The microscopic pore structure characteristics and the oil-water two-phase seepage law in the low permeability sandstone reservoir in Mobei oilfield in Junggar Basin were analyzed through laboratory experiments. The results of mercury pressure, constant velocity mercury pressure, thin slice of casting, and CT scan analyses showed that the reservoir had strong microheterogeneity with the presence of local large channels. The large channel had a small volume but considerably contributed to the permeability, which played a crucial role in the reservoir seepage. The relative permeability curve showed that with the increase of water saturation, the relative permeability of the oil phase decreased rapidly; the water phase relative permeability of glutenite, gravel-bearing sandstone, and coarse sandstone increased slightly; and the water cut increased rapidly. The relative permeability of the water phase of medium and fine sandstone increased, the water cut increased rapidly, and the residual oil saturation was high. In the process of core displacement, on-line CT scanning monitoring showed that before the breakthrough of the water drive front, the oil saturation decreased greatly along the way. After the breakthrough of the water drive front, the water cut increased rapidly and directly entered the ultrahigh water cut stage. Owing to the serious heterogeneity of the micropore structure, the fingering phenomenon was obvious in the process of displacement.

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The penetration and displacement behavior of N2 molecules in porous interlayer structures containing a water/salt component with porosities of 4.29%, 4.73%, 5.17%, 7.22%, and 11.38% were explored using molecular dynamics simulations. The results demonstrated that the large porosity of the interlayer structures effectively enhanced the permeation and diffusion characteristics of N2. The water and salt in the interlayer structures were displaced during the injection of N2 in the porosity sequence of 4.29% < 4.73% < 5.17% < 7.22% < 11.38%. The high permeance of 7.12 × 10−6 indicated that the interlayer structures with a porosity of 11.38% have better movability. The strong interaction of approximately 15 kcal/mol between N2 and H2O had a positive effect on the diffusion of N2 and the displacement of H2O before it reached a stable equilibrium state. The distribution of N2 in porous interlayer structures and the relationship between the logarithm of permeability and breakthrough pressure were presented. This work highlighted the effects of porosity on the permeability and diffusion of N2/H2O in the interlayer, thus providing theoretical guidance for the development of petroleum resources.

The lower Wuerhe formation reservoir of the 8th district is a blocky, ultra-low-permeability gravel reservoir with poor waterflooding development, and it is urgent to attack the gas injection gravity flooding. The barrier property of seepage barriers such as interlayers developed inside the reservoir is very important for the study of gas injection gravity flooding. The mineral composition, pore throat structure, and physical characteristics of the interlayer rocks were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) whole-rock analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The gas injection breakthrough pressure of the interlayer was studied by core breakthrough experiment and digital core simulation. Based on the determination of the interlayer criteria, logging was used to interpret and characterize the interlayer. The effects of different types of interlayer combinations on gas injection were studied by combining the physical model and numerical simulation methods. The results showed that the lithology of the interlayer in the lower Wuerhe formation of the 8th district was mainly mud-bearing fine gravel with microporosity, average porosity of 6.1% and permeability of 0.0043 mD. The interlayer gas injection breakthrough pressure and permeability were in a logarithmic linear relationship, and the lower limit of gas injection breakthrough under reservoir conditions was 0.003 mD. Initially, it is difficult to flood the upper remaining oil of the gas injection due to the blockage of the interlayer, while in the middle and late stage, the gas-liquid interface gradually reached stability with the increase in injected gas, which has little impact on the final recovery. These results indicate that it is feasible to carry out gas injection gravity flooding in this reservoir.

Leak-off pressure is a main factor to induce formation leak-off so that it can be utilized as a crucial parameter to analyze the causation of well leak-off accidents, and that in-depth investigation on leak-off pressure is of vital importance for secure drilling. By analyzing the characteristics of leak-off formation, this paper divides the leak-off into natural leak-off and fractured leak-off, and then defines the conception of minimal leak-off pressure. The leak-off mechanism of fractured formation is investigated. Investigation results show that the currently existent prediction method of fracture pressure is established on the foundations of non-filtration borehole wall assumption as well as the Terzaghi effective stress model. These foundations are not consistent with the practical features of thief formation, which would inevitably cause deviation of calculated results with actualization. Natural leak-off formation constitutes the majority of formation leak-off phenomena. Therefore, it is urgent to build up the leak-off pressure curve instead of fractured pressure curve and take precautions against natural leak-off. The technique of leak-off pressure prediction with fully-coupled 3D natural fracture modeling was applied in the fractured reservoir which located in the northwest of Junggar Basin, China. Case analyses have proved that this lost circulation pressure model is of sufficiency in scientific bases and pertinence. The prediction result derived from the model is relatively consistent with the actual situation and consequently provides a substantial basis for a rational design of the drilling fluid density as well as the leak resistance and sealing. Therefore it is suggested that the design of drilling engineering should take the lost circulation pressure into consideration.