Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 3137

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
SINOPEC Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: hydraulic fracturing; acidizing; numerical simulation
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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Interests: coalbed methane reservoir; permeability; micro-fracture
School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China
Interests: enhanced oil recovery; reservoir stimulation; natural gas hydrate
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, "Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy", aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest breakthroughs, technologies, and research findings in the field of hydrocarbon extraction from geological resources. This Special Issue also aims to capture the dynamic landscape of the energy industry, focusing on innovations that contribute to enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in hydrocarbon production.

  • Advanced enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques: exploration of cutting-edge methods such as chemical flooding, gas injection, and thermal recovery to optimize hydrocarbon extraction from existing reservoirs.
  • Innovative drilling technologies: research and development in extended-reach drilling, horizontal drilling, and smart well technologies aimed at accessing unconventional hydrocarbon resources with increased precision and efficiency.
  • Reservoir characterization and monitoring: advances in 3D seismic imaging, reservoir simulation, and real-time monitoring to improve reservoir understanding and management for optimal production outcomes.
  • Digitalization and data analytics: applications of digital technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, in reservoir modeling, predictive maintenance, and overall process optimization.
  • Sustainable practices and renewable integration: exploration of strategies that integrate traditional hydrocarbon production with renewable energy sources, fostering sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of energy extraction.
  • Hydraulic fracturing innovations: investigation into novel hydraulic fracturing techniques, proppant technologies, and reservoir mapping methodologies, with a focus on enhancing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.
  • Carbon capture, utilization, and storage: assessments of the latest developments in CCUS technologies as a means to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrocarbon production.

Dr. Lufeng Zhang
Dr. Fengrui Sun
Dr. Jie Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • hydrate
  • unconventional reservoir
  • hot dry rock
  • coalbed methane reservoir
  • EOR
  • geo-engineering
  • reservoir stimulation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4510 KiB  
Article
Investigation into the Variation Law of Network Fracture Conductivity in Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs
by Jianfa Ci, Lei Wang, Feiyang Xiong and Yanxin Zhao
Processes 2024, 12(9), 1803; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12091803 - 25 Aug 2024
Viewed by 517
Abstract
The network fracturing technique is a key technology for increasing effective reservoir volume and enhancing production in shale oil and gas. The fracture network’s conductivity is one of the crucial factors affecting the efficient development of shale gas. To evaluate the variation patterns [...] Read more.
The network fracturing technique is a key technology for increasing effective reservoir volume and enhancing production in shale oil and gas. The fracture network’s conductivity is one of the crucial factors affecting the efficient development of shale gas. To evaluate the variation patterns and influencing factors of the conductivity of network fractures, this study employed a proppant conductivity evaluation system and an equivalent theory testing method. It investigated the conductivity of propped and self-propped fractures under different angles and numbers of fractures. Experimental results showed that fractures with proppant support had higher conductivity than unsupported fractures. Smaller angles between secondary and main fractures resulted in greater conductivity. The conductivity of multi-fracture structures increased with the number of fractures. Under low-closure pressure conditions, self-propped fractures exhibited significantly higher conductivity than propped fractures, but this trend reversed under high closure pressure. This experimental research provides guidance for constructing network fractures with high conductivity in unconventional oil and gas reservoir fracturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy)
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19 pages, 7765 KiB  
Article
Study on Optimization of Stimulation Technology of Heterogeneous Porous Carbonate Reservoir
by Kangjia Zhao, Hualei Xu, Jie Wang, Houshun Jiang and Liangjun Zhang
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061191 - 10 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 539
Abstract
Mishrif (M) reservoir of Faihaa (F) oilfield in Iraq is a heterogeneous porous carbonate reservoir. The reservoir properties of each reservoir unit differ greatly, and the distribution of porosity and permeability is non-uniform. Some reservoir units have the problem that the expected production [...] Read more.
Mishrif (M) reservoir of Faihaa (F) oilfield in Iraq is a heterogeneous porous carbonate reservoir. The reservoir properties of each reservoir unit differ greatly, and the distribution of porosity and permeability is non-uniform. Some reservoir units have the problem that the expected production cannot be achieved or the production decline rate is too fast after matrix acidification. This work optimized and compared the process of acid fracturing and hydraulic fracturing techniques. The Mishrif B (MB) and Mishrif C (MC) layers are selected as the target units for fracturing and the perforation intervals are optimized. The acid fracturing process adopted the acid fracturing technology of guar gum pad fluid and gelled acid multi-stage injection. According to the wellhead pressure limit and fracture propagation geometry, the pumping rate is optimized. The recommended maximum pumping rate of acid fracturing is 5.0 m3/min, and the optimized acid volume is 256.4 m3. The pressure changes during hydraulic fracturing and acid fracturing are different. It is recommended that the maximum hydraulic fracturing pump rate is 4.5 m3/min for MB and MC layers, and the amount of proppant in MB and MC layers is 37.5 m3 and 43.7 m3, respectively. The production prediction of two optimized processes is carried out. The results showed that the effect of acid fracturing in MB and MC layers is better than hydraulic fracturing, and it is recommended to adopt acid fracturing technology to stimulate MB and MC layers. Acid fracturing operation is carried out in the X-13 well, and better application results are achieved. The results of this study provide optimized reference ideas for reservoir stimulation in heterogeneous porous reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy)
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19 pages, 7233 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Key Influencing Factors of Hydraulic Fracturing Fracture Propagation in a Shale Reservoir Based on the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM)
by Pengcheng Ma and Shanfa Tang
Processes 2024, 12(5), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12051000 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 810
Abstract
In the process of the large-scale hydraulic fracturing of a shale gas field in the Weiyuan area of Sichuan province, the quantitative description and evaluation of hydraulic fracture expansion morphology and the three-dimensional distribution law are the key points of evaluation of block [...] Read more.
In the process of the large-scale hydraulic fracturing of a shale gas field in the Weiyuan area of Sichuan province, the quantitative description and evaluation of hydraulic fracture expansion morphology and the three-dimensional distribution law are the key points of evaluation of block fracturing transformation effect. Many scholars have used the finite element method, discrete element method, grid-free method and other numerical simulation methods to quantitatively characterize hydraulic fractures, but there are often the problems that the indoor physical simulation results are much different from the actual results and the accuracy of most quantitative studies is poor. Considering rock mechanics parameters and based on the displacement discontinuity method (DDM), a single-stage multi-cluster fracture propagation model of horizontal well was established. The effects of Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, the in situ stress difference, the approximation angle, the perforation cluster number and the perforation spacing on the formation of complex fracture networks and on the geometrical parameters of hydraulic fractures were simulated. The research results can provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for the optimization of large-scale fracturing parameters and the quantitative post-fracturing evaluation of horizontal wells in unconventional reservoirs such as shale gas reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy)
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15 pages, 10836 KiB  
Article
Further Investigation of CO2 Quasi-Dry Fracturing in Shale Reservoirs—An Experimental Study
by Bo Zheng, Weiyu Tang, Yong Wang, Yipeng Li, Binbin Shen, Yongkang Wang, Longqiao Hu, Yougen Deng, Mingjiang Wu, Shangyong Xi and Xiongfei Liu
Processes 2024, 12(5), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12050912 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 874
Abstract
The physical properties of shale reservoirs are typically poor, necessitating the use of fracturing technology for effective development. However, the high clay content prevalent in shale formations poses significant challenges for conventional hydraulic fracturing methods. To address this issue, CO2-based fracturing [...] Read more.
The physical properties of shale reservoirs are typically poor, necessitating the use of fracturing technology for effective development. However, the high clay content prevalent in shale formations poses significant challenges for conventional hydraulic fracturing methods. To address this issue, CO2-based fracturing fluid has been proposed as an alternative to mitigate the damage caused by water-based fracturing fluids. In this paper, the applicability of quasi-dry CO2 fracturing in shale reservoirs is examined from three key perspectives: the viscosity of CO2 fracturing fluid, the fracture characteristics induced by the CO2 fracture fluid, and the potential reservoir damage caused by the fracturing fluid. Firstly, the viscosity of CO2 fracturing fluid was determined by a rheological experiment. Rheological tests revealed that the viscosity of CO2 fracturing fluid was significantly influenced by the water–carbon ratio. Specifically, when the water–carbon ratio was 30:70, the maximum viscosity observed could reach 104 mPa·s. Moreover, increasing reservoir temperature resulted in decreased fracturing fluid viscosity, with a 40 °C temperature rise causing a 20% viscosity reduction. Secondly, matrix permeability tests were conducted to investigate permeability alteration during CO2 fracturing fluid invasion. Due to the weak acidity of CO2-based fracturing fluid, the permeability reduction induced by clay hydration was inhibited, and an increase in permeability was observed after a 3-day duration. However, the matrix permeability tends to decrease as the interaction time is prolonged, which means prolonged soaking time can still cause formation damage. Finally, triaxial fracturing experiments facilitated by a three-axis servo pressure device were conducted. The fracture properties were characterized using computed tomography (CT), and 3D reconstruction of fractured samples was conducted based on the CT data. The results demonstrate that CO2 fracturing fluid effectively activates weak cementation surfaces in the rock, promoting the formation of larger and more complex fractures. Hence, CO2 quasi-dry fracturing technology emerges as a method with significant potential, capable of efficiently stimulating shale reservoirs, although a reasonable soaking time is necessary to maximize hydrocarbon production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Hydrocarbon Production Processes from Geoenergy)
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