scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Channelization Near the Wellbore due to Seepage Erosion in Unconsolidated Sands during Fluid Injection

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jin Sun ◽  
Shiguo Wu ◽  
Jingen Deng ◽  
Qingping Li ◽  
Qi Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Fluid Injection ◽  
Reservoir Heterogeneity ◽  
Unconsolidated Sands ◽  
Flow Channels ◽  
Pressure Water

The channels may be formed in the unconsolidated sands reservoir due to formation failure during high-pressure water injection or frac-packing. Based on the continuum mechanics, a mathematical model has been established to simulate the formation process of big channels in unconsolidated sands reservoir during fluid injection. The model considers the effect of reservoir heterogeneity, solid particles erosion, and deposition. The dynamic formation process of channels around the borehole and its influencing factors are analyzed by this model. The results indicate that the seepage erosion plays a very significant role in the formation of the channels during fluid injection for the unconsolidated sands with extremely low strength. The formation of the channels is closely related to the duration of fluid injection, injection pressure, reservoir heterogeneity, formation plugging, and critical fluid velocity. The long channels are more likely to form as injection time increases. Higher injection pressure will lead to higher flow rate, thus eroding the solid particles and forming big channels. The increase of the rock strength will enhance the value of critical fluid velocity, which makes it difficult for the occurrence of erosional channelization. The near-wellbore damage of the formation will decrease the flow rate, and the preferential flow channels are less likely to be induced under the same injection pressure when compared with undamaged formation. In addition, we also found that the reservoir heterogeneity is essential to the formation of preferential flow channels. The channels are especially prone to be formed in the regions with high porosity and permeability at the initial time. The study can provide a theoretical reference for the optimal design of high-pressure water injection or frac-packing operation in the unconsolidated sands reservoir.

Dynamic Modeling of Channel Formation During Fluid Injection Into Unconsolidated Formations

SPE Journal ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 689-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.. Ameen ◽  
A. Dahi Taleghani
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Internal Erosion ◽  
Fluid Injection ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Preferential Flow Paths ◽  
Stress Changes

Summary Injectivity loss is a common problem in unconsolidated-sand formations. Injection of water into a poorly cemented granular medium may lead to internal erosion, and consequently formation of preferential flow paths within the medium because of channelization. Channelization in the porous medium might occur when fluid-induced stresses become locally larger than a critical threshold and small grains are dislodged and carried away; hence, porosity and permeability of the medium will evolve along the induced flow paths. Vice versa, flowback during shut-in might carry particles back to the well and cause sand accumulation inside the well, and subsequently loss of injectivity. In most cases, to maintain the injection rate, operators will increase injection pressure and pumping power. The increased injection pressure results in stress changes and possibly further changes in channel patterns around the wellbore. Experimental laboratory studies have confirmed the presence of the transition from uniform Darcy flow to a fingered-pattern flow. To predict these phenomena, a model is needed to fill this gap by predicting the formation of preferential flow paths and their evolution. A model based on the multiphase-volume-fraction concept is used to decompose porosity into mobile and immobile porosities where phases may change spatially, evolve over time, and lead to development of erosional channels depending on injection rates, viscosity, and rock properties. This model will account for both particle release and suspension deposition. By use of this model, a methodology is proposed to derive model parameters from routine injection tests by inverse analysis. The proposed model presents the characteristic behavior of unconsolidated formation during fluid injection and the possible effect of injection parameters on downhole-permeability evolution.

Parametric Study of Channeling Flow in Low Permeability Reservoir with Mudstone Interlayer

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 1190-1195
Author(s):  
Jian Jun Liu ◽  
Quan Shu Li ◽  
Gui Hong Pei
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoir ◽  
Injection Process ◽  
Well Spacing ◽  
Pressure Water ◽  
Channeling Flow

Channeling flow frequently occurs during the high pressure water injection of low permeability reservoir. The injection process is complex and covers so many parameters of which the contribution to channeling flow is necessarily to be studied. In this paper, numerical simulation is combined with sensitivity analysis method to calculate the significance of the weight of parameters to the channeling flow. First the values of different parameters are produced by using Latin hypercube method; second, by using these parameters, finite element model have been established and simulated, and the quantity of channeling flow has been calculated; then Spearman rank relation is applied to measure the relation of parameters and channeling flow. The results states that, in 10 years continuous injection, the well spacing and injection pressure have significant impact on the channeling flow. This states that during the application of high pressure water injection, the pressure and well spacing should be controlled especially.

scholarly journals Dynamics of clogging processes in injection wells used to pump highly mineralized thermal waters into the sandstone structures lying under the polish lowlands

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Tomaszewska ◽  
Leszek Pająk
Keyword(s):  
Water Injection ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Injection Well ◽  
Thermal Waters ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Geothermal Resources

Abstract When identifying the conditions required for the sustainable and long-term exploitation of geothermal resources it is very important to assess the dynamics of processes linked to the formation, migration and deposition of particles in geothermal systems. Such particles often cause clogging and damage to the boreholes and source reservoirs. Solid particles: products of corrosion processes, secondary precipitation from geothermal water or particles from the rock formations holding the source reservoir, may settle in the surface installations and lead to clogging of the injection wells. The paper proposes a mathematical model for changes in the absorbance index and the water injection pressure required over time. This was determined from the operating conditions for a model system consisting of a doublet of geothermal wells (extraction and injection well) and using the water occurring in Liassic sandstone structures in the Polish Lowland. Calculations were based on real data and conditions found in the Skierniewice GT-2 source reservoir intake. The main product of secondary mineral precipitation is calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite and calcite. It has been demonstrated that clogging of the active zone causes a particularly high surge in injection pressure during the fi rst 24 hours of pumping. In subsequent hours, pressure increases are close to linear and gradually grow to a level of ~2.2 MPa after 120 hours. The absorbance index decreases at a particularly fast rate during the fi rst six hours (Figure 4). Over the period of time analysed, its value decreases from over 42 to approximately 18 m3/h/MPa after 120 hours from initiation of the injection. These estimated results have been confi rmed in practice by real-life investigation of an injection well. The absorbance index recorded during the hydrodynamic tests decreased to approximately 20 m3/h/MPa after 120 hours.

Mechanism Analysis of Casing Damage Induced by High Pressure Water Injection in Daqing Oilfield

2009 ◽  
Vol 417-418 ◽  
pp. 81-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiu Ting Han ◽  
Qing Fen Li ◽  
Jun Liang Li ◽  
Ying Gao
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Friction Angle ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Mechanism Analysis ◽  
Layer Interface ◽  
Casing Damage ◽  
Pressure Water

Well casing damage is a commonly existing problem in oilfield exploitation in the world. Daqing oilfield is a multiple-zone, heterogeneity sandstone oilfield, where the major influence factors which lead to casing damage are geologic factor, engineering factor, high pressure water injection and chemical factors. Among them, the high pressure water injection is the most important one. Water injection exploitation in Daqing oilfield showed that casing-damage increased with the increasing water injection pressure. However, the mechanism is not totally understood and the control method is not well developed yet. In the present work, the mechanism analysis of casing damage induced by high pressure water injection in Daqing oilfield is proposed. It is found that after high pressure water injection, the sandstone layer will expand and result in the vertical elongation of the casing. The additive tensile stress of the casing induced by vertical strains will cause casing-damage. Besides, the horizontal deformation of clay-stone increases with increasing water content of the formation layers and soaking time. The cohesion of clay-stone and inner friction angle decreased with increasing water quantity. In that case, some high obliquity formation layers which may induce high hypsography pressure difference will cause localized slip along weak formation layer interface in the area of waterishlogged clay-stone. Casing damage and well failure caused by the relative movement of the formation layer interface may therefore occur. The micro-fracture of formation induced by high pressure water injection also educed formation rupture and casing damage.

Nanotechnology Helps Decrease Pressure, Increase Injection in Offshore China Oil Field

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (09) ◽  
pp. 58-59
Author(s):  
Chris Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil Field ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Bohai Bay ◽  
Reservoir Properties ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Offshore Technology

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 30407, “Case Study of Nanopolysilicon Materials’ Depressurization and Injection-Increasing Technology in Offshore Bohai Bay Oil Field KL21-1,” by Qing Feng, Nan Xiao Li, and Jun Zi Huang, China Oilfield Services, et al., prepared for the 2020 Offshore Technology Conference Asia, originally scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, 2–6 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2020 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission. Nanotechnology offers creative approaches to solve problems of oil and gas production that also provide potential for pressure-decreasing application in oil fields. However, at the time of writing, successful pressure-decreasing nanotechnology has rarely been reported. The complete paper reports nanopolysilicon as a new depressurization and injection-increasing agent. The stability of nanopolysilicon was studied in the presence of various ions, including sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+). The study found that the addition of nanomaterials can improve porosity and permeability of porous media. Introduction More than 600 water-injection wells exist in Bohai Bay, China. Offshore Field KL21-1, developed by water-flooding, is confronted with the following challenges: - Rapid increase and reduction of water-injection pressure - Weak water-injection capacity of reservoir - Decline of oil production - Poor reservoir properties - Serious hydration and expansion effects of clay minerals To overcome injection difficulties in offshore fields, conventional acidizing measures usually are taken. But, after multiple cycles of acidification, the amount of soluble substances in the rock gradually decreases and injection performance is shortened. Through injection-performance experiments, it can be determined that the biological nanopolysilicon colloid has positive effects on pressure reduction and injection increase. Fluid-seepage-resistance decreases, the injection rate increases by 40%, and injection pressure decreases by 10%. Features of Biological Nanopolysilicon Systems The biological nanopolysilicon-injection system was composed of a bioemulsifier (CDL32), a biological dispersant (DS2), and a nanopolysilicon hydrophobic system (NP12). The bacterial strain of CDL32 was used to obtain the culture colloid of biological emulsifier at 37°C for 5 days. DS2 was made from biological emulsifier CDL32 and some industrial raw materials described in Table 1 of the complete paper. Nanopolysilicon hydrophobic system NP12 was composed of silicon dioxide particles. The hydrophobic nanopolysilicons selected in this project featured particle sizes of less than 100 nm. In the original samples, a floc of nanopolysilicon was fluffy and uniform. But, when wet, nanopolysilicon will self-aggregate and its particle size increases greatly. At the same time, nanopolysilicon features significant agglomeration in water. Because of its high interface energy, nanopolysilicon is easily agglomerated, as shown in Fig. 1.

The Research and Evaluation of Finely Layered Water Injection Standard in Low-Permeability Reservoirs - A Case from Block A in one Low-Permeability Reservoir

2014 ◽  
Vol 1073-1076 ◽  
pp. 2310-2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Xian Wang ◽  
Wan Jing Luo ◽  
Jie Ding
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Injection Rate ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Reservoir Permeability ◽  
Engineering Parameters ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

Due to the common problems of waterflood in low-permeability reservoirs, the reasearch of finely layered water injection is carried out. This paper established the finely layered water injection standard in low-permeability reservoirs and analysed the sensitivity of engineering parameters as well as evaluated the effect of the finely layered water injection standard in Block A with the semi-quantitative to quantitative method. The results show that: according to the finely layered water injection standard, it can be divided into three types: layered water injection between the layers, layered water injection in inner layer, layered water injection between fracture segment and no-fracture segment. Under the guidance of the standard, it sloved the problem of uneven absorption profile in Block A in some degree and could improve the oil recovery by 3.5%. The sensitivity analysis shows that good performance of finely layered water injection in Block A requires the reservoir permeability ratio should be less than 10, the perforation thickness should not exceed 10 m, the amount of layered injection layers should be less than 3, the surface injection pressure should be below 14 MPa and the injection rate shuold be controlled at about 35 m3/d.

scholarly journals CFD SIMULATION OF EROSION BY PARTICLE COLLISION IN U-BEND AND HELICAL TYPE PIPES

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sheikh Mamoo ◽  
Ataallah Soltani Goharrizi ◽  
Bahador Abolpour
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Mean Curvature ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Pipe Diameter ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Curvature Radius ◽  
Rate Of Penetration

Erosion caused by solid particles in curve pipes is one of the major concerns in the oil and gas industries. Small solid particles flow with a carrier liquid fluid and impact the inner wall of the piping, valves, and other equipment. These components face a high risk of solid particle erosion due to the constant collision, which may result in equipment malfunctioning and even failure. In this study, the two-way coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method with the Oka erosion and Grant and Tabakoff particle-wall rebound models approach is employed to simulate the liquid-solid flow in U-bend and helical pipes using computational fluid dynamics. The effects of operating parameters (inlet fluid velocity and temperature, particle density and diameter, and mass flow rate) and design parameters (mean curvature radius/pipe diameter ratio) are investigated on the erosion of these tubes walls. It is obtained that increasing the fluid velocity and temperature, particle mass flow and particle density increase the penetration rate, particle diameter affects the rate of penetration, and increasing mean curvature radius/pipe diameter ratio decreases the rate of penetration.

Precautions at Fukushima That Would Have Suppressed the Accident Severity

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Iino ◽  
Ritsuo Yoshioka ◽  
Masao Fuchigami ◽  
Masayuki Nakao
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Tsunami Waves ◽  
Ac Power ◽  
Pressure Water ◽  
High Pressure Coolant

Abstract The Great East Japan Earthquake on Mar. 11, 2011 triggered huge tsunami waves that attacked Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Fukushima-1). Units 1, 3, and 4 had hydrogen explosions. Units 1–3 had core meltdowns and released a large amount of radioactive material. Published investigation reports did not explain how the severity of the accident could have been prevented. We formed a study group to find: (A) Was the earthquake-induced huge tsunami predictable at Fukushima-1? (B) If it was predictable, what preparations at Fukushima-1 could have avoided the severity of the accident? Our conclusions were: (a) The tsunami that hit Fukushima-1 was predictable, and (b) the severity could have been avoided if the plant had prepared a set of equipment, and most of all, had exercised actions to take against such tsunami. Necessary preparation included: (1) a number of direct current (DC) batteries, (2) portable underwater pumps, (3) portable alternating current (AC) generators with sufficient gasoline supply, (4) high voltage AC power trucks, and (5) drills against extended loss of all electric power and seawater pumps. This set applied only to this specific accident. A thorough preparation would have added (6) portable compressors, (7) watertight modification to reactor core isolation cooling system (RCIC) and high pressure coolant injection system (HPCI) control and instrumentation, and (8) fire engines for alternate low pressure water injection. Item (5), i.e., to study plans and carry out exercises against the tsunami would have identified all other necessary preparations.

Experiments and Modelling of Water Injection in Soft Heavy Oil Reservoirs

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J.. J. de Pater ◽  
Matthieu Brizard
Keyword(s):  
Water Injection ◽  
Fracture Propagation ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Unconsolidated Sands ◽  
Coupled Numerical Model ◽  
Heavy Oil Reservoirs ◽  
Matrix Flow ◽  
Minimum Stress

Abstract Water flooding is often applied to increase the recovery of oil from reservoirs. In practice, the water injectivity below the fracture propagation pressure (at so called matrix flow), is usually too low, so that the pressure is increased and the well is fractured. The fracture behavior is however different for unconsolidated sands than for consolidated rock as higher pressures relative to the minimum stress are required to obtain fracture propagation. Injecting water at higher pressure will lead to higher recovery. Our aim was to gain experimental and numerical data to establish the transition from matrix flow to fracturing. We present a series of model tests on different unconsolidated materials using large cylindrical samples with a diameter of 0.4 m. We changed the permeability of the sample and investigated the effect of cohesion by adding cement to some of the samples. It appeared that fractures obtained in material without any cohesion are really complex. On the other hand, adding some small cohesion to the sample, we observed a fracture more like “classical” fractures in competent rocks. For interpreting the tests, we have developed a fully coupled numerical model taking into account the two phase flow of oil and water, and the deformation of the sample.

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