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Assessment of extended DLVO-based water film on multiphase transport behavior in shale microfractures
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  • Dongying Wang,
  • Jun Yao,
  • Zhangxin Chen,
  • Wenhui Song,
  • Hai Sun,
  • Xia Yan
Dongying Wang
China University of Petroleum East China - Qingdao Campus

Corresponding Author:dongying.upc@hotmail.com

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Jun Yao
China University of Petroleum Huadong
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Zhangxin Chen
University of Calgary
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Wenhui Song
China University of Petroleum Huadong
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Hai Sun
China University of Petroleum Huadong
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Xia Yan
China University of Petroleum Huadong
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Abstract

This study presents a novel model to predict gas-water two-phase transport behaviors in shale microfractures by incorporating a mobile water film with varying thickness according to the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory as well as multiple fluid transport mechanisms (i.e., real gas transport controlled by the Knudsen number and water slippage). This model is implemented in real shale microfractures via digital-core imaging. A gas-water displacement process is modelled by the invasion percolation theory, while a local multiphase distribution is determined by combining disjoining pressure with capillary force. Key findings reveal that gas relative permeability (RP) decreases by 17% and water RP enhances by 33.5%, when the mean aperture decreases from 1.67 to 0.0418μm. Neglecting water film brings a decrease in water RP and an overestimation of gas transport ability. Moreover, two critical microfracture apertures are determined, which enhances an understanding of the water film impact on gas-water transport properties in application.
04 Aug 2020Submitted to AIChE Journal
07 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
07 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
21 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
14 Nov 20201st Revision Received
16 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
16 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
23 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
10 Jan 2021Published in AIChE Journal. 10.1002/aic.17162