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The productivity evaluation of CBM wells can yield significant insights into exploring the patterns of CBM production, predicting the effectiveness of the CBM well and reservoir stimulation, optimizing the gas reservoir development program, and developing a reasonable production system, for the purpose of facilitating efficient development of CBM. In particular, to accurately evaluate CBM productivity, we should establish the corresponding mathematical model of fluid flow through porous media and productivity evaluation model based on a clear understanding of CBM occurrence states and mechanisms of its flow through porous media. After considering the effects of slip flow, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion, stress sensitivity, and matrix shrinkage on fluid mass transfer, we have put forward a triple-porosity and dual-permeability mathematical model to predict CBM productivity that incorporates matrix gas desorption, complex flow in matrix pores, and gas–water two-phase flow in a cleat system. In combination with reservoir characteristic parameters, a case study of Ma-26 well in the Mabidong block in the south of the Qinshui Basin, we carried out a numerical simulation of the productivity of a fractured CBM well and analyzed the effects (on production performance) of occurrence states, cleat system permeability, complex flow regimes in the matrix, Langmuir pressure, and Langmuir volume on production are provided. The results show that 1) in the initial drainage and production stage of CBM wells, both free gas and adsorbed gas are produced simultaneously, while adsorbed gas dominates the production in later stages; 2) the peak output and cumulative output of CBM wells increase significantly with the rise in cleat system permeability; 3) the increase of Langmuir pressure, volume, and matrix porosity are conducive to the increase of CBM production. The research has considerable reference value for work on mechanisms of CBM flow in porous media and post fracturing productivity evaluation of CBM and also provides a theoretical basis for fieldwork in CBM development.

The variation of porous flow resistance of solution-gas drive for tight oil reservoirs has been studied by designing new experimental equipment. The results show that the relation between the porous flow resistance gradient and pressure is the exponential function. The solution-gas driving resistance is determined by a combination of factors, such as the gas-oil ratio, density, viscosity, permeability, porosity and the Jamin effect. Based on the material balance and the flow resistance gradient equation, a new governing equation for solution-gas drive is established. After coupling with the nonlinear equation of elastic drive, the drainage radius of solution-gas drive is found to be very small and decreases rapidly when the bottom-hole pressure approaches the bubble-point value. Pressure distribution of the solution-gas drive is non-linear, and the values decrease sharply as it approaches the well bore. The productivity is rather low despite being strongly influenced by permeability. Therefore, stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) is the essential measure taken for effective development for tight oil reservoirs.

Complex fracture systems including natural fractures and hydraulic fractures exist in shale gas reservoir with fractured horizontal well development. The flow of shale gas is a multi-scale flow process from microscopic nanometer pores to macroscopic large fractures. Due to the complexity of seepage mechanism and fracture parameters, it is difficult to realize fine numerical simulation for fractured horizontal wells in shale gas reservoirs. Mechanisms of adsorption–desorption on the surface of shale pores, slippage and Knudsen diffusion in the nanometer pores, Darcy and non-Darcy seepage in the matrix block and fractures are considered comprehensively in this paper. Through fine description of the complex fracture systems after horizontal well fracturing in shale gas reservoir, the problems of conventional corner point grids which are inflexible, directional, difficult to geometrically discretize arbitrarily oriented fractures are overcome. Discrete fracture network model based on unstructured perpendicular bisection grids is built in the numerical simulation. The results indicate that the discrete fracture network model can accurately describe fracture parameters including length, azimuth and density, and that the influences of fracture parameters on development effect of fractured horizontal well can be finely simulated. Cumulative production rate of shale gas is positively related to fracture half-length, fracture segments and fracture conductivity. When total fracture length is constant, fracturing effect is better if single fracture half-length or penetration ratio is relatively large and fracturing segments are moderate. Research results provide theoretical support for optimal design of fractured horizontal well in shale gas reservoir.

Aimed at ultra-low permeability reservoirs, the recovery effect of inverted nine-spot equilateral well pattern is studied through large-scale natural sandstone flat model experiments. Two adjustment schemes were proposed based on the original well pattern. This essay has put forward the concept of pressure sweep efficiency for evaluating the driving efficiency. Pressure gradient fields under different drawdown pressure were measured. Seepage area of the model was divided into immobilized area, nonlinear seepage area and quasi-linear seepage area combining with the nonlinear seepage experiment of the small twin core. The results showed that the ultra-low permeability sandstone flat model was characterized as nonlinear seepage law and threshold pressure gradient obviously. For one quarter of the inverted nine-spot equilateral well pattern, the middle region is difficult to develop. The recovery effect can be improved by adjusting production wells or adding injection wells. And the best solution is transforming the corner production well into injection well.

We have investigated the distributions of alkylcarbazoles in a series of crude oils with different biodegradation extents, in combination with biomarker parameters, stable carbon isotopic ratios and viscosities. The analyses showed that slight biodegradation has little effect on alkylcarbazoles. The concentrations of C0-, C1-, and C2-carbazoles seem to display a slight decrease with biodegradation through the moderately biodegraded stage, and an abrupt decrease to the heavily biodegraded stage. The relative concentrations of C0-, C1-, and C2-carbazoles do not show any apparent change in the non-heavily biodegraded stages, but through non-heavily biodegraded to heavily biodegraded stages, the percentages of C0- and C1-carbazoles decrease, and those of C2-carbazoles increase significantly, which may indicate that C2-carbazoles are more resistant to biodegradation than lower homologous species. As to C2-carbazole isomers, the relative concentrations of the pyrrolic N-H-shielded, pyrrolic N−H partially shielded and pyrrolic N-H-exposed isomers do not show any obvious variation in the non-heavily biodegraded oil, but there is an abrupt change through the mid-biodegraded stage to the heavily biodegraded stage.