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Geo-Fluids in Unconventional Reservoirs: Latest Advances

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 4949

Special Issue Editors

School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: shale oil and gas; pore water; modeling of geo-fluids storage; reservoir characterization; gas transport
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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: numerical simulation of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs; oil and gas field development
Colleague of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
Interests: unconventional oil and gas; deep-ultra-deep oil and gas geology and exploration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing difficulty in conventional oil and gas exploitation, unconventional oil and gas have gradually become the strategic replacement energies for increasing oil and gas storage and production in China. Unlike conventional oil and gas reservoirs, which exist in the form of traps, unconventional oil and gas are distributed continuously in a large area and there is no obvious differentiation between oil/gas and water within the reservoir. Therefore, it is very important for unconventional oil and gas exploration and exploitation to reveal the microscopic occurrence and flow mechanism of fluids in unconventional reservoirs and determine the "sweet spot" of oil and gas enrichment and flow. The common point of geo-fluids in unconventional reservoirs is that fluids often coexist in the pore system of rocks in various phases, and the occurrence characteristics and flow capacity of fluids in different states are varied. This field has been widely concerned by scholars at home and abroad. Therefore, it is significant to collect the latest theories and techniques regarding this theme. Works pertaining to phase state prediction, the quantitative characterization of different phases of oil and gas, enrichment and transport mechanisms of oil and gas, and production simulation and prediction are of particular interest for this Special Issue.

Dr. Junqian Li
Dr. Lei Wang
Dr. Taohua He
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • geo-fluids
  • shale oil and gas
  • tight oil and gas
  • coalbed methane
  • storage and transport mechanisms
  • production simulation and prediction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 14427 KiB  
Article
Pore Structure Characteristics of Shale Oil Reservoirs with Different Lithofacies and Their Effects on Mobility of Movable Fluids: A Case Study of the Chang 7 Member in the Ordos Basin, China
by Yufang Xiao, Zhengqin Ye, Hongliang Wang, Hailong Yang, Nana Mu, Xinyuan Ji and He Zhao
Energies 2024, 17(4), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040862 - 12 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1290
Abstract
The Chang 7 member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin is a significant continent shale oil reservoir in China. Therefore, conducting an in-depth investigation into the pore structure and fluid mobility characteristics of the Chang 7 shale oil reservoir holds [...] Read more.
The Chang 7 member of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin is a significant continent shale oil reservoir in China. Therefore, conducting an in-depth investigation into the pore structure and fluid mobility characteristics of the Chang 7 shale oil reservoir holds immense importance for advancing shale oil exploration. This study conducts a detailed analysis of the pore structures and their impact on fluid mobility of the Chang 7 shale oil reservoir using multiple methodologies, i.e., a cast thin section, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results show that the sandstone in the Yanwumao area of the Chang 7 shale oil reservoir consists mainly of lithic arkose and feldspathic litharenite, which can be classified into three lithofacies (massive fine-grained sandstone (Sfm), silt-fine sandstone with graded bedding (Sfgb), and silt-fine sandstone with parallel bedding (Sfp)). Moreover, three pore structures (Type I, II, and III), and four pore spaces (nanopores, micropores, mesopores, and macropores) can be characterized. Pore structure Type I, characterized by large pores, exhibits bimodal pore diameter curves, resulting in the highest levels of movable fluid saturation (MFS) and movable fluid porosity (MFP). Pore structure Type II demonstrates unimodal pore structures, indicating robust connectivity, and higher MFS and MFP. Pore structure Type III primarily consists of dissolved and intercrystalline pores with smaller pore radii, a weaker pore configuration relationship, and the least fluid mobility. Furthermore, a correlation analysis suggests that the pore structure significantly impacts the fluid flowability in the reservoir. Favorable petrophysical properties and large pores enhance fluid flowability. Micropores and mesopores with high fractal dimensions have a greater impact on reservoir fluid mobility compared to macropores and nanopores. Mesopores mainly control MFS and MFP, while micropores govern the shift from bound fluid to movable fluid states. Among the lithofacies types, the Sfm lithofacies exhibit the highest fluid mobility due to their significant proportion of macropores and mesopores, whereas the Sfgb lithofacies have lower values because they contain an abundance of micropores. The Sfp lithofacies also dominate macropores and mesopores, resulting in medium fluid mobility levels. This study combines lithofacies types, micro-reservoir pore structure characteristics, and mobile fluid occurrence characteristics to better understand the dominant reservoir distribution characteristics of the Chang 7 shale oil reservoirs in the Ordos Basin and provide theoretical information for further optimization of production strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Fluids in Unconventional Reservoirs: Latest Advances)
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17 pages, 4143 KiB  
Article
Nano-Scale Pore Structure Characterization and Its Controlling Factors in Wufeng and Longmaxi Shale in the Zigong Area, Southwest Sichuan Basin
by Zhongcheng Li, Zhidong Bao, Hailong Wang, Xiaohua Zhu, Hongxue Wang, Zhenchang Jiang and Taohua He
Energies 2023, 16(21), 7264; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16217264 - 26 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1133
Abstract
The nano-scale pore systems in shale reservoirs control shale gas transportation and aggregation, which is of great significance for the resource evaluation of shale oil and gas and the selection of a “sweet spot”. Taking twelve marine shale samples from the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation [...] Read more.
The nano-scale pore systems in shale reservoirs control shale gas transportation and aggregation, which is of great significance for the resource evaluation of shale oil and gas and the selection of a “sweet spot”. Taking twelve marine shale samples from the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formation in the Zigong area, southwest Sichuan Basin, as the research target, we carried out a series of experiments, including total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas adsorption (CO2 + N2), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), to study the full-scale pore structure characterization and controlling factors of pore volume and specific surface area. The results presented the following findings. (1) Marine shale samples from the target area are rich in organic matter, with an average TOC value of 3.86%; additionally, the mineral composition was dominated by quartz and clay minerals, with average contents of 44.1% and 31.4%, respectively. (2) The full-scale pore size distribution curves of pore volume developed multimodally, with the main peaks at 0.5 nm–2 nm, 3 nm–6 nm, and 700 nm–2.2 um; moreover, the full-scale pore size distribution curves of a specific surface area developed unimodally, with the main peak ranging from 0.5 nm to 1.2 nm. (3) Pore volume was mainly contributed by mesopores and macropores, with an average contribution of 46.66% and 42.42%, respectively, while the contribution of micropores was only 10.91%. The specific surface area was mainly contributed by micropores and mesopores, with an average contribution of 64.63% and 29.22%, respectively, whereas the contribution of micropores was only 6.15%. (4) The TOC content mainly controlled the pore volume and specific surface area of micropores and mesopores, while the clay and feldspar content generally controlled the pore volume and specific surface area of macropores. Additionally, the quartz content had an inhibitory effect on the development of all pore types. These results will help researchers understand the laws of gas accumulation and migration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Fluids in Unconventional Reservoirs: Latest Advances)
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20 pages, 11809 KiB  
Article
Characteristics and Key Controlling Factors of the Interbedded-Type Shale-Oil Sweet Spots of Qingshankou Formation in Changling Depression
by Liang Yang, Jilin Xing, Wei Xue, Lehua Zheng, Rui Wang and Dianshi Xiao
Energies 2023, 16(17), 6213; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176213 - 26 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
Different types of shale-oil sweet spots have developed and are vertically stacked in multiple layers of the Qingshankou Formation in the Changling Depression, southern Songliao Basin. Furthermore, this area lacks a classification standard in the optimization of its shale-oil sweet-spot area/layers. Through relevant [...] Read more.
Different types of shale-oil sweet spots have developed and are vertically stacked in multiple layers of the Qingshankou Formation in the Changling Depression, southern Songliao Basin. Furthermore, this area lacks a classification standard in the optimization of its shale-oil sweet-spot area/layers. Through relevant tests of the region in question’s organic geochemistry, physical properties, oiliness, and pore structure, this paper investigates the formation elements of shale-oil sweet spots. In addition, summaries of its enrichment-controlling factors are given, and the classification standard and evaluation method for understanding the comprehensive sweet spots of the interbedded-type shale oil are then established. The interbedded-type shale oil is enriched in the Qingshankou I Member in the Changling Depression, and it has the features of medium-to-high maturity, the development of inorganic pores and micro-cracks, as well as higher oil saturation and better oil mobility. The sweet-spot enrichment is affected by lamina type, sedimentary facies, maturity, and sand–shale combinations. Both silty-laminated felsic shale and argillaceous-laminated felsic shale, which are developed in semi-deep lakes, are favorable shale lithofacies as they have excellent brittleness and oil mobility. The high maturity and the interbedded combination of sand and shale ensure the efficient production of shale oil, among which the pure-shale section issues a continuous contribution to the production process. Combined with oil testing, sweet-spot classification standards and a comprehensive evaluation of interbedded-type shale oil were established. An area of 639.2 km2 for the interbedded-type shale-oil sweet spots was preferred, among which type I (193 km2) belonged to the combination of “good shale and good siltstone interlayers adjacent”, and type II belonged to “good shale and medium siltstone interlayers adjacent” combination (which have long-term low and stable production prospects). The research provides theoretical guidance on the effective exploration and development of the shale oil of the Qingshankou Formation in the Changling Depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Fluids in Unconventional Reservoirs: Latest Advances)
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