Influence of reservoir heterogeneity on water invasion differentiation in carbonate gas reservoirs

Abstract

Diversified heterogeneities tend to occur in carbonate gas reservoirs due to different scales and distribution densities of pores, vugs and fractures in reservoirs, and consequently the water invasion laws of gas reservoirs are more different. In this paper, the methods quantitatively describing the matching relationships between pores, vugs and fractures were improved based on full-diameter core digital processing and analysis so as to understand the heterogeneity of carbonate reservoirs and its influence on the water invasion laws of gas reservoirs and then predict the water invasion dynamics of gas reservoirs. Firstly, a new method to evaluate the contribution of microfractures to reservoir seepage capacity was established according to the analysis chart of percolation theory. Then, gas–water relative permeability and rock compressibility were measured by conducting gas/water seepage and fluid–solid coupling stress sensitivity experiments under the conditions of actual gas reservoir pressure and temperature. And accordingly the effects of various fractures and caves on the gas invasion laws of gas reservoirs were analyzed. Finally, the method to predict the differentiation characteristics of water invasion influence of the reservoirs with different types of physical properties was developed based on the water invasion characteristics of typical carbonate gas reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin. The following research results were obtained. First, in a broad sense, different types of carbonate reservoirs are classified as a triple continuum. The development of fractures speeds up the appearance of water invasion in gas reservoirs while the uniform development of caves slows down the appearance of water invasion effect. Second, the development of microfractures is a prerequisite for ultra-low porosity reservoirs to possess the ability of medium permeability or high permeability. The water invasion law in this case is obviously different from the channeling along large fractures or the water invasion in the network small fracture development belt. Third, the stress sensitivity of reservoir porosity in aquifer is the main source of formation water invasion energy. This characteristic is more prominent in the early stage of the exploitation of abnormal high pressure gas reservoirs. The research results have been applied to water invasion energy assessment, water invasion performance forecast and water control measure effectiveness prediction in a number of carbonate reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin. And they provide effective technical guidance for water invasion control in complex gas reservoirs and further understanding of water invasion differentiation laws.