孔隙介质中油气二次运移动力学机制研究

Study of dynamical mechanism of hydrocarbon secondary migration is the key research project of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation in the ninth "Five-Year Plan", and this research is the hot and difficult spot and frontline in the domain of reservoir forming study in recent years. It is a common recognition that the dynamical mechanism of hydrocarbon's secondary migration is the important factor to control the reservoir type, distribution and oil/gas abundance. Therefore, to study this mechanism and establish the modes of hydrocarbon's migration and accumulation in different reservoirs under different conditions are of great theoretical meaningfulness and practical value on both developing the theory and method of hydrocarbon migration/accumulation dynamics in terrestrial rift-subsidence lacustrine basins and guiding the exploration and production. A laboratory for physical simulation of hydrocarbon's secondary migration/accumulation mechanism has been build up. 12 types of physical simulation tests to determine the volume of oil/gas migration and accumulation within these 3 series of plentiful hydrocarbon sources, different hydrocarbon abundance and pore level have been carried out under the guide of multidisciplinary theories, applying various methods and techniques, and 24 migration/accumulation modes have been established. The innovative results and recognition are as follows: 1, The oil/gas migration and accumulation modes for sandstones of moderate, fine grain size and silt in these six paleo depositional environments of shallow lake, fluvial, lacustrine, fluvial-deltaic, turbidite-delta, and salty-semi salty lake have been established. A new view has been put forward that the oil/gas volumetric increment during their migration and accumulation in different porous media of different rocks has similar features and evolution history. 2. During oil/gas migration and accumulation in different grain-sized porous media or different reservoirs, all the volumetric increment had experienced three period of rapid increasing, balanced and slower increasing and limited increasing. The dynamical process of oil/gas secondary migration and accumulation has been expounded. 3 The two new concepts of "source supply abundance" and "source supply intensity" have been proposed for the first time, and the physical simulation for hydrocarbon's migration, accumulation and forming a reservoir has been realized. 4, Source supply abundance is the important factor to control the accumulated volume of oil phase in the porous media. It is impossible to accumulate large amount of hydrocarbon volume in an open boundary system when the source supply abundance is low, i.e. impossible to form reservoirs of high productivity. 5 The above 12 types of physical simulation tests indicated that enough energy (pressure) of the oil sources is the decisive factor to ensure hydrocarbon's entering, flowing and accumulating through porous media, and both oil and gas phase will accumulate into the favorable places nearest to the oil sources. 6 The theory, method and related techniques for physical simulation of hydrocarbon's secondary migration/accumulation mechanism have been formed and applied to the E&P of Shengtuo rollover anticline and Niuzhuang turbidite lithological reservoirs. 7 This study developed the theory and method of hydrocarbon migration/accumulation dynamics in terrestrial rift-subsidence lacustrine basins, and the benefits and social effect are remarkable.

油藏复杂驱动体系物理模拟相似准则研究进展

综述了水驱油、化学驱油、蒸汽驱、混相驱及非混相驱等复杂油藏驱替体系物理模拟相似准则的研究现状.系统介绍了相似参数敏感性分析方法,定义了表征目标函数对相似参数依赖程度的敏感因子,结合数值方法便可定量地确定复杂体系主要相似参数,并实际应用于工程问题.讨论了水驱和聚合物驱物理模拟应优先满足的相似准则及其随参数范围的变化.

水驱油局部相似模型的设计及定量评价方法

采用相似准数敏感性分析方法,对各局部相似模型中所放松相似准数的敏感性进行分析,得到应尽量减少放松的相似准数.提出了定量评价局部相似模型优劣的影响系数,通过比较该影响系数的大小即可定量评价各局部相似模型.结果表明:水驱局部相似模型的精度不仅取决于所满足的相似准数的个数,还与相似准数的相对放松量有关.

数字制造环境下的加工过程仿真验证技术研究

生产线数字制造环境是数字化工厂的核心 ,而加工过程的仿真与验证技术构成生产线数字系统的底层结构与制造过程数字化分析的主要内容。分析了目前加工过程在几何仿真与物理仿真方面的研究情况、研究方法与存在问题 ,就该项技术向生产线数字制造环境融合的关键技术 ,即综合设备数字样机的完整数字加工环境的建立及加工过程仿真与上层制造环境的信息集成等进行分析与研究

虚拟数控车削物理仿真系统的研究与开发

面向数控车削 ,开发了一套动态车削物理仿真系统 ,提出了仿真系统的总体框架 ,建立了动态物理仿真模型及相关子模型 ,分析了动态车削过程的影响因素 ,阐述了系统开发过程中有关模型构成及工件数据描述等技术性问题。

加工过程物理仿真技术研究

加工过程仿真是虚拟制造的底层关键技术 ,同时也是数字化制造系统的重要组成部分 ,而物理仿真是其中的研究重点和难点。建模难 ,通用性和实用性差是目前物理仿真中存在的主要问题。文章总结了物理仿真的研究内容和方法 ,分析了研究中存在的问题及加工过程建模的常用方法

提高勘探成熟区地震资料精度的方法研究

With the Oil field exploration and exploitation, the problem of supervention and enhaning combination gas recovery was faced.then proposing new and higher demands to precision of seismic data. On the basis of studying exploration status,resource potential,and quality of 3D seismic data to internal representative mature Oil field, taking shengli field ken71 zone as study object, this paper takes advantage of high-density 3D seismic technique to solving the complex geologic problem in exploration and development of mature region, deep into researching the acquisition, processing of high-density 3D seismic data. This disseration study the function of routine 3D seismic, high-density 3D seismic, 3D VSP seismic,and multi-wave multi-component seismic to solving the geologic problem in exploration and development of mature region,particular introduce the advantage and shortage of high-density 3D seismic exploration, put forward the integrated study method of giving priority to high-density 3D seismic and combining other seismic data in enhancing exploration accuracy of mature region. On the basis of detailedly studying acquisition method of high-density 3D seismic and 3D VSP seismic,aming at developing physical simulation and numeical simulation to designing and optimizing observation system. Optimizing “four combination” whole acquisition method of acquisition of well with ground seimic and “three synchron”technique, realizing acquisition of combining P-wave with S-wave, acquisition of combining digit geophone with simulation geophone, acquisition of 3D VSP seismic with ground seimic, acquisition of combining interborehole seismic,implementing synchron acceptance of aboveground equipment and downhole instrument, common use and synchron acceptance of 3D VSP and ground shots, synchron acquisition of high-density P-wave and high-density multi-wave, achieve high quality magnanimity seismic data. On the basis of detailedly analysising the simulation geophone data of high-density acquisition ,adopting pertinency processing technique to protecting amplitude,studying the justice matching of S/N and resolution to improving resolution of seismic profile ,using poststack series connection migration,prestack time migration and prestack depth migration to putting up high precision imaging,gained reliable high resolution data.At the same time carrying along high accuracy exploration to high-density digit geophone data, obtaining good improve in its resolution, fidelity, break point clear degree, interbed information, formation characteristics and so on.Comparing processing results ,we may see simulation geophone high-density acquisition and high precision imaging can enhancing resolution, high-density seismic basing on digit geophone can better solve subsurface geology problem. At the same time, fine processing converted wave of synchron acquisition and 3D VSP seismic data,acquiring good result. On the basis of high-density seismic data acquisition and high-density seismic data processing, carry through high precision structure interpretation and inversion, and preliminary interpretation analysis to 3D VSP seismic data and multi-wave multi-component seismic data. High precision interpretation indicates after high resolution processing ,structural diagram obtaining from high-density seismic data better accord with true geoligy situation.

油田高含水期剩余油分布规律研究

After systemic investigation of the techniques，route lines and mechanisms about the remaining oil，the dynamic migration and congregation behavior of the remaining oil are discussed on base of interaction between flowing and enriching of water and oil.After the micro-scope modeling of the fluid flow in porous media and the changes in petrol-physical properties of the flowing system, the characters of fluid fields and the dynamic distribution of oil are discussed, among which the preference-flowing is focused on. Based on the preference-flowing in porous media, the concept of the preference-flowing channels is developed. According to above, heterogeneous distribution of water and oil in the field and dynamic mechanism of remaining oil are all obvious. media can be divided into three kinds, directional, stochastic, arbitrary porous media. The main research results are as following: 1. Treating the characteristic parameters such as permeability, porosity and wettability as regional parameter, the fluid field with high water-cut has been established by geostatistical method, among which the difference of flowing pores and the changes of its petrol-physical properties during flooding are studied. 2. The flow process of water and oil are recurrent in physical simulation experiments, in which the mechanisms and phenomena are caught and analyzed. Fluid flow mechanics in porous media with preference-flowing channels have been studied. 3. The mutual coupling between water and oil is induced and the mathematical evolution equations including this interaction were built. . 4. Through coupling effect between flowing water and oil, the dynamic migration and congregation behavior of remaining oil depend upon this coupling. 5. Coupling between water and oil act as driving force and trapping force for the remaining oil. The coupling model of thesis has been verified by simplified the numerical model and compared results with Ng35 oil reservoir in Gudao oil field, it has important theoretical and application values for improving precision of remaining oil and production performance prediction, and is a new method for studying the mechanics of remaining oil in channeled porous media has been established. Key words：flow field，high water-cut，coupling，dominant flow in porous media，remaining oil

石油二次运移机理物理模拟研究

Oil and gas migration is very important for theoretical hydrocarbon geology study and exploration practice, but related research is weak. Physical simulation is a main method to study oil migration. Systematic experiments were done to quantitatively describe the migration patterns, path characters and oil saturation by adjusting the possible dynamic factors respectively. The following conclusions were drawn. 1. Darcy velocity and pore throat diameter were calculated according to seepage cross-sectional area and glass beads arrangement. With such normalized Darcy velocity and pore throat diameter, the date from one and two dimensional experiments can be reasonably drawn in two phase diagrams. It is found that the migration pattern can be identified using only one dimensionless number L which is defined as the ration of capillary number and Bond number. 2. Oil saturated in the pores between glass beads was used as calibration and oil saturation in the path was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The results show that oil saturation in the center of migration path can reach 100%, is higher than oil saturation in the edge of migration path. 3. Percolation backbone during secondary oil migration was identified experimentally using Hele-Shaw cell. The backbone formed mainly because of the spatial variation of the cluster conductivity caused by oil saturation heterogeneity, main resistant force change, and path shrinkage and snap-off. Percolation backbone improves hydrocarbon migration efficiency and is a favorable factor for reservoir forming. 4. In the three dimensional filling models, the thickness of the secondary migration path is mall. It is only 2.5cm even for the piston pattern. Inclination of the model is the main influencing factor of the secondary path width.

中国大中型气田天然气成藏物理化学模拟研究

Natural gas pays more important role in the society as clean fuel. Natural gas exploration has been enhanced in recent years in many countries. It also has prospective future in our country through "85" and "95" national research. Many big size gas fields have been discovered in different formations in different basins such as lower and upper Paleozoic in Erdos basin, Tertiary system in Kuche depression in Tarim basin, Triassic system in east of Sichuan basin. Because gas bearing basins had been experienced multiple tectogenesis. The characteristics of natural gases usually in one gas field are that they have multiple source rocks and are multiple maturities and formed in different ages. There has most difficult to research on the gas-rock correlation and mechanism of gas formation. Develop advanced techniques and methods and apply them to solve above problems is necessary. The research is focused on the critical techniques of geochemistry and physical simulation of gas-rock correlation and gas formation. The lists in the following are conclusions through research and lots of experiments. I 8 advanced techniques have been developed or improved about gas-rock correlation and gas migration, accumulation and formation. A series of geochemistry techniques has been developed about analyzing inclusion enclave. They are analyzing gas and liquid composition and biomarker and on-line individual carbon isotope composition in inclusion enclave. These techniques combing the inclusion homogeneous temperature can be applied to study on gas-rock correlation directly and gas migration, filling and formation ages. Technique of on-line determination individual gas carbon isotope composition in kerogen and bitumen thermal pyrolysis is developed. It is applied to determine the source of natural is kerogen thermal degradation or oil pyrolysis. Method of on-line determination individual gas carbon isotope composition in rock thermal simulation has being improved. Based on the "95"former research, on-line determination individual gas carbon isotope composition in different type of maceral and rocks thermal pyrolys is has been determined. The conclusion is that carbon isotope composition of benzene and toluene in homogenous texture kerogen thermal degradation is almost same at different maturity. By comparison, that in mixture type kerogen thermal pyrolysis jumps from step to step with the changes of maturity. This conclusion is a good proof of gas-rock dynamic correlation. 3. Biomarker of rock can be determined directly through research. It solves the problems such as long period preparing sample, light composition losing and sample contamination etc. It can be applied to research the character of source rock and mechanism of source rock expulsion and the path of hydrocarbon migration etc. 4. The process of hydrocarbon dynamic generation in source rock can be seen at every stage applying locating observation and thermal simulation of ESEM. The mechanism of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion in source rock is discussed according to the experiments. This technique is advanced in the world. 5. A sample injection system whose character is higher vacuum, lower leaks and lower blank has been built up to analyze inert gas. He,Ar,Kr and Xe can be determined continuously on one instrument and one injection. This is advanced in domestic. 7. Quality and quantity analysis of benzene ring compounds and phenolic compounds and determination of organic acid and aqueous gas analysis are applied to research the relationship between compounds in formation water and gas formation. This is another new idea to study the gas-rock correlation and gas formation. 8. Inclusion analysis data can be used to calculate the Paleo-fluid density, Paleo-geothermal gradient and Paleo-geopressure gradient and then to calculate the Paleo-fluid potential. It's also a new method to research the direction of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. 9. Equipment of natural gas formation simulation is produced during the research to probe how the physical properties of rock affect the gas migration and accumulation and what efficiency of gas migrate and factors of gas formation and the models of different type of migration are. II study is focused on that if the source rocks of lower Paleozoic generated hydrocarbon and what the source rocks of weathered formation gas pool and the mechanism of gas formation are though many advanced techniques application. There are four conclusions. 1.The maturity of Majiagou formation source rocks is higher in south than that in north. There also have parts of the higher maturity in middle and east. Anomalous thermal pays important role in big size field formation in middle of basin. 2. The amount of gas generation in high-over maturity source rocks in lower Paleozoic is lager than that of most absorption of source rocks. Lower Paleozoic source rocks are effective source rocks. Universal bitumen exists in Ordovician source rocks to prove that Ordovician source rocks had generated hydrocarbon. Bitumen has some attribution to the middle gas pool formation. 3. Comprehensive gas-rock correlation says that natural gases of north, west, south of middle gas field of basin mainly come from lower Paleozoic source rocks. The attribution ratio of lower Paleozoic source rocks is 60%-70%. Natural gases of other areas mainly come from upper Paleozoic. The attribution ratio of upper Paleozoic source rocks is 70%. 4. Paleozoic gases migration phase of Erdos basin are also interesting. The relative abundance of gasoline aromatic is quite low especially toluene that of which is divided by that of methyl-cyclohexane is less than 0.2 in upper Paleozoic gas pool. The migration phase of upper Paleozoic gas may be aqueous phase. By comparison, the relative abundance of gasoline aromatic is higher in lower Paleozoic gas. The distribution character of gasoline gas is similar with that in source rock thermal simulation. The migration phase of it may be free phase. IH Comprehensive gas-rock correlation is also processed in Kuche depression Tarim basin. The mechanism of gas formation is probed and the gas formation model has been built up. Four conclusions list below. 1. Gases in Kuche depression come from Triassic-Jurassic coal-measure source rocks. They are high-over maturity. Comparatively, the highest maturity area is Kelasu, next is Dabei area, Yinan area. 2. Kerogen thermal degradation is main reason of the dry gas in Kuche depression. Small part of dry gas comes from oil pyrolysis. VI 3.The K12 natural gas lays out some of hydro-gas character. Oil dissolved in the gas. Hydro-gas is also a factor making the gas drier and carbon isotope composition heavier. 4. The mechanism and genesis of KL2 gas pool list as below. Overpressure has being existed in Triassic-Jurassic source rocks since Keche period. Natural gases were expulsed by episode style from overpressure source rocks. Hetero-face was main migration style of gas, oil and water at that time. The fluids transferred the pressure of source rocks when they migrated and then separated when they got in reservoir. After that, natural gas migrated up and accumulated and formed with the techno-genesis. Tectonic extrusion made the natural gas overpressure continuously. When the pressure was up to the critical pressure, the C6-C7 composition in natural gas changed. The results were that relative abundance of alkane and aromatic decreased while cycloalkane and isoparaffin increased. There was lots of natural gas filling during every tectonic. The main factors of overpressure of natural gas were tectonic extrusion and fluid transferring pressure of source rocks. Well preservation was also important in the KL2 gas pool formation. The reserves of gas can satisfy the need of pipeline where is from west to east. IV A good idea of natural gas migration and accumulation modeling whose apparent character is real core and formation condition is suggested to model the physical process of gas formation. Following is the modeling results. 1. Modeling results prove that the gas accumulation rule under cap layer and gas fraction on migration path. 2. Natural gas migration as free phase is difficult in dense rock. 3. Natural gases accumulated easily in good physical properties reservoirs where are under the plugging layer. Under the condition of that permeability of rock is more than 1 * 10~(-3)μm~(-1), the more better the physical properties and the more bigger pore of rock, the more easier the gas accumulation in there. On the contrary, natural gas canonly migrate further to accumulate in good physical properties of rock. 4. Natural gas migrate up is different from that down. Under the same situation, the amount of gas migration up is lager than that of gas migration down and the distance of migration up is 3 times as that of migration down. 5. After gas leaks from dense confining layer, the ability of its dynamic plug-back decreased apparently. Gas lost from these arils easily. These confining layer can confine again only after geology condition changes. 6. Water-wetted and capillary-blocking rocks can't block water but gases generally. The result is that water can migrate continuously through blocking rocks but the gases stay under the blocking rocks then form in there. The experiments have proved the formation model of deep basin gas.

油藏动态模型和剩余油分布模式

This paper belong to national "973" technological project undertaken by Shengli Oilfield. Work area is composed of turbidite reservoir of S212 and delta reservoir of S283 of Sheng2 unit in Shengtuo Oilfield that has a 36 years water injection development history. Change of the macroscopic, microscopic and filterational parameters and its mechanism have been studied in the 4 water-cut stages i.e. the primary, moderate, high and supper-high stage by using multi-disciplinary theories and approaches, computer techniques and physical simulation comprehensively. Dynamic reservoir models to different water-cut stages have been established. The study of forming mechanism and distribution of residual oil revealed the main types and spatial distribution of residual oil in different water-cut stages and the distribution mode has also been built up. Macroscopic, microscopic and filterational parameters selecting principle, optimizing and selecting standard, matching standard and laws and related database of various dynamic parameters in different water-cut stages have been established, which laid good basis for revealing reservoir macroscopic, microscopic and filterational parameters' dynamic change and residual oil distribution. The study indicated that in general, the macroscopic, microscopic and filterational parameters will slowly increase and become better in both shallow turbidite and delta reservoirs with the increasing of water cut, but different reservoirs have their own characteristics and change laws. Parameters of I~2 unit, whose petrophysical properties are better, increase more quickly than 8~3, whose petrophysical properties are more unfavorable. The changes was relatively quickly in high water-cut stage, while relatively slowly from primary to moderate and from high to supper-high water-cut stage. This paper firstly put forward that reservoir macroscopic, microscopic and filterational parameters are controlled by dynamic geological function of reservoir fluid, which is considered the major reason of reservoir parameters' dynamic changes and residual oil formation and distribution during reservoir development. Physical simulation of filterational parameters verified that forming mechanism and distribution of residual oil in different water-cut stages are also controlled by dynamic geological function of reservoir fluid. The idea of fluid geological function during reservoir development developed the theory of development geology, and has important practical values. This paper firstly constructed dynamic geological and mathematical models and five modes of residual oil distribution in Shengtuo Oilfield, and achieved four-dimensional forecast of residual oil distribution in different watercut stages. Dynamic changes and mechanism of macroscopic, microscopic and fliterational parameters of reservoir and their change process have been revealed. Forecast of residual oil distribution has been achieved by computers. This paper established the related theories, approaches and techniques for residual oil study, characterization and in different water-cut stages, and realized dynamic forecast of residual oil. It gained remarkable economic benefit and social effect in guiding field development. These theories and techniques had important meaningfulness for residual oil prediction in the terrestrial faulted basins not only in Shengli Oilfield but also in the east of China. Furthermore, this study has developed the theory of development geology.

河流-三角洲储层剩余油分布模式及预测

Aim at the variousness and complexity of the spatial distribution of Remaining Oil in the fluvial and delta facies reservoir in paper. For example, in the La-Sa-Xing oilfield of Daqing, based on the research of the control factor and formation mechanization of block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism, synthesizing the theories and methods of geology, well logging, reservoir engineering, artificial intelligence, physical simulation test , and computer multidisciplinary; Fully utilizing the material of geology, well logging, core well, dynamic monitor of oil and water well, and experimental analysis, from macro to micro, from quality to quantity, from indoor to workplace, we predicted the potentiality and distribution according to the four levels of Block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism, and comprehensively summarized the different distribution pattern of remaining oil in the fluvial and delta facies reservoir This paper puts forward an efficient method to predict the remaining recoverable reserves by using the water flooding characteristic curve differential method and neutral network; for the first time utilizes multilevel fuzzy comprehensive judgment method and expert neutral network technology to predict the remaining oil distribution in the single layer? comprehensively takes advantage of reservoir flowing unit, indoor physical simulation test, inspection well core analysis and well-logging watered-out layer interpretation to efficiently predict the distribution of remaining oil; makes use of core analysis of different periods and indoor water driving oil test to study the micro distribution of remaining oil and the parameters varying law of reservoir substance properties, rock properties, wetting properties. Based on above, the remaining oil distribution predicting software is developed, which contains four levels of block, single layer, interlayer and micromechanism. This achievement has been used inLa-Sa-Xing oil field of Daqing and good results have been received.

大港油田孔南地区孔一段储层流动单元研究

The main reservoir type in the south of Dagang Oilfield is alluvial reservoir. In this paper, the reservoir structure model and the distribution of connected body and flow barrier were built on base of the study of high-resolution sequential stratigraphic skeleton and fine sedimentary microfacies on level of single sandbody. Utilizing the static and dynamic data synthetically and carrying out the comparision of the classification method for reservoir flow unit in different reservoir, the criterion, which can be used to classify the flow unit in first section of Kongdian formation of Kongnan area, was defined. The qualitative method of well-to-well correlation and the quantitative method of conditional simulation using multiple data are adopted to disclose the oil and water moving regulation in different flow unit and the distribution rule of remaining oil by physical simulation measure. A set of flow unit study method was formed that is suit for the Dagang Oilfield on account of the remaining oil production according to the flow unit. Several outstanding progresses was obtained in the following aspects:It is considered that the reservoir structure of Zao V iow oil group- Zao Vup4 layerand are jigsaw-puzzled reservoir, while ZaoVup3-ZaoVupi layers are labyrinth reservoir,which are studied on base of high-resolution sequential stratigraphic skeleton on the levelof single sandbody in first section of Kongdian formation of Kongnan area and accordingto the study of fine sedimentary microfacies and fault sealeing.When classifying the flow unit, only permeability is the basic parameter using thestatic and dynamic data and, and also different parameters should be chose or deleted, suchas porosity, effective thickness, fluid viscosity and so on, because of the weak or stronginterlayer heterogeneous and the difference of interlayer crude oil character.The method of building predicting-model of flow unit was proposed. This methodis according to the theories of reservoir sedimentology and high-resolution sequencestratigraphic and adopts the quantitative method of well-to well correlation and the quantitative method of stochastic simulation using integrateddense well data. Finally the 3-D predicting-model of flow unit and the interlay er distribution model in flow unit were built which are for alluvial fan and fan delta fades in first section of Kongdian formation of Kongnan area, and nine genetic model of flow unit of alluvial environment that spread in the space were proposed.(4) Difference of reservoir microscopic pore configuration in various flow units and difference of flow capability and oil displacement effect were demonstrated through the physical experiments such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), constant rate mercury penetration, flow simulation and so on. The distribution of remaining oil in this area was predicted combining the dynamic data and numerical modeling based on the flow unit. Remaining oil production measure was brought up by the clue of flow unit during the medium and late course of the oilfield development.

Effect of Rock Mass Structure and Block Size on the Slope Stability-Physical Modeling and Discrete Element Simulation

This paper studies the stability of jointed rock slopes by using our improved three-dimensional discrete element methods (DEM) and physical modeling. Results show that the DEM can simulate all failure modes of rock slopes with different joint configurations. The stress in each rock block is not homogeneous and blocks rotate in failure development. Failure modes depend on the configuration of joints. Toppling failure is observed for the slope with straight joints and sliding failure is observed for the slope with staged joints. The DEM results are also compared with those of limit equilibrium method (LEM). Without considering the joints in rock masses, the LEM predicts much higher factor of safety than physical modeling and DEM. The failure mode and factor of safety predicted by the DEM are in good agreement with laboratory tests for any jointed rock slope.