Core-Flood Test System Fracture Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrocarbon recovery techniques, such as water flood, are inefficient in fractured reservoirs, as injectants selectively channel through fractures, leaving oil behind in the matrix, and existing methods struggle to effectively evaluate and improve oil recovery mechanisms in these complex formations.
Innovation Solution
A core-flood test system coupled with a CT scanner to monitor fluid saturations, which includes a core holder, injection and production plates, and a core sleeve to simulate fracture spaces, allowing for the evaluation of hydrocarbon recovery techniques by conducting saturation and imbibition tests under controlled pressure and orientation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water flood is used for hydrocarbon recovery, then about 50% of oil can be recovered, but in fractured reservoirs injectants selectively channel through fractures leaving oil behind in the matrix
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different confining pressures to different regions of the core sample to create localized stress conditions. By varying the confining pressure spatially, the system mimics natural fracture zones with different permeability characteristics, forcing injectants to follow more uniform distribution patterns rather than selectively channeling through high-permeability fracture paths
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts confining pressure during the core-flood test to simulate changing reservoir conditions. By applying and releasing confining pressure in sequence, the system creates time-varying stress states that affect fracture aperture and permeability, allowing evaluation of how injectants behave under dynamic stress conditions that更接近 actual reservoir behavior
2Measurement precision
If conventional core-flood testing is used, then hydrocarbon recovery mechanisms can be evaluated, but positioning errors and inability to simulate fracture environments limit accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single apparatus: the core holder serves both as a containment structure and as a pressure application device; the confining pressure mechanism simultaneously simulates fracture environments and controls fluid distribution; the CT scanner integration enables both structural visualization and fluid saturation measurement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate testing devices while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces confining pressure as an intermediary parameter to indirectly control and simulate fracture conditions. Rather than directly creating physical fractures in the core sample, the confining pressure acts as a mediator that modulates the effective permeability and flow paths, allowing realistic fracture environment simulation without physically damaging the core structure
3Adaptability or versatility
If fracture spaces are simulated in core testing, then realistic reservoir conditions can be evaluated, but core damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses confining pressure as an intermediary to simulate fracture conditions without physically fracturing the core. The pressure field acts as a mediator that creates effective permeability variations and flow channeling similar to natural fractures, while keeping the core sample physically intact and undamaged throughout the testing process
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the confining pressure parameter during testing to simulate different reservoir stress states and fracture conditions. By varying pressure levels and applying cyclic loading, the system creates dynamic flow patterns that mimic fracture behavior without exceeding the mechanical strength limits of the core sample, thus maintaining integrity while achieving realistic simulation
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
This system enables accurate evaluation of hydrocarbon recovery techniques by reducing positioning errors, simulating fracture environments without damaging the core, and assessing gravity effects, thereby improving oil recovery efficiency in fractured reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
The core sleeve is configured to contact the core in response to a confining pressure applied to the core sleeve in the confining space and to be separate from the core in response to the confining pressure being removed, creating a fracture space between the core and the core sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a core holder configured to be coupled to a computed tomography (CT) scanner to monitor fluid saturations of a core including a rock sample
Implementation Method 3
The core holder is mounted substantially vertically for evaluating gravity effects on hydrocarbon recovery
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods and systems are described for performing core-flood tests for evaluating effectiveness of hydrocarbon recovery techniques. In some aspects, a core-flood test system includes a core holder configured to be coupled to a computed tomography (CT) scanner system to monitor fluid saturations of a core including a rock sample and a core sleeve to be received in the core holder. The core holder and the core sleeve are separated by a confining space. The core sleeve is configured to receive the core. The core sleeve is configured to contact the core in response to a confining pressure applied to the core sleeve in the confining space and to be separate from the core in response to the confining pressure being removed, creating a fracture space between the core and the core sleeve.