Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model

Tight oil reservoirs, such as the Chang 8 formation in the Dadonggou area of the Ordos Basin, commonly encounter severe challenges including strong heterogeneity, and low recovery factors under conventional development methods. Effectively enhancing the recovery of such reservoirs represents a key c...

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Main Authors: Fangping Chen, Zhenzhen Shen, Jian Li, Zhenjie Yao, Kai Liu, Fangna Liu, Baoting Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1572001/full
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author Fangping Chen
Zhenzhen Shen
Zhenzhen Shen
Jian Li
Zhenjie Yao
Kai Liu
Fangna Liu
Baoting Li
author_facet Fangping Chen
Zhenzhen Shen
Zhenzhen Shen
Jian Li
Zhenjie Yao
Kai Liu
Fangna Liu
Baoting Li
author_sort Fangping Chen
collection DOAJ
description Tight oil reservoirs, such as the Chang 8 formation in the Dadonggou area of the Ordos Basin, commonly encounter severe challenges including strong heterogeneity, and low recovery factors under conventional development methods. Effectively enhancing the recovery of such reservoirs represents a key challenge for efficient field development. Based on the characteristics of the actual reservoir, a large-scale three-dimensional (3D) physical simulation model was designed and constructed. Using two typical horizontal well patterns, row well pattern and five-spot well pattern, physical simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of N2 flooding, water-alternating-gas (WAG) flooding, water flooding, and nano-microsphere flooding on oil recovery. The results demonstrate that for reservoirs with a permeability of 0.3 mD, WAG flooding significantly improves oil recovery after N2 flooding, increasing the recovery factor by 14.5% and 16% for the row well and five-spot well patterns, respectively. For reservoirs with a permeability of 3.3 mD, nano-microsphere flooding exhibits excellent capability for expanding the sweep volume, resulting in a recovery improvement of 14.5% and 13.5% compared with water flooding for the row well and five-spot well patterns. Additionally, the five-spot well pattern outperforms the row well pattern in terms of recovery efficiency and uniform sweep distribution for all flooding techniques evaluated. This work validated the potential of technologies, such as nano-microsphere flooding, to enhance tight oil recovery, providing key technical support for refined field development.
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spelling doaj-art-c5216f7f00e84b6f83e529a0d141842c2025-08-20T03:54:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-05-011310.3389/feart.2025.15720011572001Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical modelFangping Chen0Zhenzhen Shen1Zhenzhen Shen2Jian Li3Zhenjie Yao4Kai Liu5Fangna Liu6Baoting Li7Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaYangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaShaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co., Ltd., Research Institute, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaTight oil reservoirs, such as the Chang 8 formation in the Dadonggou area of the Ordos Basin, commonly encounter severe challenges including strong heterogeneity, and low recovery factors under conventional development methods. Effectively enhancing the recovery of such reservoirs represents a key challenge for efficient field development. Based on the characteristics of the actual reservoir, a large-scale three-dimensional (3D) physical simulation model was designed and constructed. Using two typical horizontal well patterns, row well pattern and five-spot well pattern, physical simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of N2 flooding, water-alternating-gas (WAG) flooding, water flooding, and nano-microsphere flooding on oil recovery. The results demonstrate that for reservoirs with a permeability of 0.3 mD, WAG flooding significantly improves oil recovery after N2 flooding, increasing the recovery factor by 14.5% and 16% for the row well and five-spot well patterns, respectively. For reservoirs with a permeability of 3.3 mD, nano-microsphere flooding exhibits excellent capability for expanding the sweep volume, resulting in a recovery improvement of 14.5% and 13.5% compared with water flooding for the row well and five-spot well patterns. Additionally, the five-spot well pattern outperforms the row well pattern in terms of recovery efficiency and uniform sweep distribution for all flooding techniques evaluated. This work validated the potential of technologies, such as nano-microsphere flooding, to enhance tight oil recovery, providing key technical support for refined field development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1572001/fulltight oil reservoirsnano-microspherehorizontal well patternsinjectionproduction optimization3D physical model
spellingShingle Fangping Chen
Zhenzhen Shen
Zhenzhen Shen
Jian Li
Zhenjie Yao
Kai Liu
Fangna Liu
Baoting Li
Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
Frontiers in Earth Science
tight oil reservoirs
nano-microsphere
horizontal well patterns
injectionproduction optimization
3D physical model
title Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
title_full Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
title_fullStr Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
title_short Optimization of nano-microsphere flooding and injection-production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three-dimensional physical model
title_sort optimization of nano microsphere flooding and injection production for tight oil reservoirs based on the three dimensional physical model
topic tight oil reservoirs
nano-microsphere
horizontal well patterns
injectionproduction optimization
3D physical model
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1572001/full
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