Abstract
The last decade has seen clarifications of the underlying capillary physics behind stimulation of oil production by seismic waves and vibrations. Computational studies have prevailed, however, and no viscous hydrodynamic theory of the phenomenon has been proposed. For a body of oil entrapped in a pore channel, viscosity effects are naturally incorporated through a model of two-phase core-annular flow. These effects are significant at the postmobilization stage, when the resistance of capillary forces is overcome and viscosity becomes the only force resisting an oil ganglion's motion. A viscous equation of motion follows, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) establishes the limits of its applicability. The theory allows inexpensive calculation of important geophysical parameters of reservoir stimulation for given pore geometries, such as the frequency and amplitude of vibrations needed to mobilize the residual oil. The theoretical mobilizing acceleration in seismic waves for a given frequency is accurate to within approximately 30% or better when checked against CFD. The advantages of the viscous theory over the inviscid one are twofold. The former can calculate complete time histories of forced displacement of an oil blob in a pore channel, including retardation by capillary forces, mobilization by vibrations, and an ensuing Haines jump. It also provides an approximately factor-of-two improvement in the calculation of the mobilizing acceleration needed to unplug a static ganglion.
Recommended Citation
I. A. Beresnev and W. Deng, "Viscosity Effects in Vibratory Mobilization of Residual Oil," Geophysics, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. N79 - N85, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Jul 2010.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3429999
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Computation theory; Computational fluid dynamics; Equations of motion; Fluid dynamics; Seismology; Two phase flow; Viscosity; Computational studies; Core-annular flow; Equation of motion; Geophysical parameters; Hydrodynamic theory; Reservoir stimulations; Vibratory mobilization; Viscosity effects; Seismic waves; Capillary pressure; Hydrodynamics; Vibration; Hydrocarbon reservoir; Oil production
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0016-8033; 1942-2156
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2010 Society of Exploration Geophysicists, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jul 2010
