Characterization of Pore Structures and Implications for Flow Transport Property of Tight Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Lucaogou Formation, Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, Northwestern China

Yang Su, Ming Zha, Keyu Liu, Xiujian Ding, Jiangxiu Qu and Jiehua Jin
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Yang Su: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Ming Zha: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Keyu Liu: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Xiujian Ding: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Jiangxiu Qu: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Jiehua Jin: Geophysical Research Institute, Shengli Oilfield Company of SINOPEC, Dongying 257022, China

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: Quantitate characterization of pore structures is fundamental to elucidate fluid flow in the porous media. Pore structures of the Lucaogou Formation in the Jimsar Sag were investigated using petrography, mercury intrusion capillary porosimetry (MICP) and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray μ-CT). MICP analyses demonstrate that the pore topological structure is characterized by segmented fractal dimensions. Fractal dimension of small pores (r < R apex ) ranges from 2.05 to 2.37, whereas fractal dimension of large pores (r > R apex ) varies from 2.91 to 5.44, indicating that fractal theory is inappropriate for the topological characterization of large pores using MICP. Pore volume of tight reservoirs ranges over nine orders of magnitude (10 −1 –10 8 μm 3 ), which follows a power-law distribution. Fractal dimensions of pores larger than a lower bound vary from 1.66 to 2.32. Their consistence with MICP results suggests that it is an appropriate indicator for the complex and heterogeneous pore network. Larger connected pores are primary conductive pathways regardless of lithologies. The storage capacity depends largely on pore complexity and heterogeneity, which is negatively correlated with fractal dimension of pore network. The less heterogeneous the pore network is, the higher storage capability it would have; however, the effect of pore network heterogeneity on the transport capability is much more complicated.

Keywords: pore microstructure; transport property; tight reservoir; digital core analysis (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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