Characteristics of petroleum accumulation in syncline of the Songliao basin and discussion on its accumulation mechanism

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences 2007-05, Vol.50 (5), p.702
• Main Authors: Wu, Heyong, Liang, Xiaodong, Xiang, Caifu, Wang, Yuewen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Buoyancy; Flow resistance; Oil; Permeability; Petroleum; Reservoirs
• ISSN: 1674-7313; 1869-1897
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-007-0031-y

The relation between oil and water in reservoirs with low and ultra-low permeability is very complicated. Gravitational separation of oil and water is not obvious. Normal reservoirs are located in depression and structural high spot, oil and water transitions are located in their middle. Stagnation is the key fact of oil-forming reservoir in the axis of a syncline based on the research of oil, gas and water migration manner, dynamics and non-Darcy flow in the Songliao basin. In low and ultra-low permeable reservoir, gas and water migrate easily through pore throats because their molecules are generally smaller than the pore throats; but the minimum diameter of oil droplets is larger than pore throats and they must be deformed to go through. Thus, gas and water migrate in advance of oil, and oil droplets remain behind. Pressure differential and the buoyancy force in a syncline reservoir are a main fluid driving force; and capillary force is the main resistance to flow. When the dynamics force is less than resistance, oil is immobile. When the buoyancy force is less than the capillary force, a gravitational separation of oil and water does not occur. The reservoir in the mature source rock of a syncline area with the low and ultra-low permeability belongs to an unconventional petroleum reservoir.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]