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Numerical Simulation of Hydrocarbon Migration in Tight Sandstones

Abstract

Hydrocarbon migration in tight sandstones is a complex process. During diagenesis and adsorption of NSO compounds in crude on mineral surfaces, hydrocarbons can fully react with carrier matrix, and change the wettability of grain surfaces. The capillary resistance of early phase migration carriers decreases substantially. However, the influences of such factors of hydrocarbon migration in tight sandstones have not been well studied. This thesis discusses the characteristics of permeation fluid mechanics in tight sandstones. A numerical simulation method is developed based on ant colony optimization and experimental results in micro scale. Hydrocarbon migration will be simulated by the cooperative behavior of “artificial ants”. This method is applied in the numerical simulation of the hydrocarbon migration in Chang 8 member in the Ordos Basin. Simulated results show that the numerical simulation test and the actual conditions are basically coincident. It is concluded that the hydrocarbon in the tight sandstones in Chang 8 member is affected by impulsed-type of injections, and during the early phase migration the hydrocarbons will quickly pass through the zones with best pore structures and fractures then accumulate at where the physical properties are inferior. The hydrocarbon at the late phase will inherit the former pathways and reservoir shapes and keep developing vertically downwards. During the hydrocarbon migration, there are dynamic adjustments of the hydrocarbons which result in the change in shapes of the reservoirs. The current reservoir distribution pattern is then formed after multiple times of impulsed-type of injections.