The Influence of Desalinization of Reservoir Rocks on Their Mechanical and Filtration Properties by Example of the Chayanda Field

Rock specimens of the reservoir’s core material from the Chayanda oil and gas condensate field (OGCF) were tested using the Triaxial Independent Load Test System of the Ishlinsky Institute for Problems in Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences (TILTS) in order to experimentally study the effect exerted by desalinization of reservoir rocks on their strain, strength, and filtration characteristics. According to the study data, desalinization considerably increases a rock permeability. Strain and strength properties of the studied rocks change toward softening (except for an internal friction angle), nevertheless remaining relatively high. Based on the experimental physical modeling of the pressure reducing process at the bottom of a horizontal well using TILTS, a slight decrease in elastic and strength properties of the Chayanda OGCF reservoir rocks after their desalinization should not affect the stability of the well’s walls. The results obtained make it possible to draw the important practical conclusion: when operating the field at the stage of salt washing out due to water filtration under the operation process, a dramatic increase in the risks related to reservoir destruction and higher sand production should not be expected.