Theoretical analyses of chemical dissolution‐front instability in fluid‐saturated porous media under non‐isothermal conditions

This paper mainly deals with the theoretical aspects of chemical dissolution‐front instability problems in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media under non‐isothermal conditions. In the case of the mineral dissolution ratio (that is defined as the ratio of the dissolved‐mineral equilibrium concentration in the pore fluid to the molar concentration of the dissolvable mineral in the solid matrix of the fluid‐saturated porous medium) approaching zero, the corresponding critical condition has been mathematically derived when temperature variation effects are considered. As a complementary tool, the computational simulation method is used to simulate the morphological evolution of chemical dissolution fronts in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media under non‐isothermal conditions. The related theoretical and numerical results have demonstrated that: (i) a temperature increase in a non‐isothermal chemical dissolution system can have some influence on the propagation speed of the planar chemical dissolution front in the system. Generally, the chemical dissolution front in the non‐isothermal chemical dissolution system propagates slower than that in the counterpart isothermal chemical dissolution system when the temperature of the non‐isothermal chemical dissolution system is higher than that of the counterpart isothermal chemical dissolution system; (ii) a temperature increase in the non‐isothermal chemical dissolution system can stabilize the chemical dissolution front propagating in the system, because it can cause a decrease in the Zhao number of the system but does not affect the critical Zhao number of the system; and (iii) the temperature gradient in the upstream direction of a chemical dissolution front is smaller than that in the downstream direction of the chemical dissolution front when the non‐isothermal chemical dissolution system is supercritical. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Why asymptotic limit of the acid dissolution capacity can lead to a sharp dissolution front in chemical dissolution of porous rocks?

The use of the asymptotic limit can greatly simplify the theoretical analysis of chemical dissolution front instabilities in fluid‐saturated rocks and therefore make it possible to obtain mathematical solutions, which often play a crucial role in understanding the propagation behavior of chemical dissolution fronts in chemical dissolution systems. However, there has been a debate in recent years that the asymptotic limit of the acid dissolution capacity (i.e., the acid dissolution capacity number approaching zero) alone cannot lead to a sharp dissolution front of the Stefan type in the acidization dissolution system, in which the dissolvable minerals of carbonate rocks are chemically dissolved by the injected acid flow. The acid dissolution capacity number is commonly defined as the ratio of the volume of the carbonate rock dissolved by an acid to that of the acid. In this paper, we use four different proof methods, including (i) direct use of the fundamental concepts; (ii) use of the mathematical governing equations of an acidization dissolution system; (iii) use of the different time scaling approach; and (iv) use of a moving coordinate system approach, to demonstrate that the asymptotic limit of the acid dissolution capacity can indeed lead to sharp dissolution fronts of the Stefan type in acidization dissolution systems on a much larger time scale (than the dissolution time scale). Our new finding is that on the reaction time scale, the condition of the conventional time derivative of porosity approaching zero alone can ensure that the acidization dissolution front has a sharp shape of the Stefan type. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical analyses of nonaqueous phase liquid dissolution‐induced instability in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media

This paper deals with the theoretical aspects of nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL)‐dissolution‐induced instability in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media including solute dispersion effects.After some weaknesses associated with the previous work are analyzed and overcome, a comprehensive dimensionless number, known as the Zhao number, is proposed to represent the main driving force and three controlling mechanisms of an NAPL‐dissolution system that has a finite domain. The linear stability analysis is carried out to derive the critical value of the comprehensive dimensionless number of the NAPL‐dissolution system in a limit case as the ratio of the equilibrium concentration to the density of the NAPL approaches zero. As a result, a theoretical criterion that can be used to assess the instability of planar NAPL‐dissolution fronts in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media of finite domains has been established. Not only can the present theoretical results be used for the theoretical understanding of the effect of solute dispersion on the instability of an NAPL‐dissolution front in the fluid‐saturated porous medium of either a finite domain or an infinite domain, but also they can be used as benchmark solutions for verifying numerical methods employed to simulate detailed morphological evolution processes of NAPL‐dissolution fronts in two‐dimensional fluid‐saturated porous media. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical and numerical analyses of chemical‐dissolution front instability in fluid‐saturated porous rocks

The chemical‐dissolution front propagation problem exists ubiquitously in many scientific and engineering fields. To solve this problem, it is necessary to deal with a coupled system between porosity, pore‐fluid pressure and reactive chemical‐species transport in fluid‐saturated porous media. Because there was confusion between the average linear velocity and the Darcy velocity in the previous study, the governing equations and related solutions of the problem are re‐derived to correct this confusion in this paper. Owing to the morphological instability of a chemical‐dissolution front, a numerical procedure, which is a combination of the finite element and finite difference methods, is also proposed to solve this problem. In order to verify the proposed numerical procedure, a set of analytical solutions has been derived for a benchmark problem under a special condition where the ratio of the equilibrium concentration to the solid molar density of the concerned chemical species is very small. Not only can the derived analytical solutions be used to verify any numerical method before it is used to solve this kind of chemical‐dissolution front propagation problem but they can also be used to understand the fundamental mechanisms behind the morphological instability of a chemical‐dissolution front during its propagation within fluid‐saturated porous media. The related numerical examples have demonstrated the usefulness and applicability of the proposed numerical procedure for dealing with the chemical‐dissolution front instability problem within a fluid‐saturated porous medium. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of medium and pore‐fluid compressibility on chemical‐dissolution front instability in fluid‐saturated porous media

Theoretical analysis and computational simulations have been carried out to investigate how medium and pore‐fluid compressibility affects the chemical‐dissolution front propagation, which is associated with a fully‐coupled nonlinear problem between porosity, pore‐fluid pressure, pore‐fluid density and reactive chemical‐species transport within a deformable and fluid‐saturated porous medium. When the fully‐coupled nonlinear system is in a subcritical state, some analytical solutions have been derived for a special case, in which the ratio of the equilibrium concentration to the solid molar density of the chemical species is approaching zero. To investigate the effect of either medium compressibility or pore‐fluid compressibility on the evolutions of chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical chemical dissolution systems, numerical algorithms and procedures have been also proposed. The related theoretical and numerical results have demonstrated that: (i) not only can pore‐fluid compressibility affect the propagating speeds of chemical dissolution fronts in both subcritical and supercritical systems, but also it can affect the growth and amplitudes of irregular chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical systems; (ii) medium compressibility may have a little influence on the propagating speeds of chemical dissolution fronts, but it can have significant effects on the growth and amplitudes of irregular chemical dissolution fronts in supercritical systems; and (iii) both medium and pore‐fluid compressibility may stabilize irregular chemical‐dissolution‐fronts in supercritical chemical dissolution systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

沉积盆地流体活动及其成岩响应

盆地流体活动通过改变成岩场的温压和孔隙水介质条件,进而影响到盆地内成岩作用序列、水—岩相互作用以及储层孔隙变化。对于碎屑岩而言,流体活动仅能导致母岩中少部分矿物的溶蚀以及孔隙内溶解与沉淀作用发生,富含二氧化碳和有机酸的流体活动为次生孔隙发育提供条件,超压环境下流体幕式释放既可导致超压体内次生孔隙的发育,又可以导致热流体活动影响区域内浅部储层的成岩异常;对于碳酸盐岩而言,由于碳酸盐岩具有很强的溶解性,盆地流体活动导致碳酸盐岩储层组构及空间发生巨大的变化,其中天水的下渗以及与深部热液或热流体沿断裂或裂缝释放均可导致碳酸盐岩成分、组构、储集空间发生根本性变化,故与盆地流体活动密切相关的风化壳型岩溶储层和构造热液白云岩储层构成碳酸盐岩中最为重要的储层类型。然而,盆地流体活动及其成岩响应研究仍存在许多亟待解决的难点问题,急待深入的研究探索。     

基于Gassmann方程岩石速度倒转现象成因分析

Gassmann理论主要用于处理流体替换问题,在进行流体替换研究中发现总会在一定情况下出现"倒转现象"。解释为在一定的孔隙度情况下,100%含气岩石速度大于100%含水岩石速度,这同岩石物理实验室测试结果相违背。因此针对不同的岩样数据及测井资料,图示分析了完全饱和岩石速度倒转成因,发现替换后饱和岩石密度差异过大会造成此现象。同时在对碳酸盐岩储层岩石进行了饱和度替换数值模拟后发现,模拟结果同实验室测试数据趋势一致,只是碳酸盐岩对孔隙度大小分类不同。因此强调了流体替换正演模拟的重要性,在一定物理意义下的替换才有实际价值。     

塔里木盆地柯坪地区肖尔布拉克组优质微生物碳酸盐岩储层成因

微生物碳酸盐岩储层是油气地质学研究的重要领域,针对古老深埋的塔里木盆地肖尔布拉克组微生物碳酸盐岩存在的优质储层争议和储层成因问题,通过野外观察、剖面测量、密集取样、物性测试、薄片分析和CT扫描等手段,对柯坪野外露头区的肖尔布拉克组微生物碳酸盐岩储层进行了系统调查与分析。结果表明,肖尔布拉克组的优质微生物碳酸盐岩储层为具有亮晶凝块结构的层状凝块石建造,其储层孔隙度最大值为9.35%,孔隙度介于2.69%~9.35%之间的比例为70.3%,平均值为5.07%,且其储层孔隙度和平行渗透率具有极好的线性正相关性。这些优质储层的储集空间类型包括粒间孔、晶间孔、粒间溶孔、晶间溶孔、扩溶孔和溶洞6类。潮下带上部高能原始沉积环境中形成的亮晶凝块结构为优质储层的形成提供了微生物沉积作用上的先决条件;热液溶蚀作用形成大量大孔径的组构非选择性扩溶孔和溶洞则是优质储层形成过程中至关重要的成岩作用过程,极大地提高了层状凝块石建造的孔隙度。这将进一步深化对肖尔布拉克组优质微生物碳酸盐岩储层类型和成因的认识。     

Hydrothermal mixing,carbonate dissolution and sulfide precipitation in Mississippi Valley-type deposits

A large number of Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposits are located within dissolution zones in carbonate host rocks. Some genetic models propose the existence of cavities generated by an earlier event such as a shallow karstification, that were subsequently filled with hydrothermal minerals. Alternative models propose carbonate dissolution caused by the simultaneous precipitation of sulfides. These models fail to explain either the deep geological setting of the cavities, or the observational features which suggest that the dissolution of carbonates and the precipitation of minerals filling the cavities are not strictly coeval. We present a genetic model inspired by the textural characteristics of MVT deposits that accounts for both the dissolution of carbonate and precipitation of sulfides and later carbonates in variable volumes. The model is based on the mixing of two hydrothermal fluids with a different chemistry. Depending on the proportion of the end members, the mixture dissolves and precipitates carbonates even though the two mixing solutions are both independently saturated in carbonates. We perform reactive transport simulations of mixing of a regional groundwater and brine ascending through a fracture, both saturated in calcite, but with different overall chemistries (Ca and carbonate concentrations, pH, etc). As a result of the intrinsic effects of chemical mixing, a carbonate dissolution zone, which is enhanced by acid brines, appears above the fracture, and another zone of calcite precipitation builds up between the cavity and the surrounding rock. Sulfide forms near the fracture and occupies a volume smaller than the cavity. A decline of the fluid flux in the fracture would cause the precipitation of calcite within the previously formed cavities. Therefore, dissolution of carbonate host rock, sulfide precipitation within the forming cavity, and later filling by carbonates may be part of the same overall process of mixing of fluids in the carbonate host rock.Editorial handling: C. Everett     

Computational simulation for the morphological evolution of nonaqueous phase liquid dissolution fronts in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media

This paper deals with the computational aspects of nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) dissolution front instability in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media of finite domains. After the governing equations of an NAPL dissolution system are briefly described, a combination of the finite element and finite difference methods is proposed to solve these equations. In the proposed numerical procedure, the finite difference method is used to discretize time, while the finite element method is used to discretize space. Two benchmark problems, for which either analytical results or previous solutions are available, are used to verify the proposed numerical procedure. The related simulation results from these two benchmark problems have demonstrated that the proposed numerical procedure is useful and applicable for simulating the morphological evolution of NAPL dissolution fronts in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media of finite domains. As an application, the proposed numerical procedure has been used to simulate morphological evolution processes for three kinds of NAPL dissolution fronts in supercritical NAPL dissolution systems. It has been recognized that: (1) if the Zhao number of an NAPL dissolution system is in the lower range of the supercritical Zhao numbers, the fundamental mode is predominant; (2) if the Zhao number is in the middle range of the supercritical Zhao numbers, the (normal) fingering mode is the predominant pattern of the NAPL dissolution front; and (3) if the Zhao number is in the higher range of the supercritical Zhao numbers, the fractal mode is predominant for the NAPL dissolution front.     

地下孔隙率和渗透率在空间和时间上的变化及影响因素

地下岩石孔隙率和渗透率在空间和时间上的变化受众多因素控制,总的说来,包括沉积与成岩两个最为主要的因素。沉积盆地的性质和沉积环境控制了沉积物的组成、岩石的结构和原生孔隙。沉积作用所经历的时间相对较短而进程较快;成岩作用所经历的时间相对较长而进程较慢。从对孔隙率和渗透率的控制作用来说,成岩作用的研究难度相对较大。近年来,一些传统的形成地下岩石次生孔隙的机制受到挑战,这些传统机制中最为主要的是有机酸对铝硅酸溶解形成次生孔隙,但这会造成介质pH值的升高,碳酸盐矿物和高岭石的沉淀。地下岩石中碳酸水溶解产生的次生孔隙也是有限的。新的机制如大气淡水的溶解作用,深部冷却地下水的溶解作用,硅酸盐的水解都得到了人们的普遍接受,这对于次生孔隙成因的解释及地下岩石孔隙率和渗透率的预测十分重要。对于碳酸盐岩来说,与不整合面附近的古喀斯特有关的油气藏得到了更多的关注。深埋藏过程中碳酸盐岩成岩作用的研究中,温度和压力的影响对不同碳酸盐矿物溶解及沉淀作用的差异性控制了地下碳酸盐岩孔隙率和渗透率分布.     

地应力对碳酸盐岩溶解和岩溶发育的影响

地应力对碳酸盐岩溶解和岩溶发育的影响研究是一个值得注意但又长期被忽视的问题, 结合地球化学、地质热力学、矿物岩石学、岩石弹塑性力学方面的知识, 在理论上全面地分析地应力的影响.研究表明, 在应力作用下, 碳酸盐岩岩体内应变能提高、溶解反应自由能增加、裂隙发育特征与水流运动条件发生变化, 使得碳酸盐岩固体表面处溶解物饱和浓度增大, 改变了岩体内水流的厚度、水流流态以及水中碳酸盐岩溶解物浓度, 从而影响了碳酸盐岩的溶解速率; 且应力的存在改变了有效的水岩相互作用面积; 应力作用下碳酸盐岩溶解存在的"应力-溶解"耦合竞争循环机制使得岩溶发育出现混沌现象和自组织行为, 初始应力介入所导致的一个很微小的影响因可被迅速放大至成百上千倍而不可忽略, 自然界中碳酸盐岩岩体内溶解和结晶并存、串珠状溶洞以及孤立溶洞的形成发育机制一定程度上可归结为应力溶解自组织行为的结果.      

鄂尔多斯盆地中部奥陶系顶盐溶作用及其储集孔隙成因

盐溶作用使碳酸盐岩孔隙性增加,同时在古代碳酸岩中由于渗－潜流水对已成孔隙产生沉淀,在滞流区又可形成致密性岩性遮挡。石盐结晶发生在沉积期,是被溶蚀的沉积易溶母质。盐溶孔的大量发育形成于后表生成岩期。天然气产量和岩石的物性取决于盐溶孔的开启程度。充填程度差异在区域上可导致储层孔隙空间的差异性和非均质性,正是由于岩石的这一自身“亏空”和“补偿”形成了区域上成岩圈闭或岩性遮挡。     

番禺低隆起—白云凹陷北坡第三系储层次生孔隙形成机理分析

根据砂岩薄片、铸体薄片、扫描电镜的分析,研究区内发育大量的粒间和粒内溶蚀孔。在大量实测物性参数统计分析的基础上,发现了白云凹陷第三系储层存在两个次生孔隙发育带,主要分布在2 750～3 500 m和4 100～4 600 m两个深度段。通过同位素示踪的方法,证实了形成次生孔隙的原因主要是有机质成熟时释放的有机酸和成岩过...     

塔里木盆地阿克库勒凸起卡拉沙依组储层特征研究

阿克库勒凸起石炭系卡拉沙依组碎屑岩储层中,长石的含量大于岩屑的含量,储集层成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低,颗粒之间多呈点-线接触.胶结类型为孔隙式,主要为碳酸盐岩胶结.虽然早期碳酸盐岩胶结降低了砂岩的原始孔隙度和渗透率,但也为次生孔隙的形成提供了物质基础.该组储集层中次生孔隙的含量远大于原生孔隙.从压汞资料上可以看出,孔喉分布不均,但呈粗歪度,储层孔渗性均较低,属中低孔,低渗的储层.该组成岩作用已达到晚成岩A期,早期方解石交代石英颗粒并发生大量溶蚀,生成大量次生孔隙;晚期方解石没有发生溶蚀,但交代早期方解石和各种自生粘土矿物.     

琼东南盆地松南-宝岛凹陷梅山组碎屑岩储集性及成岩作用研究

通过岩石铸体薄片和扫描电镜观察,结合压汞测试、微米CT扫描技术、X射线衍射、流体包裹体分析等,刻画琼东南盆地凹陷梅山组碎屑岩的岩石学面貌和物性特征,研究成岩作用以及对储集性能的影响,并通过成岩岩相分析预测了有效储层的可能发育区带。研究表明,琼东南盆地凹陷梅山组碎屑岩岩性以长石质石英细砂岩、粉砂岩为主,点-线接触,颗粒支撑结构。胶结物类型主要是黏土矿物和碳酸盐矿物。孔隙类型主要是粒间溶孔,其次为残余粒间孔和粒内溶孔,孔隙大小中等,以细-特细喉道为主,具有中孔、低渗-特低渗特征。破坏性成岩作用主要是压实作用,其次为胶结作用,主要的建设性成岩作用是溶蚀作用。三角洲前缘可能是研究区梅山组碎屑岩中有效储层发育的有利区带。     

大港滩海区第三系湖相混积岩的成因与成岩作用特征

大港滩海第三系沙河街组一段下部分布的混积岩主要为陆源碎屑质-碳酸盐混积岩, 其次为碳酸盐质-陆源碎屑混积岩和含碳酸盐-陆源碎屑混积岩.其中白水头地区的混积岩发育于辫状河-扇三角洲前缘水下分流河道沉积体系之中,为相缘渐变混合沉积的产物;而马东-马东东地区的混积岩发育于重力流沉积体系之中,为浊流沉积的产物.本区混积岩主要经历了压实作用、胶结作用和溶蚀溶解作用.孔隙流体的化学性质经历了由碱性到酸性,最后又回到碱性的变化历程.其中海绿石、微晶方解石、部分石英溶蚀和连生方解石为碱性流体条件下的共生组合;次生加大石英、油气侵位、溶蚀溶解、高岭石为酸性条件下的共生组合;伊利石、绿泥石、钠长石化、孔隙充填方解石和白云石为碱性流体条件下的共生组合.     

鲁西地区奥陶系碳酸盐岩储集特征及主控因素

应用薄片、铸体和阴极发光等室内分析技术,对鲁西隆起奥陶系碳酸盐岩及济阳坳陷潜山奥陶系钻井岩心样品进行了成岩作用及储集特征详细研究。奥陶系碳酸盐岩原生孔隙消失殆尽,次生成因的孔、洞和缝是主要储集空间。其中裂缝储集层在各层段均有发育,但白云岩段优于其它岩性段;构造缝主要分布在构造轴部和断裂带附近,溶蚀缝在不整合面附近较为发育。孔洞型储集层主要发育在白云岩层段,以晶间孔、晶间溶孔和晶内溶孔为主要储集空间;有少量有效孔隙分布在灰岩段,以铸模孔、粒内溶孔和粒内孔为主。马家沟组八陡段顶部发育溶蚀角砾岩、纹层状结晶灰岩,砾间缝、晶间缝和溶洞为主要储集空间。白云岩段是奥陶系碳酸盐岩主要储集层段,构造因素、岩性和成岩作用(尤其是胶结作用和溶蚀作用)是造成奥陶系碳酸盐岩储集层剖面分布差异性的主要控制因素。     

基于扫描电镜和CT成像技术的碳酸盐岩溶蚀作用微观结构和变化规律研究

为研究溶蚀作用下碳酸盐岩孔隙的演变规律及控制作用,文章选取三峡地区4种类型碳酸盐岩开展溶蚀实验。同时结合扫描电镜、CT成像对实验前后岩石的溶蚀特征及孔隙结构进行测试。结果表明:溶蚀总发生在低晶格能的矿物处且沿矿物晶体的菱形解理面以及薄弱部位发育,表现为对矿物和孔隙等结构的选择性溶解;碳酸盐岩的孔隙度对溶蚀过程影响较小,岩石的孔径大小是影响碳酸盐岩溶蚀速率的重要因素;小孔径岩石的溶蚀多在样品表面发育小型溶孔,大孔径岩石的溶蚀主要发生在孔隙隙壁且有向岩石内部溶蚀的痕迹;经溶蚀改造,孔喉半径和连通性均呈现出增长趋势。本研究对碳酸盐岩差异性岩溶作用机理及岩溶发育规律的认识有一定指导意义。      

Numerical modeling of three‐phase dissolution of underground cavities using a diffuse interface model

Natural evaporite dissolution in the subsurface can lead to cavities having critical dimensions in the sense of mechanical stability. Geomechanical effects may be significant for people and infrastructures because the underground dissolution may lead to subsidence or collapse (sinkholes). The knowledge of the cavity evolution in space and time is thus crucial in many cases. In this paper, we describe the use of a local nonequilibrium diffuse interface model for solving dissolution problems involving multimoving interfaces within three phases, that is, solid–liquid–gas as found in superficial aquifers and karsts. This paper generalizes developments achieved in the fluid–solid case, that is, the saturated case [1]. On one hand, a local nonequilibrium dissolution porous medium theory allows to describe the solid–liquid interface as a diffuse layer characterized by the evolution of a phase indicator (e.g., porosity). On the other hand, the liquid–gas interface evolution is computed using a classical porous medium two‐phase flow model involving a phase saturation, that is, generalized Darcy's laws. Such a diffuse interface model formulation is suitable for the implementation of a finite element or finite volume numerical model on a fixed grid without an explicit treatment of the interface movement. A numerical model has been implemented using a finite volume formulation with adaptive meshing (e.g., adaptive mesh refinement), which improves significantly the computational efficiency and accuracy because fine gridding may be attached to the dissolution front. Finally, some examples of three‐phase dissolution problems including density effects are also provided to illustrate the interest of the proposed theoretical and numerical framework. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.