Muddy interlayer forecasting and an equivalent upscaling method based on tortuous paths: A case study of Mackay River oil sand reservoirs in Canada

Based on the abundant core data of oil sands in the Mackay river in Canada,the termination frequency of muddy interlayers was counted to predict the extension range of interlayers using a queuing theory model,and then the quantitative relationship between the thickness and extension length of muddy interlayer was established.An equivalent upscaling method of geologic model based on tortuous paths under the effects of muddy interlayer has been proposed.Single muddy interlayers in each coarse grid are tracked and identified,and the average length,width and proportion of muddy interlayer in each coarse grid are determined by using the geological connectivity tracing algorithm.The average fluid flow length of tortuous path under the influence of muddy interlayer is calculated.Based on the Darcy formula,the formula calculating average permeability in the coarsened grid is deduced to work out the permeability of equivalent coarsened grid.The comparison of coarsening results of the oil sand reservoir of Mackay River with actual development indexes shows that the equivalent upscaling method of muddy interlayer by tortuous path calculation can reflect the blocking effect of muddy interlayer very well,and better reflect the effects of geological condition on production.

Study on fracture propagation behavior in ultra-heavy oil reservoirs based on true triaxial experiments

As the ultra-heavy oil reservoirs developed by steam assisted gravity drainage(SAGD)in the Fengcheng oilfield,Xinjiang have problems such as huge steam usage,long preheating period,low production,and inaccessible reserve in local parts.Based on the rock mechanics and porosity/permeability characteristics of heavy oil reservoir and interlayer,a series of true triaxial experiments and CT tests considering the fracturing fluid injection rate,viscosity,perforation density and location of fracture initiation were conducted to disclose the propagation behavior of micro-and macro-fractures in the reservoirs and mudstone interlayers.These experiments show that fracturing in the heavy oil reservoirs only generates microfractures that cannot break the interlayer.In contrast,when fracturing in the interlayer,the higher the injection rate(greater than 0.6 m^3/min),the lower the viscosity,the easier it is to form macro-fractures in the interlayers,and the further the fractures will propagate into the reservoirs.Also,increasing perforation density tends to create complex macro-fracture network in the interbedded reservoirs and mudstone interlayers.The findings of this study can provide scientific guidance for the selection of fracturing layer and the optimization of parameters in the interlayer fracturing of heavy oil reservoirs.