孔隙尺度下煤储层压裂液返排界面动态演化与滞留机制

    Dynamic evolution of fracturing fluid flowback interface and its retention mechanism in coal reservoirs at the pore scale

    • 摘要: 孔隙尺度是煤层气储量动用的关键,返排不彻底将显著影响煤层气流通性和最终采收率。针对孔隙尺度下压裂液滞留的关键主控因子及协同效应尚不清晰的问题,开展孔隙尺度煤储层压裂液滞留机制研究。基于扫描电镜获取真实岩芯二维孔隙结构,构建Navier-Stokes方程与Cahn-Hilliard方程耦合的孔隙尺度下多场微观返排模型,系统研究压裂液返排过程中的液相滞留特性、优势流动通道演化规律及多因素影响机制,通过高精度孔隙网络模型与两相流动力学模拟,实现了煤层气储层压裂液滞留微观机制的动态表征。结果表明:压裂液残余形态分别呈现盲端状、连片状、膜状及簇状四类特征性空间分布,其中,膜状滞留和簇状滞留是主要的残余形态;大孔中流体压力梯度小,而孔喉狭窄处流速显著增大并伴随压力跃升;界面润湿性通过毛细管力调控压裂液残余饱和度,疏水界面(θ>90°)较亲水界面(θ<90°)残余液饱和度降低44.50个百分点,较小的接触角会显著提升毛细压力,这将成为返排初期的动力;增大两相黏度比(M)可优化流体渗流特性、降低其流动阻力,lgM=−2.00时残余液饱和度较lgM=−2.69时降低8.79个百分点;降低表面张力可有效减弱毛细管束缚,残余液饱和度较高表面张力体系降低18.03个百分点。研究结果揭示了多物理场耦合条件下压裂液返排过程中的气-液两相流动力学行为及界面演化机制,为煤层气高效开采工艺优化和高性能压裂液研制提供理论依据与技术支撑。

       

      Abstract: Pore scale is the key to the recovery of coalbed methane reserves. Incomplete flowback will significantly affect the permeability and ultimate recovery factor of coalbed methane. To address the issue that the key controlling factors and synergistic effects governing fracturing fluid retention at the pore scale remain poorly understood, this study investigates the retention mechanism of fracturing fluid in coal reservoirs at the pore scale. Based on two-dimensional pore structures of real coal cores acquired via scanning electron microscopy(SEM), a multi-field microscopic flowback model at the pore scale is developed by coupling the Navier-Stokes equations and the Cahn-Hilliard equations. The liquid-phase retention characteristics, the evolution of preferential flow channels, and the multi-factor coupled influence mechanism during fracturing fluid flowback are systematically analyzed. By combining high-precision pore network modeling and two-phase flow dynamics simulation, the dynamic characterization of the microscopic retention mechanism of fracturing fluid in coalbed methane reservoirs is achieved. The results show that the residual fracturing fluid exhibits four typical spatial distributions: dead-end, continuous, film-like, and cluster-like morphologies, among which film-like and cluster-like retention are the dominant residual patterns. The fluid pressure gradient is small in large pores, whereas the flow velocity increases significantly at narrow pore throats accompanied by a pressure jump. Interfacial wettability controls the residual saturation of fracturing fluid via capillary force: the residual saturation on hydrophobic surfaces(θ>90°) is 44.50 percentage points lower than that on hydrophilic surfaces(θ<90°). A smaller contact angle markedly enhances capillary pressure, which acts as the driving force in the early flowback stage. Increasing the two-phase viscosity ratio(M) optimizes fluid seepage characteristics and reduces flow resistance: the residual saturation at lgM = −2.00 is 8.79 percentage points lower than that at lgM = −2.69. Reducing surface tension effectively weakens capillary trapping, and the residual saturation is 18.03 percentage points lower than that in the high-surface-tension system. The results reveal the gas-liquid two-phase flow dynamic behavior and interfacial evolution mechanism during fracturing fluid flowback under the condition of multi-physics coupling, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for the optimization of efficient coalbed methane recovery technologies and the development of high-performance fracturing fluids.

       

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