Characterization of gas-water flow in tight sandstone based on authentic sandstone micro-model

Eight tight sandstone reservoir samples from He-8 and Shan(1) Formations of the Sulige Gas field were selected to perform gas-water micro-displacement experiment based on authentic sandstone micro-model. The gas pressure-relief experiment was proposed for the first time to simulate the pressure change and gas-water percolation characteristics in the process of gas exploitation. The experiment results show that: (1) In the process of gas accumulation, the gas preferentially flows into the well-connected pores and throats with large radius, but rarely flows into the area without pores and throats. (2) Under sufficient gas drive, the water in pores and throats usually exists in the forms of 'thin water film', 'thick water film', and 'water column', but under insufficient gas drive, gas fails to flow into new pathways in time, so that the reservoirs with large pores and throats are high in water cut. (3) Under the same water saturation, the reservoirs with better petrophysical properties has higher gas recovery factor within unit time. Under the same petrophysical conditions, the reservoirs with lower water saturation show higher gas recovery factor within unit time. The higher the permeability, the stronger the liquid carrying capacity of reservoirs.