Artificial Sandstone Core Pore Structure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing artificial cores, such as cementing and sintering processes, face challenges in achieving a pore structure similar to natural cores, with issues like simple and centralized pore structure, low success rate, long treatment periods, and significant differences in wettability and interfacial properties compared to natural cores.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the precise control of sand particle composition based on lithology and pore structure, using a specific formula to regulate deposition granularity and adding an inorganic cementing agent like Portland cement to create artificial sandstone and conglomerate cores with a pore structure closer to natural cores, ensuring similarity in indoor displacement experiments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If phosphoric acid sintering process is used, then pore structure similarity to natural cores is improved, but manufacturing time is extended and success rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sintering temperature parameter from high temperature (conventional phosphoric acid sintering) to low temperature (600-800℃), which reduces manufacturing time and energy consumption while maintaining pore structure similarity to natural cores. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving high manufacturing precision and reducing time loss.
2Loss of time
If epoxy resin cementing process is used, then manufacturing time is reduced, but pore structure complexity and wettability similarity to natural cores deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of inorganic cementing agents (such as alumina, magnesia, or their mixtures) combined with specific sand particles having controlled pore structures. This composite approach achieves both simple manufacturing process and high pore structure similarity to natural cores, resolving the contradiction between reduced treatment time and maintained manufacturing precision.
3Device complexity
If sand particle composition is not precisely controlled, then manufacturing process is simplified, but pore throat distribution control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-classifying sand particles into different pore size ranges (large pores: 50-200μm, medium pores: 10-50μm, small pores: 1-10μm) before cementing. This preliminary classification enables precise control of pore throat distribution in the final artificial core while keeping the manufacturing process straightforward, thus resolving the contradiction between process simplicity and precision control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves precise control over the pore structure of artificial cores, enhancing their similarity to natural cores, improving wettability and interfacial properties, and ensuring effective simulation in oil field development experiments.
Implementation Method 1
mixing and molding sand particles and an inorganic cementing agent in sequence, and further adding a curing agent for performing solidification to prepare the artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of artificial cores, in particular to a preparation method of artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core based on lithology and pore structure control. The method comprises the following steps: mixing and molding sand particles and a inorganic cementing agent in sequence, and further adding a curing agent for performing solidification to prepare an artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core; wherein composition of the sand particles is determined according to lithology and pore structure of the artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core. The present disclosure combines the lithology and the pore structure of the artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core with the composition of the sand particles, particularly regulates and controls the composition of the sand particles according to the pore throat distribution pattern and the average pore throat radius, thereby performing precise control on the artificial sandstone and/or conglomerate core.