Enhanced Tight Oil Recovery by Volume Fracturing in Chang 7 Reservoir: Experimental Study and Field Practice

Long Yu, Jinjie Wang, Chong Wang and Daixin Chen
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Long Yu: Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources (China University of Geosciences), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430074, China
Jinjie Wang: Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources (China University of Geosciences), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430074, China
Chong Wang: Research Institute of Exploration & Development, Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an 710018, China
Daixin Chen: No. 12 Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an 710018, China

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-22

Abstract: The Chang 7 reservoir in Changqing oilfield is rich in tight oil. However, due to the low formation permeability, it is very difficult to obtain economical oil production without stimulation treatments. Volume fracturing seems to be a more efficient tight oil recovery enhancement (EOR) method in Chang 7 pilot tests compared with conventional hydraulic fracturing. In this study, Chang 7 tight oil reservoir was first characterized by its geological property, hydrocarbon source rock distribution, and formation physiochemical property. Tight core flooding tests were then conducted to experimentally investigate the EOR ability of the volume fracturing technique. The field-scale practice was also demonstrated and analyzed. The results show that Chang 7 reservoir is favorable for the generation of a large amount of tight oil. Fractures created in tight cores can significantly improve the fluid flow conductivity and enhance the imbibition of displacing water, resulting in a greater tight oil recovery increment. Volume fracturing is an effective way to generate a larger number of fractures. Field application indicates that volume fracturing treatment can form a much greater reservoir stimulation volume. Daily oil production in the volume-fracturing-treated wells can be more than twice as high as that in the conventional-fracturing-treated wells.

Keywords: volume fracturing; Chang 7 reservoir; tight oil recovery; imbibition; oil production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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