Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores

Shale oil reservoirs feature a considerable number of nanopores and complex minerals, and the impact of nano-pore confinement and pore types frequently poses challenges to the efficient development of shale oil. For shale oil reservoirs, CO<sub>2</sub> flooding can effectively lower crud...

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Main Authors: Chengshan Li, Hongbo Xue, Liping Rao, Fang Yuan, Zhongyi Xu, Tongtong He, Chengwei Ji, Zhengbin Wu, Jiacheng Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/262
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author Chengshan Li
Hongbo Xue
Liping Rao
Fang Yuan
Zhongyi Xu
Tongtong He
Chengwei Ji
Zhengbin Wu
Jiacheng Yan
author_facet Chengshan Li
Hongbo Xue
Liping Rao
Fang Yuan
Zhongyi Xu
Tongtong He
Chengwei Ji
Zhengbin Wu
Jiacheng Yan
author_sort Chengshan Li
collection DOAJ
description Shale oil reservoirs feature a considerable number of nanopores and complex minerals, and the impact of nano-pore confinement and pore types frequently poses challenges to the efficient development of shale oil. For shale oil reservoirs, CO<sub>2</sub> flooding can effectively lower crude oil viscosity, enhance reservoir physical properties, and thereby increase recovery. In this paper, the CO<sub>2</sub> displacement process in the nanoscale pores of shale oil was simulated through the molecular dynamic simulation method. The performance disparity of quartz and calcite slit nanopores was discussed, and the influences of nanoscale pore types and displacement rates on CO<sub>2</sub> displacement behavior were further analyzed. The results demonstrate that the CO<sub>2</sub> displacement processes of different inorganic pores vary. In contrast, the displacement efficiency of light oil components is higher and the transportation distance is longer. Intermolecular interaction has a remarkable effect on the displacement behavior of CO<sub>2</sub> in nanopores. On the other hand, it is discovered that a lower displacement rate is conducive to the miscible process of alkane and CO<sub>2</sub> and the overall displacement process of CO<sub>2</sub>. The displacement efficiency drops significantly with the increase in displacement velocity. Nevertheless, once the displacement speed is extremely high, a strong driving force can facilitate the forward movement of alkane, and the displacement efficiency will recover slightly.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-e6c7b4f46a8c47569ada03d2c9eb945e2025-01-24T13:30:49ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-01-0118226210.3390/en18020262Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic NanoporesChengshan Li0Hongbo Xue1Liping Rao2Fang Yuan3Zhongyi Xu4Tongtong He5Chengwei Ji6Zhengbin Wu7Jiacheng Yan8Ninth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaNinth Oil Production Plant, Changqing Oilfield Branch, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710018, ChinaHubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Theory and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, ChinaShale oil reservoirs feature a considerable number of nanopores and complex minerals, and the impact of nano-pore confinement and pore types frequently poses challenges to the efficient development of shale oil. For shale oil reservoirs, CO<sub>2</sub> flooding can effectively lower crude oil viscosity, enhance reservoir physical properties, and thereby increase recovery. In this paper, the CO<sub>2</sub> displacement process in the nanoscale pores of shale oil was simulated through the molecular dynamic simulation method. The performance disparity of quartz and calcite slit nanopores was discussed, and the influences of nanoscale pore types and displacement rates on CO<sub>2</sub> displacement behavior were further analyzed. The results demonstrate that the CO<sub>2</sub> displacement processes of different inorganic pores vary. In contrast, the displacement efficiency of light oil components is higher and the transportation distance is longer. Intermolecular interaction has a remarkable effect on the displacement behavior of CO<sub>2</sub> in nanopores. On the other hand, it is discovered that a lower displacement rate is conducive to the miscible process of alkane and CO<sub>2</sub> and the overall displacement process of CO<sub>2</sub>. The displacement efficiency drops significantly with the increase in displacement velocity. Nevertheless, once the displacement speed is extremely high, a strong driving force can facilitate the forward movement of alkane, and the displacement efficiency will recover slightly.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/262shale oilcarbon dioxidemolecular dynamics simulationnanoporesdisplacement characteristics
spellingShingle Chengshan Li
Hongbo Xue
Liping Rao
Fang Yuan
Zhongyi Xu
Tongtong He
Chengwei Ji
Zhengbin Wu
Jiacheng Yan
Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
Energies
shale oil
carbon dioxide
molecular dynamics simulation
nanopores
displacement characteristics
title Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
title_full Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
title_fullStr Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
title_short Molecular Dynamics Simulation on the Mechanism of Shale Oil Displacement by Carbon Dioxide in Inorganic Nanopores
title_sort molecular dynamics simulation on the mechanism of shale oil displacement by carbon dioxide in inorganic nanopores
topic shale oil
carbon dioxide
molecular dynamics simulation
nanopores
displacement characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/262
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