Study on the Stabilization Mechanism of Gas Injection Interface in Fractured-Vuggy Reservoirs

Yi Pan, Xinyu Liu, Zhicheng Yang (), Yang Sun, Chong Chen and Lei Sun
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Yi Pan: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Xinyu Liu: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Zhicheng Yang: Tianjin Branch of CNOOC Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300459, China
Yang Sun: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Chong Chen: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China
Lei Sun: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Due to the fracture caverns in fractured-vuggy reservoirs, channeling frequently occurs during water injection or gas injection. The stability of the oil–water/oil–gas interface during water injection or gas injection in fractured-vuggy reservoirs significantly affects the displacement efficiency. However, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of the stability of the gas–water interface migration during water injection or gas injection in such reservoirs. In order to deal with this problem, this study combines indoor 3D visualization physical simulation experiment and fracture-cavity reservoir flow simulation. The law of interface transport and oil recovery in the process of injection of gas/water considering the degree of filling of fracture holes was studied and the influence of formation on crude oil viscosity, gas injection speed, inclination angle and other factors on the stability of the interface was compared. Results show that, under the influence of gravity differentiation, the oil–water interface of high-viscosity crude oil fluctuates obviously after water breakthrough, and the oil–water interface tends to be unstable, forming uneven oil cones. By reducing the gas drive speed, water invasion can be effectively inhibited to achieve a stable interface which accordingly improves the oil recovery.

Keywords: fractured-vuggy reservoirs; interface stabilization; gas injection; gravity differentiation; viscosity (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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