Key theoretical and technical issues and countermeasures for effective development of Gulong shale oil, Daqing Oilfield, NE China

Abstract

Aiming at the four issues of underground storage state, exploitation mechanism, crude oil flow and efficient recovery, the key theoretical and technical issues and countermeasures for effective development of Gulong shale oil are put forward. Through key exploration and research on fluid occurrence, fluid phase change, exploitation mechanism, oil start-up mechanism, flow regime/pattern, exploitation mode and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of shale reservoirs with different storage spaces, multi-scale occurrence states of shale oil and phase behavior of fluid in nano confined space were provided, the multi-phase, multi-scale flow mode and production mechanism with hydraulic fracture-shale bedding fracture-matrix infiltration as the core was clarified, and a multi-scale flow mathematical model and recoverable reserves evaluation method were preliminarily established. The feasibility of development mode with early energy replenishment and recovery factor of 30% was discussed. Based on these, the researches of key theories and technologies for effective development of Gulong shale oil are proposed to focus on: (1) in-situ sampling and non-destructive testing of core and fluid; (2) high-temperature, high-pressure, nano-scale laboratory simulation experiment; (3) fusion of multi-scale multi-flow regime numerical simulation technology and large-scale application software; (4) waterless (CO2) fracturing technique and the fracturing technique for increasing the vertical fracture height; (5) early energy replenishment to enhance oil recovery; (6) lifecycle technical and economic evaluation. Moreover, a series of exploitation tests should be performed on site as soon as possible to verify the theoretical understanding, optimize the exploitation mode, form supporting technologies, and provide a generalizable development model, thereby supporting and guiding the effective development and production of Gulong shale oil.