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Quantitative Characterization of Flow Hysteresis for Fractured-Vuggy Underground Gas Storage during High-Rate
Longxin Li1, Mengyu Wang1, Lianjin Zhang1
1Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China.
ACS Omega
|August 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers defined flow hysteresis for fractured-vuggy underground gas storage (UGS) during high-rate operations. They developed a quantitative method to characterize this hysteresis, crucial for efficient UGS design in complex reservoirs.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Geosciences
- Reservoir Engineering
Background:
- Sichuan Basin's carbonate gas reservoirs exhibit strong heterogeneity, including fracture-vug development and low-permeability matrix.
- The flow mechanism in fractured-vuggy underground gas storage (UGS) during high-rate injection/production is unclear, challenging development.
- Understanding flow dynamics is critical for China's Southwest China Gas Storage Center construction and national energy security.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively understand the microscopic flow mechanism in fractured-vuggy zones and matrices during high-rate injection and production.
- To define and characterize flow hysteresis in fractured-vuggy underground gas storage (UGS) facilities.
- To provide a theoretical basis for the scientific and efficient design of fractured-vuggy UGS.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of seismic, outcrop, and core data from Maokou Formation gas reservoirs.
- Development of 3D digital core models representing fracture-vug combinations.
- Definition and application of flow hysteresis concepts based on transient disequilibrium research.
Main Results:
- Defined flow hysteresis for high-rate injection/production scenarios in fractured-vuggy UGS.
- Identified fracture-vug system scale and combination as key factors controlling flow hysteresis.
- Developed a characteristic parameter to quantitatively describe flow hysteresis in fractured-vuggy reservoirs.
Conclusions:
- Flow hysteresis significantly impacts fluid flow in fractured-vuggy reservoirs during high-rate operations.
- A novel quantitative characterization method for flow hysteresis in UGS was established using multiscale digital core technology.
- The findings offer a percolation theory basis for optimizing fractured-vuggy UGS design and operation.
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