SPE 84875

Study on the Distribution Charecteristics of Remaining Oil in Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoirs

at High Water Cut Stage
Du Qinglong,Shi Chengfang,Zhu Lihong,Xiao Aili, Liang Hailong, Li Hongbin,Exploration and Development of Research
Institute of Daqing Oilfield Company Limited,PetroChina

Copyright 2003, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

Remaining Oil Distribution in Various Sedimentary
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE International Improved Oil Recovery Facies of the Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoirs
Conference in Asia Pacific held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2021 October 2003.
Remaining oil distribution in the sandstone reservoirs was
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
controlled by original rock sedimentary setting and afterwards
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to oil recovery history. Petrophysical anisotropy within sand
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at bodies and variation of petrophysical properties between sand
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of
Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
bodies dictated that oil distribution was quite diversified after
for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is secondary waterflooding. In addition, difference in well
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous confinement on oil pools accounted for various patterns of
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. remaining oil occurrence in different types of sands bodies2.
Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836 U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.

Braided River Sandsr. Braided river sands extended in wide

Abstract range with good continuity in Daqing oil field area, width of
Based on sedimentary characterizations of the fluvial-deltaic the sands often exceeds 4,000m, thickness 4-9m. It is
reservoirs in Daqing oil field, the rules of oil and water generally coarse-grained and well sorted, average air
movement in various sedimentary facies were analyzed in the permeability within such sands ranges 2,300-2,70010-3
process of waterflooding programs, then remaing oil
m2. Braided river sands primarily developed in the northern
distribution in such reservoirs was presented. Mechanisms to
part of the field where oil production has been supported by
leave current remaining oil patterns were investigated in light
fewer injection wells because of less heterogeneity in the
of areal and vertical characteristics, indicating potentials of
sands, water flooded most production wells except those
improved waterflooding of the remained oil in the reservoirs.
located geologically in deserted channels or local pinch-out
still sustaining low water cut level. Taking the P I 23 layer as
Introduction
an example in central-western pilot of Sartu region, washed-
Fluvial-deltaic reservoirs developed very well across Daqing
out thickness is very high. Another example is from the same
oil field1, comprising braided river sands, crooked river sands,
layer in Gao 1129-Jian25 well, 600m away from its injectors,
branch channel sands, underwater diffluent sands, inter-
where sand thickness is 4.5m, net sand 4.1m, the results from
diffluences sands, frontal sheet sands of inner delta, frontal
the observation well shows 98.8% washed-out zone in case of
sheet sands of outer delta, etc. Daqing oil field is currently in
58.6% sweep efficiency after 27 years of waterflooding.
the late stage of high water-cut phase after 4 decades ongoing
water flooding program. Water and oil distribution in the
Crooked River Sands.Crooked river sands developed in a
reservoirs is extremely complicated because of various types
interlaced belt manner, extending continuously, typically
of the layers, and accordingly, undergoing various degrees of
1,500-2,500m in width. Lateral erosion and accretion
development. Since 1994, seven (7) tertiary infill drilling
dominated crooked river sands because of repeated channel
pilots were set up to explore the feasibility of the improved
migration and rework. Pinches and inter channel sand bodies
development program. Remaining oil distribution in various
are common within a sand complex. Deserted channels are
fluvial-deltaic sands were characterized in this paper based on
sometimes found along the edge and interior of the sand
detailed study of the sedimentary rhythms and micro-facies
complex, reducing lateral continuity in the upper part of the
distribution combining water-cut logging interpretation, oil
sand depositions. Generally multiple fining-up rhythms
and water layer monitoring results,inspection wells data
stacked in a typical thickness of 3-7m. Laboratory
analysis, as well as production dynamic data. Consequently,
measurements indicated air permeability is in the range of
mechanisms for such oil distribution were analyzed, which
500-2700 10-3 m2. Permeability contrast within a sand
offered much confidence in recovering such oils to optimize
the final recovery of these water flooded reservoirs . body could be 6-18.
Remained oil in the crooked river sand complex locally
distributed in inter-channel sands, deserted channels, or pinch-
out, where oil has less opportunity to be swept since injected
2 SPE 84875
water preferentially invaded high permeability zones.
Similarly, deserted channels become barriers of injected water
to reach top of the sand complex, thus some oil remained in
the top. It is known that the well Zhong 347-6 perforated 6m
deserted channel sand at P I 21 layer, producing 17 t/d from
the 4.8m net sands at a water cut level of 54.1% when it was
put into stream. Vertically multiple layers were washed out in
high permeability zones. Sweeping efficiency of water
flooding is inferior to that in braided river sand.
Branch Channel Sands. Branch channel sands extend in
more curved narrow bands, generally less than 300-500m in
width and 1.5-5m in thickness, showing prominent orientation
in permeability, typically in the range of 300-1,00010-3
m2, less heterogeneity than in crooked river sands,
permeability contrast is between 2-5.
However, lateral heterogeneity in the sands are likely to
result in unbalanced production and injection allocation at
facies change points. Swept oil could remain at the protruding
sides or poor quality streaks in the edge of the sands . The well
Zhong 355-4 penetrated edge of a channel at P I 1 layer. The
sand is 4.5m in thickness, producing 22 t/d oil shortly after it
was put into stream, water cut was 36%. Another example is
the well La7-Jian 1320 , 95.2% thickness of the pay zone P I
5-7 layers (net sand 6.2m) was washed out, although oil sweep
efficiency was as low as 41.3%.
Underwater Diffluent Sands. Narrow and discontinuous sand
accretions, sometimes in lumps, were developed by
underwater currents. Typical thickness ranges 1-5m in fining-
up rhythms or homogeneous stratifications. Permeability is
lower than those introduced above since the underwater
diffluent sand is rather fine grained.
This type of sands were likely miss-penetrated before infill
drilling. The well Zhong 341-Jian 7 , an infilling well ,
produced oil from 3.5m (net thickness 1.7m) sands of S II 41
layer, which had not been encountered by previous wells.
Inter-Diffluences Sands.Sediments of natural banks,
fluviatile flood plains and overflowed dykes developed in
between channels or currents, characterized by thin layered
vertical accretions, generally less than 2m . Low permeability
dominated since it is fine grained.
The well Zhong 341-Jian 7 drilled 0.5m flood plain sand at
SII 7 layer, which is next to a the main channel. It is revealed
by inspection well data analysis the zone is not water flooded.
The reason for this lies in injected water advanced along the
main river channel sand, leaving the flood plain at the edge
un-sweptFig.1.
Delta Frontal Sheet Sands.They are sand accretions
developed in the front portion of the delta, extensive in area,
locally thick. Individual layer is generally less than 2m in
thickness, featuring fine grains, low permeability, coursing-up
rhythms or multiplex rhythms. It could be classified into inner
delta front sheet sand and outer delta front sheet sand.
Inner Delta Frontal Sheet Sands.The sands developed at
estuary by river currents and waves from the lake, forming
lumping, thick underwater sands or river mouth bar.
Heterogeneity of physical properties prevails in the sands
although lateral connections of such sands are fairly good,
leading to heterogeneous wash-out and water sweeping
efficiency. The P I 82 layer in central-western region
developed some river mouth bars among extensive sheet
sands, it is predicable that driven by waterflooding the
remaining oil would retain in the thin zones in the edge of the
sand bodies.
Outer Delta Front Sheet Sands.The outer delta front sheet
sands refer to those extensively distributed thin layered sands
far away from the estuary. Water flooding is not very
economic because of the poor reservoir property of the sands.
Taking G I 202 layer in North II east region for an instance, a
great deal of oil were left behind after water flooding, only
15.0% of penetrated sand layers were flooded based on data
analysis of observation wells.
Mechanisms of Remaining Oil Distribution
The areal and vertical remaining oil distribution in fluvial-
delta facies reservoirs was investigated from the point view of
geology and production consideration3,4.
Areal Locations Of Remaining Oil distribution.
Oil Retained In The Pressure Balance Area.It refers to the
oil retained in the reservoir after the pressure between 2 or
more wells reached equilibrium.
Remaining Oil In Small Scale Sands(Lens).The scale of
the sands is sometimes smaller than original well space, then
not encountered by production wells.
Remaining Oil In Defective Injection-Production
Confinements.The oil was left behind probably due to the fact
that the layer was very close to a water flooded zone, or
cementing quality was not good enough, or the sand body was
too small for original perforation program to take into account.
Remaining Oil In Poor Reservoir Sands.Oil was left in the
thin sands, or poor quality reservoirs with respect to lithology
or physical properties.
Remaining Oil Within Local Poor Sands.Injected water
advanced in high permeability zones while bypassing local
low permeability streaks, resulting in such remaining oil.
Remaining Oil Along The Faults.Some oil were remained
near the faults where injection-production system did not work
as efficiently as elsewhere.
Remaining Oil Near Low Permeability Steaks And
Lithologic Pinch-Out Zones. Held up by the low permeability
zones, such as deserted channels , and lithologic pinch-out
zones, injection-production performance nearby would be
affected, resulting in remnant oil.
Remaining Oil In The Sticking Out Sands At The Turns
Of Highly Crooked River Channels.Injected water would
advance in the center of the river channel sand, while the
sticking out point at the turns of the highly crooked river
would not be touched by water injection, oil would be driven
to these sticking-out points.
Remaining Oil At Structural Highs.In some cases, flow of
injected water was influenced by local structural highs and
lows to some extent driven by gravity. Positive micro-
structures generally produced high rate, more oil is likely to be
left in the pools in the mean time. Negative local structures
gave low rate and were flooded to higher degrees.
SPE 84875 3

Vertical Distribution Of Remaining OilFig.2. References

Heterogeneity Within A Layer.It happened to thick sand
bodies where vertical permeability variation within the sand
lead to variation in waterflood performance. Oil would remain
in low permeability zones, such as the top of a
fining-up rhythm.
Interference Among Producing Layers.It happened when
thin and poor quality sands produced simultaneously with
other good layers. Influenced by other layers, these thin sands
were held back in water absorption or oil production.
Lithologic Barriers.Similarly, the lithologic barriers within
thick sands would hold back oil production5.
Unperforated Zones close to watered-out layer. Some
sands were not taken into account in the original perforation
plan since it was close to the washed out zone.
Undrilled Sands(Or Mis-Interpreted). It happened when
scale of the sands was small so that original drilling did not
penetrated them. Alternatively, limited by interpretation
resolution, the sands were missing on well logging profiles.
1. Liu Dingzeng and Wang Qimin.: Development Multi-Layer
Sandstone Reservoir in Daqing Oil Field. Petroleum Industry
Publishing House, 1996.
2. Jin Yusun : Development of Continental Oilfield. Petroleum
Industry Publishing House, 1997.
3. Yu Qitai.: Discussion on Remaining Oil Research Petroleum
Exploration & Development Vol.24 No.2 1997,46-50.
4. Du Qinglong, Zhao Yongsheng . et al.: Study on Genetic Type
and Potential Tapping Measures of the Remaining Oil in Multi-
layered and Heterogeneous Sandstone Reservoir, paper SPE
57319 presented at the 1999 SPE Asia Pacific Improved Oil
Recovery Conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 25
26 October 1999.
5. Fu Zhiguo, Du Qinglong. et al.:Improving Recovery Efficiency
of Water-drive Channel Sandstone Reservoir by Drilling
Horizontal Well Laterally, paper SPE 50392 presented at the
1998 SPE international conference on horizontal well technology
held in Calgary,Alberta,Canada,1-4 November 1998.

Conclusions
1. To summarize, it is rather common that sand reservoirs
of various fluvial-delta sedimentary subfacies developed in the
same area. Injected water always preferentially take paths
through those good quality zones , leaving high residual oil
saturation in poor reservoirs or defective
injection-production confinement.
2. Most remaining oil is related to imperfect injection-
production confinement, making 60-70% of the remaining oil
reserve. However, the oil is rather dispersed so that it is hard
to recover it from the high water-cut zones.
3. As far as the relatively thick sands, they were washed out
at almost all the wells penetrating them, very little oil
remained within the sands. Comparatively speaking, more oil
was left behind in the thin layered front facies sands.
4.Dealing with various distribution of the remaining oil in
various fluvial-delta sands, corresponding effective measures
are to be taken to improve oil recovery. Adjusting water
production from commingled layers or tertiary recovery
methods are applicable for the thick sand bodies. Infill
drilling, perforation make-up or fracturing is optional for thin
and poor reservoir sands.
4 SPE 84875

river channel sand flood plain sand mudstone remaining oil

Fig.1 The remaining oil at the edge of the main river channel sand

Injection well Producing well

Remaining oil formed by

heterogeneity within a layer

Remaining oil formed by

unperforated zones close to
watered-out layer

Remaining oil formed by

undrilled sands(or mis-
interpreted)

Remaining oil formed by

interference among
producing layers

Remaining oil formed by

lithologic barriers.

sand lithologic remaining oil

barriers

Fig.2 The vertical distribution of remaining oil