Silica Gel Pore-Throat Model for Fracturing Fluid Damage Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating damage of fracturing fluid to unconventional oil and gas reservoirs are costly, time-consuming, and cumbersome, as they rely on physical simulation experiments using artificial or natural cores, which do not accurately simulate the pore-throat structure of reservoirs and are affected by hydration and expansion damage.
Innovation Solution
A device using silica gel particles of different sizes to simulate the pore-throat structure of reservoirs, allowing for the evaluation of fracturing fluid damage by measuring the flow rate and time of different fluids through the silica gel pores, which reduces experimental costs and time while avoiding hydration and expansion issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical simulation experiments using artificial cores or natural cores are used to evaluate fracturing fluid damage, then the evaluation can fully reflect the damage to the reservoir, but the experimental period becomes long, steps become cumbersome, and cost of experimental materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the reservoir pore-throat structure using silica gel particles with specific pore sizes (2-50 μm) to simulate unconventional oil and gas reservoir pores. This model copy allows rapid evaluation of fracturing fluid damage without requiring long-term physical simulation experiments on actual core samples, thus reducing experimental time while maintaining evaluation relevance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and time-consuming natural core samples with inexpensive silica gel particles that can be easily prepared and disposed of. The silica gel-based model system allows multiple rapid tests without the need for costly core acquisition, processing, and long-term experimentation, significantly reducing both material cost and time investment.
2Measurement precision
If physical simulation experiments using artificial cores or natural cores are used to evaluate fracturing fluid damage, then the evaluation can fully reflect the damage to the reservoir, but the cost of experimental materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and time-consuming natural core samples with inexpensive silica gel particles that can be easily prepared and disposed of. The silica gel-based model system allows multiple rapid tests without the need for costly core acquisition, processing, and long-term experimentation, significantly reducing both material cost and time investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the experimental model from natural rock cores to synthetic silica gel particles with controlled pore structures. This parameter change allows the use of inexpensive, readily available materials that can be precisely engineered to match reservoir pore characteristics, eliminating the need for expensive natural core samples while maintaining evaluation accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If traditional core-based methods are used, then comprehensive damage evaluation is achieved, but the experimental steps become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex reservoir system into its essential functional element - the pore-throat structure - and isolates it using silica gel particles. This segmentation allows evaluation of fracturing fluid damage to the critical pore structure without the need to handle and process entire core samples, dramatically simplifying experimental steps while focusing on the most damage-sensitive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pore-throat structure from the complex natural core system and creates an independent silica gel-based model. This extraction eliminates the need for cumbersome core sample preparation, mounting, and handling steps, allowing direct injection and flow measurements through the simplified porous medium while retaining the essential damage evaluation capability.
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 approach allows for a quick, cost-effective evaluation of fracturing fluid damage to reservoirs, enabling the identification of fluids that minimize harm to the reservoir, and operates under normal temperature and pressure, reducing experimental risks and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a porous structure is formed by placing silica gel particles of different sizes to simulate the pore-throat structure of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs
Implementation Method 2
different liquids pass through the porous medium at different time and speed
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device for evaluating damage of fracturing fluid to reservoir and operation method thereof, the device includes a liquid storage tank, a suction tube, a chromatography device, a bracket, a receiving container and a height adjuster; the disclosure has the following beneficial effects: since different liquids pass through the porous medium at different time and speed and the silica gel particles will not expand when immersed in the liquid, a porous structure is formed by placing silica gel particles of different sizes to simulate the pore-throat structure of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, hence removing the influence of fracturing fluid on the hydration and expansion damage of the reservoir matrix, by testing the time and flow rate of different fracturing fluids flowing through the silica gel pores, the degree of damage caused by fracturing fluids to unconventional oil and gas reservoirs is evaluated.