Similarity-based laboratory study of CO_(2) huff-n-puff in tight conglomerate cores

Tight conglomerate reservoirs are featured with extremely low permeability,strong heterogeneity and poor water injectivity.CO_(2) huff-n-puff has been considered a promising candidate to enhance oil recovery in tight reservoirs,owing to its advantages in reducing oil viscosity,improving mobility ratio,quickly replenishing formation pressure,and potentially achieving a miscible state.However,reliable inhouse laboratory evaluation of CO_(2) huff-n-puff in natural conglomerate cores is challenging due to the inherent high formation pressure.In this study,we put forward an equivalent method based on the similarity of the miscibility index and Grashof number to acquire a lab-controllable pressure that features the flow characteristics of CO_(2) injection in a tight conglomerate reservoir.The impacts of depletion degree,pore volume injection of CO_(2) and soaking time on ultimate oil recovery in tight cores from the Mahu conglomerate reservoir were successfully tested at an equivalent pressure.Our results showed that oil recovery decreased with increased depletion degree while exhibiting a non-monotonic tendency(first increased and then decreased)with increased CO_(2) injection volume and soaking time.The lower oil recoveries under excess CO_(2) injection and soaking time were attributed to limited CO_(2) dissolution and asphaltene precipitation.This work guides secure and reliable laboratory design of CO_(2) huff-n-puff in tight reservoirs with high formation pressure.

Theoretical understandings, key technologies and practices of tight conglomerate oilfield efficient development: A case study of the Mahu oilfield, Junggar Basin, NW China

A series of theoretical explorations and field tests have been carried out to efficiently develop the Mahu tight conglomerate oilfield in the Junggar Basin.Concepts of steered-by-edge fracturing and proactive fracturing interference were proposed.A series of innovative technologies were developed and implemented including optimization of 3-D staggered well pattern,proactive control and utilization of spatial stress field,and synergetic integration of multiple elements.Different from shale,the unique rock fabric and strong heterogeneities of tight conglomerate formation are favorable factors for forming complex fractures,small space well pattern can proactively control and make use of interwell interference to increase the complexity of fracture network,and the"optimum-size and distribution"hydraulic fracturing can be achieved through synergetic optimization.During pilot phase of this field,both depletion with hydraulically fractured vertical wells and volume fracturing in horizontal wells were tested after water injection through vertical wells,then the multi-stage fracturing with horizontal well was taken as the primary development technology.A series of engineering methods were tested,and key development parameters were evaluated such as well spacing,lateral length,fractures spacing,fracturing size,and fracturing operation process.According to geoengineering approach,the 100 m/150 m tridimensional tight-spacing staggered development method was established with systematic integration of big well clusters,multiple stacked pay zones,small well spacing,long lateral length,fine perforation clustering,zipper fracturing and factory operation.According to half-year production performance,100 m/150 m small spacing wells outperformed 500 m/400 m/300 m spacing wells.Its average estimated ultimate recovery(EUR)of wells was identical with those best wells from large-spacing area.Compared with the overall performance of Mahu oilfield,the drainage efficiency and estimated recovery factor of this pilot were significantly boosted with improved economics.

An analysis of the uniformity of multi-fracture initiation based on downhole video imaging technology: A case study of Mahu tight conglomerate in Junggar Basin, NW China

To solve the problem that the production of Mahu conglomerate reservoir is not up to expectation after the multi-cluster plus temporary plugging fracturing technology is applied in horizontal wells, stages 2–6 in the test well MaHW6285 are selected to carry out erosion tests with different pumping parameters. The downhole video imaging technology is used to monitor the degree of perforations erosion, and then the fracture initiation and proppant distribution of each cluster are analyzed. The results showed that proppant entered 76.7% of the perforations. The proppant was mainly distributed in a few perforation clusters, and the amount of proppant entered in most of the clusters was limited. The proppant distribution in Stage 4 was relatively uniform, and the fracture initiation of each cluster in the stage is more uniform. The proppant distribution in stages 2, 3, 5, and 6 was significantly uneven, and the uniform degree of fracture initiation in each cluster is low. More than 70% of the proppant dose in the stage entered clusters near the heel end, so the addition of diverters did not promote the uniform initiation of hydraulic fractures. There was a positive correlation between the amount of proppant added and the degree of perforations erosion, and the degree of perforations erosion ranged from 15% to 352%, with an average value of 74.5%, which was far higher than the statistical results of shale reservoir tests in North America. The use of 180° phase perforation(horizontal direction) can reduce the “Phase Bias” of perforations erosion, promote uniform perforations erosion and fluid inflow. The research results provide the basis for optimizing the pumping procedure, reducing the perforation erosion and improving the success rate of diversion.