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THERMOPHYSICAL RESEARCH IN PETROPHYSICS

Aleksander Lipaev

Abstract

Petrophysics (physics of rocks) is a branch of Natural Science which studies physical properties and behavior of rocks, their change regularity and mechanism, and properties interrelationship. Determination of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and heat capacity is one of the most significant problems in petrophysics. It is necessary for solving a wide range of issues related to natural and artificial thermal fields in the Earth crust: predictions of abyssal temperatures, oil and gas exploration and prospecting, consideration of lithologic well profile, groundwater survey, field management and gas storage facility maintenance, optimization of thermal methods parameters for oil and bitumen bed stimulation. The authors have developed a method and experimental apparatus for evaluation of rock thermal properties in high-pressure-high-temperature environments and for fluid filtration as well. Petrophysical properties of the Tatarstan oil and bitumen fields rock samples have been studied. The properties relations has been obtained. The effect of thermal features nonlinearity on the heating of the bottom-hole zone has been revealed, methods of thermal cycling treatment of bottom-hole zone have been developed and reservoir characterization (field model) has been performed. Some other problems have been solved as well. The results of thermophysical investigations have been used for planning thermal methods of exploration and contribute to its efficiency.

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