Unconventional resources with commercial interest in the world mainly include heavy oils, shales, coalbed methane, and tight gas sands. The production and development of these resources has changed the global energy supply pattern. Quantitative interpretation of geophysical data in the exploration, well-logging, and engineering development of unconventional resources requires a comprehensive understanding of physical properties of rocks and their relationships. The research of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether related to geological, geophysical, or geomechanical methodologies. The development of new rock physics methods is essential when integrating core, well-log, seismic data to improve the accuracy of formation evaluation and reservoir characterization.
The composition, internal structure, and thermodynamic environment of reservoir rocks are complex and vary with different regions. This becomes particularly evident for unconventional reservoirs with strong macro- and micro-scopic heterogeneities. The diversity of exploration targets and complexity of reservoir characteristics pose great challenges to the applicability of existing rock physics experiments and theories. There are potential risks in directly using existing empirical relations and physical models to guide geophysical interpretation since spurious results may occur. Therefore, it is imperative to explore more applicable rock physics methods according to the petrophysical nature of actual reservoirs.
This Research Topic aims to underscore new concepts, novel theories and methods related to rock physics and relevant technical areas of unconventional reservoirs. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:
• Experimental, theoretical, and computational methods associated with physical properties of unconventional reservoirs
• Petrophysical and well-log interpretation for unconventional oil/gas
• Rock physics applications in reservoir characterization of unconventional resources
• Geomechanics aspects of unconventional oil/gas
• Multiphase flow and transport modeling of unconventional reservoirs
• Molecular simulation and geochemistry aspects of unconventional reservoirs
• High-temperature and high-pressure experimental technologies and their application in deep earth environment
Unconventional resources with commercial interest in the world mainly include heavy oils, shales, coalbed methane, and tight gas sands. The production and development of these resources has changed the global energy supply pattern. Quantitative interpretation of geophysical data in the exploration, well-logging, and engineering development of unconventional resources requires a comprehensive understanding of physical properties of rocks and their relationships. The research of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether related to geological, geophysical, or geomechanical methodologies. The development of new rock physics methods is essential when integrating core, well-log, seismic data to improve the accuracy of formation evaluation and reservoir characterization.
The composition, internal structure, and thermodynamic environment of reservoir rocks are complex and vary with different regions. This becomes particularly evident for unconventional reservoirs with strong macro- and micro-scopic heterogeneities. The diversity of exploration targets and complexity of reservoir characteristics pose great challenges to the applicability of existing rock physics experiments and theories. There are potential risks in directly using existing empirical relations and physical models to guide geophysical interpretation since spurious results may occur. Therefore, it is imperative to explore more applicable rock physics methods according to the petrophysical nature of actual reservoirs.
This Research Topic aims to underscore new concepts, novel theories and methods related to rock physics and relevant technical areas of unconventional reservoirs. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:
• Experimental, theoretical, and computational methods associated with physical properties of unconventional reservoirs
• Petrophysical and well-log interpretation for unconventional oil/gas
• Rock physics applications in reservoir characterization of unconventional resources
• Geomechanics aspects of unconventional oil/gas
• Multiphase flow and transport modeling of unconventional reservoirs
• Molecular simulation and geochemistry aspects of unconventional reservoirs
• High-temperature and high-pressure experimental technologies and their application in deep earth environment