15 June 2019, Volume 46 Issue 3
    

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  • DAI Jinxing,NI Yunyan,LIAO Fengrong,HONG Feng,YAO Limiao
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 435-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60025-X
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    The core of coal-derived gas theory is that coal measure is the gas source, and the hydrocarbon generation of coal measure is dominated by gas and supplemented by oil, so discoveries in related basins are dominated by gas fields. Discovering and developing giant gas fields, especially those super giant gas fields with recoverable reserves more than 1×10 12m 3, plays a key role in determining whether a country can be a major gas producing country with annual output over 500×10 8m 3. The coal resource and coal-derived gas reserves are abundant and widespread in the world, and coal-derived gas makes a major contribution to the gas reserves and gas production in the world. By the end of 2017, 13 super giant coal-derived gas fields have been discovered in the world. The total initial recoverable reserves were 49.995 28×10 12m 3, accounting for 25.8% of the total remaining recoverable reserves (193.5×10 12 m 3) in that year in the world. In 2017, there were 15 giant gas producing countries in the world, with a total gas yield of 28 567×10 8m 3. Among them, six major coal-derived gas producing countries had a total gas yield of 11 369×10 8m 3, accounting for 39.8% of total gas yield of major gas producing countries. The Urengoi gas field is a super giant coal-derived gas field with the most cumulative gas production in the world. By the end of 2015, the Urengoi gas field had cumulative gas production of 63 043.96×10 8m 3, with the highest annual gas yield in the world. Its gas output was 3 300×10 8m 3 in 1989, accounting for 41.4% and 15.7% of the gas output of Russia and the world, respectively. This study introduces the gas source rocks of the basins with super giant coal-derived gas fields in Russia, Turkmenistan, Netherlands, Mozambique and China, and their significances for these countries becoming giant gas producing countries in the world.

  • ZOU Caineng,YANG Zhi,HUANG Shipeng,MA Feng,SUN Qinping,LI Fuheng,PAN Songqi,TIAN Wenguang
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 451-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60026-1
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    Coal-measure gas is the natural gas generated by coal, carbonaceous shale, and dark shale in coal-measure strata. It includes resources of continuous-type coalbed methane (CBM), shale gas and tight gas reservoirs, and trap-type coal-bearing gas reservoirs. Huge in resources, it is an important gas source in the natural gas industry. The formation and distribution characteristics of coal-measure gas in San Juan, Surat, West Siberia and Ordos basins are introduced in this paper. By reviewing the progress of exploration and development of coal-measure gas around the world, the coal-measure gas is confirmed as an important strategic option for gas supply. This understanding is mainly manifested in three aspects. First, globally, the Eurasian east-west coal-accumulation belt and North American north-south coal-accumulation belt are two major coal-accumulation areas in the world, and the Late Carboniferous-Permian, Jurassic and end of Late Cretaceous-Neogene are 3 main coal-accumulation periods. Second, continuous-type and trap-type are two main accumulation modes of coal-measure gas; it is proposed that the area with gas generation intensity of greater than 10×10 8 m 3/km 2 is essential for the formation of large coal-measure gas field, and the CBM generated by medium- to high-rank coal is usually enriched in syncline, while CBM generated by low-rank coal is likely to accumulate when the source rock and caprock are in good configuration. Third, it is predicted that coal-measure gas around the world has huge remaining resources, coal-measure gas outside source is concentrated in Central Asia-Russia, the United States, Canada and other countries/regions, while CBM inside source is largely concentrated in 12 countries. The production of coal-measure gas in China is expected to exceed 1000×10 8 m 3 by 2030, including (500-550)×10 8 m 3 conventional coal-measure gas, (400-450)×10 8 m 3 coal-measure tight gas, and (150-200)×10 8 m 3 CBM.

  • LI Jian,HAN Zhongxi,YAN Qituan,WANG Shuying,GE Shouguo
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 463-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60027-3
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    The mercury content in natural gas samples from more than 500 gas wells in eight large gas bearing basins of China was tested, mercury release experiments on two coal samples from different areas were conducted, and the mercury content of 11 coal samples from different gas wells of Ordos Basin was tested. The mercury distribution of the coal derived gas has three features: The first is that mercury content of coal derived gas is generally much higher than that of oil derived gas, the second is that the coal derived gases from different fields vary widely in mercury content, the third is that the mercury content in coal derived gas increases with the increase of production layer depth. Mercury in coal derived natural gas mainly originates from the source rock. Besides three evidences, namely, coal derived gas mercury content is much higher than that of oil derived gas, mercury content of gas with high carbon dioxide content decreases with the increase of carbon dioxide content, and the coal bearing strata have the material base to generate natural gas with high mercury content, the pyrolysis experiment of two coal samples show that coal can produce natural gas with high mercury content during the process of thermal evolution. The mercury content of coal derived natural gas is controlled mainly by the temperature of source rock and the sulfur environment of reservoir. According to lithospheric material cycling process and oil-gas formation process, the formation of mercury in coal derived gas can be divided into four stages, transportation and deposition, shallow burial, deep burial, and preservation and destruction.

  • YANG Jihai,HUANG Baojia
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 471-481. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60028-5
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    Based on the chemical and stable carbon isotopic composition of natural gas and light hydrocarbons, along with regional geological data, the genetic type, origin and migration of natural gases in the L lithologic gas field, the eastern slope of Yinggehai Sag were investigated. The results show that these gases have a considerable variation in chemical composition, with 33.6%-91.5% hydrocarbon, 0.5%-62.2% CO2, and dryness coefficients ranging from 0.94 to 0.99. The alkane gases are characterized by δ 13C1 values of -40.71‰--27.40‰, δ 13C2 values of -27.27‰--20.26‰, and the isoparaffin contents accounting for 55%-73% of the total C5-C7 light hydrocarbons. These data indicate that the natural gases belong to the coal-type gas and are mainly derived from the Miocene terrigenous organic-rich source rocks. When the CO2 contents are greater than 10%, the δ 13CCO2 values are -9.04‰ to - 0.95‰ and the associated helium has a 3He/ 4He value of 7.78×10 -8, suggesting that the CO2 here is crustal origin and inorganic and mainly sourced from the thermal decomposition of calcareous mudstone and carbonate in deep strata. The gas migrated in three ways, i.e., migration of gas from the Miocene source rock to the reservoirs nearby; vertical migration of highly mature gas from deeper Meishan and Sanya Formations source rock through concealed faults; and lateral migration along permeable sandbodies. The relatively large pressure difference between the “source” and “reservoir” is the key driving force for the vertical and lateral migration of gas. Short-distance migration and effective “source - reservoir” match control the gas distribution.

  • CHEN Jianping,WANG Xulong,NI Yunyan,XIANG Baoli,LIAO Fengrong,LIAO Jiande,ZHAO Changyi
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 482-495. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60029-7
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    Natural gas has been discovered in many anticlines in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin. However, the geochemical characteristics of natural gas in different anticlines haven’t been compared systematically, particularly, the type and source of natural gas discovered recently in Well Gaotan-1 at the Gaoquan anticline remain unclear. The gas composition characteristics and carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions in different anticlines were compared and sorted systematically to identify genetic types and source of the natural gas. The results show that most of the gas samples are wet gas, and a few are dry gas; the gas samples from the western and middle parts have relatively heavier carbon isotope composition and lighter hydrogen isotope composition, while the gas samples from the eastern part of southern basin have lighter carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions. The natural gas in the southern margin is thermogenic gas generated by freshwater-brackish water sedimentary organic matter, which can be divided into three types, coal-derived gas, mixed gas and oil-associated gas, in which coal-derived gas and mixed gas take dominance. The Jurassic coal measures is the main natural gas source rock in the southern margin, and the Permian lacustrine and the Upper Triassic lacustrine-limnetic facies source rocks are also important natural gas source rocks. The natural gas in the western part of the southern margin is derived from the Jurassic coal measures and the Permian lacustrine source rock, while the natural gas in the middle part of the southern margin is mainly derived from the Jurassic coal measures, partly from the Permian and/or the Upper Triassic source rocks, and the natural gas in the eastern part of the southern margin is originated from the Permian lacustrine source rock. The natural gas in the Qingshuihe oil and gas reservoir of Well Gaotan-1 is a mixture of coal-derived gas and oil-associated gas, of which the Jurassic and Permian source rocks contribute about half each.

  • QIN Shengfei,HUANG Chunhu,ZHANG Benjian,YANG Yu,YUAN Miao
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 496-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60030-3
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    The original gas reservoirs in different areas and different layers of the Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the central Sichuan Basin are studied to reveal the relationships of iC4/nC4 and iC5/nC5 ratios in coal-derived gas components with maturity using conventional natural gas geochemical research methods. The testing results of 73 gas samples from 8 gas fields show that the iC4/nC4 and iC5/nC5 ratios in coal-derived gas have a good positive correlation, and the correlation coefficient is above 0.8. Both the iC4/nC4 and iC5/nC5 ratios become higher with the increase of natural gas dryness coefficient (C1/C1+) and the methane carbon isotope becoming less negative. These parameters are highly correlated. This study not only reveals characteristics of heavy hydrocarbon isomers generated by coal formation, but also puts forward new identification indicators reflecting the maturity of coal-derived gas, the regression between iC4/nC4, iC5/nC5 and Ro, which can provide an important reference for maturity, migration and accumulation of coal-derived gas, and late stage reformation of coal-derived gas reservoirs.

  • ZHU Guangyou,CHI Linxian,ZHANG Zhiyao,LI Tingting,YANG Haijun,CHEN Weiyan,ZHAO Kun,YAN Huihui
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 504-517. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60031-5
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    The Dabei gas field in the Kuqa Depression of the Tarim Basin is the most complex and deep continental condensate gas field in China. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometer (GC×GC-TOFMS) analysis was conducted on five condensate oil samples from this field. The results show that the samples have n-alkane series in complete preservation and rich adamantanes. According to the methyladamantane index, the condensate oil is the product of the source rock with vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of 1.3%-1.6%. According to the gas maturity calculated through carbon isotope and vitrinite reflectance, the natural gas is corresponding to Ro of 1.3%-1.7%, reflecting that the natural gas and condensate oil are basically formed during the same period at the high maturity stage of source rock. The Dabei gas field has favorable geological conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation: thick salt rock in the Paleogene acts as a regional high-quality caprock directly overlying the high-quality sandstone reservoir of the Cretaceous, the coal source rocks have high hydrocarbon generation intensity and provide continuous oil and gas, and the subsalt thrust structures develop in rows with rich faults, providing migration pathways for oil and gas migration. These factors together controlled the formation of the Dabei gas field.

  • HUANG Shipeng,DUAN Shufu,WANG Zecheng,JIANG Qingchun,JIANG Hua,SU Wang,Feng Qingfu,HUANG Tongfei,YUAN Miao,REN Mengyi,CHEN Xiaoyue
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 518-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60032-7
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    To study the composition, affecting factors of the stable hydrogen isotopes of alkane gases and their application to identification of the natural gas origin and maturities, the chemical and isotopic compositions of 118 gas samples of Carboniferous- Permian in the Ordos Basin, and of Triassic in the Sichuan Basin, combined with 68 gas samples from the Sinian and Cambrian reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin, and Ordovician and Siliurian reservoirs of Tarim Basin, are analyzed comprehensively. The following conclusions are obtained: (1) Natural gases in the study area and strata of the Ordos and Sichuan basins are dominated by alkane gases, and the dryness coefficients and maturities of the Carboniferous-Permian gases in the Ordos Basin are higher than the gases in the Triassic Xujiahe Formation of the Sichuan Basin, while the hydrogen isotopes of the latter ones are much enriched in 2H than the former. (2) The δ 2HCH4-C1/C2+3 genetic identification diagram of natural gas was drawn, and the diagrams of hydrogen isotopic differences between the heavy alkane gases and methane vs. hydrogen isotopes of alkane gases can also be used in natural gas genetic identification. (3) The δ 2HCH4-Ro formulas of coal-formed gas in different areas of the two basins are given, and the δ 2HC2H6-δ 2HCH4 is a new index for maturity, and the (δ 2HC2H6δ 2HCH4)-Ro formula of the coal-formed gas can be used to calculate the maturity of the natural gas. (4) The stable hydrogen isotopes of alkane gases are affected by parent materials in source rocks, maturity, mixing and the aqueous medium conditions, among which the aqueous paleo-salinity is the key factor. To sum up, the hydrogen isotopes of alkane gases are affected by multiple factors, and they are significant to the identification of the origin, and maturity of natural gas, and the water environment during the deposition of source rocks.

  • NI Yunyan,LIAO Fengrong,GONG Deyu,JIAO Lixin,GAO Jinliang,YAO Limiao
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 531-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60033-9
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    Turpan-Hami Basin is a major petroliferous basin in China. To date the natural gas exploration is concentrated in the Taibei sag. The origin and source of natural gas in the Taibei sag has long been controversial. To further investigate the origin and source of the natural gas in the Taibei sag, combined with previous studies and the local geological backgrounds, this study collected 23 gas samples from the Baka, Qiuling, Shanshan and Wenmi oil fields in the Taibei sag and analyzed the sample composition, stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes of all the gas samples. The results show that, gases from the four oil fields in the Taibei sag are dominated by hydrocarbon gas and belong to wet gas. Methane accounts for 65.84% to 97.94%, the content of heavy hydrocarbon (C2-5) can be up to 34.98%, while the content of nonhydrocarbon (CO2, N2) is trace. The δ 13C1 value is -44.9‰ to -40.4‰, δ 13C2 is -28.2‰ to -24.9‰, δ 13C3 is -27.1‰ to -18.0‰ and δ 13C4 is -26.7‰ to -22.1; while the variation of δD1 is not significant from -272‰ to -252‰, δD2 is -236‰ to -200‰ and δD3 is -222‰ to -174‰. Methane and its homologues (C2-5) are characterized by normal stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic distribution pattern, i.e., with the increase of carbon number, methane and its homologues become more and more enriched in 13C or D (δ 13C1<δ 13C2<δ 13C3<δ 13C4<δ 13C5, δD1<δD2<δD3), which is consistent with the carbon and hydrogen isotopic features of typical thermogenic gas. All these results show that the natural gases in the four oil fields are coal-derived gas with low maturity (Ro averaged at 0.7%), and are sourced from the Middle-Lower Jurassic coal measure. The hydrogen isotopic data of natural gas are affected by both thermal maturity and the water medium of the environment where source rocks are formed. The hydrogen isotopic data indicate that the source rocks are formed in terrestrial limnetic facies with freshwater. Natural gases from Well Ba23 and Well Ke19 experienced biodegradation in the late stage.

  • JIN Fengming,WANG Xin,LI Hongjun,WU Xuesong,FU Lixin,LOU Da,ZHANG Jinning,FENG Jianyuan
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 543-552. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60034-0
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    Well Yinggu 1 drilled on the tectonic belt of the Wumaying buried-hill in Huanghua Depression obtained non-H2S high-yield oil and gas flow from the Permian Lower Shihezi Formation sandstone. The oil and gas are derived from the Upper Paleozoic coal source rock, the petroleum reservoir is an inner buried-hill primary oil and gas accumulation, showing a good prospect of the Paleozoic inner buried-hill primary reservoir exploration. The formation and accumulation of the primary petroleum reservoir in the Wumaying inner buried-hill are discussed by studying the primary source conditions, the inner buried-hill reservoir-cap combinations and the hydrocarbon accumulation period. The primary petroleum reservoir has three preponderant characteristics of accumulation: secondary large-scale gas generation of coal source rock, multi reservoir-cap combinations and mainly late hydrocarbon charging, which formed the compound hydrocarbon accumulation of the above-source sandstone and under-source carbonate rock in the Paleozoic inner buried-hill. Along with the Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic activities, the formation of the primary reservoir in Wumaying inner buried-hill is characterized by "mixed oil and gas charge in local parts in early stage, adjustment accumulation due to structural high migration in middle stage, and large-scale natural gas charge and compound accumulation in late stage".

  • REN Jian,LYU Dingyou,CHEN Xingpeng,LIU Pengbo,GUAN Dayong,SU Kai,ZHANG Hongguo
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 553-564. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60035-2
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    Based on 3D seismic data, the evolution mechanism and characteristics of faults were investigated to reveal the structural origin and its control on differential hydrocarbon accumulation through comprehensive analyses, including structure style analysis, fault activity analysis, analogue modelling and comparison among the wells. The complex fault system with differently trending faults resulted from strike-slip and rifting in Paleogene was partly activated, developed successively and stretched obliquely by the near-NS extensional stress field in Neogene. In the area little affected by pre-existing faults, new faults nearly perpendicular to the extension direction developed. The structural development in the study area was not caused by transpressional strike slip. Under the oblique extension effect of pre-existing faults, if the angle between the strike of pre-existing fault and the extensional direction is different, the strike-slip and extensional stresses are different in ratio. The larger the angle between the two is, the stronger the extensional component, the poorer the sealing ability of the fault, and the stronger the oil and gas migration capacity will be. Conversely, the smaller the angle between the two is, the stronger the strike-slip component, the better the sealing ability of the fault, and the poorer the oil and gas migration capacity will be. The accumulation condition analysis results considering the fault trend are in good agreement with the oil and gas shows in wells drilled in this area.

  • SALIMIDELSHAD Yaser,MORADZADEH Ali,KAZEMZADEH Ezatallah,POURAFSHARY Peyman,MAJDI Abbas
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 565-575. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60036-4
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    To examine the effect of pressure on pore structure and petrophysical properties of carbonate rock, the porosity, permeability, CT scanning, SEM and elastic wave velocity of two carbonate core plug samples from an oilfield in Southwest Iran were analyzed under cyclic pressure. One of the plugs was calcite and the other was dolomite with anhydrite nodules. The cyclic pressure exerted on the samples increased from 13.79 MPa to 27.58 MPa in six steps, and the variations in petrophysical properties of the two samples at different pressure loading and unloading steps were counted and analyzed. The results show that the calcite sample decreases in porosity and permeability with the increase of pressure, which is consistent with the results from compression and shear wave velocity tests. In the dolomite sample, the decreasing trend was not observed; fluctuations of compressive and shear velocities were observed during the loading stage, which may be due to different geometries of the pores and the porosity variation in the sample. Understanding the variation of carbonate petrophysical properties with pressure is helpful for optimizing reservoir development scheme.

  • JIAO Fangzheng
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 576-582. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60037-6
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    Different from the continental layered sandstone and fracture-pore carbonate reservoirs, the fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin are mainly composed of fractured-vuggy bodies of different sizes and shapes. Based on years of study on the geological features, flow mechanisms, high-precision depiction and the recovery mode of fractured-vuggy bodies, the idea of “volumetric development” is proposed and put into practice. A “body by body” production methodology is established with respect to volumetric unit of fractures and vugs based on vuggy body’s spatial allocation and reserves. A variety of development wells, various technological methods, and multi-type injection media are used to develop this type of reservoirs in an all-around way. As a result, the resource and production structures of the Tahe oilfield are significantly improved and a highly efficient development is achieved.

  • YANG Zhaobiao,LI Yangyang,QIN Yong,SUN Hansen,ZHANG Ping,ZHANG Zhengguang,WU Congcong,LI Cunlei,CHEN Changxiao
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 583-593. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60038-8
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    Based on the productivity equation of coalbed methane (CBM) well, considering the impact of coal reservoir reformability on gas well productivity, the main production layer optimization index in the “three-step method” of optimal combination of production layers is corrected, and then the CBM production layer potential index is introduced to evaluate favorable areas for commingled multi-coal seam production. Through analysis of the key parameters of coal reservoirs affecting the CBM productivity index, a development unit division method for areas with multi-coal seams is established, and a quantitative grading index system is proposed. On this basis, the evaluation process of CBM development favorable area is developed: the mature 3-D modeling technology is used to characterize the reservoir physical properties of multi-coal seams in full-scale; the production layer potential index of each grid is calculated, and the production layer potential index contour under single-layer or commingled multi-layer production are plotted; according to the distribution of the contour of production layer potential index, the quantitative index of CBM development unit is adopted to outline the grade I, II, III coal reservoir distribution areas, and thus to pick out the favorable development areas. The practical application in the Yuwang block of Laochang in Yunnan proved that the favorable area evaluation process proposed can effectively overcome the defects of selecting favorable development areas only relying on evaluation results of a major coal seam pay, and enhance the accuracy of the evaluation results, meeting the requirements of selecting favorable areas for multi-coal seam commingled CBM production.

  • LI Tao,LI Min,JING Xueqi,XIAO Wenlian,CUI Qingwu
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 594-604. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60039-X
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    Based on micro-CT scanning experiments, three-dimensional digital cores of tight sandstones were established to quantitatively evaluate pore-scale anisotropy and pore-distribution heterogeneity. The quartet structure generation set method was used to generate three-dimensional anisotropic, heterogeneous porous media models. A multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann model was applied to analyze relationships of permeability with pore-scale anisotropy and pore distribution heterogeneity, and the microscopic influence mechanism was also investigated. The tight sandstones are of complex pore morphology, strong anisotropy and pore distribution heterogeneity, while anisotropy factor has obvious directivity. The obvious anisotropy influences the orientation of long axis of pores and fluid flow path, making tortuosity smaller and flowing energy loss less in the direction with the greater anisotropy factor. The strong correlation of tortuosity and anisotropy is the inherent reason of anisotropy acting on permeability. The influence of pore distribution heterogeneity on permeability is the combined effects of specific surface area and tortuosity, while the product of specific surface area and tortuosity shows significantly negative correlation with heterogeneity. The stronger the pore distribution heterogeneity, the smaller the product and the greater the permeability. In addition, the permeability and tortuosity of complex porous media satisfy a power relation with a high fitting precision, which can be applied for approximate estimation of core permeability.

  • LEI Qun,GUAN Baoshan,CAI Bo,WANG Xin,XU Yun,TONG Zheng,WANG Haiyan,FU Haifeng,LIU Ze,WANG Zhen
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 605-613. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60040-6
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    Through reviewing the development history of reservoir hydraulic fracturing technology, this paper demonstrated the latest research progress at home and abroad and summarized six technical gaps between China and the world, that is fracture propagation mechanism, fracturing software development, fracturing vehicle equipment, downhole tools temperature and pressure resistance, proppant replacement and big data information database. The technical difficulties include lack of geological-engineering deep integration, unclear factors on horizontal well multi-fracture propagation, difficulty in reducing construction costs, environment protection pressure, lack of new experimental and field test equipment, immature techniques for fracturing fluid, and low efficacy of factorized fracturing equipment. We proposed six suggestions on China’s future reservoir hydraulic fracturing technology: (1) strengthen the mechanism study of unconventional reservoir hydraulic fracturing; (2) accelerate the development of geological-engineering integration software; (3) promote the upgrading of EOR fracturing techniques; (4) carry out low-cost multi-functional fracturing fluid formula experiment; (5) complete high-efficiency fracturing equipment; (6) build big database, informational and remote decision-making system of hydraulic fracturing.

  • ABRAMOV Aleksandr
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 614-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60041-8
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    A model accounting for more than 30 parameters of drilling projects, and a computer program to enumerate groupings of the wells of a pad with consequent calculations of technical-economic characteristics, are developed and tested. Seven drilling scenarios for a 24-well pad with different starting oil flow rates for the wells are studied. Optimal well groupings in terms of Net Present Value (NPV) for three discount rates and five oil production decline rates have been found. The results show that: NPV-maximizing well pad designs with unequal (varying) numbers of wells in groups (clusters) may require only slight alterations of existing designs (changing the configurations of a couple of well clusters); relative NPV gain is inversely proportional to the absolute value of NPV; observed increases in NPV in groupings with varying numbers of wells reach up to 1% with respect to groupings with equal (constant) numbers of wells in groups for conventional projects, and could reach 2% and more for shale formation development projects, and up to 45% for marginal projects.

  • HAO Zhongxian,ZHU Shijia,PEI Xiaohan,HUANG Peng,TONG Zheng,WANG Benyuan,LI Deyin
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 621-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60042-X
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    Submersible electrical motor direct-drive progressing cavity pump (PCP) rodless lifting was studied to solve the traditional rod-drive pump problems, such as rod-tubing wearing, low efficiency and short running time. The theoretical researches and laboratory experiments of key tools such as submersible motor and the construction technology of lifting system were introduced. The field application and economic benefit were analyzed and compared with the traditional rod pumping unit. A new low speed and large torque permanent magnet synchronous motor was developed. This motor was used to drive PCP without gear reducer, which improved the reliability and feasibility. It can run at the speed from 50 to 500 r/min with stepless speed regulation, and it can perform high efficiency and large torque. Besides, other key supporting tools, such as motor protector and flex shaft, were developed. The submersible electrical motor direct-drive PCP technology can be used in a 139.7 mm (5.5 in) casing well, with daily output ranging from 5 to 50 m 3. Until now, the technology has been deployed more than 100 wells. The field application results show that it eliminates the rod-tubing wearing and saves electric energy by more than 30% compared with the traditional rod pumping unit. And it also makes the oil produced in a safe and environmental friendly way.

  • JI Guang,JIA Ailin,MENG Dewei,GUO Zhi,WANG Guoting,CHENG Lihua,ZHAO Xin
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 629-641. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60043-1
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    Based on the analysis of influencing factors of tight gas recovery and reservoir geological characteristics, the types of remaining tight gas reserves in the Sulige gas field are summarized from the perspective of residual gas genesis to estimate residual gas reserves of different types and provide corresponding technical strategies for enhancing gas recovery. The residual gas reserves in the Sulige gas field can be divided into four types: well pattern uncontrollable, horizontal well missing, imperfect perforation, blocking zone in composite sandbodies. Among them, the uncontrolled remaining gas of well pattern and blocking zone in composite sandbodies are the main body for tapping potential and improving recovery factor, and well pattern infilling adjustment is the main means. Taking into account reservoir geological characteristics, production dynamic response and economic benefit requirements, four methods for infilling vertical well pattern, i.e., quantitative geological model method, dynamic controlled range of gas well method, production interference method and economic and technical index evaluation method, as well as a design method of combined vertical well pattern with horizontal well pattern are established. Under certain economic and technological conditions, the reasonable well pattern density of enrichment zone of gas field is proved to be 4 wells per square kilometers, which can increase the recovery rate of the gas field from 32% to about 50%. Meanwhile, five matching techniques for enhancing gas recovery aimed at interlayer undeveloped residual gas have been formed, including tapping potential of old wells, technological technology optimizing of new wells, rational production system optimizing, drainage and gas producing, and reducing waste production, which could increase the recovery rate for 5% based on well pattern infilling. The research results provide effective support for the long-term stable production of 230×10 8 m 3/a of the Sulige gas field and production growth in the Changqing gas area.

  • SU Xuefeng,LIU Yan,CUI Zhouqi,ZHANG Jianguo,YU Li,WANG Kai
    Petroleum Exploration & Development. 2019, 46(3): 642-650. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(19)60044-3
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    A desorption simulation experiment with the condition of simulated strata was designed. The experiment, under different depressurizing rates and the same fluid saturation, was conducted on the sample from 3# coal of Daning coal mine in Jincheng, Shanxi Province. The gas production rate and pressure change at both ends of the sample were studied systematically, and the mechanisms of some phenomena in the experiment were discussed. The experimental results show that, whether at fast or slow depressurizing rate, the methane adsorbed to high-rank coal can effectively desorb and the desorption efficiency can reach above 90%. There is an obvious inflection point on the gas yield curve during the desorption process and it appears after the pressure on the lump of coal reduces below the desorption pressure. The desorption of methane from high-rank coal is mainly driven by differential pressure, and high pressure difference is conducive to fast desorption. In the scenario of fast depressurization, the desorption inflection appears earlier and the gas production rate in the stage of rapid desorption is higher. It is experimentally concluded that the originally recognized strategy of long-term slow CBM production is doubtful and the economic benefit of CBM exploitation from high-rank coal can be effectively improved by rapid drainage and pressure reduction. The field experiment results in pilot blocks of Fanzhuang and Zhengzhuang show that by increasing the drainage depressurization rate, the peak production of gas well would increase greatly, the time of gas well to reach the economic production shortened, the average time for a gas well to reach expected production reduced by half, and the peak gas production is higher.