The effect of rock permeability value on groundwater influx in underground coal gasification reactor

Rock permeability value is one of the most significant rock’s physical properties that affect groundwater influx processes in underground coal gasification (UCG). This value of rock permeability (K), namely the vertical permeability of flanking rocks (Kv) and horizontal permeability of coal (Kh). The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of the influence of the value of rock permeability on the potential of groundwater influx. The effect of rock permeability on groundwater influx into the UCG gasification reactor cavity in the presence of thermal loads and mineral composition content is large and significant to consider. Based on the resistance to heat loads, the type of sandstone lithology is relatively more resistant compared to siltstone and claystone lithology.

A Unified Parameter to Represent Reservoir Heterogeneity

We aim to find a universal method and/or parameter to quantify impact of overall heterogeneity on waterflood performance. For this purpose, we combined the Lorenz coefficient, horizontal permeability to vertical permeability ratio, and thief zone permeability to average permeability ratio, with a radar chart. The area of the radar chart serves as a single parameter to rank reservoirs according to heterogeneity, and correlates to waterflood performance. The parameters investigated are vertical and horizontal permeability. Average porosity, initial water saturation, and initial diagonal pressure ratio are kept constant. Computer based experiments are used over the course of this entire research. We conducted permeability studies that demonstrate the effects of thief zones and crossflow. After normalizing these parameters into a number between 0 and 1, we then plot them on a radar chart. A reservoir's overall degree of heterogeneity can be inferred using the radar chart area procedure discussed in this study. In general, our simulations illustrate that the larger the radar chart area, the more heterogenous the reservoir is, which in turn yields higher water cut trends and lower recovery factors. Computer simulations done during this study also show that the higher the Lorenz coefficient, the higher the probability of a thief zone to exist. Simulations done to study crossflow also show certain trends with respect to under tonguing and radar chart area.

Compaction control on diagenesis and reservoir quality development in red bed sandstones: a case study of Permian Rotliegend sandstones

Authigenic minerals formed during diagenesis in conjunction with compaction by burial have long been known to lead to porosity-loss of sandstones, and a subsequent deterioration in reservoir quality. The diagenetic impact on reservoir quality and permeability heterogeneity measured horizontal and vertical to bedding was characterized in three fluvio-eolian Lower Permian Rotliegend outcrops from the Flechtingen High, the northern Hesse Basin (both Germany) and the Vale of Eden (UK) using point-counting, polarized light-microscopy, helium pycnometry and permeability measurements. Results show significant porosity (10 to 35%) and permeability (0.01 to 10,000 mD) ranges largely independent of depositional environment. The major control on reservoir quality in Cornberg Sandstones are dolomite and siderite cementation in conjunction with illitization and illite and kaolinite cementation, leading together with quartz cementation to a mostly cemented IGV and poorest reservoir quality (avg. horizontal permeability: 0.96 mD). Flechtingen Sandstones are most intensely compacted due to the lack of significant early diagenetic cement phases and continuous illitic grain-to-grain coatings, which inhibited intense quartz cementation but enhanced chemical compaction at quartz grain contacts, resulting in intermediate reservoir quality (avg. horizontal permeability: 34.9 mD). Penrith Sandstones lack significant authigenic phases besides quartz due to carbonate dissolution during uplift. They show the least amount of detrital feldspars and clay minerals, leading to no major reservoir quality reduction by burial diagenetic clay mineral alterations, resulting in the highest reservoir quality (avg. horizontal permeability: 5900 mD). Additional results highlight higher horizontal to vertical permeability ratios kh/kv in less homogeneous sandstones of < 10 mD of 10, and in more homogenous, higher permeable sandstones > 1000 mD of 1. Although detrital and authigenic sample compositions vary throughout the studied areas, the general effect of grain coatings coverages on syntaxial cement inhibition and chemical compaction can be delineated. This study increases the understanding of porosity reduction in sandstones, as it confirms the necessity to differentiate between the illitic grain-to-grain coatings and illitic grain-to-IGV coatings. As a result, the enhancing effect of illite on chemical compaction on quartz grain-grain boundaries can be better constrained, as well as the effect of grain coatings on quartz cementation. This is relevant for reservoir quality and risk assessment in hydrocarbon and geothermal plays as well as in storage.

Analytical Model for Predicting Productivity of Radial-Lateral Wells

An analytical model for predicting the productivity of Radial-lateral wells (RLW) drilled using radial jet drilling technology was developed in this work. The model assumes uniformly distributed equal-geometry laterals draining oil or gas under pseudo-steady state flow conditions within the lateral-reached drainage area. A numerical simulation and production data from three field cases of RLW were used to compare and validate the model. The result indicates that the model overestimates the well production rates for wells by 7.7%, 3.25%, and 8.8%, respectively. The error is attributed to several sources including, lack of data for well skin factor, uncertainty of horizontal permeability (kH) in the well area, uncertainty of permeability anisotropy (Iani), and uncertainty in bottom hole pressure (pw). Error analysis of uncertainties in kH, Iani, and pw showed that the model could predict productivity well with an acceptable error (10%) over practical ranges of these parameter values. Parameter sensitivity analyses showed that an increasing number of laterals, lateral length, and horizontal permeability would almost proportionally increase productivity. Well productivity is sensitive to well skin factor and oil viscosity, but not sensitive to the radius of the lateral.

Measurement of Permeability in Horizontal Direction of Open-Graded Friction Course with Rutting

Although the permeability of open-graded friction course (OGFC) materials in the transverse direction and the reduction in permeability associated with long-term traffic loading are important issues, they have remained under researched thus far. In this study, testing equipment and procedure were developed to evaluate the permeability of an OGFC specimen along the horizontal direction and its reduction due to rutting. Horizontal permeability tests were conducted by varying the hydraulic gradient of specimens with porosities of 19.6%, 15.6%, and 10.3%. The reduction in cross-section due to traffic loading was simulated via a wheel tracking test, and the permeability was subsequently evaluated. The reliability of test methodology was successfully verified; the tendency of the relationship between discharge velocity and hydraulic gradient was in good agreement with existing research results. The reduction in cross-sectional flow area due to rutting decreased and the horizontal permeability. The test results using developed testing equipment will enable efficient OGFC design.

COAL PERMEABILITY ANISOTRTOPY ESTIMATION BY FILTRATION EXPERIMENTS AND FRACTURE ANALYSIS RESULTS

Experimental studies of the structure of medium-volatile bituminous coal taken from the Leninsk region of Kuzbass are performed. The main properties of endogenous cleavage fractures are determined. The dependence of coal absolute permeability on uniform compression of samples is experimentally explored. Laboratory permeability tests were conducted in the direction parallel to master cleavage fractures and bedding planes. The obtained values are typical for intensely fractured coals. Using the known models, the dependence of coal permeability on stress conditions is obtained for the directions parallel to master and side cleavage. The anisotropy of coal horizontal permeability is determined taking into account the properties of endogenous cleavage fractures. Change in coal permeability with seam depth is estimated in conditions of the Leninsk region of Kuzbass. The permeability-depth data were obtained for the conditions of uniaxial strain perpendicular to layered structure and endogenous cleavage planes.

Assessment the Engineering Characteristics of the Smear Zone around PVDs Using Laboratory Tests

Smear zone is usually formed around the prefabricated vertical drains (PVD’s) due to mandrel driving. The geotechnical properties of the soil in this zone exhibit significant changes that affect the performance of the PVD’s. The most relevant property in this respect is the coefficient of permeability. So far, no serious attention is paid to investigate the effects of shearing under large shear strains on the geotechnical properties of the soft soil in Fao region. In this study, an extensive laboratory testing program was conducted to assess the characteristics of the smear zone with an emphasis on the permeability coefficient of Fao soft soil. The results show that the permeability of the smear zone is about 70% of the horizontal permeability of the intact soil. An attempt was made to estimate the extension of the shearing zone in the direct shear test. The analysis results indicate that thickness of the shearing zone is about (2.4) cm.