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Stress sensitivity in naturally fractured reservoirs: a case study of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation, Qingxi Oilfield, Jiuxi Basin, northwestern China

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Abstract

Stress sensitivity is the variation of rock petrophysical parameters resulting from changes in effective stress. In fractured reservoirs, experimental methods exhibit a certain amount of error in the quantitative analysis of reservoir rock stress sensitivity. In addition, fracture-bearing experimental rock samples are difficult to obtain and prepare. Therefore, in the present study, reservoir rock stress sensitivity in naturally fractured reservoirs was investigated based on geomechanical modeling using a case study of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation in the Qingxi Oilfield. The results indicate that the Xiagou fractured reservoir experiences strong stress sensitivity with a fracture permeability damage rate reaching 94.38%. Natural fractures influence reservoir rock stress sensitivity. The degree of filling and type of filled minerals within natural fractures have great effects on the permeability damage rate. A higher permeability damage rate suggests stronger rock stress sensitivity. Generally, I) for reservoir rocks with unfilled natural fractures, the permeability damage rate is extremely high; II) for reservoir rocks with partially filled natural fractures, the permeability damage rate is high, and if the minerals within the natural fractures are insoluble, the permeability damage rate is slightly higher than if the materials are soluble; III) for reservoir rocks with completely filled natural fractures, the permeability damage rate is extremely low if the minerals within the natural fractures are insoluble; however, if the materials are soluble, the permeability becomes slightly higher with the increase of effective stress. Most importantly, this study provides a practical method for analyzing stress sensitivity in naturally fractured reservoirs.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude towards the anonymous reviewers for offering constructive suggestions and comments, which have improved this manuscript in many aspects. This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2018QNA44) and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Coalbed Methane Resources and Reservoir Formation Process, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China

    Wei Ju

  2. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Mineral, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Wei Ju

  3. School of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Wei Ju, Haoran Xu & Shengyu Wang

  4. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China

    Xiaolong Fu

  5. Department of Civil Engineering, Jiuzhou Polytechnic, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Weifeng Sun

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  1. Wei Ju
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  2. Xiaolong Fu
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  3. Weifeng Sun
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  4. Haoran Xu
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Correspondence to Wei Ju.

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Ju, W., Fu, X., Sun, W. et al. Stress sensitivity in naturally fractured reservoirs: a case study of the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation, Qingxi Oilfield, Jiuxi Basin, northwestern China. Geosci J 24, 339–349 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-019-0022-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-019-0022-y

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