Rock Porosity Research Articles

Justification of the boundary values of open porosity and gas permeability using data from flow studies for porous carbonate reservoirs

This paper proposes a method for determining the boundary values of open porosity (KPO_GR) and gas permeability (KPR_GR) of porous-type carbonate reservoir rocks using the example of Tournaisian deposits of one of the oil fields of the Republic of Tatarstan. When justifying the boundary values, two databases on core studies are used: 1) on standard core studies (used mainly to calculate hydrocarbon (HC) reserves); 2) on special core studies (used for technological development projects). In the proposed method, the residual oil saturation factor is not a constant, but is taken from flow studies or calculated from core dependencies. When determining the lower limits of porosity and permeability from both databases, approximately the same boundary values were obtained: KPO_GR = 0.11 fr. un., KPR_GR = 2·10–3 μm2 and KPR_GR = 1.7·10–3 μm2, but they differ from the values, accepted by petrophysicists when calculating the reserves of considered deposit – KPO_GR = 0.09 fr. un., KPR_GR = 1·10–3 μm2. Such a difference in determining the boundary porosity can significantly affect the calculation of hydrocarbon reserves, technological calculations and field development planning.

Experiment and prediction for dynamic storage capacity of underground gas storage rebuilt from hydrocarbon reservoir

Understanding the variation in dynamic storage capacity is significant and meaningful to design operation strategy of underground gas storage (UGS). However, there is a lack of methods to recognize and predict dynamic storage capacity of UGS. This paper introduces a novel experimental system to directly measure rock porosity under different effective stresses. W gas storage, the biggest UGS in Central China, was taken as a case to discuss trend characteristic of dynamic storage capacity. Then a model for predicting dynamic storage capacity of UGS was further developed based on experimental results. Lastly, the prediction model was used to evaluate dynamic storage capacity after 30 operation cycles in W gas storage. Results show that porosity of reservoir rock, as well as dynamic storage capacity of UGS decreases with cyclic stress, and the loss gradually reduces with alternating stress cycle. In addition, after 30 operation cycles, the loss of dynamic storage capacity is about 1.34 × 108 m3, 1.40 % of total initial storage capacity in Zone Z1 of W gas storage, and about 0.11 × 108 m3, 1.51 % of total initial storage capacity in Zone Z2. Specially, modelling flow in this work is not only suitable for W gas storage, but also can be used to study any UGSs rebuilt from hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Energy evolution analysis of heat-treated hydrated shale

To verify the effect of hydrated shale treated by different heat treatment conditions (including heating temperature, heating rate and holding time) on shale gas exploitation efficiency. In this study, uniaxial compression tests were carried out on shale treated under different conditions, and the energy evolution in the process of shale deformation and failure was analysed. According to the energy dissipation and energy accumulation in the process of deformation and failure, the initial porosity, deformation resistance and rock strength of shale sample are discussed and analysed. The results indicate that after high-temperature heating treatment, the initial porosity, ability to resist deformation during elastic deformation stage, and brittleness characteristics of hydrated shale are all improved. The total input energy decreases by 23.16 %, and the peak dissipated energy decreases by 45.89 %, while the proportion of elastic strain energy to total energy in the compaction stage increases by 31.58 %. After thermal treatment, the hydrated shale exhibits increased initial damage, increased rock porosity, and enhanced ability to resist deformation. Therefore, high-temperature heat treatment of hydrated shale is conducted before shale gas exploitation, which enhances both the extraction efficiency and safety during the extraction process. This method is theoretically feasible.

Application of Petrographic and Stereological Analyses to Describe the Pore Space of Rocks as a Standard for the Characterization of Pores in Slags and Ashes Generated after the Combustion of Municipal Waste.

Slags and ashes generated in thermal waste treatment facilities require proper management. In line with the principles of the circular economy, new, more economical, and ecological possibilities for utilizing these substances are sought. These waste materials exhibit characteristics similar to rocks in many aspects. This study focuses on analyzing the similarities and differences between nine selected rocks and three samples of slags and ashes obtained from municipal waste incineration. The main research device used was a polarizing microscope, using reflected, transmitted, and fluorescent light. Additionally, low-pressure gas adsorption equipment, as well as helium and quasi-liquid pycnometers, were used for complementary analysis. The parameters analyzed mainly covered broadly defined petrographic properties of rocks and slags, with a particular emphasis on porosity, porous structure, and the spatial distribution of pores and fractures. The conducted analyses confirmed a significant similarity between slags and ashes and clastic sedimentary rocks such as sandstones and mudstones. The research results underscore the importance of petrographic microscopic studies for analyzing materials other than rocks. They also allow for exploring applications for slags and ashes in areas traditionally reserved for natural rock resources. The findings also indicate the necessity of using methods other than microscopic ones to describe the pore space of rocks. The lower measurement range of the optical microscope is limited to approximately 1 μm, covering only macropores. Other methods extend this characteristic to micro- and mesopores. Therefore, a combination of different methods is often employed to obtain a more comprehensive characterization of rock porosity.

Dependence of resistivity of natural rock samples on humidity

Rock resistivity measurements under non-wet conditions are essential for interpreting subsurface shallow resistivity structure. This study investigated the resistivity of rock samples collected from several locations around the Nakadake craters of Aso Volcano, Japan. The resistivity of rock samples exhibited a logarithmically linear relationship with changes in absolute humidity, corresponding to possible seasonal variations and correlating with the porosity of rocks. As the samples maintained an identical cylindrical shape and size, the observed variations in humidity were unrelated to the external surface area but were caused by the internal pore structure of rocks. Furthermore, the external surface area of homogeneous granite was artificially varied using slits and its measured resistivity did not vary in the presence of slits. The measured distribution of electrical potential was well explained by a homogeneous model, and less so by a two-layer model, indicating that the region of resistivity change was not restricted to the surface of the sample, but rather covered the entire sample. Further, changes in resistivity in response to absolute humidity were caused by the adsorption of water molecules onto minerals at internal pore surfaces, as evidenced by the measured temporal scale of resistivity change based on a simple concentration–diffusion process of gaseous water molecules caused by humidity changes in the external environment. These findings imply significant variations in the resistivity of shallow subsurfaces owing to humidity changes; thus, the consideration of humidity is important for the interpretation of subsurface shallow resistivity structures.

Differences in the permeability assessment of the fractured reservoir rocks using the conventional and the rough discrete fracture network modeling

Permeability assessment of naturally fractured rocks and fractured rocks after fracturing is critical to the development of oil and gas resources. In this paper, based on the discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling method, the conventional discrete fracture network (C-DFN) and the rough discrete fracture network (R-DFN) models are established. Through the seepage numerical simulation of the fractured rocks under different DFN, the differences in permeability of the fractured rocks under different parameters and their parameter sensitivity are analyzed and discussed. The results show that unconnected and independent fractures in the fracture network may weaken the seepage capacity of the fractured rocks. The fractured rock permeability increases with increase in connectivity and porosity and decreases with increase in maximum branch length and fracture dip. The use of C-DFN to equate the fracture network in the fractured rocks may underestimate the connectivity of the fracture network. For the more realistic R-DFN, the promotion of gas flow by connectivity is dominant when connectivity is high, and the hindrance of gas flow by fracture roughness is dominant when connectivity is low or when it is a single fracture. The permeability of the fractured rocks with R-DFN is more sensitive to the parameters than that of the fractured rocks with C-DFN. The higher the connectivity and porosity of the fractured rocks, the more obvious the difference between the permeability of the fractured rocks evaluated by C-DFN and R-DFN.

Role of boiling for the formation of vertical metal zoning and bonanza zone in low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits: A geochemical modeling approach

Boiling and mixing are thought to be the most important processes for mineralization in the low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits. Some low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits show vertical zoning of metals including gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc, but effect of boiling and mixing for the vertical zoning of metals through mineralization has been scarcely debated. Therefore, we applied geochemical modeling for an open-isenthalpic boiling system, with a hydrothermal fluid with different initial temperatures, carbon dioxide contents, salinities, and total sulfur contents to numerically evaluate the effect of boiling phenomenon for the vertical zoning in low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits. Geochemical modeling of boiling phenomenon suggests that boiling is effective for depositing gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc and that it could form a bonanza zone enriched in gold and silver in the shallow zone above the lead and zinc-rich zone. Temperature, carbon dioxide content, salinity, and hydrogen sulfide content affect the deposited amount of metals, vertical extent, depth of mineralization, and gold/silver ratio of the ore zone, although other factors such as permeability, gangue mineralogy, duration of mineralization, kinetics of mineral precipitation, change in porosity, thermal conductivity, and fractures of host rocks could affect mineralization as well. Our modeling of boiling phenomenon demonstrates similar characteristics with natural low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits, suggesting that boiling is an important mechanism to cause vertical metal zoning in the low-sulfidation epithermal gold‑silver deposits, even though mixing could also be important to precipitate metals in some deposits.

Application of two classes of inverse problems for optimization and management of the natural hydrocarbon field development process

The article considers two classes of inverse problems in the modeling of hydrocarbon field development: optimization and adaptation of the development history. They jointly form the basis for field development management in a closed loop, based on a constantly updated 3D geological and technological model. The problems of model adaptation (identification) arise due to the point-by-point measurements and the inaccuracy of determining the initial data on porosity and permeability of the host rocks and other parameters of the deposit when building the 3D model. Such problems are regarded as the inverse ones, because the consequence – field measurements – is used to determine their cause. The problems under consideration are related to the identification of both porosity and permeability of the reservoir and other key parameters that determine the dynamics of development. Geologically consistent formulation ensures that the adapted model retains the original geological principles of the distribution of reservoir properties. The second class of problems under consideration is the problems of optimization (regulation) of development. One of the sought-after formulations is related to the optimal redistribution of a given target level of production from the field to all production wells in time. In this case, the technological limitations of surface equipment are taken into account. The maximized criterion reflects the economic effect of the asset development. In this article, without going into details of mathematical realization, the authors consider practical examples of solving these problems using full-scale 3D multiphase filtration models of the real fields. The algorithms based on the current methods of optimal control theory are used, which were developed and implemented by the researchers of Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the SimMatch software package and confirmed their effectiveness on numerous synthetic and real examples. Application and further development of these methods within the framework of a single loop, taking into account continuous information from the entire set of sensors, will significantly increase the efficiency of intelligent wells and field control systems.

ГЕОХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ ЗАХОРОНЕНИЯ УГЛЕКИСЛОГО ГАЗА В ТЕРРИГЕННЫХ КОЛЛЕКТОРАХ

The paper is aimed at the research practice on identifying the features of interaction in the water-rockcarbon dioxide system in relation to terrigenous reservoirs, widely occurring in hydrogeological basins in the territory of the Russian Federation and potentially suitable for the placement of carbon dioxide. As the CO2 solution is saturated, along with an increase in total dissolved solids there is a naturally-determined increment in the volume of transition of ions into their complex forms. The main macro components (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, (SO4)2–, Cl– ) migrate mainly in the form of their own ions, with a decrease in their fraction by an order of 1–3 % with an increase in mineralization. Ions such as Fe, Al3+, Mn3+, (NO3)–, (HCO3)–, SiO2, (NH4)+, (NO2)– are prone to transition into the form of complex compounds, the fraction of which in the total volume increases with the amount of saturation of solution with carbon dioxide. When CO2 is injected into the terrigenous reservoir, there is a natural decrease in the solution pH, absence of precipitation of carbonates and minimal changes in the rock porosity. The observed process of dissolution of primary aluminosilicate minerals (albite, anorthite, potassium feldspar) is characteristic of most of the considered mineralogical varieties of reservoirs, when they are saturated with CO2. This process is accompanied by deposition of secondary mineral phases in the form of montmorillonites, illites, chlorites, etc. Taking into account the low rates of these reactions, no significant changes in reservoir properties are noticed.

Investigation on physico-mechanical properties and microstructural evolution patterns of heated granite after liquid nitrogen cooling

Liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracturing is recognized as an innovative reservoir enhancement technique, demonstrating significant potential in establishing high permeability pathways in geothermal development. Understanding the physico-mechanical properties and microscopic mechanisms of hot dry rock post LN2 cooling treatment is pivotal for promoting the effective deployment of LN2 fracturing. This study undertook physical and mechanical testing on a quintessential hot dry rock type-granite-post various temperature and LN2 cooling treatments. Subsequently, a multi-scale investigation was conducted on the thermal fracture-pore structure's morphological features and the evolution of mineral components. The experimental findings indicated that LN2 cooling exerts a pronounced impact on the physico-mechanical properties of high-temperature granite. Temperature-induced damage to granite can be delineated into three phases: initial phase up to 200 °C where its effects are relatively imperceptible; an intermediate phase from 200 to 500 °C characterized by gradual deterioration; and a pronounced degradation phase evident at 600 °C. Correlations between the changes in the micro pore-fracture structure of granite and its physico-mechanical property degradation were subsequently established. As temperature escalated, the area of micro-defects in the CT-reconstructed spatial distribution increased progressively. The volumetric porosity damage ratio and fractal dimensions were quantitatively introduced to characterize the fractal geometric features and distribution patterns of internal thermal fractures in granite post thermal shock. Concurrently, NMR experiments indicated that with the escalation of temperature, micropore develop and interlink to form mesopore and macropore, enhancing rock porosity connectivity. These macropores significantly influence granite's physico-mechanical and permeability characteristics. A mineral stability analysis revealed that various minerals undergo physico-chemical reactions, such as dehydration, phase transitions, decomposition, and chemical bond fractures at elevated temperatures, altering mineralogical composition and mineral strength, thus impacting the rock's macroscopic properties. Ultimately, the study delved into the damage mechanisms of granite's physico-mechanical properties from both heating and cooling perspectives during various temperature phases. The insights garnered from this investigation offer novel value in comprehending the thermal damage characteristics induced by LN2 cooling.

Research and analysis of the impact of the pore structure on the mechanical properties and fracture mechanism of sandstone

Rock pore structure, including porosity, pore size, and particle size, plays a crucial role in determining rock mechanical properties. This study investigates the impact of pore structure on rock mechanical properties through laboratory experiments and numerical simulation methods on sandstones with varying porosity and pore size. The pore structure characteristics of sandstone were determined using XRD, SEM, and NMR microscopic techniques. Additionally, the influence of rock porosity on rock mechanical properties was analyzed by combining Uniaxial compression test with DIC technology, revealing the fracture mechanism caused by porosity in rocks. Numerical models were constructed to simulate sandstones with different porosities and pore diameters, followed by uniaxial compression simulation tests to explore the influence of varying pore diameters on rock mechanical properties and the fracture mechanism. The study reveals the presence of four distinct pore types in the sandstone: micropores in the matrix (0–0.002 µm), intergranular pores (0.002–0.2 µm), dissolution pores (0.2–4 µm), and fracture pores (4–30 µm). Among these, intergranular pores and dissolution pores are the predominant types, accounting for approximately 92–96% of the total pore volume in the sandstone. It is observed that an increase in porosity leads to a decrease in the mechanical strength of sandstone and an increase in Poisson's ratio while keeping the pore size constant. Similarly, when the porosity remains constant, an increase in pore size results in a decrease in the mechanical strength and an increase in Poisson's ratio. Additionally, the study also finds that as the porosity and pore diameter of sandstone increase, the area of internal equivalent stress expands, leading to a shorter crack initiation time and accelerated crack penetration speed, ultimately resulting in a decline in the mechanical properties of sandstone. Numerical simulation experiments further demonstrate that large pores exhibit higher stress concentration compared to small pores, thereby exerting a more significant influence on the mechanical properties of sandstone.

Evaluation of the Shale Impact on Reservoir Characterization, the Jeribe Carbonate Reservoir in an Oilfield Northern Iraq as a Case Study

The shale content and mode of distribution, along with their impact on the reservoir properties of the Jeribe Formation, were investigated using the available log data in the two selected wells, NET-10 and NET-12, of an oilfield northern Iraq. The dolomite and dolomitic limestone lithology of the formation contains different ratios of shale, with the highest near the middle part of the formation. Horizons of 70 to 99% shale content were identified, but the general ratios are ranging between 10% and 50%. The data from the Spectral Gamma ray log revealed that the shale content of the formation is mostly composed of low Potassium minerals such as Chlorite and Montimorlinite, with appreciable percentages of Illite. The low Th/U ratios along the formation indicated a reduced condition of deposition except for about 2-3 meters of the upper part of the formation in the well NET-10, which looks to be precipitated in a natural depositional environment. Dispersed, Laminar, and Structural modes of shale distribution co-exist within the formation in both studied wells. As the different modes of shale distribution have different impacts on the porosity and permeability of the reservoir rocks, the decrease and increase in the shale content did not perfectly correspond with an opposite fluctuation in the porosity values of the formation. The shale content in the formation has an impact on the porosity calculation by overestimating it by about 4–5% and subsequently underestimating the water saturation by 9% in the well NET-10 and 7% in the well NET-12.

Study on the deformation failure mechanism and coupling support technology of soft rock roadways in strong wind oxidation zones

Due to the influence of sedimentary environment, the coal seams and overlying rocks in the wind oxidation zone exhibit developed fractures, high rock porosity, strength attenuation, and poor self-stability. It leads to the large deformation of the surrounding rock and managing the roof of roadways difficultly. This made the roadway excavation extremely difficult. And the rendering conventional “bolt-cable-mesh (belt)-shotcrete” combined support system was not applicable. In this paper, the No. 49,104 air return roadway in the strong wind oxidation zone of the Shuiquan Coal Mine was selected as the engineering background. The change trends of the coal and rock in the strong wind oxidation zone physical and mechanical properties were revealed, and the deformation and failure mechanism was analyzed. According to the deformation and failure characteristics of the roadway in the wind oxidation surrounding rock with engineering practice, a coupling support scheme “pregrouting + anchor net and sprayed concrete + inverted arch structure + U-shaped steel + high and low-pressure, deep and shallow-hole reinforcement grouting” was proposed. A roadway grouting reinforcement diffusion range model was established in COMSOL Multiphysics, and the grouting diffusion range was then imported into FLAC3D to compare and analyze the coupling support scheme reinforcement effect of roadway in the strong wind oxidation zone. And the coupling support scheme was used to reinforce the No. 49,104 air return roadway, and the reinforcement effect was monitored in situ. Results showed that the proposed coupling support and reinforcement scheme can be employed to effectively control the deformation of the surrounding rock and the expansion of plastic zone damage. And the stability and safety of the roadway were significantly improved. This coupling support scheme was reasonably designed, and it could provide an engineering reference for the support and reinforcement of roadways in weak and crushed surrounding rocks under similar geological conditions.

Target-based sedimentary diagenesis simulation and three-dimensional diagenesis evolution modeling

Deposition and diagenesis are important factors affecting the quality of oil and gas reservoirs. Previously reported diagenesis studies mainly involve qualitative analysis, such as the determination of diagenetic events and diagenetic evolution sequences and modeling of two-dimensional diagenetic evolution, with less effort devoted to quantitative numerical simulation and three-dimensional diagenetic evolution models. This study proposes a new method for target-based diagenesis simulation by integrating the discrete element method, the quartet structure generation set method, and morphological algorithms. This new hybrid method can quantitatively simulate the effects of mineral grain deposition, compaction, cementation, dissolution, and replacement. Since specific minerals can undergo specific diagenetic alterations through mineral labeling, the sequence and path of diagenesis can be predefined in this method. Taking the sandstone reservoir of Lower Member 3 of the Shahejie Formation in Linnan Sag, Huimin Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China as an example, the new simulation method used the constructed diagenetic evolution sequence based on thin section identification and geochemical analysis to systematically simulate deposition and diagenesis in the study area and to construct a three-dimensional diagenetic evolution model. The predicted porosity, permeability, and pore size distribution of the simulated digital rocks are in good agreement with the experimental values, which validates the high accuracy of the simulation method. Based on these three-dimensional multi-mineral evolution models, the evolution trends of porosity and permeability during the sedimentation and diagenesis process were elucidated, revealing the variation in reservoir quality in the studied area and indicating reservoir sweet spots. The constructed 3D diagenesis evolution models are widely applicable and can be used not only for permeability simulation but also for the study of electrical, acoustic, and mechanical properties of reservoirs.

Ore deposit prospecting using the chlorine and bromine secondary dispersion halos

The Cland Brions, that form complex compounds with metals, produce secondary dispersion halos in the hypergenesis zone at Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn ore deposits which ore bodies are controlled by fracturing and fault structures. The appearance of anomalies of the highly mobile water-soluble ions, manifested on the surface and in the wall rocks, is explained by their transfer from the deep sources to the surface by a gas flow. The migration of the ions to the earth's surface and further into the atmosphere is influenced by many factors (atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, rock porosity, etc.) that complicate the observation results.

A New Multi-Scale Method to Evaluate the Porosity and MICP Curve for Digital Rock of Complex Reservoir

The evaluation of rock porosity and the mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) curve is fundamental for oil and gas exploration and production. Digital rock (DR) technology, incorporating 3D micro-CT imaging and numerical methods, has been widely employed to predict these properties. However, analyzing the pore structure of heterogeneous rocks, such as fractured rocks or glutenite, solely through single-scale DR analysis poses challenges. Existing upscaling methods have limitations in fully representing the complete range of pore structures at different scales, with limited comparison to experimental data. To address this, we propose a novel method that upscales porosity and simulates the MICP curve from nano-scale to core scale by merging results from micro-CT (at resolutions of 35 μm and 2 μm) and SEM (at resolutions of 6.5 nm and 65 nm). We validate the developed DR model by applying it to sandstones, glutenite, and igneous rocks, and achieve excellent agreement between the experimental data and the multi-scale DR model across 67 samples. The results demonstrate that the multi-scale model effectively captures the porosity and pore structures across the entire range. In contrast, the single digital rock (DR) model underestimates the porosity measurements for both homogeneous sandstones and heterogeneous cores. While the MICP model based on a single DR proves suitable for homogeneous rock samples, it introduces noticeable discrepancies when applied to heterogeneous rock samples. The developed multi-scale method significantly enhances the confidence in using DR to assess the pore structure of complex rocks.

Wide divergence of fungal communities inhabiting rocks and soils in a hyper-arid Antarctic desert.

Highly simplified microbial communities colonise rocks and soils of continental Antarctica ice-free deserts. These two habitats impose different selection pressures on organisms, yet the possible filtering effects on the diversity and composition of microbial communities have not hitherto been fully characterised. We hence compared fungal communities in rocks and soils in three localities of inner Victoria Land. We found low fungal diversity in both substrates, with a mean species richness of 28 across all samples, and significantly lower diversity in rocks than in soils. Rock and soil communities were strongly differentiated, with a multinomial species classification method identifying just three out of 328 taxa as generalists with no affinity for either substrate. Rocks were characterised by a higher abundance of lichen-forming fungi (typically Buellia, Carbonea, Pleopsidium, Lecanora, and Lecidea), possibly owing to the more protected environment and the porosity of rocks permitting photosynthetic activity. In contrast, soils were dominated by obligate yeasts (typically Naganishia and Meyerozyma), the abundances of which were correlated with edaphic factors, and the black yeast Cryomyces. Our study suggests that strong differences in selection pressures may account for the wide divergences of fungal communities in rocks and soils of inner Victoria Land.

Numerical simulation of ore formation within skarn-type Pb-Zn deposits: Implications for mineral exploration and the duration of ore-forming processes

Skarn-type deposits are typical hydrothermal mineral deposits distributed throughout the world with multiple metal resources and huge economic value. However, their extremely complex forming processes hinder us from further understanding their forming mechanism and exploring their economic potential. This study builds an integrated and simplified model of skarn-type Pb-Zn deposits and applies numerical simulation approach to quantitatively describe the formation of mineralization, analyzing the continuous dynamic changes of the concentrations of generated garnet, diopside and galena/sphalerite within the system. This numerical model includes chemical reactions, heat conduction, fluid-flow, materials migration and diffusion and their complex coupled relationships. The results show that the alterations at the contact of wall rocks and intrusions have clear zoning of garnet and diopside, and the amount of diopside exceeds that of garnet at the distal end of the generated alteration zone; the generation processes of garnet, diopside and galena/sphalerite follows a strict chronological order, controlling the variation of rock porosity; the cooling process of P3 (Fig. 4b) from 700 °C to 170 °C costs 55,000 years, within which the formation of galena/sphalerite merely lasts 30,000 years, meaning that the effective lifespan of Pb/Zn mineralization takes up only 54.54 % of the whole 55,000 years. All these results provide useful information for metallogenic research of skarn-type Pb-Zn deposits as well as magmatic-hydrothermal system. However, the method applied in this research still has limitations, such as the restriction from the single-period magmatic activity, the law of mass action, and the simplified chemical equations. Future development into both mathematical geosciences and geological analytical tests will definitely provide more appropriate calculation models and testing data with higher precision, improving the accuracy and practical significance of numerical simulation of ore formation, and providing more detailed quantitative answers for remaining hot issues related to economic geology research.

Investigating the Impact of Pores on Rock Damage during Thermal Spalling Drilling

Numerous microcracks and pores in geological rock formations cause early flaws. High temperatures increase these fractures and pores, thermally damaging reservoir rocks and changing the rock failure mechanism. However, research on pores' high-temperature thermal spalling and fragmentation effects on heterogeneous rocks is sparse. This study built a finite element numerical model of heterogeneous granite rock thermal damage with pores based on rock thermal fracture theory and the Voronoi method and explored the mechanism under varied pore settings. The research's findings indicate that the application of high temperatures to local heterogeneous porous rocks results in a higher proportion of tensile damage. The proportion of shear damage and tensile damage constantly varies due to the changing position and shape of the pores. The rock's porosity has the effect of decreasing temperature in the direction of heat transfer while increasing the extent of temperature transfer along the pore parallel to the heating surface. The potential degree of damage increases as the density of pores increases, the distances between them decrease, and the pore lengths increase. The thermal damage resulting from heating in the vicinity of the pore is primarily localized in the area between the pore and the heated surface. This effect becomes more significant as the distance between them decreases. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical framework for understanding the impact of rock pores on rock thermal fracturing and fragmentation in the thermal spalling-assisted development of deep oil and gas resources.

Mineral Scaling Impact on Petrophysical Properties of Reservoir Rock in a Geothermal Field Located in Northwestern Iran

Summary As the usage of geothermal energy as a zero-emission power resource continues to grow in significance, comprehending the interplay between physical and chemical processes within geothermal reservoirs becomes crucial. In this study, a computationally efficient fluid flow and heat transfer model, combined with a fluid chemistry model, is used to simulate fluid circulation and mineral precipitation in reservoir rock, resulting in changes in rock porosity and permeability. A 2D hybrid approach is employed to solve transient mass and momentum conservation equations, coupled with an analytical solution of the energy equation proposed in the literature for geological formations. A marching algorithm is utilized to calculate velocity and temperature fields in the axial direction within the production zone. Mineral scaling is addressed using the outputs of the hybrid model to perform saturation index (SI) and solution/dissolution computations for qualitative and quantitative mineral precipitation modeling. Multiple criteria are considered to assess the likelihood and intensity of fouling issues. The analysis results are used in an empirical model to estimate rock secondary porosity and permeability changes over a 5-year period of heat extraction. The developed simulator is applied to model a site in the Sabalan geothermal field in Iran, and its initial verification is conducted using data from the same site in the literature. The findings in the study for a sensitivity on fluid circulation rate reveal that increasing water circulation flow rate increases precipitation rate and pumping power required. Furthermore, even minor instances of pore blockage can result in notable reductions in permeability. Consequently, ensuring precise control over pressure and temperature during the production phase becomes progressively crucial for both reservoir integrity and production assurance. The proposed framework provides a promising approach for accurate and efficient simulation of geothermal reservoirs to optimize power generation and minimize environmental impact.