Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs
Spontaneous water imbibition plays an imperative role in the development of shale or tight oil reservoirs. Spontaneous water imbibition is helpful in the extraction of crude oil from the matrix, although it decreases the relative permeability of the hydrocarbon phase dramatically. The dynamic pore-s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/18/4709 |
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| author | Xiukun Wang James J. Sheng |
| author_facet | Xiukun Wang James J. Sheng |
| author_sort | Xiukun Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spontaneous water imbibition plays an imperative role in the development of shale or tight oil reservoirs. Spontaneous water imbibition is helpful in the extraction of crude oil from the matrix, although it decreases the relative permeability of the hydrocarbon phase dramatically. The dynamic pore-scale network modeling of water imbibition in shale and tight reservoirs is presented in this work; pore network generation, local capillary pressure function, conductance calculation and boundary conditions for imbibition are all presented in detail in this paper. The pore network is generated based on the characteristics of Barnett shale formations, and the corresponding laboratory imbibition experiments are matched using this established dynamic pore network model. The effects of the wettability, throat aspect ratio, viscosity, shape factor, micro-fractures, etc. are all investigated in this work. Attempts are made to investigate the water imbibition mechanisms from a micro-scale perspective. According to the simulated results, wettability dominates the imbibition characteristics. Besides this, the viscous effects including viscosity, initial capillary pressure and micro-fractures increase the imbibition rate, while the final recovery factor is more controlled by the capillarity effect including the cross-area shape factor, contact angle and the average pore-throat aspect ratio. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:26:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c318e585c336461fbe99626c40d6f8bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:26:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c318e585c336461fbe99626c40d6f8bf2023-11-20T13:10:59ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-09-011318470910.3390/en13184709Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight ReservoirsXiukun Wang0James J. Sheng1State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaSpontaneous water imbibition plays an imperative role in the development of shale or tight oil reservoirs. Spontaneous water imbibition is helpful in the extraction of crude oil from the matrix, although it decreases the relative permeability of the hydrocarbon phase dramatically. The dynamic pore-scale network modeling of water imbibition in shale and tight reservoirs is presented in this work; pore network generation, local capillary pressure function, conductance calculation and boundary conditions for imbibition are all presented in detail in this paper. The pore network is generated based on the characteristics of Barnett shale formations, and the corresponding laboratory imbibition experiments are matched using this established dynamic pore network model. The effects of the wettability, throat aspect ratio, viscosity, shape factor, micro-fractures, etc. are all investigated in this work. Attempts are made to investigate the water imbibition mechanisms from a micro-scale perspective. According to the simulated results, wettability dominates the imbibition characteristics. Besides this, the viscous effects including viscosity, initial capillary pressure and micro-fractures increase the imbibition rate, while the final recovery factor is more controlled by the capillarity effect including the cross-area shape factor, contact angle and the average pore-throat aspect ratio.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/18/4709dynamic pore network modelingshale reservoirswater imbibition |
| spellingShingle | Xiukun Wang James J. Sheng Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs Energies dynamic pore network modeling shale reservoirs water imbibition |
| title | Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs |
| title_full | Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs |
| title_short | Dynamic Pore-Scale Network Modeling of Spontaneous Water Imbibition in Shale and Tight Reservoirs |
| title_sort | dynamic pore scale network modeling of spontaneous water imbibition in shale and tight reservoirs |
| topic | dynamic pore network modeling shale reservoirs water imbibition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/18/4709 |
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