A Fractal Simulation Method for Simulating the Resource Abundance of Oil and Gas and Its Application

In this study, a fractal simulation method for simulating resource abundance is proposed based on the evaluation results of the exploration risk and prediction technology for the spatial distribution of oil and gas resources at home and abroad. In addition, a key technical workflow for simulating resource abundance was developed. Furthermore, the model for predicting resource abundance has been modified, and the objective functions for conditional simulation have been improved. A series of prediction technologies for predicting the spatial distribution of oil and gas resources have been developed, and the difficulties in visualizing the exploration risks and predicting the spatial distribution of oil and gas resources have been solved. Prediction technologies have been applied to the Jurassic Sangonghe Formation in the hinterland of the Junggar Basin, and good results have been obtained. The results indicated that within the known area, taking the known abundance as the constraint condition, the coincidence rate of the simulated quantities of the original model and the improved model with the actual reserves reached 99.98% after the conditional simulation, indicating that the conditional simulation was effective. In addition, with the improved model, the predicted remaining resources are 0.7899$$\times 10^{8}$$ × 10 8 t, which is 65% of the discovered reserves, and the original model predicts that the remaining resources are 3.5033$$\,\times \,10^{8}$$ × 10 8 t, which is 2.89 times greater than the discovered reserves. Compared with the area in the middle stage of exploration, the results of the improved model are more consistent, and the results of the original model are obviously larger, indicating that the improved model has a good predictive effect for the unknown area. Finally, according to the risk probability and remaining resource distribution, the favorable areas for exploration were optimized as follows: the neighborhood of the triangular area formed by Well Lunan1, Well Shimo1, and Well Shi008, the area near Well Mo11, the area east of Well Mo5, the area west of Well Pen7, the area southwest of Well Shidong1, and the surroundings, as well as the area north of Well Fang2. The application results show that these prediction technologies are effective and can provide important reference and decision-making for resource evaluation and target optimization.

Simulation and Experimental Study on Characteristics of Multiorifice Nozzle in Radial Jet Drilling

The radial jet drilling (RJD) is a key technology to improve the development efficiency of low-permeability oil and gas resources. In order to seek a reasonable hydraulic engineering parameter combination of hydraulic radial jet drilling, to obtain the optimal hydraulic energy distribution, a jet radial horizontal drilling simulation experiment system of the casing windowing is designed. A sequence of experimental investigations focused on engineering parameters of pump displacement, rotating speed, and frequency of high-pressure plunger pump is performed, and the operability and the feasibility of the experiment are verified. To evaluate the maximum drillable length and the self-propelled force of a jet nozzle, a 3D numerical model based on ANSYS-CFX is developed to evaluate the effects of the inlet flow displacement, the flow rates ratio K , and the angle ratio F : B of the forward orifice and backward orifice of the jet nozzle on its maximum drillable length and self-propelled force by sensitivity analysis. Finally, the comparison of numerical simulation results (Ln), mathematical results (Lm), and experiment results (Le) of the maximum drillable length are presented. It is observed that the simulation results are consistent with the experiment results with an average accuracy of 97.07%. Therefore, the proposed numerical model has a good performance in predicting the maximum drillable length of the multiorifice nozzle. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for improving the rock breaking and drilling capability of radial jet drilling technology.

The influence of trap magmatism on the creation of oil and gas deposits

The need to maintain the level of production and an acceptable cost of developing oil and gas fields forces us to rely primarily on the existing reserve, that is, to maximize the potential of traditional oil and gas production regions and adjacent territories - the marginal zones. At the same time, it is necessary to develop unexplored sedimentary complexes at depths of more than 3-5 km. Against this background, it is necessary to highlight a special phenomenon that increases the oil and gas potential of the subsoil associated with trap magmatism. The insufficient level of knowledge of the subsoil makes it possible to predict the discovery of large oil and gas deposits of the traditional type, which will ensure their high profitabilitye. Keywords: trap magmatism; profitability of oil and gas resources; marginal zones; hornfels; transformation of carbonates; rocks of trap formations; regional seals.

Strategic Sustainability of Offshore Arctic Oil and Gas Projects: Definition, Principles, and Conceptual Framework

Exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Arctic offshore is one of Russia’s key priorities in such areas as science, economy, and technology. Global trends, harsh climate conditions, fragile ecosystems, conditions of the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, price volatility, and the growing importance of the environmental factor require that the process of developing the Arctic’s hydrocarbon resources should become strategically sustainable. The paper provides a deep literature review on sustainability issues, sustainable development, strategic sustainability, and project efficiency in the Arctic offshore oil and gas sector. The paper analyzes the trends and conditions that substantiate the need to transform the traditional sustainability concept to meet new challenges and comply with new policies. Based on the analysis, the authors propose a definition of and a conceptual framework for strategic sustainability of oil and gas offshore projects in the Arctic.

Evolutions of Oil Generation and Expulsion of Marine-Terrestrial Transitional Shales: Implications From a Pyrolysis Experiment on Water-Saturated Shale Plunger Samples

Shale reservoirs are characterized by self-generation and self-accumulation, and the oil generation and expulsion evolution model of organic-rich shales is one of important factors that obviously influence the enrichment and accumulation of shale oil and gas resources. At present, however, relevant studies on marine-terrestrial transitional shales are inadequate. In this study, a pyrolysis experiment was performed on water-saturated marine-terrestrial transitional shale plunger samples with type Ⅱb kerogen to simulate the evolutions of oil generation and expulsion. The results indicate that marine-terrestrial transitional shales have wider maturity ranges of oil generation and expulsion than marine and lacustrine shales, and the main stages of oil expulsion are later than those of oil generation, with corresponding Ro values of 0.85%–1.15% and 0.70%–0.95%, respectively. Although the oil generation and expulsion process induced a fractionation in compositions between the expelled and retained oils, both the expelled and retained oils of marine-terrestrial transitional shales are dominated by heavy compositions (resins and asphaltenes), which significantly differs from those of marine and lacustrine shales. The kerogen of marine-terrestrial transitional shales initially depolymerized to transitional asphaltenes, which further cracked into hydrocarbons, and the weak swelling effects of the kerogen promoted oil expulsions. The oil generation and expulsion evolutions of these shales are largely determined by their organic sources of terrigenous higher organisms. This study provides a preliminary theoretical basis to reveal the enrichment mechanism of marine-terrestrial transitional shale oil and gas resources.

Nanoindentation-Based Three-Parameter Fracability Evaluation Method for Continental Shales

Shale fracturing evaluation is of great significance to the development of shale oil and gas resources, but the commonly used shale evaluation methods (e.g., the method using the brittleness index based on mineral composition or elastic parameters) have certain limitations. Fractures and beddings affecting fracturing are not considered in these methods. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new method to evaluate fracturing more comprehensively. The samples used in this research were taken from four typical continental shale basins of China, namely the Bohai Bay Basin, the Ordos Basin, the Songliao Basin, and the Junggar Basin. From a microscopic point of view, a three-parameter evaluation method involving multi-dimensional factors has been developed based on the nanoindentation method. Then, the fracturing coefficient K2 is obtained by combining the ratio β of the fracture indentation to the total indentation and the uneven coefficient m. After that, the fracability coefficient K3 is the ratio of the elastic modulus parallel to bedding to that perpendicular to bedding. Finally, the correlation between fracability coefficients K1, K2, and K3 is used to evaluate the overall fracturing performance of shale. The results of this evaluation method are in good agreement with the actual fracturing performance. It can be concluded that this method is highly reliable and practical and well worthy of promoted applications.

The industry structure of the Russian oil and gas complex: transformation processes and trends

The oil and gas industry is becoming one of the key priorities of the state policy of the Russian Federation. Ensuring energy and economic security, sustainable development, and innovative development in the context of the digitalization of the economy requires a qualitatively new approach to regulating the oil and gas industry. The tasks of rational use of oil and gas resources, increasing productivity, and environmental friendliness of production processes are set not only for companies in the oil and gas sector, but also increase the responsibility of the state for achieving them. The solution of the above-mentioned tasks requires an integrated approach based on a theoretical and methodological basis, economic research, systematization of world experience, taking into account the use of modern management and regulation mechanisms of oil and gas complex enterprises.

Sustainable Development of Oil and Gas Resources: A System of Environmental, Socio-Economic, and Innovation Indicators

Following the principles of sustainable development in the development of oil and gas fields in the Arctic will ensure that hydrocarbon production and transportation operations comply with stringent environmental regulations, the economies of the northern regions become integrated into the national economy of Russia, production systems in the oil and gas sector are upgraded in an innovative manner, and further development of this region is balanced from the environmental perspective. The purpose of the study is to develop and provide a rationale for a balanced system of environmental, socio-economic, and innovative indicators for assessing whether the development of the Arctic’s unique hydrocarbon reserves is sustainable. The theoretical framework of the study draws upon the foundations and key principles of the sustainable development concept and upon modern approaches and methods for assessing the sustainability of production systems. The study presents an analysis of conceptual approaches to defining sustainable development in reference to oil and gas resources, including those found in the Arctic, defines target priorities for the sustainable development of the Arctic’s resource potential, and identifies the relationship between the environmental, socio-economic, and innovative domains of sustainability in the context of Arctic resource development. The results of the study demonstrate how large-scale gas projects can influence regional development and provide for making informed conclusions about whether the development of the Arctic’s oil and gas reserves can be considered sustainable (in accordance with the basic principles of the sustainable development concept).

Reference Significance of Foreign Offshore Oil and Gas Cooperation Model Experience to China

For a long time, the oil exploration and development business of Chinese oil enterprises is mostly limited to China, and the international cooperation of transnational oil and gas started late. Therefore, compared with foreign companies, there is still a big gap in understanding the business model of overseas oil and gas industry. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and learn from the past business model. This paper summarizes the main modes of offshore oil and gas cooperation among global oil companies, compares various modes, and studies the cooperative development mode of offshore oil and gas resources. The research shows that under the lease contract mode, foreign oil companies have greater management rights, but with the continuous development of international oil industry, the government of resource countries has gradually increased its control over foreign oil companies.

Saudi Arabia will implement a dual climate policy

Significance Ahead of COP26, Saudi Arabia announced a Green Initiative and ambitious targets including net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. At the same time, officials are arguing that continued development of oil and gas resources is compatible with pursuing the long-term goal of decarbonisation. Impacts Saudi Arabia may struggle to wean the electricity sector off its near-total reliance on fossil fuels. State-owned firms Aramco and Sabic will seek to develop new revenue streams from technologies that contribute to global decarbonisation. Shareholder pressure on international energy companies may give Aramco a short-term boost, but a supply squeeze risks unsustainable prices.