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Experimental Study on Physical Simulation of Different Development Methods for Horizontal Wells in Heterogeneous
Xiaoguang Wang1,2, Dehua Liu1, Yuhui Zhou1
1School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan, Hubei 430100, China.
ACS Omega
|February 9, 2026
Summary
Gas injection enhances oil recovery in complex conglomerate reservoirs by stabilizing fluid fronts and improving sweep efficiency. This method, particularly with high-angle fractures, significantly boosts oil extraction compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Reservoir Engineering
- Geology
Background:
- Heterogeneous conglomerate reservoirs present significant challenges in oil and gas extraction due to variable rock properties.
- Effective development strategies are crucial for optimizing recovery in complex formations like those in the Karamay Oilfield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the effectiveness of various oil recovery methods in heterogeneous conglomerate reservoirs.
- To analyze fluid migration patterns and recovery efficiencies in horizontal wells under different development scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Conducted physical simulation experiments to evaluate planar depletion, vertical depletion, water injection, and gas injection.
- Analyzed fluid migration and recovery efficiency in horizontal wells within heterogeneous conglomerate reservoirs.
- Investigated the impact of gas injection rates and fracture characteristics on recovery.
Main Results:
- Gas injection rate critically influences the stabilization of gravity-driven fronts in fractured reservoirs.
- Continuous gas injection with pauses optimizes gas-liquid interface stability and pressure diffusion.
- Gas flooding improved recovery efficiency by 36.2% (vs. water flooding) and 50% (vs. depletion).
- Gravity drive enhanced sweep efficiency by 60.9% and recovery rates by 32.8% compared to depletion and water flooding.
Conclusions:
- Gas injection is a superior method for enhancing oil recovery in heterogeneous conglomerate reservoirs.
- Optimizing gas injection parameters and leveraging gravity drive are key to maximizing extraction efficiency.
- Findings provide crucial data for optimizing recovery strategies in complex oilfield formations.
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