Simulation research on microscopic remaining oil distribution in high water cut oilfield

Abstract

Most of the oilfields in China have entered the stage of high water cut nowadays, and it is very difficult to enhance oil recovery in these oilfields. In this paper, combined with the image processing technology, the visualization technology of 3D data field and the seepage mechanics theory, a simulation model on microscopic remaining oil distribution has been constructed. After that, the remaining oil distribution of a high water cut oilfield in south China in three different microscopic pore throat networks, namely big pore and coarse throat, medium pore and medium throat and small pore and fine throat, was simulated. Through the simulation results, the conclusions are drawn: compared with the small pore and fine throat network, the development resistance of oil in the big pore and coarse throat network and the medium pore and medium throat network is smaller under the same water-flooding development conditions; compared with the big pore and coarse throat network, the development resistance of oil in the medium pore and medium throat network is larger, which leads to more remaining oil left. The simulation on microscopic remaining oil distribution is of great significance for enhancing oil recovery in high water cut oilfields of China.