Three-Dimensional Rock Core-Like Microstructure Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing for Petroleum Engineering

To improve the recovery rate of oil in the formation, oil recovery technology has been continuously studied. Considering the experimental cost and data measurement in oil recovery research, laboratory oil recovery is the most effective method. The rock core model used in the simulation directly affects whether the research results are credible. However, the current three-dimensional rock core model manufacturing methods and corresponding models lack of reproducible, customizable, and visualized characteristics. In this study, a reproducible rock core model of microsphere accumulation based on the structure of natural rock core was designed and manufactured by microstereolithography. Oil recovery experiments and simulation studies show that the rock core model has similar flow characteristics to natural rock cores. In addition, resin rock core models with different structures and hydrogel rock core models with deformability are also manufactured by microstereolithography and used for simulation analysis. This research provides an effective and reproducible rock core structure model for the experiment of oil recovery research.