Evaluation Method of Reservoir Heterogeneity Based on Neural Network Technology

Reservoir is the underground storage and accumulation place of oil and natural gas. The accuracy of reservoir heterogeneity evaluation has great economic value for correctly guiding the production and development of oil and natural gas. The high-order neural network method is used to comprehensively evaluate the heterogeneity of the reservoir. This method was applied to the evaluation of reservoir heterogeneity in the PK area. The results show that the heterogeneity of sandy clastic flow sand bodies is the weakest, the sandy landslide sand bodies are medium, and the turbidity current sand bodies are strongest. The evaluation method of reservoir heterogeneity based on high-order neural network technology effectively solves the problem of inconsistent conclusions of single-parameter evaluation of heterogeneity in conventional methods, and can quantitatively characterize the degree of reservoir heterogeneity.

The Impact of Plane Heterogeneity on Steam Flooding Development in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

Steam flooding is proven to be an effective method to improve the development effect of heavy oil reservoirs. And steam flooding is the most common oil recovery technology for heavy oil reservoirs in China. However, because of the various reservoir physical properties, bring great challenges to successful steam flooding development. According to the previous research and development practice, we know that reservoir heterogeneity has a great influence on the development effect of water flooding. Due to the heterogeneity of reservoirs, the development of different injection-production well patterns will be affected. However, it is uncertain whether reservoir heterogeneity has an impact on steam flooding development effect. In order to clarify the above scientific issues, we take Xinjiang steam flooding oilfield as the research object to carry out relevant research. According to the reservoir distribution characteristics of Xinjiang Oilfield, three conceptual heterogeneity models representing permeability, thickness, and geometric plane heterogeneity are firstly proposed. Then, mathematic models with different plane heterogeneity of reservoir sand were built. Based on the mathematic model, initial conditions, boundary condition, and geological parameters of conceptual models, different steam flooding patterns were studied by applying numerical calculation. It is found that heterogeneity is an important geological factor affecting the development of steam flooding of heavy oil reservoir. And the results showed that cumulative oil production was different of different flood pattern at the same production condition. It can be concluded that the development effect of steam flooding of heavy reservoirs is strongly influenced by flood pattern. In order to improve development effectiveness of steam flooding of heavy oil reservoirs, flood pattern should be optimized. For each type of plane heterogeneity reservoir, a reasonable flood pattern was proposed. For plane heterogeneity of permeability, thickness, and geometry form, under the conditions of that as the producer was deployed in high permeability, thick, wide sand body and injector was deployed in low permeability, thin, narrow sand body, the recovery of steam flooding in heavy oil reservoir was better. Finally, how the three types of plane heterogeneity influence steam flooding of heavy reservoirs was discussed by adopting a sensitivity analysis method. The results show that the influence of permeability heterogeneity is the largest, thickness heterogeneity is the second, and geometric heterogeneity is the least. This conclusion can help us improve the development of this reservoir. And also, the findings of this study can help for better understanding of properly deployed well pattern and how to effective develop the heavy oil reservoirs of strong plane heterogeneity for other heavy oil reservoirs.

Control of differential diagenesis of tight sandstone reservoirs on the gas–water distribution: A case study on the Upper Paleozoic He 8 Member in the northern Tianhuan depression of the Ordos Basin

The sandstone reservoirs in the Upper Paleozoic He 8 Member in the northern Tianhuan depression of the Ordos Basin are vastly different and feature particularly complex gas–water distributions. Scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy inclusions, relative permeability analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance were utilized in this study based on core data, identification statistics, and various thin-section microscope measurements. Samples from the Upper Paleozoic He 8 Member in the northern Tianhuan depression were collected to study the characteristics of reservoir heterogeneity and gas–water distribution, which were controlled by differential diagenesis. The results indicate that compaction and dissolution are the two most important factors controlling reservoir heterogeneity. Large differences in diagenesis–accumulation sequences and pore structure characteristics affect reservoir wettability, irreducible water saturation, and gas displacement efficiency, thereby controlling the gas–water distribution. The He 8 Member is a gas reservoir that is densified because of accumulation. Reservoirs can be divided into three types based on the relationship between diagenetic facies and gas–water distribution. Type I is characterized by weak compaction, precipitate or altered kaolinite cementation, strong dissolution of diagenetic facies, and high porosity and permeability. This type is dominated by grain-mold pores and intergranular dissolution pores and produces gas reservoirs with high gas yield. Type II is characterized by medium-strength compaction, altered kaolinite or chlorite cementation, weak dissolution of diagenetic facies, and medium porosity and permeability. This type is dominated by residual intergranular pores, a few residual intergranular pores, and dispersed dissolution pores, producing gas reservoirs with low gas yield. Type III is characterized by medium-strength compaction, altered kaolinite cementation, and medium-strength dissolution of diagenetic facies. This type is dominated by kaolinite intercrystal pores and dispersed dissolution pores, producing gas reservoirs with high water yield.

Numerical Simulation Study of Tracking the Displacement Fronts and Enhancing Oil Recovery Based on Ferrofluid Flooding

Water flooding is crucial means to improve oil recovery after primary production. However, the utilization ratio of injected water is often seriously affected by heterogeneities in the reservoir. Identification of the location of the displacement fronts and the associated reservoir heterogeneity is important for the management and improvement of water flooding. In recent years, ferrofluids have generated much interest from the oil industry owning to its unique properties. First, saturation of ferrofluids alters the magnetic permeability of the porous medium, which means that the presence of ferrofluids should produce magnetic anomalies in an externally imposed magnetic field or the local geomagnetic field. Second, with a strong external magnetic field, ferrofluids can be guided into regions that were bypassed and with high residual oil saturation. In view of these properties, a potential dual-application of ferrofluid as both a tracer to locate the displacement front and a displacing fluid to improve recovery in a heterogeneous reservoir is examined in this paper. Throughout the injection process, the magnetic field generated by electromagnets and altered by the distribution of ferrofluids was calculated dynamically by applying a finite element method, and a finite volume method was used to solve the multiphase flow. Numerical simulation results indicate that the displacement fronts in reservoirs can indeed be detected, through which the major features of reservoir heterogeneity can be inferred. After the locations of the displacement fronts and reservoir heterogeneities are identified, strong magnetic fields were applied to direct ferrofluids into poorly swept regions and the efficiency of the flooding was significantly improved.

Integrated Approach to Geostatistics For Optimal Reservoir Properties Distribution – Case Study of X-Reservoir in Niger Delta Basin

In-depth knowledge of geostatistical analysis, environment of deposition and reservoir facies types is important for optimal distribution of reservoir properties across the reservoir grid. Geostatistics is a veritable tool that is quantitatively used to model spatial continuity, anisotropy direction and capture reservoir heterogeneity for optimal distribution of reservoir properties. When spatial continuity and heterogeneity level of the reservoir are adequately understood and modeled, representative property distribution becomes possible. In the face of limited well data, modeling major and minor directions of horizontal variogram is highly impaired and it becomes difficult to adequately distribute properties within the reservoir grid with enough control. This study is focused on the integration of seismic data, core data, well logs and geological knowledge to carry out geostatistical analysis to optimally distribute facies, porosity and permeability properties within the grid. The degree of reservoir heterogeneity was determined quantitatively using semivariogram and Lorenz plots of core porosity and permeability data. Variogram map generated from seismic attribute was used in combination with the sparse well data points to determine the horizontal variogram. The available well data was adequate enough to model the vertical variogram. The environment of deposition was interpreted as lower to upper shoreface with channel deposits and some shallow marine influence. The properties were normal-scored and modeled with the determined variogram parameters while biasing them with facies. Results of the semivariogram and Lorenz plots showed that the reservoir is fairly heterogenous in terms of spatial continuity. Major direction of the geological continuity is in the Northeast-Southwest direction while the minor direction is orthogonal to it. Final result of the modeled properties was in consonance with the facies types described from the environment of deposition.