Reservoir densification and tight-oil charging in Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin

The Yanchang Formation in Longdong area, Ordos Basin, is characterized by low porosity and permeability and is considered as a tight-oil reservoir. However, reservoir densification and its influence on oil charging are not well-understood. Based on the analysis of reservoir diagenesis, densification history, oil-water distribution, driving force and resistance, the oil charging process in tight-sand reservoirs was discussed. The results showed that porosity evolution of the Chang 6-Chang 8 reservoirs has gone through four stages, and they became tight during the diagenetic A₁ stage, which was prior to oil charging. And the large resistance due to narrow pore throats made it impossible for buoyancy to be a driving force. Since the tight-sand reservoir is currently oil-saturated with "sweet spots" in locally high-quality reservoir, the excess pressure difference between the Chang 7 source rock and the Chang 6-Chang 8 reservoir is considered to be the main driving force for oil charging in the tight reservoirs.