Flow and Transport in Fractal Models of Rock Mechanics

A special issue of Fractal and Fractional (ISSN 2504-3110). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2024 | Viewed by 3451

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Energy, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Interests: fractal models; reservoir characterization; rock mechanics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flow and transport in fractal models have gained significant attention in the field of rock mechanics, particularly in the context of oil and gas production. Fractal models provide a powerful framework for understanding the complex behavior of fluid flow and transport in porous media with intricate geometries and heterogeneous structures. Fractal models can be applied in the study of flow and transport phenomena in oil and gas reservoirs. Additionally, fractal models, characterized by their self-similarity and non-integer dimensions, offer a versatile approach to capturing the multiscale nature of rock formations. These models consider the hierarchical arrangement of pores and fractures within the rock matrix, which can greatly influence fluid flow and transport properties. By incorporating fractal dimensions and scaling laws, researchers have been able to develop mathematical representations and computational simulations that accurately describe the behavior of fluids in such complex systems. In the oil and gas industry, understanding the flow and transport processes is crucial for optimizing production strategies, estimating reserves, and designing efficient recovery methods. Fractal models enable the analysis of key parameters such as permeability, porosity, and connectivity, which directly impact fluid flow behavior and can help predict production performance. Additionally, the use of fractal models allows for the investigation of transport phenomena, including dispersion, diffusion, and mixing, which are essential for assessing the efficiency of enhanced oil recovery techniques.

The focus of this Special Issue is to emphasize the significance of fractal models in providing valuable insights into the intricate flow and transport processes occurring in rock formations. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

  • Fractal-based characterization of reservoir heterogeneity;
  • Fractal modeling of fluid flow in unconventional reservoirs;
  • Fractal analysis of fracture networks in shale formations;
  • Transport phenomena in fractal porous media;
  • Fractal-based simulation methods for reservoir engineering;
  • Flow and transport in naturally fractured reservoirs using fractal models;
  • Fractal-based modeling of multiphase flow in porous media;
  • Fractal analysis of permeability in fractured reservoirs;
  • Fractal-based approaches for enhanced oil recovery in unconventional reservoirs;
  • New fractal model development;
  • Numerical simulation in fractal porous media.

Dr. Kouqi Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fractal models
  • rock mechanics
  • transport process
  • oil and gas industry
  • reservoir characterization
  • numerical solution

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2500 KiB  
Article
Using Fractal Theory to Study the Influence of Movable Oil on the Pore Structure of Different Types of Shale: A Case Study of the Fengcheng Formation Shale in Well X of Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, China
by Hong Zhang, Zhengchen Zhang, Zhenlin Wang, Yamin Wang, Rui Yang, Tao Zhu, Feifei Luo and Kouqi Liu
Fractal Fract. 2024, 8(4), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract8040242 - 20 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1205
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of movable oil on the pore structure of various shale types, analyzing 19 shale samples from Well X in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin. Initially, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis classified the shale samples. Subsequently, the geochemical [...] Read more.
This study investigated the influence of movable oil on the pore structure of various shale types, analyzing 19 shale samples from Well X in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin. Initially, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis classified the shale samples. Subsequently, the geochemical properties and pore structures of the samples, both pre and post oil Soxhlet extraction, were comparatively analyzed through Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content measurement, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and nitrogen adsorption experiments. Additionally, fractal theory quantitatively described the impact of movable oil on the pore structure of different shale types. Results indicated higher movable oil content in siliceous shale compared to calcareous shale. Oil extraction led to a significant increase in specific surface area and pore volume in all samples, particularly in siliceous shale. Calcareous shale predominantly displays H2–H3 type hysteresis loops, indicating a uniform pore structure with ink-bottle-shaped pores. Conversely, siliceous shale exhibited diverse hysteresis loops, reflecting its complex pore structure. The fractal dimension in calcareous shale correlated primarily with pore structure, exhibiting no significant correlation with TOC content before or after oil extraction. Conversely, the fractal dimension changes in siliceous shale samples do not have a clear correlation with either TOC content or pore structure, suggesting variations may result from both TOC and pore structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flow and Transport in Fractal Models of Rock Mechanics)
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13 pages, 12732 KiB  
Article
The Classification and Evaluation of an Interlayer Shale Oil Reservoir Based on the Fractal Characteristics of Pore Systems: A Case Study in the HSN Area, China
by Changsheng Lu, Xixin Wang, Shuwei Ma, Shaohua Li, Ting Xue and Qiangqiang Li
Fractal Fract. 2024, 8(3), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract8030167 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
The evaluation of shale reservoir quality is of great significance for the exploration and development of shale oil. To more effectively study the distribution characteristics of shale reservoir quality, thin-section observation, scanning electron microscopy and pressure-controlled porosimetry were used to obtain the pore [...] Read more.
The evaluation of shale reservoir quality is of great significance for the exploration and development of shale oil. To more effectively study the distribution characteristics of shale reservoir quality, thin-section observation, scanning electron microscopy and pressure-controlled porosimetry were used to obtain the pore structure characteristics of shale in Chang 7, including pore types, pore size distribution, etc. In addition, the fractal dimensions of the shale samples were calculated based on pressure-controlled porosimetry data. The results show that residual interparticle pores, dissolution pores and clay-dominated pores were the main pore types. The overall pore size was mainly distributed between 3 nm and 50 μm. The pore system was divided into four types using fractal features, and the shale reservoir was divided into four types based on the proportion of different types of pore system. In different types of reservoirs, the production capacity of exploration wells varies significantly, as does the production capacity of horizontal wells. The classification of shale reservoirs using mercury intrusion fractal analysis proved to be suited for the efficient development of Chang 7 shale oil reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flow and Transport in Fractal Models of Rock Mechanics)
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