Xinjiang Petroleum Geology ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 344-352.doi: 10.7657/XJPG20250311

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Mechanisms of Imbibition and Displacement in Horizontal Well Volume Fracturing for Shale Oil Recovery in Chang 7 Member, Qingcheng Oilfield

QU Xuefenga,b(), CHANG Ruia,b(), HE You’ana,b, LEI Qihonga,c, HUANG Tianjinga,b, WANG Gaoqianga,b, GUAN Yuna,b, LI Zhena,b   

  1. PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, a. Research Institute of Exploration and Development, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710018, China
    b. National Engineering Laboratory for Exploration and Development of Low-Permeability Oil & Gas Fields, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710018, China
    c. Longdong Oil and Gas Development Branch, Qingyang, Gansu 745000, China
  • Received:2024-12-02 Revised:2024-12-31 Online:2025-06-01 Published:2025-06-13
  • Contact: CHANG Rui E-mail:qxf_cq@petrochina.com.cn;chrui_cq@petrochina.com.cn

Abstract:

Shale oil is primarily developed through horizontal well volume fracturing, where substantial fluid is injected into and produced from the matrix. However, the contributions of imbibition and displacement remain controversial. To clarify their mechanisms and contributions in shale oil reservoirs, the shale core samples from the Chang 7 member of the Qingcheng oilfield were used for analysis. The imbibition + displacement and displacement experiments under formation pressure, as well as imbibition experiments under varying pressures, were performed to obtain the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 spectra at different stages, and the impact of well soaking on production were analyzed. Furthermore, by integrating fractal theory and oil-water two-phase flow theory, a mathematical model of flow mechanics which considered displacement pressure and capillary pressure was established, and a chart illustrating imbibition and displacement under different pressure differences was plotted. The results show that displacement primarily mobilizes oil in medium-to-large pores, while imbibition recovers oil from pores and throats of all sizes. Compared to pure water flooding, post-imbibition water flooding demonstrates superior oil displacement efficiency, because imbibition can not only mobilizes oil directly but also facilitates subsequent water flooding performance.

Key words: Qingcheng oilfield, Yanchang formation, Chang 7 member, shale oil reservoir, horizontal well, volume fracturing, imbibition mechanism, displacement mechanism

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