Advances in Oil and Gas Well Engineering Science and Technology

Natural gas is an eco-friendly energy source with low carbon emissions, making it attractive globally. Understanding gas reservoirs is crucial for sustainable extraction and optimizing potential. However, the complicated fluid flow and production dynamics within intricate gas reservoirs, particularly those characterized by abnormally high pressures and tight porous media, remain partially understood and demand further investigation. In a tight porous medium subjected to high pressure, the assumption of constant permeability is no longer valid. Consequently, a novel composite seepage model has been developed in this study, which considers the responsiveness of permeability to stress. Perturbation theory is employed to address the inherent non-linearity demonstrated by the permeability modulus. The solution of dimensionless pressure responses under constant production conditions is accomplished in the Laplace domain by implementing integral transformation methods. Overall, a comprehensive model is provided to understand the production behaviors of tight gas reservoirs. Moreover, in order to comprehend the transient flow characteristics of tight gas reservoirs, log–log plots are generated through the Stehfest numerical inversion approach, with the flow regimes categorized based on the normalized time phases of the pressure curves. Parametric investigations reveal that stress sensitivity detrimentally affects permeability, resulting in more pronounced pressure declines during the intermediate and late flow phases. The transient seepage model elaborated in this study is able to consider the pertinent formation and well parameters. These interpreted parameters bear significance in designing hydraulic fracturing operations, assessing the potential of tight gas reservoirs, and ultimately enhancing gas production. The presented model not only enhances our understanding of the behavior of horizontal wells in stress-sensitive tight gas reservoirs but also makes a valuable contribution to the broader discussion on transient flow phenomena in petroleum engineering. Full article

Safe and efficient deep drilling is a fundamental requirement for the development of oil and gas resources. In this regard, the application of membrane separation technology for drilling fluid gas separation and monitoring is highly significant. In this study, several commonly used permeable membrane materials were analyzed, and a PDMS separation membrane was preliminarily selected as a suitable material for downhole gas separation. We designed an experimental setup to investigate the separation performance of PDMS membranes. The effects of the separation pressure difference, operating temperature, and membrane thickness on the performance of PDMS membranes were analyzed, and the microstructure changes in the PDMS membrane under high temperature and pressure were observed using a scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results showed that PDMS membranes with a thickness of 150–200 μm can work stably and maintain good strength and permeability at a separation pressure difference of 1.1 MPa and a temperature of 150 °C. The SEM observations revealed that the PDMS separation membrane had a smooth surface and uniform microstructure after continuous operations for 15 h under the temperature and pressure conditions, without any cracks, demonstrating high temperature and pressure resistance. These research results provide an important reference for the application of PDMS separation membranes in downhole gas separation technology. Full article

For wellbore stability issues induced by drilling operations in natural gas hydrate-containing reservoirs, wellbore stability research will focus on the mechanical properties of hydrate reservoirs. According to the content of the research, the response relationship between the hydrate core and the base physical property changes under different engineering parameters is established, and the law of hydrate mechanical property changes with temperature and pressure is studied for various physical properties. According to theoretical research and experimental data, it has been determined that: hydrate core-resolved gas and transverse and longitudinal wave velocity have a positive correlation with saturation and pressure and a negative correlation with temperature; a negative correlation exists between resistivity and saturation. The hydrate core stiffness strength correlates positively with saturation and adversely with temperature. Under the identical strain conditions, when saturation, pore pressure, and temperature increase, the stress of the hydrate grows rapidly; there is a distinct inflection point, and the hydrate does not form above a particular temperature. To prevent the decomposition of hydrates and minimize disasters such as well wall instability and reservoir collapse, it is possible to reduce reservoir in situ temperature and pressure fluctuations in accordance with operational requirements. Full article

Accurate surge pressure prediction during tripping is significant to ensure drilling safety. Based on the theory of wellbore hydraulics and heat transfer, a surge pressure prediction model considering the influence of HTHP and joints is established in this paper. The finite difference method is used to solve the wellbore flow model. Compared with the measured surge pressure, it was found that the error between the predicted and measured values after considering the above factors was only 0.89%. The influence of dimensionless joint outer diameter, joint length and drill string tripping speed on the surge pressure was further analyzed. The results show that the existence of joints increases the surge pressure. When the dimensionless joint outer diameter was increased from 0.70 to 0.91, the surge pressure increased by 76%. Neglecting the effect of the joint will cause a large error in calculating the surge pressure. In addition, the surge pressure is positively correlated with the drill string tripping speed. However, with the decrease in drill string tripping speed, the surge pressure will gradually tend to a stable value. This study provides a theoretical reference for the hydraulic design of HTHP well tripping. Full article

The complex temperature and pressure conditions of deepwater wells have a serious impact on cementing quality. Therefore, the integrity of the cement seal becomes a critical factor that can restrict the safety of the wellbore, especially for wells ranging from the conventional deep water to deep water with more prominent deep stratum problems. The operating conditions of deep wells in deep water (referred as the dual-deep well) are complex and harsh. For the conventional evaluation device, it is difficult to accurately simulate the alternating HTHP conditions and to clarify the location and situation of the cement sheath leakage, which directly leads to the deviation of the evaluation results from the engineering reality. To solve this defect, based on the condition and structure characteristics of dual-deep wells, a device and method for casing/cement sheath/formation seal integrity evaluation for dual-deep wells at HTHP has been developed and established. Combined with the analysis of microstructure and micromorphology, the sealing ability and integrity of different cement slurry systems were evaluated. Through this study, a set of cement slurry systems suitable for dual-deep wells is selected that can satisfy the requirements of dual-deep wells with excellent isolation ability and seal integrity under temperature and stress changes. The research results provide a reference for deepwater wells’ wellbore integrity evaluation and research. Full article

Mahu oilfield is a typical tight gravel oil reservoir. At present, long-stage multi-cluster fracturing is widely used for reservoir stimulation, and multiple-clusters treatment is realized through cluster perforation. Field monitoring indicates that not all perforation clusters produce hydraulic fractures in the fracturing process, and each cluster of hydraulic fractures in the section will expand unevenly. The unbalanced expansion of multiple clusters of fractures in the section seriously affects the effect of reservoir reconstruction of horizontal wells. Aiming at the long-stage multi-cluster fracturing of horizontal wells, a multi-fracture propagation calculation model considering wellbore flow, performance friction, different fracture criteria at the tip, and the interaction stress among multiple fractures is established in this paper. In order to improve the calculation efficiency, an explicit Runge Kutta Legendre algorithm is proposed to solve the structural mesh, and the solution program is compiled, which provides a basis for the theoretical analysis and rapid solution of the mechanism of multiple fracture growth. Finally, taking Mahu oil field as an example, we calculate the multi fracture propagation and flow distribution under different geological conditions, perforation conditions, and construction parameters. The research results will help to improve the fracturing efficiency of long-stage multi-cluster fractures. Full article

Studies related to oil and gas wells have attracted worldwide interest due to the increasing energy shortfall and the requirement of sustainable development and environmental protection. However, the state of oil and gas wells in terms of research characteristics, technological megatrends, article-produced patterns, leading study items, hot topics, and frontiers is unclear. This work is aimed at filling the research gaps by performing a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 6197 articles related to oil and gas wells published between 1900 and 2021. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used as the main data analysis and visualization tools. The analysis shows that the annual variation of article numbers, interdisciplinary numbers, and cumulative citations followed exponential growth. Oil and gas well research has promoted the expansion of research fields such as engineering, energy and fuels, geology, environmental sciences and ecology, materials science, and chemistry. The top 10 influential studies mainly focused on shale gas extraction and its impact on the environment. More studies were produced by larger author teams and inter-institution collaborations. Elkatatny and Guo have greatly contributed to the application of artificial intelligence in oil and gas wells. The two most contributing institutions were the Southwest Petr Univ and China Univ Petr from China. The People’s Republic of China, the US, and Canada were the countries with the most contributions to the development of oil and gas wells. The authoritative journal in engineering technology was J Petrol Sci Eng, in environment technology was Environ Sci Technol, in geology was Aapg Bull, and in materials was Cement Concrete Res. The keyword co-occurrence network cluster analysis indicated that oil well cement, new energy development, machine learning, hydraulic fracturing, and natural gas and oil wells are the predominant research topics. The research frontiers were oil extraction and its harmful components (1992–2016), oil and gas wells (1997–2016), porous media (2007–2016), and hydrogen and shale gas (2012–2021). This paper comprehensively and quantitatively analyzes all aspects of oil and gas well research for the first time and presents valuable information about active and authoritative research entities, cooperation patterns, technology trends, hotspots, and frontiers. Therefore, it can help governments, policymakers, related companies, and the scientific community understand the global progress in oil and gas well research and provide a reference for technology development and application. Full article

The field of nanotechnology has shown promise in addressing major problems and improving drilling effectiveness. An overview of the difficulties encountered during oil and gas well drilling operations and the demand for creative solutions opens the debate. This review explores how nanotechnology is transforming the oil industry and enhancing performance as a whole. The evaluation of the uses of nanotechnology for better oil recovery, real-time monitoring, innovative materials, drilling fluids, and reservoir characterization are extensively discussed in this review. The primary function of additives is to improve the fundamental characteristics of drilling fluids. The variety of fluid additives available is a reflection of the complex drilling–fluid systems that are currently being used to enable drilling in increasingly difficult subsurface conditions. Common additives used in water- and oil-based drilling fluids include lubrication, shale stability, filtration control, rheology control, viscosification, and pH regulation. Drilling fluids frequently contain filtration control additives such as starch, polyanionic cellulose (PAC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and nanoparticles (NP). Commonly used rheology-modifier additives are xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum powder, and, more recently, salt-responsive zwitterionic polymers that were used as viscosifiers to water-based drilling fluids. The three main additives that regulate pH are citric acid monohydrate, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide. Additives that stabilize shale, such as potassium and sodium salts and asphaltenes, are often used. A wide range of materials are included in the category of lubricating additives, including polymers, asphaltenes, glass beads, oils of various grades, and oil-surfactants. Various fibrous materials, including wood, cotton, fibrous minerals, shredded tires from vehicles, and paper pulp, are used as additives to control circulation. Furthermore, shredded cellophane, bits of plastic laminate, plate-like minerals like mica flakes, granulated inert materials such as nut shells, and nano-polymers are used in wellbores to reduce fluid loss. The incorporation of nanoparticles into drilling fluids has produced upgraded fluids with better features, including improved lubricity, thermal stability, and filtering capacities. These developments aid in lowering friction, enhancing wellbore stability, and enhancing drilling efficiency. This paper also emphasizes how nanotechnology has made enhanced drilling equipment and materials possible. Drilling equipment’s longevity and performance are increased by nanocomposite materials that have been reinforced with nanoparticles due to their improved mechanical strength, wear resistance, and thermal stability. Advanced reservoir characterisation tools, including nanoparticle tracers and nanoscale imaging methods, can help locate the best drilling sites and increase production effectiveness. On the other hand, nanofluids and nanoemulsions can potentially increase oil recovery because they enhance fluid mobility, lower interfacial tension, and alter rock wettability. Although nanotechnology has many advantages, there are also issues that need to be resolved. For an implementation to be effective, factors including nanoparticle stability, dispersion, and potential environmental effects must be carefully taken into account. This review highlights the need for future research to create scalable manufacturing procedures, improve nanoparticle behaviour, and determine nanomaterials’ long-term environmental effects. In conclusion, this in-depth analysis illustrates the use of nanotechnology in transforming the process of drilling oil and gas wells. Full article

With the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas resources, downhole environmental monitoring and data-analysis technologies are becoming more and more important. Distributed fiber optic measurement technology, as a new monitoring technology to obtain accurate data, has a wide range of applications in hydraulic fracturing and production monitoring. It mainly includes: distributed fiber optic temperature sensors (DTSs) to monitor gas lift, identify in-flow fluid types, interpret flow profiles and monitor production enhancement operations; distributed fiber optic acoustic sensors (DASs) to monitor low frequency strain and microseismic and hydraulic fracturing operations; and distributed fiber optic stress sensors (DSSs) to characterize fractures in the near-well area, which have been well applied in the field. This paper describes the current application status of DASs and DSSs in hydraulic fracturing and production monitoring, respectively, from the principle of distributed fiber optic measurement technology. It also points out the limitations of these measurement technologies and the direction of future development. Distributed fiber optic measurement technology has been making technical breakthroughs in recent years, providing strong technical support for the development of unconventional oil and gas resources. Full article