stability in low-permeability reservoirs.The SF-CNCs were structurally characterized by FT-IR,Cryo-TEM,which have a diameter of 5-10 nm and a length of 100-200 nm.The SF-CNC dispersions possessed higher stability and stronger salt-tolerance than those of corresponding CNC dispersions,due to the strong hydrophilicity of the sulfonic acid group.It was synergistically used with a non-ionic surfactant(APG1214)to formulate a combined flooding system(0.1 wt%SF-CNC+0.2 wt%APG1214).The combined flooding system exhibits strong emulsification stability,low oil-water interfacial tension of o.03 mN/m,and the ability to alter the wettability for oil-wetting rocks.Furthermore,the combined system was_able to provide an optimum EOR efficiency of 20.2%in low-permeability cores with 30.13×10^(-3)μm^(2).Notably.it can enlarge the sweep volume and increase the displacement efficiency simultaneously.Overall,the newly formulated nanocellulose/surfactant combined system exhibits a remarkable EoR performance in low-permeability reservoirs.

Genesis of the low-permeability reservoir bed of upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Xinchang gas field,western Sichuan Depression

The genesis of a reservoir is a result of the combined action of deposition, diagenesis, tectonic reworking, and interaction of rock and fluid and the evolutionary environment. We discuss the genetic and evolution mechanism of a low-permeability reservoir bed of the Xujiahe Formation in the western Sichuan Depression on the basis of the study of diagenesis, diagenetic reservoir facies and the diagenetic evolution sequence. The research indicated that this reservoir bed can be divided into five types of diagenetic reservoir facies, namely strong dissolution, chlorite-lined intergranular pores, compaction and pressure solution, carbonate cementation and secondary quartz increase. There are, however, just two diagenetic reservoir facies which provide low-permeability reservoir beds, namely strong dissolution and chlorite-lined intergranular pores. We also analyzed their diagenetic evolution sequences and the origin of the low-permeability reservoir bed. Besides, it was also indicated that the composition and structure of sandstones, types of sedimentary microfacies, diagenesis history as well as the tectonic reworking in later periods are the main factors controlling the formation of the low-permeability reservoir bed. The above- mentioned factors establish the foundation for the forecasting the distribution of high quality reservoir beds.

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field, and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic, it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field, for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW.SE, the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults, because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous, in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction, the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults, thus, fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction, stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places, especially at the end of the NE-SE faults, the cross positions of NE-SW, and S-N faults. Therefore, fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults, the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction, the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state, the best connectivity, the widest aperture, the highest permeability, and the minimum opening pressure.

A Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Low-permeability Reservoirs

According to the geological characteristics and their influential factors of the low-permeability reservoirs, a comprehensive method for evaluation of low-permeability reservoirs is put forward. The method takes a matrix system as the basis, a fracture system as the focus and a stress field system as the restricted factor. It can objectively reflect not only the storage capability and seepage capability of low-permeability reservoirs, but also the effect on development as well. At the same time, it can predict the seepage characteristics at different development stages and provide a reasonable geological basis for the development of low-permeability reservoirs.

Permeability and heterogeneity adaptability of surfactant-alternating-gas foam for recovering oil from low-permeability reservoirs

As the traditional polymer stabilizer is eliminated to improve the injectability of foam in lowpermeability reservoirs,the stability,plugging capacity,conformance control and oil recovery performance of the surfactant-alternating-gas(SAG)foam become significantly important for determining its adaptability to permeability and heterogeneity,which were focused and experimentally researched in this paper.Results show that the SAG bubbles are highly stable in micron-sized channels and porous media(than in the conventional unconstrained graduated cylinder),making it possible to use in enhanced oil recovery(EOR).Such bubbles formed in porous media could be passively adjusted to match their diameter with the size of the pore.This endows the SAG foam with underlying excellent injectability and deep migration capacity.Permeability adaptability results indicate a reduced plugging capacity,but,increased incremental oil recovery by the SAG foam with decreased permeability.This makes it a good candidate for EOR over a wide range of permeability,however,parallel core floods demonstrate that there is a limiting heterogeneity for SAG application,which is determined to be a permeability contrast of 12.0(for a reservoir containing oil of 9.9 m Pa s).Beyond this limit,the foam would become ineffective.

Experimental study of low-damage drilling fluid to minimize waterblocking of low-permeability gas reservoirs

This paper discusses the systematic design and development of low-damage drilling fluid to protect the low-permeability gas reservoir of the Sulige block in the Ordos Basin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Based on investigation of the geological characteristics and the potential formation damage of the Permian formation of the reservoir, waterblocking due to invasion of drilling or completion fluids was identified one of the most severe causes of damage to gas well deliverability. By adopting the phase trap prevention method, ideal packing theory, and film-forming technology, a lowdamage drilling fluid, sodium formate brine containing efficient waterblocking preventing surfactants, optimized temporary bridging agents （TBAs）, and film-forming agents has been developed. The performance of the new drilling fluid was evaluated by using a variety of techniques. The results show that the fluid has good rheological properties, good strong shale-swelling inhibition, good temporary plugging effect, ultra-low filtration, and good lubricity. It can efficiently minimize waterblocking and can be used to drill horizontal wells with minimal intervention of the reservoir in the Sulige Gas Field.

Characteristics and mechanisms of supercritical CO_(2) flooding under different factors in low-permeability reservoirs

In recent years,supercritical CO_(2)flooding has become an effective method for developing lowpermeability reservoirs.In supercritical CO_(2)flooding different factors influence the mechanism of its displacement process for oil recovery.Asynchronous injection-production modes can use supercritical CO_(2)to enhance oil recovery but may also worsen the injection capacity.Cores with high permeability have higher oil recovery rates and better injection capacity,however,gas channeling occurs.Supercritical CO_(2)flooding has a higher oil recovery at high pressure levels,which delays the occurrence of gas channeling.Conversely,gas injection has lower displacement efficiency but better injection capacity at the high water cut stage.This study analyzes the displacement characteristics of supercritical CO_(2)flooding with a series of experiments under different injection and production parameters.Experimental results show that the gas breakthrough stage has the fastest oil production and the supercritical CO_(2)injection capacity variation tendency is closely related to the gas-oil ratio.Further experiments show that higher injection rates represent significant ultimate oil recovery and injection index,providing a good reference for developing low-permeability reservoirs.

SENSITIVITY COEFFICIENTS OF SINGLE-PHASE FLOW IN LOW-PERMEABILITY HETEROGENEOUS RESERVOIRS

Theoretical equations for computing sensitivity coefficients of wellbore pressures to estimate the reservoir parameters in low-permeability reservoirs conditioning to non-Darcy flow data at low velocity were obtained. It is shown by a lot of numerical calculations that the wellbore pressures are much more sensitive to permeability very near the well than to permeability a few gridblocks away from the well. When an initial pressure gradient existent sensitivity coefficients in the region are closer to the active well than to the observation well. Sensitivity coefficients of observation well at the line between the active well and the observation well are influenced greatly by the initial pressure gradient.

A Method for Identifying Channeling Paths in Low-Permeability Fractured Reservoirs

Often oilfield fractured horizontal wells produce water flowing in multiple directions.In this study,a method to identify such channeling paths is developed.The dual-medium model is based on the principle of inter-well connectivity and considers the flow characteristics and related channeling terms.The Lorentz curve is drawn to qualitatively discern the geological type of the low-permeability fractured reservoir and determine the channeling direction and size.The practical application of such an approach to a sample oilfield shows that it can accurately identify the channeling paths of the considered low-permeability fractured reservoir and predict production performances according to the inter-well connectivity model.As a result,early detection of water channeling becomes possible,paving the way to real-time production system optimization in low-permeability fractured reservoirs.

A new method of building permeability model in low-permeability reservoir numerical simulation

Aiming at solving the problem that big differ-ence exists between logging permeability and true permeability of micro-fractured low-permeability sand reservoir, this paper puts forward a new method to revise logging per-meability by using primiparity data of oil field. This method has been successfully applied to revise logging permeability of micro-fractured low-permeability sand reservoir in Baiyushan area of Jing’An oil field, which shows that the method is reliable because the geological model building through the permeability which has been handled by this method accords with the real reservoir significantly.

Study of the Seepage Mechanism in Thick Heterogeneous Gas Reservoirs

The seepage mechanism plays a crucial role in low-permeability gas reservoirs.Compared with conventional gas reservoirs,low-permeability sandstone gas reservoirs are characterized by low porosity,low permeability,strong heterogeneity,and high water saturation.Moreover,their percolation mechanisms are more complex.The present work describes a series of experiments conducted considering low-permeability sandstone cores under pressuredepletion conditions(from the Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Basin).It is shown that the threshold pressure gradient of a low-permeability gas reservoir in thick layers is positively correlated with water saturation and negatively correlated with permeability and porosity.The reservoir stress sensitivity is related to permeability and rock composition.Stress sensitivity is generally low when permeability is high or in the early stage of gas reservoir development.It is also shown that in sand conglomerates,especially the more sparsely filled parts,the interstitial materials among the conglomerates can be rapidly dislodged from the skeleton particles under stress.This material can therefore disperse,migrate,and block the pore throat producing serious,stress-sensitive damage.

浊积岩油藏优势渗流通道精准识别——以胜利油区牛庄洼陷牛20区块为例

针对浊积砂岩油藏牛庄洼陷牛20区块平面水驱不均衡、边部供液不足与核部油井暴性水淹共存的开发状况,围绕浊积岩地质油藏特征,微观上通过三维数字岩心模拟,刻画不同微相微观孔喉结构约束下的优势渗流特征;宏观上基于浊积岩剩余油精细刻画,分级识别优势渗流流线。研究表明,动静态深入结合分析,明确了牛20区块优势渗流通道主要分布在核部微相,采用多技术手段联合识别优势渗流通道,结果与开发动态符合率达85%以上,可精准有效识别各层段的优势渗流通道,提高后续措施挖潜的针对性。研究成果为浊积岩油藏高含水期实现均衡驱替提高采收率奠定基础,对于低渗油藏高含水期效益开发具有重要意义。

低渗透油藏地质工程一体化高效建产--以东营凹陷N25区块为例

东营凹陷低渗透油藏分布散、埋藏深、品位低,开发过程中注不进、采不出矛盾突出,效益建产面临单井产能低、自然递减大、采收率低等问题,高效开发难度大。以东营凹陷牛庄洼陷沙三段中亚段N25-42A低渗透浊积砂岩油藏为例,通过实施以储层精细刻画、复杂缝网压裂改造储层、正向压驱注水补能、钻井与地面工程优化设计施工为核心的地质工程一体化建产方案,有效提高地质甜点刻画精度,大幅缩短钻井周期,形成复杂缝网提高波及体积,快速补充地层能量,改善驱油效果。N25区块实施地质工程一体化建产方案后,平均单井产油量增加0.6倍,单井控制可采储量增加6倍,实现少井高产,投资大幅缩减。实践证明,地质工程一体化开发技术对于提升断陷盆地低渗透油藏的动用率、推动低品质油藏的产能建设具有一定应用价值和参考意义。

浊积岩反演储层预测技术——以东营凹陷滨县凸起为例

浊积岩油藏作为一种典型的岩性油气藏,具有良好的勘探开发前景。本文以滨县凸起东坡沙三段浊积岩为例,针对东营凹陷浊积岩油气藏“埋藏深、个体小、厚度薄和含灰质”等特点,对其形成条件、地质沉积特征进行了深入剖析,重点介绍了针对浊积岩油藏的储层预测描述方法、技术,使用多参数联合岩性识别技术有效区分浊积砂岩与含灰质砂岩、灰质泥岩;另外,研究设计基于深度学习孔隙度物性预测方法,有效开展浊积岩储层预测。该技术在东营凹陷滨县凸起地区的应用中取得良好效果。部分目标经钻井证实,结果预测吻合率达86%,对滨县地区及其他地区浊积岩砂岩储层预测具有借鉴及参考意义。

Microscopic characterization and formation mechanisms of deep-water sandy-debris-flow and turbidity-current sandstones in a lacustrine basin： a case study in the Yanchang Formation of the Ordos Basin, China

Deep-water deposition is a current issue in sedimentological research. Sandy-debris-flow sandstones and turbidity-current sandstones are the main types of sandstone that are the focus of considerable disputes in this research. Previous studies mainly focused on description of the macroscopic sedimentary structure and theoretical derivation of the formation mechanisms. The microscopic petrological characteristics, reservoir properties, and formation mechanisms of deep-water sandy-debris-flow and turbidity-current sandstones have been studied in the Yanchang Formation of the Ordos Basin,China, by means of field outcrop surveys, thin-section identification, geochemical element analysis, and porosity and permeability measurements under overburden pressure. The content of detrital grains in the sandy-debris-flow sandstones is high, whereas the contents of mica sheets and matrix are low. The fine-grained matrix is distributed unevenly within the pores. A considerable number of residual intergranular pores are preserved in the middle of single sand bodies, resulting in relatively better reservoir properties. The total number of detrital grains in the turbidite sandstone is low, while it contains abundant mica sheets and matrix. The mica sheets and fine-grained matrix are distributed evenly within the pores, resulting in serious damage to pores and poor reservoir properties. The sandy-debris-flow sandstones in the center of the lake basin form a high-quality reservoir; thus, this area is suitable for oil and gas exploration.

济阳坳陷东营凹陷古近系隐蔽油气藏勘探实践及展望

东营凹陷经过60多年的勘探与开发,发现了盐家、滨南、纯化、博兴和金家等34个油田,截至2022年累计探明储量26亿吨,对中国能源供给与安全起到了举足轻重的作用。随着东营凹陷勘探程度不断提高,勘探对象已由构造油气藏向复杂隐蔽油气藏转变。基于隐蔽油气藏勘探理论与实践,对东营凹陷砂砾岩、滩坝砂及浊积岩等各类储集体发育控制因素及展布规律、油气成藏分布特征进行了分析总结,提出了油气成藏相似性、有序性、差异性等理论认识,极大推动了隐蔽油气藏的精细勘探。指出构造转换带、沉积结合部及地层突变带是现阶段重点勘探领域和方向,加强其综合研究是隐蔽油气藏勘探成功和规模增储的关键。紧密结合勘探实践,综合运用多手段、多学科、多方法是突破隐蔽油气藏勘探瓶颈的重要法宝,也将进一步指导隐蔽油气藏精细化和效益化勘探。