Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2024, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 1180-1194.doi: 10.11743/ogg20240420

• Methods and Technologies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Interaction mechanism between supercritical carbon dioxide and shale

Yibo LI1(), Yaowang CHEN1, Jinzhou ZHAO1, Zhiqiang WANG2, Bing WEI1, Kadet Valeriy3   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China
    2.Zepu Oil and Gas Production Management Area, Tarim Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Zepu, Xinjiang 8448003, China
    3.Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • Received:2024-03-05 Revised:2024-05-14 Online:2024-09-05 Published:2024-09-05

Abstract:

Understanding the mechanism and pattern of interactions between supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and shale is crucial to the exploitation of shale oil and gas. However, there is a lack of studies on the changes in shale wettability, porosity, and permeability after SC-CO2 injection into shale reservoirs. In this study, the changes of mineral composition and microstructures of shales are quantitatively characterized before and after SC-CO2 soaking under different soaking time, pressure and fluid type, while taking the shales in the Longmaxi area in the Sichuan Basin. Analyses and tests of the total organic carbon (TOC) content, mineral composition, surface morphology, and low-pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption of shales are conducted, and the impacts of SC-CO2 on shale porosity, permeability, and wettability are explored. The results indicate that an increase in the soaking time and pressure leads to a decrease in the contents of clay and carbonate minerals (i.e., calcite and dolomite), while an increase in the quartz content results in a significant decrease in the organic matter content in shales. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal that the changes in the microscopic pore structures of shales are jointly affected by extraction, dissolution, and adsorption-induced swelling and, on the other hand, further alter shale porosity and permeability. Additionally, the variation in shale permeability is influenced by the contents of clay minerals, carbonate minerals, and organic matter. The shale wettability also changes after soaking in SC-CO2. Specifically, as the soaking time and pressure increase, the shale-water contact angle enlarges, with the shale transitioning from strong hydrophilic to weak and moderate hydrophilic type.

Key words: dissolution, extraction, permeability, wettability, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), shale, Sichuan Basin

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