Formation damage mechanism of a sandstone reservoir based on micro-computed tomography

Abstract

Formation damage caused by well drilling, completion, oil testing, oil recovery, and stimulation seriously affects oil and gas production, the evaluation of which plays an important role in the process of oilfield development. Thus, it is necessary to study formation damage mechanism from micro scale. In this study, two sets of displacement experiments were conducted using two sandstone samples and two chemical reagents. Each set was divided into three processes: first formation water injection, reverse chemical reagents injection and second formation water injection. According to the results of displacement experiments, the permeability changes of two sandstone samples were analyzed and the formation damage rates of different experimental processes were calculated respectively. In addition, we analyzed the formation damage of the two samples from the macroscopic aspect according to the changes of inlet pressure curves. We compared the pore structure changes of sandstone samples at different experiment processes by computed tomography (CT) images, and found the particle migration phenomenon. Based on the core sensitive regions observed by CT images, the pore network models of the sensitive regions were extracted to quantitatively characterize the change of pore structure parameters (pore radius, throat radius, coordination number and tortuosity). Finally, we designed a two-dimensional microscopic seepage channel model according to the real core structure. The flow rule of solid particles in fluid was simulated by finite element method, and the reason of reservoir clogging was analyzed. Through this study, we found that the injection of chemical reagents increased the inlet pressure and led to the decrease of core permeabilities. There was a negative correlation between the export rate of particle migration and matrix deformation degree.

Cited as: Wang, Z., Li, H., Lan, X., Wang, K., Yang, Y., Lisitsa, V. Formation damage mechanism of a sandstone reservoir based on micro-computed tomography. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2021, 5(1): 25-38, doi: 10.46690/ager.2021.01.04

References

Aarnes, J. E., Krogstad, S., Lie, K. A. A hierarchical multiscale method for two-phase flow based upon mixed finite elements and nonuniform coarse grids. Multiscale Modeling & Simulation, 2006, 5(2): 337-363.

Ali, M., Arif, M., Sahito, M. F., et al. CO2 -wettability of sandstones exposed to traces of organic acids: Implications for CO2 geo-storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019, 83: 61-68.

Al-Yaseri, A. Z., Lebedev, M., Vogt, S. J., et al. Pore-scale analysis of formation damage in Bentheimer sandstone with in-situ NMR and micro-computed tomography experiments. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2015, 129: 48-57.

An, S., Yao, J., Yang, Y., et al. Influence of pore structure parameters on flow characteristics based on a digital rock and the pore network model. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 31(4): 156-163.

Bagci, S., Kok, M. V., Turksoy, U. Determination of formation damage in limestone reservoirs and its effect on pro-duction. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2000, 28(1-2): 1-12.

Borazjani, S., Behr, A., Genolet, L., et al. Effects of fines migration on low-salinity waterflooding: Analytical modelling. Transport in Porous Media, 2017, 116(1): 213-249.

Guo, X., Shen, Y., He, S. Quantitative pore characterization and the relationship between pore distributions and organic matter in shale based on nano-CT image analysis: A case study for a lacustrine shale reservoir in the triassic chang 7 member, ordos basin, china. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2015, 27: 1630-1640.

Hussain, F., Zeinijahromi, A., Bedrikovetsky, R., et al. An experimental study of improved oil recovery through fines-assisted waterflooding. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2013, 109: 187-197.

Izgec, O., Demiral, B., Bertin, H., et al. CO2 injection into saline carbonate aquifer formations I: Laboratory investigation. Transport in Porous Media, 2008, 72(1): 1-24.

Juanes, R., Samper, J., Molinero, J. A general and efficient formulation of fractures and boundary conditions in the finite element method. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 2002, 54(12): 1751-1774.

Klise, K. A., Moriarty, D., Yoon, H., et al. Automated contact angle estimation for three-dimensional X-ray microtomography data. Advances in Water Resources, 2016, 95: 152-160.

Lemon, P., Zeinijahromi, A., Bedrikovetsky, P., et al. Effects of injected-water salinity on waterflood sweep efficiency through induced fines migration. Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, 2011, 50(9): 82-94.

Li, G., Tang, H., Xu, C., et al. Research on the formation damage to Penglaizhen Formation shallow gas reservoirs of Jurassic in west Sichuan Basin. Natural Gas Industry, 2003, 23(6): 79-81. (in Chinese)

Li, X., Zhang, G., Ge, J., et al. Potential formation damage and mitigation methods using seawater-mixed acid to stimulate sandstone reservoirs. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 35: 11-20.

Liu, Z., Yang, Y., Yao, J., et al. Pore-scale remaining oil distribution under different pore volume water injection based on CT technology. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2017, 1(3): 171-181.

Luo, B., Guo, J., Fu, W., et al. Experimental investigation of shear slippage behavior in naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs using X-ray CT. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2019, 122: 104066.

Luquot, L., Roetting, T. S., Carrera, J. Characterization of flow parameters and evidence of pore clogging during limestone dissolution experiments. Water Resources Research, 2014, 50(8): 6305-6321.

Ma, K., Jiang, H., Li, J., et al. Experimental study on the micro alkali sensitivity damage mechanism in low-permeability reservoirs using QEMSCAN. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 36: 1004-1017.

Ma, S., Zheng, J., Tang, D., et al. Application of X-ray computed tomography technology in gas hydrate. Energy Technology, 2019, 7(6): 1800699.

Moghadasi, J., Müller-Steinhagen, H., Jamialahmadi, M., et al. Model study on the kinetics of oil field formation damage due to salt precipitation from injection. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2004, 43(3-4): 201-217.

Oliveira, M. A., Vaz, A. S. L., Siqueira, F. D., et al. Slow migration of mobilised fines during flow in reservoir rocks: Laboratory study. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2014, 122: 534-541.

Wang, C., Yao, J., Yang, Y., et al. Percolation properties analysis of carbonate digital core based on lattice boltzmann method. Journal of China University of Petroleum (Edition of Natrual Sciences), 2012, 36(6): 94-98. (in Chinese)

Wang, H., Pang, Z., Liu, D., et al. Formation damage mechanism and controlling measures for heavy oil reservoir of steam injection. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2009, 30(4): 555-559. (in Chinese)

Wang, J., Huang, Y., Zhou, F., et al. Study on reservoir damage during acidizing for high-temperature and ultra-deep tight sandstone. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2020, 191: 107231.

Wang, X., Yin, H., Zhao, X., et al. Microscopic remaining oil distribution and quantitative analysis of polymer flooding based on CT scanning. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2019, 3(4): 448-456.

Xu, C., Kang, Y., You, Z., et al. Review on formation damage mechanisms and processes in shale gas reservoir: Known and to be known. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 36: 1208-1219.

Yang, Y., Li, Y., Yao, J., et al. Formation damage evaluation of a sandstone reservoir via pore-scale X-ray computed tomography analysis. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2019, 183: 106356.

Yang, Y., Wang, K., Lv, Q., et al. Flow simulation considering adsorption boundary layer based on digital rock and finite element method. Petroleum Science, 2020, doi: 10.1007/s12182-020-00476-4.

Yang, Y., Yao, J., Wang, C., et al. New pore space characterization method of shale matrix formation by considering organic and inorganic pores. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2015, 27(Part2): 496-503.

Zhang, X., Lu, Y., Tang, J., et al. Experimental study on fracture initiation and propagation in shale using supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing. Fuel, 2017, 190: 370-378.

Zhao, Y., Zhao, J., Shi, D., et al. Micro-CT analysis of structural characteristics of natural gas hydrate in porous media during decomposition. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 31: 139-148.