Data-driven Wasserstein distributionally robust chance-constrained optimization for crude oil scheduling under uncertainty

Crude oil scheduling optimization is an effective method to enhance the economic benefits of oil refining.But uncertainties,including uncertain demands of crude distillation units(CDUs),might make the production plans made by the traditional deterministic optimization models infeasible.A data-driven Wasserstein distributionally robust chance-constrained(WDRCC)optimization approach is proposed in this paper to deal with demand uncertainty in crude oil scheduling.First,a new deterministic crude oil scheduling optimization model is developed as the basis of this approach.The Wasserstein distance is then used to build ambiguity sets from historical data to describe the possible realizations of probability distributions of uncertain demands.A cross-validation method is advanced to choose suitable radii for these ambiguity sets.The deterministic model is reformulated as a WDRCC optimization model for crude oil scheduling to guarantee the demand constraints hold with a desired high probability even in the worst situation in ambiguity sets.The proposed WDRCC model is transferred into an equivalent conditional value-at-risk representation and further derived as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming counterpart.Industrial case studies from a real-world refinery are conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.Out-of-sample tests demonstrate that the solution of the WDRCC model is more robust than those of the deterministic model and the chance-constrained model.

Impacts of proppant distribution on development of tight oil reservoirs with threshold pressure gradient

Field evidence indicates that proppant distribution and threshold pressure gradient have great impacts on well productivity.Aiming at the development of unconventional oil reservoirs in Triassic Chang-7 Unit,Ordos Basin of China,we presented an integrated workflow to investigate how(1)proppant placement in induced fracture and(2)non-linear flow in reservoir matrix would affect well productivity and fluid flow in the reservoir.Compared with our research before(Yue et al.,2020),here we extended this study into the development of multi-stage fractured horizontal wells(MFHWs)with large-scale complicated fracture geometry.The integrated workflow is based on the finite element method and consists of simulation models for proppant-laden fluid flow,fracture flow,and non-linear seepage flow,respectively.Simulation results indicate that the distribution of proppant inside the induced cracks significantly affects the productivity of the MFHW.When we assign an idealized proppant distribution instead of the real distribution,there will be an overestimation of 44.98%in daily oil rate and 30.63%in cumulative oil production after continuous development of 1000 days.Besides,threshold pressure gradient(TPG)also significantly affects the well performance in tight oil reservoirs.If we simply apply linear Darcy’s law to the reservoir matrix,the overall cumulative oil production can be overrated by 77%after 1000 days of development.In general,this research provides new insights into the development of tight oil reservoirs with TPG and meanwhile reveals the significance of proppant distribution and non-linear fluid flow in the production scenario design.

Remaining oil distribution characteristics in an oil reservoir with ultra-high water-cut

An accurate mapping and understanding of remaining oil distribution is very important for water control and stabilize oil production of mature oilfields in ultra-high water-cut stage.Currently,the Tuo-21 Fault Block of the Shengtuo Oilfield has entered the stage of ultra-high water cut(97.2%).Poor adaptability of the well pattern,ineffective water injection cycle and low efficiency of engineering measures(such as workover,re-perforation and utilization of high-capacity pumps)are the significant problems in the ultra-high water-cut reservoir.In order to accurately describe the oil and water flow characteristics,relative permeability curves at high water injection multiple(injected pore volume)and a semiquantitative method is applied to perform fine reservoir simulation of the Sand group 3e7 in the Block.An accurate reservoir model is built and history matching is performed.The distribution characteristics of remaining oil in lateral and vertical directions are quantitatively simulated and analyzed.The results show that the numerical simulation considering relative permeability at high injection multiple can reflect truly the remaining oil distribution characteristics after water flooding in an ultrahigh water-cut stage.The distribution of remaining oil saturation can be mapped more accurately and quantitatively by using the‘four-points and five-types’classification method,providing a basis for potential tapping of various remaining oil types of oil reservoirs in late-stage of development with high water-cut.

Hydrocarbon accumulation and orderly distribution of whole petroleum system in marine carbonate rocks of Sichuan Basin,SW China

Based on the situation and progress of marine oil/gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin,SW China,the whole petroleum system is divided for marine carbonate rocks of the basin according to the combinations of hydrocarbon accumulation elements,especially the source rock.The hydrocarbon accumulation characteristics of each whole petroleum system are analyzed,the patterns of integrated conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation are summarized,and the favorable exploration targets are proposed.Under the control of multiple extensional-convergent tectonic cycles,the marine carbonate rocks of the Sichuan Basin contain three sets of regional source rocks and three sets of regional cap rocks,and can be divided into the Cambrian,Silurian and Permian whole petroleum systems.These whole petroleum systems present mainly independent hydrocarbon accumulation,containing natural gas of affinity individually.Locally,large fault zones run through multiple whole petroleum systems,forming a fault-controlled complex whole petroleum system.The hydrocarbon accumulation sequence of continental shelf facies shale gas accumulation,marginal platform facies-controlled gas reservoirs,and intra-platform fault-and facies-controlled gas reservoirs is common in the whole petroleum system,with a stereoscopic accumulation and orderly distribution pattern.High-quality source rock is fundamental to the formation of large gas fields,and natural gas in a whole petroleum system is generally enriched near and within the source rocks.The development and maintenance of large-scale reservoirs are essential for natural gas enrichment,multiple sources,oil and gas transformation,and dynamic adjustment are the characteristics of marine petroleum accumulation,and good preservation conditions are critical to natural gas accumulation.Large-scale marginal-platform reef-bank facies zones,deep shale gas,and large-scale lithological complexes related to source-connected faults are future marine hydrocarbon exploration targets in the Sichuan Basin.

Whole petroleum system and ordered distribution pattern of conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs

The classical source-to-trap petroleum system concept only considers the migration and accumulation of conventional oil and gas in traps driven dominantly by buoyance in a basin,although revised and improved,even some new concepts as composite petroleum system,total petroleum system,total composite petroleum system,were proposed,but they do not account for the vast unconventional oil and gas reservoirs within the system,which is not formed and distributed in traps dominantly by buoyancedriven.Therefore,the petroleum system concept is no longer adequate in dealing with all the oil and gas accumulations in a basin where significant amount of the unconventional oil and gas resources are present in addition to the conventional oil and gas accumulations.This paper looked into and analyzed the distribution characteristics of conventional and unconventional oil/gas reservoirs and their differences and correlations in petroliferous basins in China and North America,and then proposed whole petroleum system(WPS)concept,the WPS is defined as a natural system that encompasses all the conventional and unconventional oil and gas,reservoirs and resources originated from organic matter in source rocks,the geological elements and processes involving the formation,evolution,and distribution of these oil and gas,reservoirs and resources.It is found in the WPS that there are three kinds of hydrocarbons dynamic fields,three kinds of original hydrocarbons,three kinds of reservoir rocks,and the coupling of these three essential elements lead to the basic ordered distribution model of shale oil/gas reservoirs contacting or interbeded with tight oil/gas reservoirs and separated conventional oil/gas reservoirs from source rocks upward,which is expressed as“S\T-C”.Abnormal conditions lead to other three special ordered distribution models:The first is that with shale oil/gas reservoirs separated from tight oil/gas reservoirs.The second is that with two direction ordered distributions from source upward and downward.The third is with lateral distribution from source outside.

Gulong shale oil enrichment mechanism and orderly distribution of conventional–unconventional oils in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation,Songliao Basin,NE China

Through the study of organic matter enrichment,hydrocarbon generation and accumulation process of black shale of the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin,the enrichment mechanism of Gulong shale oil and the distribution of conventional–unconventional oil are revealed.The Songliao Basin is a huge interior lake basin formed in the Early Cretaceous under the control of the subduction and retreat of the western Pacific plate and the massive horizontal displacement of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Northeast China.During the deposition of the Qingshankou Formation,strong terrestrial hydrological cycle led to the lake level rise of the ancient Songliao Basin and the input of a large amount of nutrients,resulting in planktonic bacteria and algae flourish.Intermittent seawater intrusion events promoted the formation of salinization stratification and anoxic environment in the lake,which were beneficial to the enrichment of organic matters.Biomarkers analysis confirms that the biogenic organic matter of planktonic bacteria and algae modified by microorganisms plays an important role in the formation of high-quality source rocks with high oil generation capability.There are four favorable conditions for the enrichment of light shale oil in the Qingshankou Formation of the Gulong Sag,Songliao Basin:the moderate organic matter abundance and high oil potential provide sufficient material basis for oil enrichment;high degree of thermal evolution makes shale oil have high GOR and good mobility;low hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency leads to a high content of retained hydrocarbons in the source rock;and the confinement effect of intra-layer cement in the high maturity stage induces the efficient accumulation of light shale oil.The restoration of hydrocarbon accumulation process suggests that liquid hydrocarbons generated in the early(low–medium maturity)stage of the Qingshankou Formation source rocks accumulated in placanticline and slope after long-distance secondary migration,forming high-quality conventional and tight oil reservoirs.Light oil generated in the late(medium–high maturity)stage accumulated in situ,forming about 15 billion tons of Gulong shale oil resources,which finally enabled the orderly distribution of conventional–unconventional oils that are contiguous horizontally and superposed vertically within the basin,showing a complete pattern of“whole petroleum system”with conventional oil,tight oil and shale oil in sequence.

Reclassification and distribution patterns of discovered oils in theDongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

The Dongying Depression is an important petrolifeous province,with diverse source rocks and complex petroleum distribution patterns.A total of 32 crude oils were analyzed by the gas chromatographyemass spectrometry and isotopic compositions to better understanding the petroleum systems in the study area.Three oil types were classified by hierarchical cluster analyses.Type I and II oils have closely correlation with the discovered source rocks,which have been confirmed to be mainly derived from the lower third and upper forth member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation source rocks(Es3^(L) and Es4^(U)),respectively.Obviously,type III oils contain abundant gammacerane,tricyclic terpanes and C_(29) steranes and have lower values of δ13C than type I and II oils,indicating a completely different source rock and biological origins.Until recently,type III oils fail to match any of the discovered source rock,which contains main contribution of aquatic organism or/and bacteria inputs.In addition,the spacial distribution of these three oil types were discussed.Type I oils mainly distributed in the Es3 and Es4 reservoirs that closed to the generative kitchens.Type II oils occurred in the Es4 reservoirs in the sourthern slope of the depression,which probably caused by lateral migration along the horizontal fractures and sandstone layers within the Es4 interval.Differently,type III oils in the sourthern slope of the depression were mainly discovered in the Eocene Kongdian or Ordocician reservoirs,which suggests great exploration potential of deep underlying strata.

Enrichment conditions and distribution characteristics of lacustrine medium-to-high maturity shale oil in China

Successful breakthroughs have been made in shale oil exploration in several lacustrine basins in China,indicating a promising future for shale oil exploration and production.Current exploration results have revealed the following major conditions of lacustrine shale oil accumulation:(1)stable and widely distributed shale with a high organic abundance and appropriate thermal maturity acts as a fundamental basis for shale oil retention.This shale exhibits several critical parameters,such as total organic carbon content greater than 2%,with optimal values ranging from 3% to 4%,kerogen Ⅰ and Ⅱ_(1) as the dominant organic matter types,and vitrinite reflectance(R_(o))values greater than 0.9%(0.8% for brackish water environments).(2)Various types of reservoirs exhibiting brittleness and a certain volume of micro-nanoscale pores are critical conditions for shale oil accumulation,and these reservoirs have porosities greater than 3% to 6%.Moreover,when diagenesis is incipient,pure shales are not favorable for medium-to-high maturity shale oil enrichment,whereas tight sandstone and hybrid rocks with clay content less than 20% are favorable;however,for medium-to-late-stage diagenesis,pure shales with a clay content of 40% are favorable.(3)The retention of a large amount of high-quality hydrocarbons is the factor that best guarantees shale oil accumulation with good mobility.Free hydrocarbon content exceeding a threshold value of 2 mg/g is generally required,and the optimum value is 4 mg/g to 6 mg/g.Moreover,a gas-oil ratio exceeding a threshold value of 80 m^(3)/m^(3) is required,with the optimal value ranging from 150 m^(3)/m^(3) to 300 m^(3)/m^(3).(4)High-quality roof and floor sealing conditions are essential for the shale oil enrichment interval to maintain the overpressure and retain a sufficient amount of hydrocarbons with good quality.Lacustrine shale oil distributions exhibit the following characteristics:(1)major enrichment areas of shale oil are located in semi-deep to deep lacustrine depositional areas with external materials,such as volcanic ash fallout,hydrothermal solutions,and radioactive substances with catalytic action,as inputs;(2)intervals with“four high values and one preservation condition”govern the distribution of shale oil enrichment intervals;and(3)favorable assemblages of lithofacies/lithologies determine the distribution of enrichment area.According to preliminary estimates,China has 131×10^(8) to 163×10^(8) t of total shale oil resources with medium-to-high thermal maturity,among which 67×10^(8) to 84×10^(8) t is commercial.These resources are primarily located in the Chang 7^(1+2) interval in the Ordos Basin,Qing 1+2 members in Gulong sag in the Songliao Basin,Kongdian and Shahejie formations of Cangdong sag,Qikou sag and the Jiyang depression in the Bohai Bay Basin,and Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin.

Numerical simulation of downhole temperature distribution in producing oil wells

An improved numerical simulation method is presented to calculate the downhole temperature distribution for multiple pay zones in producing oil wells. Based on hydrodynamics and heat transfer theory, a 2-D temperature field model in cylindrical coordinates is developed. In the model, we considered general heat conduction as well as the heat convection due to fluid flow from porous formation to the borehole. We also take into account the fluid velocity variation in the wellbore due to multiple pay zones. We present coupled boundary conditions at the interfaces between the wellbore and adjacent formation, the wellbore and pay zone, and the pay zone and adjacent formation. Finally, an alternating direction implicit difference method （ADI） is used to solve the temperature model for the downhole temperature distribution. The comparison of modeled temperature curve with actual temperature log indicates that simulation result is in general quite similar to the actual temperature log. We found that the total production rate, production time, porosity, thickness of pay zones, and geothermal gradient, all have effects on the downhole temperature distribution.

A model study of residual oil distribution jointly using crosswell and borehole-surface electric potential methods

Although high resolution can be provided by electrical logging, the measured electrical log range is narrow and is limited to near the well. Borehole-surface electric potential measurements are able to detect a wide enough range but its resolution is limited, particularly for reservoirs with complex oil and water distribution or complicated structure. In this study, we attempt to accurately locate the 3-D reservoir water and oil distribution by combining borehole-surface and crosswell electric potentials. First, the distributions of oil and water in both vertical and horizontal directions are detected by the borehole-surface and erosswell electric potential methods, respectively, and then the measured crosswell potential result is used to calibrate the measured borehole-surface electric potential data to improve vertical resolution so that the residual oil distribution is determined in a lower half-space with three dimensions. The evaluation of residual oil distribution is obtained by investigation of differences between the simulation results of the reservoir with and without water flooding. The finite difference numerical simulation results prove that the spatial residual oil distribution can be effectively determined by combining the crosswell and borehole-surface electric potentials.

Distribution of calcium, nickel, iron, and manganese in super-heavy oil from Liaohe Oilfield, China

Liaohe super-heavy crude oil was separated into its components, namely saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes （SARA）, by the group separation method. Several solvents were used to extract different forms of metallic elements from crude oil. The metallic elements, such as calcium, nickel, iron and manganese, in crude oil, SARA and extract samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy （ICP-AES）. The results demonstrate that the contents of calcium, nickel, iron, and manganese gradually increase in saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes, suggesting that the abundance of the four metallic elements in asphaltenes is much higher than that in the other groups. For example, the content of calcium in asphaltenes reaches a maximum of 7,920 pg/g. Among the SARA components of Liaohe super-heavy crude oil, resins account for more than 50 wt%, suggesting that the total amount of the four metallic elements are higher in the resin component than in other components. The four metallic elements mainly exist in the form of organic metallic compounds in crude oil. Further analysis shows that calcium and manganese elements exist mainly as metal salts of petroleum acids, and the majority of the iron and all the nickel exist mainly as metalloporphyrin and non-metalloporphyrin compounds.

The effect of interbeds on distribution of i ncremental oil displaced by a polymer flood

This paper discusses the effect of influencing factors on the distribution of incremental oil displaced by a polymer flood （extra-displaced oil） using numerical reservoir simulation. These factors include the location, area and permeability of a thin low-permeability interbed, and the perforation location relative to the interbed. Simulation results show the locations from where the incremental oil was displaced by the polymer solution. The interbed position from the oil formation top affects the location of extra-displaced oil. The interbed area has a slight influence on the whole shape of extra-displaced oil. Larger interbed area leads to higher partition extent of extra-displaced oil. Higher vertical permeability of interbeds contributes to worse partition extent of extra-displaced oil and the partition effect disappears if the ratio of vertical to horizontal permeability is more than 0.05. The perforation location relative to the interbed affects polymer displacement efficiency, and also has a significant effect on the distribution of extra-displaced oil in polymer flooding.

Formation and distribution characteristics of Proterozoic–Lower Paleozoic marine giant oil and gas fields worldwide

There are rich oil and gas resources in marine carbonate strata worldwide.Although most of the oil and gas reserves discovered so far are mainly distributed in Mesozoic,Cenozoic,and upper Paleozoic strata,oil and gas exploration in the Proterozoic–Lower Paleozoic（PLP）strata—the oldest marine strata—has been very limited.To more clearly understand the oil and gas formation conditions and distributions in the PLP marine carbonate strata,we analyzed and characterized the petroleum geological conditions,oil and gas reservoir types,and their distributions in thirteen giant oil and gas fields worldwide.This study reveals the main factors controlling their formation and distribution.Our analyses show that the source rocks for these giant oil and gas fields are mainly shale with a great abundance of type I–II organic matter and a high thermal evolution extent.The reservoirs are mainly gas reservoirs,and the reservoir rocks are dominated by dolomite.The reservoir types are mainly karst and reef–shoal bodies with well-developed dissolved pores and cavities,intercrystalline pores,and fractures.These reservoirs arehighly heterogeneous.The burial depth of the reservoirs is highly variable and somewhat negatively correlated to the porosity.The cap rocks are mainly thick evaporites and shales,with the thickness of the cap rocks positively correlated to the oil and gas reserves.The development of high-quality evaporite cap rock is highly favorable for oil and gas preservation.We identified four hydrocarbon generation models,and that the major source rocks have undergone a long period of burial and thermal evolution and are characterized by early and long periods of hydrocarbon generation.These giant oil and gas fields have diverse types of reservoirs and are mainly distributed in paleo-uplifts,slope zones,and platform margin reef-shoal bodies.The main factors that control their formation and distribution were identified,enabling the prediction of new favorable areas for oil and gas exploration.

Controlling factors of remaining oil distribution after water flooding and enhanced oil recovery methods for fracturecavity carbonate reservoirs in Tahe Oilfield

Based on comprehensive analysis of core, well logging, seismic and production data, the multi-scale reservoir space, reservoir types, spatial shape and distribution of fractures and caves, and the configuration relationship with production wells in fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs were studied systematically, the influence of them on the distribution of residual oil was analyzed, and the main controlling factors mode of residual oil distribution after water flooding was established. Enhanced oil recovery methods were studied considering the development practice of Tahe oilfield. Research shows that the main controlling factors of residual oil distribution after water flooding in fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs can be classified into four categories: local high point, insufficient well control, flow channel shielding and weak hydrodynamic. It is a systematic project to improve oil recovery in fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs. In the stage of natural depletion, production should be well regulated to prevent bottom water channeling. In the early stage of waterflooding, injection-production relationship should be constructed according to reservoir type, connectivity and spatial location to enhance control and producing degree of waterflooding and minimize remaining oil. In the middle and late stage, according to the main controlling factors and distribution characteristics of remaining oil after water flooding, remaining oil should be tapped precisely by making use of gravity differentiation and capillary force imbibition, enhancing well control, disturbing the flow field and so on. Meanwhile, backup technologies of reservoir stimulation, new injection media, intelligent optimization etc. should be developed, smooth shift from water injection to gas injection should be ensured to maximize oil recovery.

Predicting the present-day in situ stress distribution within the Yanchang Formation Chang 7 shale oil reservoir of Ordos Basin, central China

The Yanchang Formation Chang 7 oil-bearing layer of the Ordos Basin is important in China for producing shale oil.The present-day in situ stress state is of practical implications for the exploration and development of shale oil;however,few studies are focused on stress distributions within the Chang 7 reservoir.In this study,the present-day in situ stress distribution within the Chang 7 reservoir was predicted using the combined spring model based on well logs and measured stress data.The results indicate that stress magnitudes increase with burial depth within the Chang 7 reservoir.Overall,the horizontal maximum principal stress(SHmax),horizontal minimum principal stress(Shmin) and vertical stress(Sv) follow the relationship of Sv≥SHmax>Shmin,indicating a dominant normal faulting stress regime within the Chang 7 reservoir of Ordos Basin.Laterally,high stress values are mainly distributed in the northwestern parts of the studied region,while low stress values are found in the southeastern parts.Factors influencing stress distributions are also analyzed.Stress magnitudes within the Chang 7 reservoir show a positive linear relationship with burial depth.A larger value of Young's modulus results in higher stress magnitudes,and the differential horizontal stress becomes higher when the rock Young's modulus grows larger.

An experimental study on oil droplet size distribution in subsurface oil releases

Oil droplet size distribution （ODSD） plays a critical role in the rising velocity and transport of oil droplets in subsurface oil releases. In this paper, subsurface oil release experiments were conducted to study ODSD under different experimental conditions in a laboratory water tank observed by two high-speed cameras in March and April 2017. The correlation formulas Oh=lO.2Re-~ and Oh=39.2Re-1 （Re represents Reynolds number and Oh represents Ohnesorge number） were established to distinguish the boundaries of the three instability regimes in dimensionless space based on the experimental results. The oil droplet sizes from the experimental data showed an excellent match to the Rosin-Rammler distribution function with determination coefficients ranging from 0.86 to 1.00 for Lvda 10-1 oil. This paper also explored the influence factors on and change rules ofoil droplet size. The volume median diameter d50 decreased steadily with increasing jet velocity, and a sharp decrease occurred in the laminar-breakup regime. At Weber numbers （We） 〈100, the orifice diameter and oil viscosity appeared to have a large influence on the mean droplet diameter. At 100〈We〈1 000, the oil viscosity appeared to have a larger influence on the relative mean droplet diameter.

Rapid Determination of Complete Distribution of Pore and Throat in Tight Oil Sandstone of Triassic Yanchang Formation in Ordos Basin, China

This study aimed to investigate the complete distribution of reservoir space in tight oil sandstone combining casting slices, field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), the pore-throat theory model, high-resolution image processing, mathematical statistics, and other technical means. Results of reservoir samples from the Xin’anbian area of Ordos Basin showed that the total pore radius curve of the tight oil sandstone reservoir exhibited a multi-peak distribution, and the peaks appeared to be more focused on the ends of the range. This proved that pores with a radius of 1–50,000 nm provided the most significant storage space for tight oil, indicating that special attention should be paid to this range of the pore size distribution. Meanwhile, the complete throat radius curve of the tight oil sandstone reservoir exhibited a multipeak distribution. However, the peak values were distributed throughout the scales. This confirmed that the throat radius in the tight oil sandstone reservoir was not only in the range of hundreds of nanometers but was also widely distributed in the scale approximately equal to the pore size. The new rapid determination method could provide a precise theoretical basis for the comprehensive evaluation, exploration, and development of a tight oil sandstone reservoir.

Phytosterols in edible oil:Distribution,analysis and variation during processing

Phytosterols,which are naturally occurring in plants,have excellent nutritional and health values on lowering both the blood cholesterol level and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.Edible oils are the main source of daily intake of phytosterols,whereas the properties of phytosterols may vary a lot depending on their sources.During the processing of edible oil including refining and frying,phytosterol's content fluctuates,which influences the properties of the final product.Phytosterols and their derivatives undergo physical migration between different phases and chemical conversion during the processing,which reduces the quality and the commercial value of edible oils.Therein,the loss of phytosterols is the major concern in the process of neutralization and deodorization.In addition,oxidation and thermal degradation of phytosterols occur simultaneously during frying,which also reduces the content of phytosterols.Nevertheless,the oil matrix has a promoting or an inhibitory effect on the thermal oxidation of phytosterols.Therefore,various efforts have been devoted to analyzing and improving the remaining contents of phytosterols in edible oil.Regardless of the processing method,temperature plays an important role in the loss of phytosterols.At present,themain analysismethods of phytosterols include gas chromatography and liquid chromatography,inwhich the pretreatment of different types of phytosterols is also a crucial step.This review focused on the following topics comprehensively:(i)the distribution of phytosterols in the oil-containing plants and edible oils during the refining processing;(ii)the pretreatment and analysis methods of various phytosterols(free phytosterols,phytosteryl fatty acid esters,phytosteryl glycosides and acylated phytosteryl glycosides);(iii)the variation of phytosterols in process of esterification and oxidation,storage and so on.The study also proposed that the investigation in the loss and safety of phytosterols during processing of the vegetable oils should be proceeded further in combination with efficient and accurate chromatography methods.

Effects of microscopic pore structure heterogeneity on the distribution and morphology of remaining oil

Waterflooding experiments were performed using Micro-CT on four cores of different pore structures from Donghe sandstone reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. The water, oil and grains were accurately separated by the advanced image processing technology, the pore network model was established, and parameters such as the number of throats and the throat size distribution were calculated to characterize the microscopic heterogeneity of pore structure, the flow of oil phase during displacement, and the morphology and distribution of remaining oil after displacement. The cores with the same macroscopic porosity-permeability have great differences in microscopic heterogeneity of pore structure. Both macro porosity-permeability and micro heterogeneity of pore structure have an influence on the migration of oil phase and the morphology and distribution of remaining oil. When the heterogeneity is strong, the water phase will preferentially flow through the dominant paths and the remaining oil clusters will be formed in the small pores. The more the number of oil clusters(droplets) formed during displacement process, the smaller the average volume of cluster is, and the remaining oil is dominated by the cluster continuous phase with high saturation. The weaker the heterogeneity, the higher the pore sweep efficiency is, and the remaining oil clusters are mainly trapped in the form of non-continuous phase. The distribution and morphology of micro remaining oil are related to the absolute permeability, capillary number and micro-heterogeneity. So, the identification plate of microscopic residual oil continuity distribution established on this basis can describe the relationship between these three factors and distribution of remaining oil and identify the continuity of the remaining oil distribution accurately.

“Complementarity” Feature of Hydrocarbon Distribution in Oil-rich Sag

Based on the research and exploration of lithostratigraphic reservoir in the Jizhong depression of the Bohai Bay basin and Erlian basin, the hydrocarbon distribution in a continental oil-rich sag has "complementarity" feature, viz. the hydrocarbon resources configuration and plane distribution of the structural reservoir and lithostratigraphic reservoir have the "complementarity". This distribution feature is controlled by many factors such as the macroscopical geological setting, reservoir-forming condition, and the reservoir-forming mechanism of structural reservoir and lithostratigraphic reservoir. More research shows that the "complementarity" of hydrocarbon distribution is prevalent in every kind of continental basin. This "rule" helps to establish a new exploration theory, a scientific exploration program, and make proper exploration deployments in hydrocarbon exploration. Therefore, it is significant for the exploration work in continental petroliferous basins of China.