Dynamic mechanisms of tight gas accumulation and numerical simulation methods: Narrowing the gap between theory and field application

Wen Zhao, Chengzao Jia, Yan Song, Xiangfang Li, Lianhua Hou, Lin Jiang

Abstract view|106|times       PDF download|73|times

Abstract


Despite the significant progress made in tight gas exploration and development in recent years, the understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of tight gas accumulation is still limited, and numerical simulation methods are lacking. In fact, the gap between theory and field application has become an obstacle to the development of tight gas exploration and development. This work sheds light on the dynamic mechanisms of hydrocarbon accumulation in tight formations from the aspect of capillary self-sealing theory by embedding calculation of pressure- and temperature-dependent capillary force in a pore network model. The microscale dynamic mechanisms are scaled up to the reservoir level by geological simulation, and the quantitative evaluation of reserves based on real geological sections is realized. From the results, several considerations are made to assist with resource assessment and sweet spot prediction. Firstly, the self-sealing effect of capillary in the micro-nano pore-throat system is at the core of tight sandstone gas accumulation theory; the hydrocarbon-generated expansion force is the driving force, and capillary force comprises the resistance. Furthermore, microscopic capillary force studies can be embedded into a pore network model and scaled up to a geological model using relative permeability curve and capillary force curve. Field application can be achieved by geological numerical simulations at the reservoir scale. Finally, high temperature and high pressure can reduce capillary pressure, which increases gas saturation and reserves.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as: Zhao, W., Jia, C., Song, Y., Li, X., Hou, L., Jiang, L. Dynamic mechanisms of tight gas accumulation and numerical simulation methods: Narrowing the gap between theory and field application. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 8(3): 146-158. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.06.02


Keywords


Tight gas reservoir, dynamic mechanisms, numerical simulation, upscaling

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abukova, L. A., Volozh, Y. A., Dmitrievsky, A. N., et al. Geofluid dynamic concept of prospecting for hydrocarbon accumulations in the Earth crust. Geotectonics, 2019, 53: 372-382.

Algarhy, A., Ibrahim, A. F. Application of machine learning to predict the organic shale sweet-spot quality index. Paper SPE 211889 Presented at SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Wheeling, West Virginia, USA, 18-20 October, 2022.

Berry, F. A. Theory of osmosis and ion-exclusion by semipermeable membranes, in Hydrodynamics and Geochemistry of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Systems in the San-Juan Basin, Northwestern New Mexico and Southwestern Colorado, edited by F. A. Berry, Stanford University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, San Francisco, pp. 165-168, 1959.

Blanchard, K. S., Denman, O., Knight, A. S. Natural gas in Atokan (Bend) section of northern Fort Worth basin. AAPG Bulletin, 1968, 30(2): 1379-1388.

Blunt, M. J. Introduction to reservoir engineering, in Imperial College Lectures in Petroleum Engineering, The-Volume 2: Reservoir Engineering, edited by M. J. Blunt, World Scientific Publishing Company, London, pp. 22-23, 2017.

Budd, H. Developments in Arizona and Western New Mexico in 1958. AAPG Bulletin, 1959, 43(6): 1379-1388.

Burrows, L. C., Haeri, F., Cvetic, P., et al. A literature review of CO2, natural gas, and water-based fluids for enhanced oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs. Energy & Fuels, 2020, 34(5): 5331-5380.

Cluff, R. M., Byrnes, A. P. Relative permeability in tight gas sandstone reservoirs-the permeability jail model. Paper SPWLA 2010 58470 Presented at SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, Perth, Australia, 19-23 June, 2010.

Davis, T. B. Subsurface pressure profiles in gas-saturated basins. AAPG Special Volume, 1984, 9(38): 189-203.

Emmons, W. H. Experiments on accumulation of oil in sands. AAPG Bulletin, 1921a, 5(1): 103-104.

Emmons, W. H. Subsurface geology, in Geology of Petroleum, edited by A. I. Levorsen, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, USA, pp. 610-615, 1921b.

Fassett, J. E. Oil and gas resources of the San Juan basin, New Mexico and Colorado, in Economic Geology, US, edited by H. J. Gluskoter, D. D. Rice and R. B. Taylor, Geological Society of America, Boulder, pp. 357-372, 1991.

Fassett, J. E., Hinds J. S. Geology and Fuel Resources of the Fruitland Formation and Kirtland Shale of the San Juan basin, New Mexico and Colorado. Washington, USA, US Government Printing Office, 1971.

Gholami, A., Amirpour, M., Ansari, H. R., et al. Porosity prediction from pre-stack seismic data via committee machine with optimized parameters. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2022, 210: 110067.

Han, Z., Zhao, J., Chen, M., et al. Fluid inclusion characteristics and hydrocarbon accumulation period of He 8 member reservoir in the western area of Sulige Gasfield. Journal of Xi’an Shiyou University (Natural Science Edition), 2020, 35(1): 18-27. (in Chinese)

He, J., Yu, H., He, G., et al. Natural gas development prospect in Changqing gas province of the Ordos Basin. Natural Gas Industry B, 2022, 9(2), 197-208.

Hentz, T. F. Sequence stratigraphy of the upper Pennsylvanian Cleveland Formation: A major tight-gas sandstone, western Anadarko basin, Texas Panhandle. AAPG Bulletin, 1994, 78(4): 569-595.

Hills, J. M. Gas in Delaware and Val Verde basins, west Texas and southeastern New Mexico, in Natural Gases of North America, Volume Two, edited by B. W. Beebe, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 1394-1432, 1968.

Hu, T., Pang, X., Jiang, F., et al. Dynamic continuous hydrocarbon accumulation (DCHA): Existing theories and a new unified accumulation model. Earth-Science Reviews, 2022a, 232: 104109.

Hu, T., Wu, G., Xu, Z., et al. Potential resources of conventional, tight, and shale oil and gas from Paleogene Wenchang Formation source rocks in the Huizhou Depression. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2022b, 6(5): 402-414.

Israelachvili, J. N. Contrasts between Intermolecular, Interparticle, and Intersurface Forces, in Intermolecular and Surface Forces (Third Edition), edited by J. N. Israelachvili, Academic Press, California, pp. 205-222, 2011.

Jackson, P. C. Paleogeography of the Lower Cretaceous Mannville group of western Canada, in Elmworth: Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field, edited by J. A. Masters, Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 49-77, 1984.

Jia, A., He, D., Wei, Y., et al. Predictions on natural gas development trend in China for the next fifteen years. Journal of Natural Gas Geoscience, 2021, 6(2): 67-78. (in Chinese)

Jia, C., Pang, X., Song, Y. Whole petroleum system and ordered distribution pattern of conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Petroleum Science, 2023, 20(1): 1-19.

Jia, A., Wang, G., Meng D., et al. Well pattern infilling strategy to enhance oil recovery of giant low-permeability tight gas field: A case study of Sulige gas field, Ordos Basin. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2017, 39(7): 802-813. (in Chinese)

Jiang, L., Zhao, W., Huang, J., et al. Effects of interactions in natural gas/water/rock system on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. Scientific Reports, 2021, 11(1): 22070.

Khalifah, H. A., Glover, P. W. J., Lorinczi, P. Permeability prediction and diagenesis in tight carbonates using machine learning techniques. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2020, 112: 104096.

Khatibi, S., Ostadhassan, M., Xie, Z. H., et al. NMR relaxometry a new approach to detect geochemical properties of organic matter in tight shales. Fuel, 2019, 235: 167-177.

Law, B. E. Basin-centered gas systems. AAPG Bulletin, 2002, 86(11): 1891-1919.

Li, J., Yang, Z., Wu, S., et al. Key issues and development direction of petroleum geology research on source rock strata in China. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2021, 5(2): 121-126.

Lin, D., Wang, J., Yuan, B., et al. Review on gas flow and recovery in unconventional porous rocks. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2017, 1(1): 39-53.

Liu, X. The accumulation mechanism of lithologic gas reservoir of the upper Paleozoic in Eastern Ordos Basin. Xi’an, Northwestern University, 2008. Masters, J. A. Deep basin gas trap, western Canada. AAPG Bulletin, 1979, 63(2): 152-181.

Myers, D. L. Drilling in the deep basin, in Elmworth: Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field, edited by J. A. Masters, Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 283-290, 1984.

Pang, X., Jia, C., Wang, W., et al. Buoyance-driven hydrocarbon accumulation depth and its implication for unconventional resource prediction. Geoscience Frontiers, 2021, 12(4): 101133.

Rahmani, R. A. Facies control of gas trapping, Lower Cretaceous Falher A cycle, Elmworth area, northwestern Alberta, in Elmworth: Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field, edited by J. A. Masters, Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 141-152, 1984.

Rutter, E., Mecklenburgh, J., Bashir, Y. Matrix gas flow through “impermeable” rocks-shales and tight sandstone. Solid Earth, 2022, 13(3): 725-743.

Sell, B., Murphy, D., Hall, C. A. S. Energy return on energy invested for tight gas wells in the Appalachian Basin, United States of America. Sustainability, 2011, 3(10): 1986-2008.

Shanley, K. W., Cluff, R. M., Robinson, J. W. Factors controlling prolific gas production from low-permeability sandstone reservoirs: Implications for resource assessment, prospect development, and risk analysis. AAPG Bulletin, 2004, 88(8): 1083-1121.

Smith, R. D. Gas reserves and production performance of the Elmworth/Wapiti area of the deep basin, in Elmworth: Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field, edited by J. A. Masters, Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 153-172, 1984.

Sneider, R. M., Tinker, C. N., Meckel, L. D. Deltaic environment reservoir types and their characteristics. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 1978, 30(11): 1538-1546.

Soleymanzadeh, A., Kord, S., Monjezi, M. A new technique for determining water saturation based on conventional logs using dynamic electrical rock typing. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, 196: 107803.

Stayura, J. A. Completion practices in the Alberta deep basin, in Elmworth: Case Study of a Deep Basin Gas Field, edited by J. A. Masters, Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, pp. 291-296, 1984.

Thomas, J. D., Texas, W. Integrating synsedimentary tectonics with sequence stratigraphy to understand the development of the Fort Worth basin. Paper SWS AAPG 90023 Presented at AAPG Southwest Section Meeting, Ruidoso, New Mexico, 6-8 June, 2002.

Tissot, B. P., Welte, D. H. Petroleum Formation and Occurrence. Berlin, Germany, Springer-Verlag, 1984.

Wang, R., Liu, K., Shi, W., et al. Reservoir densification, pressure evolution, and natural gas accumulation in the Upper Paleozoic tight sandstones in the North Ordos Basin, China. Energies, 2022, 15(6): 1990.

Wang, R., Shi, W., Xie, X., et al. Clay mineral content, type, and their effects on pore throat structure and reservoir properties: Insight from the Permian tight sandstones in the Hangjinqi area, north Ordos Basin, China. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2020, 115: 104281.

Wu, K., Li, X., Guo, C., et al. A unified model for gas transfer in nanopores of shale-gas reservoirs: Coupling pore diffusion and surface diffusion. SPE Journal, 2016, 21(5): 1583-1611.

Wu, H., Zhao, J., Wu, W., et al. Formation and diagenetic characteristics of tight sandstones in closed to semiclosed systems: Typical example from the Permian Sulige gas field. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, 199: 108248.

Zhang, L., Pang, X., Pang, H., et al. Hydrocarbon accumulation model based on threshold combination control and favorable zone prediction for the lower Enping Formation, Southern Lufeng sag. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2022, 6(5): 438-450.

Zhao, W., Jia, C., Jiang, L., et al. Fluid charging and hydrocarbon accumulation in the sweet spot, Ordos Basin, China. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2021, 200: 108391.

Zhao, W., Wu, K., Jiang, L., et al. Charging and microscopic gas-water occurrence characteristics of tight sandstone gas based on pore network model. Natural Gas Industry, 2022, 42(5): 69-79. (in Chinese)

Zhao, W., Zhang, T., Jia, C., et al. Numerical simulation on natural gas migration and accumulation in sweet spots of tight reservoir. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2020, 81: 103454.

Zhou, Y., Hatzignatiou, D. G., Helland, J. O. On the estimation of CO2 capillary entry pressure: Implications on geological CO2 storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2017, 63: 26-36.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.06.02

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2023 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright ©2018. All Rights Reserved