NMR-Based Insights into Displacement Characteristics and Mechanisms of High-Pressure Waterflooding in Low-Permeability Reservoirs

doi:10.7657/XJPG20260411

Abstract

Abstract:

Understanding the displacement characteristics and mechanisms of high-pressure waterflooding is critical to improving oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted on core samples from typical low-permeability reservoirs. The experiments were performed using T₂ spectra and T₁-T₂ two-dimensional NMR techniques under different injection parameters and displacement modes, in order to quantitatively evaluate the mobilization of crude oil and occurrence of residual oil in pores of various scales. Moreover, two-dimensional NMR analysis was performed to further reveal the oil-water distribution across pore sizes and its evolution during displacement. The results demonstrate that oil recovery has been improved significantly-by up to 14.38% and 8.05%, respectively-under elevated injection pressure and rate, primarily due to enhanced mobilization of oil in macropores. An additional recovery of 10.94% was achieved when high-pressure waterflooding was applied after imbibition, further mobilizing residual oil in macropores. These results identify injection pressure and rate as the dominant parameters governing the recovery enhancement by waterflooding in low-permeability reservoirs. It is recommended to combine high-pressure waterflooding with high-rate water injection, along with the coupling of soak imbibition and high-pressure waterflooding. This treatment is expected to effectively reduce residual oil saturation and improve oil recovery. The study provides theoretical support to the optimization of waterflooding process in low-permeability reservoirs.

Key words: low-permeability reservoir, high-pressure waterflooding, imbibition, displacement parameter, NMR, oil recovery

CLC Number:

TE344

WU Jiqiang, HUANG Shijun, ZHANG Shuang, WANG Yang. NMR-Based Insights into Displacement Characteristics and Mechanisms of High-Pressure Waterflooding in Low-Permeability Reservoirs[J]. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2026, 47(4): 472-480.

Figures/Tables 13

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实验编号	平均孔隙度/ %	平均渗透率/ mD	注入压力/ MPa	注入速度/ （mL·min^-1）	驱替方法
第1组	13.24	0.337 3	5		水驱
第2组	13.19	0.342 9	15		水驱
第3组	13.28	0.461 9	20		水驱
第4组	13.16	0.471 1	25		水驱
第5组	13.40	0.529 4		0.05	水驱
第6组	13.27	0.519 2		0.10	水驱
第7组	13.46	0.625 1		0.15	水驱
第8组	13.27	0.640 7		0.20	水驱
第9组	13.35	0.542 8	25		渗吸+水驱