The high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) experiment is widely used to assess the pore architecture oftight sandstone reservoirs. However, the conventional analysis of the high- pressure mercury intrusionhas always f...The high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) experiment is widely used to assess the pore architecture oftight sandstone reservoirs. However, the conventional analysis of the high- pressure mercury intrusionhas always focused on the mercury injection curves themselves, neglecting the important geologicalinformation conveyed by the mercury ejection curves. This paper quantitatively describes the fractalcharacteristics of ejection curves by using four fractal models, i.e.,. Menger model, Thermodynamicmodel, Sierpinski model, and multi- fractal model. In comparison with mercury injection curves, weexplore the fractal significance of mercury ejection curves and define the applicability of different fractalmodels in characterizing pore architectures. Investigated tight sandstone samples can be divided intofour types (Types A, B, C and D) based on porosity, permeability, and mercury removal efficiency. Type Dsamples are unique in that they have higher permeability (>0.6 mD) but lower mercury removal effi-ciency (<35%). Fractal studies of the mercury injection curve show that it mainly reflects the pore throatcharacteristics, while the mercury ejection curve serves to reveal the pore features, and porosity andpermeability correlate well with the fractal dimension of the injection curve, while mercury removalefficiency correlates only with the Ds' value of the ejection curve. The studies on the mercury ejectioncurves also reveal that the small pores and micropores of the Type C and Type D samples are moredeveloped, with varying pore architecture. The fractal dimension Ds' value of Type D samples is greaterthan that of Type C samples, and the dissolution of Type D samples is more intense than that of Type Csamples, which further indicates that the Type D samples are smaller in pore size, rougher in surface, andwith greater difficulty for the hydrocarbon to enter, resulting in their reservoir capacity probably lessthan that of Type C samples. In this regard, the important information characterized by the mercuryejection curve should be considered in evaluating the tight sandstone reservoirs. Finally, the Menger andThermodynamic models prove to be more suitable for describing the total pore architecture, while theSierpinski model is better for characterizing the variability of the interconnected pores.展开更多
基金The research project was co-funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42072172,No.41772120)Shandong Province Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.JQ201311)the Graduate Scientific and Technological Innovation Project Financially Supported by Shandong University of Science and Technology(No.SDKDYC190313).
文摘The high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) experiment is widely used to assess the pore architecture oftight sandstone reservoirs. However, the conventional analysis of the high- pressure mercury intrusionhas always focused on the mercury injection curves themselves, neglecting the important geologicalinformation conveyed by the mercury ejection curves. This paper quantitatively describes the fractalcharacteristics of ejection curves by using four fractal models, i.e.,. Menger model, Thermodynamicmodel, Sierpinski model, and multi- fractal model. In comparison with mercury injection curves, weexplore the fractal significance of mercury ejection curves and define the applicability of different fractalmodels in characterizing pore architectures. Investigated tight sandstone samples can be divided intofour types (Types A, B, C and D) based on porosity, permeability, and mercury removal efficiency. Type Dsamples are unique in that they have higher permeability (>0.6 mD) but lower mercury removal effi-ciency (<35%). Fractal studies of the mercury injection curve show that it mainly reflects the pore throatcharacteristics, while the mercury ejection curve serves to reveal the pore features, and porosity andpermeability correlate well with the fractal dimension of the injection curve, while mercury removalefficiency correlates only with the Ds' value of the ejection curve. The studies on the mercury ejectioncurves also reveal that the small pores and micropores of the Type C and Type D samples are moredeveloped, with varying pore architecture. The fractal dimension Ds' value of Type D samples is greaterthan that of Type C samples, and the dissolution of Type D samples is more intense than that of Type Csamples, which further indicates that the Type D samples are smaller in pore size, rougher in surface, andwith greater difficulty for the hydrocarbon to enter, resulting in their reservoir capacity probably lessthan that of Type C samples. In this regard, the important information characterized by the mercuryejection curve should be considered in evaluating the tight sandstone reservoirs. Finally, the Menger andThermodynamic models prove to be more suitable for describing the total pore architecture, while theSierpinski model is better for characterizing the variability of the interconnected pores.
