Experimental study on multiphase flow in fracture-vug medium using 3D printing technology and visualization techniques

Yang，Wei1; Zhang，Dongxiao2; Lei，Gang3

2020-10-01

10.1016/j.petrol.2020.107394

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING   影响因子和分区

0920-4105

1873-4715

Strong heterogeneity and anisotropy exist in fractured-vuggy reservoirs, resulting in complex flow and relatively low oil recovery. Therefore, the mechanism of water flooding and gas injection displacement in fracture-vug medium constitutes a key issue in oil production. In this study, based on similarity criteria, physical models of fracture-vug medium are designed and constructed through 3D printing technology. Then, by combining the LED (light-emitting diode) backlight visualization method (BVM) and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, experiments of multiphase flow (i.e., oil-water and gas-oil) through the printed fracture-vug medium are carried out. During the experiments, the morphological changes of the fluid interfaces are captured with BVM, and the velocity field and streamlines of the fluid in the system are determined by the PIV technique. In addition, we also investigate various factors affecting the recovery efficiency of fracture-vug medium, such as injection velocity, gravity, outlet position, and shape factors. Results show that oil recovery in fracture-vug medium varies with injection velocity (or Reynolds number), shape of the vug, and fracture-vug structure. Specifically, distribution of the remaining oil is affected by the shape of the vug. Gravity also exerts a great influence on the morphology of bubbles in the case of gas injection. The present study leads to a better understanding of multiphase flow in fracture-vug medium and a valuable experimental dataset.

3D printing Backlight visualization method Fractured-vuggy reservoirs Multiphase flow Particle image velocimetry

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

National Science and Technology Major Projects of China[2016ZX05014-004-006]

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering

Energy & Fuels ; Engineering, Petroleum

WOS:000542293600009

ELSEVIER

20202008657930

Three dimensional computer graphics ; 3D printers ; Oil well flooding ; Velocimeters ; Velocity ; Velocity measurement ; Reynolds number ; Flow visualization ; Multiphase flow

Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Fluid Flow, General:631.1 ; Data Processing and Image Processing:723.2 ; Computer Applications:723.5 ; Printing Equipment:745.1.1 ; Special Purpose Instruments:943.3 ; Materials Science:951

GEOSCIENCES

2-s2.0-85084500047

Scopus

1.BIC-ESAT,ERE,and SKLTCS,College of Engineering,Peking University,Beijing,100871,China
2.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Department of Petroleum Engineering,CPG,King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals,Dhahran,31260,Saudi Arabia

Yang，Wei,Zhang，Dongxiao,Lei，Gang. Experimental study on multiphase flow in fracture-vug medium using 3D printing technology and visualization techniques[J]. JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING,2020,193.

Yang，Wei,Zhang，Dongxiao,&Lei，Gang.(2020).Experimental study on multiphase flow in fracture-vug medium using 3D printing technology and visualization techniques.JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING,193.

Yang，Wei,et al."Experimental study on multiphase flow in fracture-vug medium using 3D printing technology and visualization techniques".JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 193(2020).