Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks

The multi-scaled pore networks of shale or tight reservoirs are considerably different from the conventional sandstone reservoirs. After hydraulic fracturing treatment, the spontaneous imbibition process plays an important role in the productivity of the horizontal wells. Applying the color-gradient...

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Main Authors: Yuchen Wu, Xiukun Wang, Chaofan Zhang, Chenggang Xian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2023-12-01
Series:Petroleum
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405656122000591
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author Yuchen Wu
Xiukun Wang
Chaofan Zhang
Chenggang Xian
author_facet Yuchen Wu
Xiukun Wang
Chaofan Zhang
Chenggang Xian
author_sort Yuchen Wu
collection DOAJ
description The multi-scaled pore networks of shale or tight reservoirs are considerably different from the conventional sandstone reservoirs. After hydraulic fracturing treatment, the spontaneous imbibition process plays an important role in the productivity of the horizontal wells. Applying the color-gradient model of Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) accelerated with parallel computing, we studied the countercurrent spontaneous imbibition process in two kinds of pore structures with different interlacing distributions of large and small pores. The effect of geometry configuration of pore arrays with different pore-scale and the capillary number Ca on the mechanism of counter-current spontaneous imbibition as well as the corresponding oil recovery factor are studied. We found that the wetting phase tends to invade the small pore array under small Ca in both types of geometry configurations of different pore arrays of four pore arrays zones. The wetting phase also tends to invade the pore array near the inlet for injecting the wetting phase no matter if it is a large pore array or small pore array except for the situation when the Ca is large to a certain value. In this situation, the small pore arrays show resistance to the wetting phase, so the wetting phase doesn't invade the small pore near the inlet, but invades the large pore preferentially. Both the geometry configurations of different pore arrays and Ca have a significant effect on the oil recovery factor. This work will help to solve the doubt about the selectivity of the multi-scaled pores of the wetting phase and the role of pores with different sizes in imbibition and oil draining in countercurrent spontaneous imbibition processes.
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spelling doaj.art-dd03182cb9154bd1a4129c81577ff9062023-12-18T04:24:22ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Petroleum2405-65612023-12-0194558571Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networksYuchen Wu0Xiukun Wang1Chaofan Zhang2Chenggang Xian3China University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing, 102249, ChinaCorresponding author.; China University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing, 102249, ChinaChina University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing, 102249, ChinaChina University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing, 102249, ChinaThe multi-scaled pore networks of shale or tight reservoirs are considerably different from the conventional sandstone reservoirs. After hydraulic fracturing treatment, the spontaneous imbibition process plays an important role in the productivity of the horizontal wells. Applying the color-gradient model of Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) accelerated with parallel computing, we studied the countercurrent spontaneous imbibition process in two kinds of pore structures with different interlacing distributions of large and small pores. The effect of geometry configuration of pore arrays with different pore-scale and the capillary number Ca on the mechanism of counter-current spontaneous imbibition as well as the corresponding oil recovery factor are studied. We found that the wetting phase tends to invade the small pore array under small Ca in both types of geometry configurations of different pore arrays of four pore arrays zones. The wetting phase also tends to invade the pore array near the inlet for injecting the wetting phase no matter if it is a large pore array or small pore array except for the situation when the Ca is large to a certain value. In this situation, the small pore arrays show resistance to the wetting phase, so the wetting phase doesn't invade the small pore near the inlet, but invades the large pore preferentially. Both the geometry configurations of different pore arrays and Ca have a significant effect on the oil recovery factor. This work will help to solve the doubt about the selectivity of the multi-scaled pores of the wetting phase and the role of pores with different sizes in imbibition and oil draining in countercurrent spontaneous imbibition processes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405656122000591Countercurrent spontaneous imbibitionMulti-scaled pore structuresSelectivity of wetting phase to pore sizeLattice Boltzmann method
spellingShingle Yuchen Wu
Xiukun Wang
Chaofan Zhang
Chenggang Xian
Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
Petroleum
Countercurrent spontaneous imbibition
Multi-scaled pore structures
Selectivity of wetting phase to pore size
Lattice Boltzmann method
title Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
title_full Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
title_fullStr Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
title_full_unstemmed Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
title_short Pore scale numerical investigation of counter-current spontaneous imbibition in multi-scaled pore networks
title_sort pore scale numerical investigation of counter current spontaneous imbibition in multi scaled pore networks
topic Countercurrent spontaneous imbibition
Multi-scaled pore structures
Selectivity of wetting phase to pore size
Lattice Boltzmann method
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405656122000591
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AT chaofanzhang porescalenumericalinvestigationofcountercurrentspontaneousimbibitioninmultiscaledporenetworks
AT chenggangxian porescalenumericalinvestigationofcountercurrentspontaneousimbibitioninmultiscaledporenetworks