Characterization of Petrophysical Properties in Tight Sandstone Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract With the fast and large-scale development of unconventional reservoirs, tight sandstone reservoirs have contributed much to oil and gas production in recent years. Effective petrophysical characterization of tight sandstone reservoirs is important for predicting oil and gas production. Fractal theory has been widely used for characterizing petrophysical properties of tight sandstone reservoirs. In this chapter, the characteristics of tight sandstone petrophysical properties are reviewed and pore structure characterization techniques such as FE-SEM, X-CT, high-pressure mercury intrusion, rate-controlled mercury intrusion, nitrogen gas adsorption, and nuclear magnetic resonance are introduced. Additionally, the different methods of calculating fractal dimensions from various pore structure characterization techniques are reviewed, and the physical meanings of fractal dimensions derived from different fractal models are discussed. Finally, the mathematical models for predicting intrinsic permeability, apparent gas permeability, liquid permeability, and low-velocity non-Darcy flow of tight sandstone are briefly introduced. This chapter will provide important insight into petrophysical properties of tight sandstone reservoirs.