Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs
In-situ thermal upgrading aids recovery from low-maturity oil shales where low permeability is the rate-limiting feature. We use machine leaning classified pore and pore network morphological descriptions recovered at elevated temperatures to define the dynamic thermal evolution of permeability. The...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Unconventional Resources |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651902400061X |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841527151015231488 |
|---|---|
| author | Bo He Lingzhi Xie Xin Liu Jun Liu Derek Elsworth |
| author_facet | Bo He Lingzhi Xie Xin Liu Jun Liu Derek Elsworth |
| author_sort | Bo He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In-situ thermal upgrading aids recovery from low-maturity oil shales where low permeability is the rate-limiting feature. We use machine leaning classified pore and pore network morphological descriptions recovered at elevated temperatures to define the dynamic thermal evolution of permeability. These descriptions define key factors influencing permeability evolution, in particular the development of anisotropy and its implication for recovery. Heating enhances permeability by increasing both the number and total cross-sectional area (SEM) of pores. Fractal dimensions indicate that the pore microstructure is anisotropic in the bedding-parallel and bedding-perpendicular directions and is upgraded by elevated temperature. The permeability anisotropy endures throughout the entire heating process and fluctuates at elevated temperature, quantified by the index called anisotropic coefficient of permeability. A newly proposed “aggregation degree” indexes the relative contribution of minority pores to overall permeability – 50 % of the permeability (K) is sourced from <8 % pores in the SEM section. Increased temperature elicits increased permeability – thus, the temperature applied at the injection well defines the flow limiting permeability threshold at the production wells and thus controls flow rates from the entire heated reservoir. This work provides fresh insights in defining the thermal permeability response of low-maturity oil shales and guides fluids recovery. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18dcc491151942f997b797de34dff8a2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5190 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Unconventional Resources |
| spelling | doaj-art-18dcc491151942f997b797de34dff8a22025-01-16T04:29:18ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Unconventional Resources2666-51902025-04-016100133Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputsBo He0Lingzhi Xie1Xin Liu2Jun Liu3Derek Elsworth4Key Laboratory of Deep Underground Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Underground Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Oil, Daqing, 163712, China; Daqing Oilfield Exploration and Development Research Institute, Daqing, 163712, ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Underground Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China; Corresponding author.Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAIn-situ thermal upgrading aids recovery from low-maturity oil shales where low permeability is the rate-limiting feature. We use machine leaning classified pore and pore network morphological descriptions recovered at elevated temperatures to define the dynamic thermal evolution of permeability. These descriptions define key factors influencing permeability evolution, in particular the development of anisotropy and its implication for recovery. Heating enhances permeability by increasing both the number and total cross-sectional area (SEM) of pores. Fractal dimensions indicate that the pore microstructure is anisotropic in the bedding-parallel and bedding-perpendicular directions and is upgraded by elevated temperature. The permeability anisotropy endures throughout the entire heating process and fluctuates at elevated temperature, quantified by the index called anisotropic coefficient of permeability. A newly proposed “aggregation degree” indexes the relative contribution of minority pores to overall permeability – 50 % of the permeability (K) is sourced from <8 % pores in the SEM section. Increased temperature elicits increased permeability – thus, the temperature applied at the injection well defines the flow limiting permeability threshold at the production wells and thus controls flow rates from the entire heated reservoir. This work provides fresh insights in defining the thermal permeability response of low-maturity oil shales and guides fluids recovery.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651902400061XS: oil shaleSeepage capacityQingshankou formationThermal upgradingSEM scanning |
| spellingShingle | Bo He Lingzhi Xie Xin Liu Jun Liu Derek Elsworth Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs Unconventional Resources S: oil shale Seepage capacity Qingshankou formation Thermal upgrading SEM scanning |
| title | Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs |
| title_full | Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs |
| title_fullStr | Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs |
| title_short | Mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally-upgraded low-maturity oil shales: Application of machine learning outputs |
| title_sort | mechanistic controls on permeability evolution in thermally upgraded low maturity oil shales application of machine learning outputs |
| topic | S: oil shale Seepage capacity Qingshankou formation Thermal upgrading SEM scanning |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266651902400061X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bohe mechanisticcontrolsonpermeabilityevolutioninthermallyupgradedlowmaturityoilshalesapplicationofmachinelearningoutputs AT lingzhixie mechanisticcontrolsonpermeabilityevolutioninthermallyupgradedlowmaturityoilshalesapplicationofmachinelearningoutputs AT xinliu mechanisticcontrolsonpermeabilityevolutioninthermallyupgradedlowmaturityoilshalesapplicationofmachinelearningoutputs AT junliu mechanisticcontrolsonpermeabilityevolutioninthermallyupgradedlowmaturityoilshalesapplicationofmachinelearningoutputs AT derekelsworth mechanisticcontrolsonpermeabilityevolutioninthermallyupgradedlowmaturityoilshalesapplicationofmachinelearningoutputs |