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Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources

Submission Deadline: 31 December 2023 (closed)

Guest Editors

Dr. Yu Peng, Southwest Petroleum University, CHINA
Dr. Zhenglan Li, Southwest Petroleum University, CHINA
Dr. Yunjin Wang, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, CHINA
Dr. Guandong Su, National University of Singapore, SINGAPORE

Summary

The prosperous development of unconventional resources, such as tight gas, shale gas, shale oil, coalbed methane, and natural gas hydrate, cannot be separated from the researches of solid, fluid, and thermal dynamics. Especially in some complex engineering technologies, the interaction of multi-field, multi-phase and multiple mechanisms are often involved. Studying the coupled mechanical behaviors, heat and mass transfers during unconventional resource development is of great significance for improving the efficiency of unconventional resource development.

 

This special issue faces new achievements in theory, technology, and application in the development of unconventional resources. The goal of this special issue is to provide a high-level platform for sharing innovations and insights in the field. It will analyze the current changes, possible solutions, and potential opportunities in the development of unconventional resources. Through these studies, we can explore ways to apply advanced theories and technologies to improve the productions of tight gas, shale gas, shale oil, coalbed methane, and natural gas hydrate.

 

We welcome all types of manuscripts, including original research articles, review articles, and perspectives. With respect to the above topics, original contributions are solicited from potential researchers in academia as well as the industry as potential authors in the following areas, but not limited to:

 

• Fluid-structure interaction in well drilling and hydraulic fracturing

• Multi-phase flow in hydraulic fractures and unconventional reservoirs

• Novel technologies for unconventional resources development

• Novel methods for artificial fracture monitoring

• Experimental study on multi-field and multi-phase processes

• Analytical and numerical methods for predicting well production

• Unconventional stimulation and operational efficiency

• Reservoir simulation and numerical modelling


Keywords

Petroleum Engineering, Heat and Mass Transfer, Fluid-Structure Interaction, Numerical Simulation, Unconventional Resources

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Impact of Osmotic Pressure on Seepage in Shale Oil Reservoirs

    Lijun Mu, Xiaojia Xue, Jie Bai, Xiaoyan Li, Xueliang Han
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2024.049013
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Following large-scale volume fracturing in shale oil reservoirs, well shut-in measures are generally employed. Laboratory tests and field trials have underscored the efficacy of fracturing fluid imbibition during the shut-in phase in augmenting shale oil productivity. Unlike conventional reservoirs, shale oil reservoirs exhibit characteristics such as low porosity, low permeability, and rich content of organic matter and clay minerals. Notably, the osmotic pressure effects occurring between high-salinity formation water and low-salinity fracturing fluids are significant. The current understanding of the mobilization patterns of crude oil in micro-pores during the imbibition process remains nebulous, and the mechanisms underpinning osmotic pressure effects… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Evaluation of Well Spacing for Primary Development of Fractured Horizontal Wells in Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoirs

    Fang Li, Juan Wu, Haiyong Yi, Lihong Wu, Lingyun Du, Yuan Zeng
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.043256
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Methods for horizontal well spacing calculation in tight gas reservoirs are still adversely affected by the complexity of related control factors, such as strong reservoir heterogeneity and seepage mechanisms. In this study, the stress sensitivity and threshold pressure gradient of various types of reservoirs are quantitatively evaluated through reservoir seepage experiments. On the basis of these experiments, a numerical simulation model (based on the special seepage mechanism) and an inverse dynamic reserve algorithm (with different equivalent drainage areas) were developed. The well spacing ranges of Classes I, II, and III wells in the Q gas field are determined to be… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Study on the Impact of Massive Refracturing on the Fracture Network in Tight Oil Reservoir Horizontal Wells

    Jianchao Shi, Yanan Zhang, Wantao Liu, Yuliang Su, Jian Shi
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.044500
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Class III tight oil reservoirs have low porosity and permeability, which are often responsible for low production rates and limited recovery. Extensive repeated fracturing is a well-known technique to fix some of these issues. With such methods, existing fractures are refractured, and/or new fractures are created to facilitate communication with natural fractures. This study explored how different refracturing methods affect horizontal well fracture networks, with a special focus on morphology and related fluid flow changes. In particular, the study relied on the unconventional fracture model (UFM). The evolution of fracture morphology and flow field after the initial fracturing were analyzed… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Gas-Water Production of a Continental Tight-Sandstone Gas Reservoir under Different Fracturing Conditions

    Yan Liu, Tianli Sun, Bencheng Wang, Yan Feng
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.041852
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract A numerical model of hydraulic fracture propagation is introduced for a representative reservoir (Yuanba continental tight sandstone gas reservoir in Northeast Sichuan). Different parameters are considered, i.e., the interlayer stress difference, the fracturing discharge rate and the fracturing fluid viscosity. The results show that these factors affect the gas and water production by influencing the fracture size. The interlayer stress difference can effectively control the fracture height. The greater the stress difference, the smaller the dimensionless reconstruction volume of the reservoir, while the flowback rate and gas production are lower. A large displacement fracturing construction increases the fracture-forming efficiency and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Numerical Investigation of Combined Production of Natural Gas Hydrate and Conventional Gas

    Hongzhi Xu, Jian Wang, Shuxia Li, Fengrui Zhao, Chengwen Wang, Yang Guo
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 505-523, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.030604
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is generally produced and accumulated together with the underlying conventional gas. Therefore, optimizing the production technology of these two gases should be seen as a relevant way to effectively reduce the exploitation cost of the gas hydrate. In this study, three types of models accounting for the coexistence of these gases are considered. Type A considers the upper hydrate-bearing layer (HBL) adjacent to the lower conventional gas layer (CGL); with the Type B a permeable interlayer exists between the upper HBL and the lower CGL; with the type C there is an impermeable interlayer between the… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Optimization of Gas-Flooding Fracturing Development in Ultra-Low Permeability Reservoirs

    Lifeng Liu, Menghe Shi, Jianhui Wang, Wendong Wang, Yuliang Su, Xinyu Zhuang
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 595-607, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.041962
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Ultra-low permeability reservoirs are characterized by small pore throats and poor physical properties, which are at the root of well-known problems related to injection and production. In this study, a gas injection flooding approach is analyzed in the framework of numerical simulations. In particular, the sequence and timing of fracture channeling and the related impact on production are considered for horizontal wells with different fracture morphologies. Useful data and information are provided about the regulation of gas channeling and possible strategies to delay gas channeling and optimize the gas injection volume and fracture parameters. It is shown that in order… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Optimizing the Diameter of Plugging Balls in Deep Shale Gas Wells

    Yi Song, Zheyu Hu, Cheng Shen, Lan Ren, Xingwu Guo, Ran Lin, Kun Wang, Zhiyong Zhao
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 609-624, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.030521
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract Deep shale gas reserves that have been fractured typically have many relatively close perforation holes. Due to the proximity of each fracture during the formation of the fracture network, there is significant stress interference, which results in uneven fracture propagation. It is common practice to use “balls” to temporarily plug fracture openings in order to lessen liquid intake and achieve uniform propagation in each cluster. In this study, a diameter optimization model is introduced for these plugging balls based on a multi-cluster fracture propagation model and a perforation dynamic abrasion model. This approach relies on proper consideration of the multiphase… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Optimizing the Diameter of Plugging Balls in Deep Shale Gas Wells

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Simulation of Two-Phase Flowback Phenomena in Shale Gas Wells

    Yongwei Duan, Zhaopeng Zhu, Hui He, Gaoliang Xuan, Xuemeng Yu
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 349-364, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.042659
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract The gas-water two-phase flow occurring as a result of fracturing fluid flowback phenomena is known to impact significantly the productivity of shale gas well. In this work, this two-phase flow has been simulated in the framework of a hybrid approach partially relying on the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM). This model assumes the region outside the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) as a single-medium while the SRV region itself is described using a double-medium strategy which can account for the fluid exchange between the matrix and the micro-fractures. The shale gas adsorption, desorption, diffusion, gas slippage effect, fracture stress sensitivity, and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Finite Element Method Simulation of Wellbore Stability under Different Operating and Geomechanical Conditions

    Junyan Liu, Ju Liu, Yan Wang, Shuang Liu, Qiao Wang, Yihe Du
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 205-218, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.030645
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract The variation of the principal stress of formations with the working and geo-mechanical conditions can trigger wellbore instabilities and adversely affect the well completion. A finite element model, based on the theory of poro-elasticity and the Mohr-Coulomb rock damage criterion, is used here to analyze such a risk. The changes in wellbore stability before and after reservoir acidification are simulated for different pressure differences. The results indicate that the risk of wellbore instability grows with an increase in the production-pressure difference regardless of whether acidification is completed or not; the same is true for the instability area. After acidizing, the… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    A Productivity Prediction Method Based on Artificial Neural Networks and Particle Swarm Optimization for Shale-Gas Horizontal Wells

    Bin Li
    FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.19, No.10, pp. 2729-2748, 2023, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.029649
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Solid, Fluid, and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources )
    Abstract In order to overcome the deficiencies of current methods for the prediction of the productivity of shale gas horizontal wells after fracturing, a new sophisticated approach is proposed in this study. This new model stems from the combination several techniques, namely, artificial neural network (ANN), particle swarm optimization (PSO), Imperialist Competitive Algorithms (ICA), and Ant Clony Optimization (ACO). These are properly implemented by using the geological and engineering parameters collected from 317 wells. The results show that the optimum PSO-ANN model has a high accuracy, obtaining a R2 of 0.847 on the testing. The partial dependence plots (PDP) indicate that… More >

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