Numerical Simulation of Bridging Ball Plugging Mechanism in Fractured-Vuggy Carbonate Reservoirs

Xi Wang (), Lijun You (), Baiyu Zhu, Hongming Tang, Haizhou Qu, Yutian Feng and Zhiqi Zhong
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Xi Wang: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Lijun You: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Baiyu Zhu: Institute of Mud Logging Technology and Engineering, Yangtze University, Jinzhou 434000, China
Hongming Tang: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Haizhou Qu: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Yutian Feng: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Zhiqi Zhong: College of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: Pores, fractures, caves, and other storage spaces are commonly distributed in fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs. During the drilling process, more than half of all drill-in fluid loss issues are caused by developed caves. Cave scales range from centimeters to meters, making leak prevention increasingly difficult through the use of traditional technologies. Currently, there is still high demand for the understanding of feasible loss control techniques, especially in fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs. Multistage Bridge Plugging (MBP) technology has facilitated pioneering experiments in many oilfields, but the success rate of plugging is less than 50%, and the effects of plugging are uncontrollable and difficult to predict. This is due to a lack of clarity regarding the plugging mechanism and the key controlling factors. In this study, we used the Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation method to investigate the controlling factors of MBP technology, and analyzed its applicable conditions. We found that the prerequisite for the success of MBP is the presence of a constricted throat near the wellbore when drilling the well hole; the first-stage bridging ball is the key to the success of MBP. Larger ball radius, cave inclination and initial flow rate, and lower ball velocity are beneficial to the first-stage bridging. All discussion in this research is based on the ideal situation. However, the cave pattern is difficult to describe using several models, let alone by one ideal model. With the progress of seismic fine description technology and mud logging, more accurate characterization of caves in carbonate reservoirs will help to accurately formulate the plugging scheme and greatly improve the success rate of plugging technology. Additionally, the engineering risks of this technology, such as plugging the coiled tubing, need to be further studied.

Keywords: fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs; bridging ball plugging; DEM simulation; granular flow; fluid-loss control (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: 2022
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