Molecular Simulation Study of Gas–Water Adsorption Behavior and Mobility Evaluation in Ultra-Deep, High-Pressure Fractured Tight Sandstone Reservoirs

Yongfu Liu, Xuehao Pei (), Fenglai Yang, Junjie Zhong (), Li Dai, Cuili Wang, Tingya Zhou, Yijia Li and Sa Xiao
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Yongfu Liu: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Xuehao Pei: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Fenglai Yang: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Junjie Zhong: National Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Li Dai: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Cuili Wang: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Tingya Zhou: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Yijia Li: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China
Sa Xiao: Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Korla 841000, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, understanding the competitive adsorption and mobilization mechanisms of gas and water in fractured tight sandstone gas reservoirs is crucial for optimizing the recovery factor. This study employs molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the adsorption behavior and mobilization characteristics of H 2 O and CH 4 in 10 nm quartz nanopores under the conditions of the Keshen fractured tight sandstone gas reservoir. The results indicate that H 2 O exhibits strong adsorption on the quartz surface, forming two high-density adsorption layers with a thickness of approximately 0.6 nm, whereas CH 4 forms three adsorption layers with a thickness of about 1.1 nm. Under gas–water coexistence conditions, the competitive adsorption effect of the water phase significantly influences the distribution of CH 4 . Due to the hydrophilicity of the quartz wall, H 2 O molecules preferentially adsorb onto the wall surface, forming a stable water film that significantly inhibits CH 4 adsorption. When the water saturation reaches 35%, water molecules form liquid bridges within the pores, segmenting the gas phase into different regions. As water saturation further increases, more stable liquid bridge structures develop, and microscopic water lock effects emerge, further restricting gas flow. During depletion development, H 2 O remains difficult to mobilize due to strong wall adsorption, with a recovery factor of only 7%. In contrast, CH 4 exhibits high mobility, with a recovery factor of up to 75%. However, as water saturation increases from 30% to 70%, the recovery factor of CH 4 decreases significantly from 75% to 29%, indicating that the water phase not only occupies pore space, but also exerts a blocking effect that significantly inhibits CH 4 percolation and production. This study provides important theoretical support for the development strategies of ultra-deep fractured tight sandstone gas reservoirs and offers key insights for improving the ultimate recovery factor under gas–water coexistence conditions.

Keywords: ultra-deep fractured tight sandstone gas reservoirs; gas–water two-phase; nanopores; molecular simulation (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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