Coupled Mechanisms of Pore–Throat Structure Regulation and Flow Behavior in Deep-Water Tight Reservoirs Using Nanocomposite Gels

TL;DR

This study explores how nanocomposite gels regulate pore structures and flow in deep-water tight reservoirs, offering insights for better flow control.

Contribution

A multiscale structure–flow coupling framework is proposed to connect pore–throat regulation with macroscopic flow responses during gel injection and degradation.

Findings

Increasing SiO2 content optimizes pore–flow matching by refining critical throats and suppressing preferential flow channels.

Excessive nanoparticle loading causes aggregation and reduces effectiveness of pore regulation.

A multiscale framework quantitatively links pore regulation to macroscopic flow behavior during gel processes.

Abstract

Understanding how nanocomposite gels regulate pore–throat structures and flow behavior is essential for improving profile control and flow diversion in deep-water tight reservoirs. In this study, a dual-structure-regulated nanocomposite gel (DSRC-NCG) was designed, and its structure–flow coupling behavior during gel injection, curing, and degradation was systematically investigated using multiscale flow configurations, including microfluidic models, artificial cores, and sandpack systems. Microstructural evolution and pore–throat connectivity were characterized using μCT imaging, mercury intrusion porosimetry, nitrogen adsorption, and image-based flow simulations, while macroscopic flow responses were evaluated through permeability variation, dominant-channel evolution, injectivity behavior, and quantitative indices including the structure regulation index (SRI) and pore–flow matching index (HCI). The results show that increasing SiO2 content induces a progressive optimization of pore–flow matching by refining critical throats and suppressing preferential flow channels, whereas excessive nanoparticle loading leads to aggregation and attenuation of these effects. This study proposes a multiscale structure–flow coupling framework that quantitatively connects pore–throat regulation with macroscopic flow responses during nanocomposite gel injection and degradation. These findings offer mechanistic insights and practical guidance for the design of nanocomposite gels with improved flow-regulation efficiency and reversibility in deep-water tight reservoir applications.

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