Modeling of multiphase flow in low permeability porous media:Effect of wettability and pore structure properties

Multiphase flow in low permeability porous media is involved in numerous energy and environmental applications.However,a complete description of this process is challenging due to the limited modeling scale and the effects of complex pore structures and wettability.To address this issue,based on the digital rock of low permeability sandstone,a direct numerical simulation is performed considering the interphase drag and boundary slip to clarify the microscopic water-oil displacement process.In addition,a dual-porosity pore network model(PNM)is constructed to obtain the water-oil relative permeability of the sample.The displacement efficiency as a recovery process is assessed under different wetting and pore structure properties.Results show that microscopic displacement mechanisms explain the corresponding macroscopic relative permeability.The injected water breaks through the outlet earlier with a large mass flow,while thick oil films exist in rough hydrophobic surfaces and poorly connected pores.The variation of water-oil relative permeability is significant,and residual oil saturation is high in the oil-wet system.The flooding is extensive,and the residual oil is trapped in complex pore networks for hydrophilic pore surfaces;thus,water relative permeability is lower in the water-wet system.While the displacement efficiency is the worst in mixed-wetting systems for poor water connectivity.Microporosity negatively correlates with invading oil volume fraction due to strong capillary resistance,and a large microporosity corresponds to low residual oil saturation.This work provides insights into the water-oil flow from different modeling perspectives and helps to optimize the development plan for enhanced recovery.

Probing deactivation by coking in catalyst pellets for dry reforming of methane using a pore network model

Dry reforming of methane(DRM) is an attractive technology for utilizing the greenhouse gases(CO_(2) and CH_(4)) to produce syngas. However, the catalyst pellets for DRM are heavily plagued by deactivation by coking, which prevents this technology from commercialization. In this work, a pore network model is developed to probe the catalyst deactivation by coking in a Ni/Al_(2)O_(3) catalyst pellet for DRM. The reaction conditions can significantly change the coking rate and then affect the catalyst deactivation. The catalyst lifetime is higher under lower temperature, pressure, and CH_(4)/CO_(2) molar ratio, but the maximum coke content in a catalyst pellet is independent of these reaction conditions. The catalyst pellet with larger pore diameter, narrower pore size distribution and higher pore connectivity is more robust against catalyst deactivation by coking, as the pores in this pellet are more difficult to be plugged or inaccessible.The maximum coke content is also higher for narrower pore size distribution and higher pore connectivity, as the number of inaccessible pores is lower. Besides, the catalyst pellet radius only slightly affects the coke content, although the diffusion limitation increases with the pellet radius. These results should serve to guide the rational design of robust DRM catalyst pellets against deactivation by coking.

Pore network modeling of water block in low permeability reservoirs

A pore network model was used in this paper to investigate the factors, in particular, throat radius, wettability and initial water saturation, causing water block in low permeability reservoirs. A new term - ＇relative permeability number＇ （RPN） was firstly defined, and then used to describe the degree of water block. Imbibition process simulations show that the RPN drops in accordance with the extension of the averaged pore throat radius from 0.05 to 1.5 μm, and yet once beyond that point of 1.5 μm, the RPN reaches a higher value, indicating the existence of a critical pore throat radius where water block is the maximum. When the wettability of the samples changes from water-wet to weakly water-wet, weakly gas-wet, or gas（oil）-wet, the gas RPN increases consistently, but this consistency is disturbed by the RPN dropping for weakly water-wet samples for water saturations less than 0.4, which means weakly waterwet media are more easily water blocked than water-wet systems. In the situation where the initial water saturation exceeds 0.05, water block escalates along with an increase in initial water saturation.

Pore plugging effects on the performance of ZSM-5 catalyst in MTP reaction using a discrete model

Coke is an important medium for connecting reaction and regeneration of the methanol to propylene process on the ZSM5 catalyst.Coke grows in the meso and macro pores,it gradually worsens the diffusion inside the catalyst particle.Furthermore,pore plugging is inevitable which causes the deactivation of ZSM5 catalyst.However,current continuum model cannot reflect the changes in pore structure with clear physical concepts.A discrete model that is verified by the carbon deposition experiments is introduced to indicate the behavior of pore plugging effects.Results show that the pore plugging has a significant effect on the performance of the catalyst.The time varying profile of effectiveness factor is obtained,indicating a regular reduction with the increase of the pore plugging effect.Spatial distributions of pore size that would significantly enhance the plugging effect are also identified.

页岩油微观渗流机理研究进展

页岩油已成为全球非常规油气资源勘探开发的重点,但其开发面临诸多挑战。针对页岩油赋存孔隙空间复杂、渗流机理尚不明确和研究方法亟需探索的关键问题,从孔隙尺度和岩心尺度,系统阐述了页岩油微观渗流机理在实验方法和计算模拟方面的研究现状,探讨了目前存在的问题和未来研究的发展趋势。结果显示,目前多种实验方法结合能较好表征页岩孔隙结构,但对微尺度与岩心尺度流动的表征尚存在不足;孔隙尺度流动机理研究以格子玻尔兹曼方法为代表的直接法和以孔隙网络模拟为代表的间接法为主,但对微尺度效应的考虑有待完善;岩心尺度流动机理研究主要为基于毛管束模型和分形理论,建立考虑边界层效应的渗流模型。指出充分考虑页岩油微纳米孔隙中流动边界吸附/滑移、密度/黏度非均质性、应力敏感、启动压力梯度等因素,耦合不同尺度渗流机理,构建能够准确表征页岩油多相多尺度流动特征的数学模型是未来的主要研究方向。

基于物理约束的分布式神经网络三维地应力预测模型

地应力是油气藏全生命周期中井壁稳定分析、水力压裂设计、地层出砂预防、套损预测防治和油气开采措施制定的重要基础参数.针对缺乏三维地震资料情况下的三维地应力场预测问题,以工区已钻井地应力测井解释结果为基础,建立了一种基于物理约束的分布式神经网络三维地应力预测模型.首先,采用测井解释方法获得工区已钻井地应力单井剖面,并通过Kriging插值构建三维地质模型;其次,将测井数据和三维地质模型的三维空间坐标喂入3个并行的全连接神经网络,引入地应力物理约束条件,提出了数据和物理双约束的条件,进而通过三维空间坐标实现三维地应力场的预测;再次,优选了数据和物理双约束的权重参数,与人工神经网络、支持向量回归、随机森林等三种机器学习模型以及克里金插值模型进行了对比;最后,评价了不同机器学习模型预测地应力的效果.研究结果表明:(1)研究区域的地应力满足潜在正断层应力状态,即垂向地应力>最大水平地应力>最小水平地应力;(2)数据和物理双约束权重参数取值对预测结果有显著影响,当权重参数λ=0.2时,三维地应力预测效果最优;(3)与人工神经网络、支持向量回归、随机森林、克里金插值等模型相比,本文模型预测得到的地层三维地应力和孔隙压力更准确,在工区内测试集预测得到的垂向地应力、最大水平地应力、最小水平地应力和地层孔隙压力的最大相对误差分别为0.63%、7.59%、7.16%、3.21%,而且,本文模型能够更加准确捕捉地应力梯度的三维变化特征,水平井段地应力和地层孔隙压力参数的正态分布特征明显.结论认为,物理约束的分布式神经网络模型能有效融合地形构造与地应力之间的联系,提高三维地应力预测的准确性和可解释性,为油田三维地应力场的预测提供了一种新的思路.

利用机器学习与改进岩石物理模型预测页岩油层系横波速度

传统的横波速度预测方法包括经验公式法和岩石物理模型法。前者适用于岩石矿物组分相对单一的储层,且受区域限制等因素的影响,不具有普适性,预测精度较低。后者需要根据不同的实际情况选择合适的岩石物理模型,才能达到预期的目的。大多数机器学习横波速度预测方法基于纯数据驱动,数据集的质量和数量将直接决定横波预测模型精度,并缺乏充分的物理内涵。为此,基于深度神经网络(DNN)的方法,假设研究区储层波传播方程的数学形式已知,通过测井数据训练DNN得到未知的弹性参数,以确立目的层的波传播方程。利用平面波分析法得到相应的纵波、横波速度,实现神经网络与理论模型的结合。此外,针对传统Xu-White模型的不足,考虑随深度变化的孔隙纵横比,提出了改进横波速度预测岩石物理模型。利用研究区较丰富的测井数据,分别采用构建的DNN模型和改进横波速度预测岩石物理模型预测横波速度,并与传统的Xu-White模型预测结果进行对比、分析。结果表明,由DNN模型和改进岩石物理模型均可获得较高精度的横波速度预测结果,且前者的预测效果更好。

雨滴击溅下表土孔隙变化及其对入渗能力的影响

为探究雨滴击溅下土壤结构与入渗能力的变化规律,为雨滴击溅下土壤侵蚀状况预测提供参考,以黄土高原褐土为对象,基于雨滴击溅试验、土壤渗透试验和同步辐射CT扫描方法,对降雨条件下表土孔隙结构与土壤渗透能力的关系进行了分析。结果表明:①雨滴击溅导致土壤总孔隙度和渗透系数显著降低(P<0.05)。2.67、3.39和4.05 mm直径雨滴击溅后土壤的总孔隙度分别降低了20.64%、36.05%和44.88%,土壤渗透系数分别降低了15.69%、40.42%和71.77%。雨滴击溅后土壤孔隙的碎片化程度加剧,导致孔隙形状更不规则,连通性降低。②土壤孔隙大小、形状和连通性对土壤渗透能力有显著影响(P<0.01):孔隙越大,形状越规则,对土壤渗透能力的影响越大。从孔隙连通性角度看,土壤连通孔隙的孔喉半径和孔隙率对入渗能力的影响程度最大。基于以上分析,建立了土壤渗透系数(K)与总孔隙度(P_(T))、大孔隙率(P_(lp))、规则孔隙率(P_(rp))、连通孔隙率(P_(cp))和孔喉半径(R_(th))的预测模型:K=0.402P_(T)+0.104P_(lp)+0.1401P_(rp)+0.350P_(cp)+0.003R_(th)-0.415,R^(2)=0.93,P<0.05。综上可见,雨滴击溅通过改变土壤孔隙的大小、形状和连通状况,导致土壤孔隙结构破坏,从而降低了土壤入渗能力。

Pore-scale study of the pressure-sensitive effect of sandstone and its influence on multiphase flows

The pressure-sensitive effect on the pore structure of sandstone was investigated using X-ray computed micro-tomography and QEMSCAN quantitative mineral analysis. In a physical simulation study, we extracted the pore network model from digital cores at different confining pressures and evaluated the effect of pressure sensitivity on the multiphase displacement process. In both the pore network model and QEMSCAN scanning, the pore structure was observed to be damaged under a high confining pressure. Due to their different scales, the pores and throats exhibited inhomogeneous changes; further, the throats exhibited a significant variation compared to that exhibited by the pores. Meanwhile, the heterogeneity of the pore structure under the two aforementioned activities was aggravated by the elastic-plastic deformation of the pore structure.The pressure-sensitive effect increased the proportion of mineral particles, such as quartz(the main component of the core skeleton), and reduced the proportion of clay minerals. The clay minerals were originally attached to the pore walls or interspersed in the pores; however, as the pressure increased, the clay minerals accumulated in the pores resulting in blockage of the pores. While simulating the multiphase displacement process, increasing the confining pressure was observed to severely restrict the flowability of oil and water. This study promises to improve the efficiency of reservoir development in terms of oil and gas exploitation.

Three-dimensional spatial structure of the macro-pores and flow simulation in anthracite coal based on X-ray μ-CT scanning data

The three-dimensional(3 D) structures of pores directly affect the CH4 flow.Therefore,it is very important to analyze the3 D spatial structure of pores and to simulate the CH4 flow with the connected pores as the carrier.The result shows that the equivalent radius of pores and throats are 1-16 μm and 1.03-8.9 μm,respectively,and the throat length is 3.28-231.25 μm.The coordination number of pores concentrates around three,and the intersection point between the connectivity function and the X-axis is 3-4 μm,which indicate the macro-pores have good connectivity.During the single-channel flow,the pressure decreases along the direction of CH4 flow,and the flow velocity of CH4 decreases from the pore center to the wall.Under the dual-channel and the multi-channel flows,the pressure also decreases along the CH4 flow direction,while the velocity increases.The mean flow pressure gradually decreases with the increase of the distance from the inlet slice.The change of mean flow pressure is relatively stable in the direction horizontal to the bedding plane,while it is relatively large in the direction perpendicular to the bedding plane.The mean flow velocity in the direction horizontal to the bedding plane(Y-axis) is the largest,followed by that in the direction horizontal to the bedding plane(X-axis),and the mean flow velocity in the direction perpendicular to the bedding plane is the smallest.

The impact of heterogeneity and pore network characteristics on single and multi-phase fluid propagation in complex porous media:An X-ray computed tomography study

This study investigates the impact of pore network characteristics on fluid flow through complex and heterogeneous porous media,providing insights into the factors affecting fluid propagation in such systems.Specifically,high-resolution or micro X-ray computed tomography(CT)imaging techniques were utilized to examine outcrop stromatolite samples of the Lagoa Salgada,considered flow analogous to the Brazilian Pre-salt carbonate reservoirs.The petrophysical results comprised two distinct stromatolite depositional facies,the columnar and the fine-grained facies.By generating pore network model(PNM),the study quantified the relationship between key features of the porous system,including pore and throat radius,throat length,coordination number,shape factor,and pore volume.The study found that the less dense pore network of the columnar sample is typically characterized by larger pores and wider and longer throats but with a weaker connection of throats to pores.Both facies exhibited less variability in the radius of the pores and throats in comparison to throat length.Additionally,a series of core flooding experiments coupled with medical CT scanning was designed and conducted in the plug samples to assess flow propagation and saturation fields.The study revealed that the heterogeneity and presence of disconnected or dead-end pores significantly impacted the flow patterns and saturation.Two-phase flow patterns and oil saturation distribution reveal a preferential and heterogeneous displacement that mainly swept displaced fluid in some regions of plugs and bypassed it in others.The relation between saturation profiles,porosity profiles,and the number of fluid flow patterns for the samples was evident.Only for the columnar plug sample was the enhancement in recovery factor after shifting to lower salinity water injection(SB)observed.

Modeling Non-aqueous Phase Liquid Displacement Process

A pore-network model physically based on pore level multiphase flow was used to study the water-non-aqueous phase liquid （NAPL） displacement process, especially the effects of wettability, water-NAPL interracial tension, the fraction of NAPL-wet pores, and initial water saturation on the displacement. The computed data show that with the wettability of the mineral surfaces changing from strongly water-wet to NAPL-wet, capillary pressure and the NAPL relative permeability gradually decrease, while water-NAPL interfacial tension has little effect on water relative permeability, but initial water saturation has a strong effect on water and NAPL relative permeabilities. The analytical results may help to understand the micro-structure displacement process of non-aqueous phase liquid and to provide the theoretical basis for controlling NAPL migration.

Pore-based architecture and representative element volume evaluation in artificial sand packs and natural rock cores

The phenomenon of multiphase flow in porous media is confronted in various fields of science and industrial applications. Owing to the complicated porous structure, the flow mechanisms are still not completely resolved. A critical and fundamental question is the variation of pore structure and REV sizes among different types of porous media. In this study, a total of 22 porous samples were employed to systematically evaluate the pore-based architecture and REV sizes based on X-ray CT image analysis and pore network modelling. It is found that the irregular grain shapes give rise to large specific areas,narrow and thin throats in identical sand packs. The packs with more types of sands, or composited by the sands with larger difference in diameter, have larger specific area, smaller tortuosity and pore spaces.Based on the REV measurement through porosity solely, the REV sizes of sand packs are generally in the order of magnitude of 10^(-2) m L, while it is at least one order of magnitude smaller in rock cores. Our result indicates that the combination of porosity and Euler number is an effective indicator to get the REV sizes of porous samples.

基于CT扫描的蒸汽驱岩心孔隙结构特征及相渗分析

为明确蒸汽驱对疏松砂岩稠油油藏孔隙结构特征的影响,以LDB油田为例,应用CT技术扫描不同蒸汽驱阶段岩心,构建三维数字岩心模型,提取孔隙网络模型,获取不同蒸汽驱阶段的岩心孔隙度、绝对渗透率及孔隙结构相关特征等参数,并通过流动模拟得到相对渗透率曲线,开展定量统计及分析。结果表明:随着蒸汽驱的进行,岩心孔隙空间变大,平均孔隙半径、平均喉道半径、孔隙度及渗透率均增大,渗流能力变强,孔隙结构得到改善。研究成果可为稠油油藏蒸汽驱开发设计提供技术支持。

页岩气藏多尺度孔缝介质压裂液微观赋存机理研究

页岩气藏水力压裂后大量压裂液滞留在基岩孔隙和压裂诱导裂缝内。目前页岩气藏压裂液微观赋存机理认识不清,导致难以准确认识返排过程中页岩气井压裂液返排率差异。建立页岩气藏多尺度孔缝介质压裂液微观赋存分析方法,揭示页岩气藏压裂液微观赋存机理。建立同时考虑岩石-流体作用力和气水界面毛管力的单孔隙气水赋存分析方法,进一步拓展至孔隙网络,采用侵入逾渗研究基岩压裂液赋存模式。基于水力压裂诱导裂缝CT扫描成像结果,采用水平集气、水界面追踪方法计算不同返排压力下气水分布,研究诱导裂缝压裂液赋存模式。研究结果表明:基岩系统返排率呈现缓慢上升—快速上升—趋于平缓的趋势。压裂液主要呈现水相饱和孔隙赋存、角落水相赋存、水膜状赋存3种赋存模式;压裂诱导裂缝系统返排率主要受诱导裂缝周围孔隙连通性影响,呈现快速上升后趋于平缓趋势。滞留压裂液主要赋存在水力压裂诱导裂缝周围盲端基质孔隙。

基于CT扫描的滨海土壤孔隙空间网络表征与渗流模拟

以江苏省沿海地区不同围垦区剖面土层原状土样为研究对象,基于CT扫描技术,通过构建孔隙网络模型,对土壤孔隙分布及其拓扑关系进行定量表征,统计分析了土壤孔喉参数,包括孔径分布、配位数、喉道半径及喉道长度;运用提取的孔隙网络实现土壤中单相水的渗流模拟,分析土壤的绝对渗透系数(饱和导水率)及其主要影响因素。结果表明,围垦活动对改良土壤孔隙活动起到积极作用,随围垦年限的增加,连通孔隙的半径范围、平均配位数、喉道半径趋于增大,喉道长度趋于减小;浅层土壤的孔隙结构较为良好。单相水模拟中,模拟计算的土壤绝对渗透系数和试验测定的饱和导水率结果吻合度较好,呈现出一致的变化规律。灰色关联度显示喉道半径对土壤渗透性能的影响最大。

冻融作用下岩石孔隙扩展演化特征研究

为探究岩石在冻融循环作用下的裂隙演化特征,利用CT扫描技术,获取不同冻融次数岩石的三维图像,并通过孔隙网络模型参数进行定量表征,研究岩石随冻融循环的裂隙形貌演化过程,以及孔隙结构随冻融次数的变化。结果表明:完整岩石冻融微裂隙主要集中在岩石外围,呈环形片状;而裂隙岩石冻融产生的微裂隙主要存在于预制裂隙周围和岩桥区域,且分布范围更广。冻融循环作用后,完整与裂隙岩石的PNM中各类孔隙变化特征不一。前者孔隙数量减少,小孔占比逐渐减小,中大孔占比增大,孔隙分布位置较为均匀;后者孔隙数量增加,但中孔占比减小,大孔占比迅速增大且主要集中在岩心上下端面。在冻融过程中,岩石各类孔喉结构主要参数均呈增长趋势,裂隙岩石孔喉网络发育更剧烈,冻融结束后其最大喉道半径增长幅度约为完整岩石的2倍。在冻融前期,冻融循环作用主要促进岩石孔隙相互连通,后期主要表现为孔喉加速扩张,且裂隙岩石孔隙率增长速率均大于完整岩石。研究结果可为寒区岩体破坏机理及灾害防治提供参考。

溶孔-裂隙复合网络的随机生成及其数值网格化

煤层底板岩溶裂隙含水层导致底板突水问题受到广泛关注,掌握含水层渗流特征是减少此类事故发生的关键,而在此之前应首先建立合理的含水层模型。岩溶裂隙含水层具有裂隙和岩溶两种复合网络介质特征,针对此类问题主要采用数值模拟方法进行研究,而多数成果仅对含水层中的裂隙网络进行分析,忽略了其中随机分布的溶孔等岩溶现象,与实际情况差异较大。重点对灰岩含水层中随机分布的溶孔进行模拟,并将其与裂隙网络模型结合,得到准确度较高的灰岩含水层网络模型,并将其数值化。为此选取了钻孔揭露及露头资料,用AutoCAD软件描绘溶孔轮廓建立了溶孔形态库,为溶孔的随机生成提供了足够的样本支撑,溶孔样本足够多时,溶孔形态库就具有很高的真实性;其次利用多因素定向块体切割技术建立了溶孔储存空间,随机从中提取溶孔,按照一定比例缩放并置于储存空间内,就可以实现随机溶孔模型的生成。随后将其与基于蒙特卡洛法生成的裂隙网络叠加,从而得到具有一定溶孔率和裂隙密度、间距的灰岩含水层复合网络模型。最后基于AutoCAD软件将网络模型转化为FLAC^(3D)数值网格,即建立灰岩含水层数值模型,由此生成具有不同溶孔率和裂隙密度、间距的复合网络模型。对裂隙网络中的裂隙密度和延展性分别按低、较低、中等、较高、高进行分类;将溶孔模型中的溶孔率设为0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20,0.25,0.35。以高密度-低延展性裂隙网络为例,选取了溶孔率为0.05和0.25的溶孔模型与其叠加,对复合网格中的裂隙迹长、溶孔长轴比和倾角进行统计,结果符合预期,从而证明所生成模型的有效性。研究成果对于三维随机溶孔模型的建立具有一定参考意义,为后续基于数值模拟分析岩溶裂隙含水层的渗流特征奠定了模型基础。

基于数字岩心和孔隙网络模型的油水相渗模拟研究--以W433长6油田为例

以W344长6油田低渗透砂岩为研究对象,通过X-CT扫描技术获得低渗透岩样多尺度三维灰度图像,通过降噪、二值化、连通性检验和孔隙分割等操作建立三维孔隙网络模型。通过tNavigtor软件进行数值模拟,对比分析了基于数字岩心和岩心驱替实验的相对渗透率曲线对油藏拟合效果的影响。实验结果表明,通过数字岩心技术得到的相对渗透率曲线更平滑,对应的残余油饱和度更低,在数值模拟过程中具有较好的应用效果。