An Efficient Numerical Model for the Evaluation of the Productivity Considering Depletion-Induced Plastic Behaviors in Weakly Consolidated Reservoirs

Feifei Luo, Lei Zhong, Zhizhong Wang, Zixuan Li, Bolong Zhu (), Xiangyun Zhao (), Xuyang Guo and Jiaying Lin
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Feifei Luo: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, CNPC Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay 834000, China
Lei Zhong: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, CNPC Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay 834000, China
Zhizhong Wang: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, CNPC Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay 834000, China
Zixuan Li: Changqing Petroleum Engineering Supervision Company Limited, CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited, Xi’an 710018, China
Bolong Zhu: Department of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum—Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, China
Xiangyun Zhao: Department of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum—Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, China
Xuyang Guo: Department of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum—Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, China
Jiaying Lin: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, CNPC Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Karamay 834000, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Efficient and accurate modeling of rock deformation and well production in weakly consolidated reservoirs requires reliable and accurate reservoir modeling techniques. During hydrocarbon production, the reservoir pressure is dropped, and rock compaction is induced. In such depletion-induced reservoir rock deformation, both elastic and plastic deformation can be generated. The numerical investigation of depletion-induced plasticity in shale oil reservoirs and its impact on coupled reservoir modeling helps provide insights into the optimization of horizontal well productivity. This study introduces a coupled flow and geomechanical model that considers porous media flow, elastoplastic deformation, horizontal well production, and the coupling between the flow and geomechanical processes. Simulation results are then provided along with numerical modeling parameters. Effects of relevant parameters, including depletion magnitude, rock mechanical properties, and hydraulic fracture parameters, jointly affect rock deformation, rock skeleton damage, and horizontal well productivity. Depletion-induced plasticity, stress, pressure, and subsidence are all characterized by the solution strategy. In addition, the implementation of direct and iterative solvers and the usage of full coupling and sequential coupling strategies are investigated, and the associated solver performance is quantified. It helps evaluate the numerical efficiency in the highly nonlinear numerical system. This study provides an efficient coupled flow and elastoplastic model for the simulation of depletion in weakly consolidated reservoirs.

Keywords: coupled flow and geomechanics; reservoir geomechanics; weakly consolidated reservoir; reservoir modeling; rock mechanics (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: 2025
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