Experimental Investigation of Hydrocarbon Gas Huff-N-Puff Injection into the Live-Oil Window of Eagle Ford

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyun-Syung Tsau ◽  
Qinwen Fu ◽  
Reza Ghahfarokhi Barati ◽  
J. Zaghloul ◽  
A. Baldwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Molecular Diffusion ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Eagle Ford ◽  
Unconventional Oil ◽  
Decline Curve ◽  
Reservoir Conditions ◽  
Hydrocarbon Gas ◽  
Live Oil

Abstract The hydrocarbon gas huff and puff (HnP) technique has been used to improve oil production in unconventional oil reservoirs where excess capacity of produced gas is available and hydrocarbon prices are in a range to result in an economically viable case. Eagle Ford (EF) is one of the largest unconventional oil plays in the United State where HnP has been applied for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) at reservoirs within various oil windows. Our previously published Huff-n-puff results on dead oil with produced gas from Eagle Ford (EF) showed the recovery factor of hydrocarbon varying from 40 to 58%. The objective of this paper is to extend the experiments to live oil with EF core plugs to investigate the mechanisms of HnP which are affected by the composition of injected gas and resident oil, injection and soaking time as well as injection/depletion pressure gradient. Eagle Ford live oil and natural gas produced from the target area were used for HnP tests. Four representative core plugs were used with the tests conducted at reservoir conditions (125 °C and 3,500 psi). The live oil experiments with four reservoir core plugs showed an improvement in oil recovery with recovery factor (RF) varying from 19.5 to 33 % in six cycles of HnP, whereas the primary depletion on the same core plug showed RF below 11 %. A lower recovery factor of HnP from live oil saturated core in this study was observed as compared to dead oil saturated core reported in a previous publication. It is attributed to a lesser diffusion effect on mass transfer between injected gas and resident oil when the core is saturated with live oil. This behavior is displayed by the pressure decline curve during the first soaking period. A sharper diffusion pressure decline occurred in the dead oil saturated core plug where a higher concentration gradient between injected gas and resident oil drives a faster gas transport into the oil due to the molecular diffusion during the soaking period.

scholarly journals Cyclic CH4 Injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Eagle Ford Shale Reservoirs

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Yuan Di ◽  
Yang Shi ◽  
Jinghong Hu
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Pressure ◽  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Molecular Diffusion ◽  
Well Performance ◽  
Eagle Ford Shale ◽  
Eagle Ford ◽  
Well Production ◽  
Operation Parameters ◽  
Shale Reservoirs

Gas injection is one of the most effective enhanced oil recovery methods for the unconventional reservoirs. Recently, CH4 has been widely used; however, few studies exist to accurately evaluate the cyclic CH4 injection considering molecular diffusion and nanopore effects. Additionally, the effects of operation parameters are still not systematically understood. Therefore, the objective of this work is to build an efficient numerical model to investigate the impacts of molecular diffusion, capillary pressure, and operation parameters. The confined phase behavior was incorporated in the model considering the critical property shifts and capillary pressure. Subsequently, we built a field-scale simulation model of the Eagle Ford shale reservoir. The fluid properties under different pore sizes were evaluated. Finally, a series of studies were conducted to examine the contributions of each key parameter on the well production. Results of sensitivity analysis indicate that the effect of confinement and molecular diffusion significantly influence CH4 injection effectiveness, followed by matrix permeability, injection rate, injection time, and number of cycles. Primary depletion period and soaking time are less noticeable for the well performance in the selected case. Considering the effect of confinement and molecular diffusion leads to the increase in the well performance during the CH4 injection process. This work, for the first time, evaluates the nanopore effects and molecular diffusion on the CH4 injection. It provides an efficient numerical method to predict the well production in the EOR process. Additionally, it presents useful insights into the prediction of cyclic CH4 injection effectiveness and helps operators to optimize the EOR process in the shale reservoirs.

scholarly journals Polymer viscosifier systems with potential application for enhanced oil recovery: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Kelly Lúcia Nazareth Pinho de Aguiar ◽  
Luiz Carlos Magalhães Palermo ◽  
Claudia Regina Elias Mansur
Keyword(s):  
Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Polymer Concentration ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
Polymeric Fluids ◽  
Excellent Thermal Stability ◽  
Reservoir Conditions

Due to the growing demand for oil and the large number of mature oil fields, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques are increasingly used to increase the oil recovery factor. Among the chemical methods, the use of polymers stands out to increase the viscosity of the injection fluid and harmonize the advance of this fluid in the reservoir to provide greater sweep efficiency. Synthetic polymers based on acrylamide are widely used for EOR, with Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (PHPA) being used the most. However, this polymer has low stability under harsh reservoir conditions (High Temperature and Salinity – HTHS). In order to improve the sweep efficiency of polymeric fluids under these conditions, Hydrophobically Modified Associative Polymers (HMAPs) and Thermo-Viscosifying Polymers (TVPs) are being developed. HMAPs contain small amounts of hydrophobic groups in their water-soluble polymeric chains, and above the Critical Association Concentration (CAC), form hydrophobic microdomains that increase the viscosity of the polymer solution. TVPs contain blocks or thermosensitive grafts that self-assemble and form microdomains, substantially increasing the solution’s viscosity. The performance of these systems is strongly influenced by the chemical group inserted in their structures, polymer concentration, salinity and temperature, among other factors. Furthermore, the application of nanoparticles is being investigated to improve the performance of injection polymers applied in EOR. In general, these systems have excellent thermal stability and salinity tolerance along with high viscosity, and therefore increase the oil recovery factor. Thus, these systems can be considered promising agents for enhanced oil recovery applications under harsh conditions, such as high salinity and temperature. Moreover, stands out the use of genetic programming and artificial intelligence to estimate important parameters for reservoir engineering, process improvement, and optimize polymer flooding in enhanced oil recovery.

THE BASIC TYPES OF SECONDARY CHANGES IN RESERVOIR ROCKS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE WEST SIBERIA PLATE

2015 ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
A. V. Podnebesnykh ◽  
S. V. Kuznetsov ◽  
V. P. Ovchinnikov
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
West Siberia ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
The West ◽  
Reservoir Rocks ◽  
Tectonically Active ◽  
Porosity And Permeability ◽  
Active Zones ◽  
Regional Character

On the example of the group of fields in the West Siberia North the basic types of secondary changes in reservoir rocks are reviewed. Some of the most common types of such changes in the West Siberian plate territory include the processes of zeolitization, carbonation and leaching. These processes have, as a rule, a regional character of distribution and are confined to the tectonically active zones of the earth's crust. Due to formation of different mineral paragenesises the secondary processes differently affect the reservoir rocks porosity and permeability: thus, zeolitization and carbonization promote to reducing the porosity and permeability and leaching improvement. All this, ultimately leads to a change of the oil recovery factor and hydrocarbons production levels. Study and taking into account of the reservoir rocks secondary change processes can considerably influence on placement of operating well stock and on planning of geological and technological actions.

scholarly journals Experimental study of the supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficient in porous media under reservoir conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 181902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junchen Lv ◽  
Yuan Chi ◽  
Changzhong Zhao ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Hailin Mu
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Elevated Pressure ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Saturated Porous Media ◽  
Reservoir Conditions ◽  
The Impact

Reliable measurement of the CO 2 diffusion coefficient in consolidated oil-saturated porous media is critical for the design and performance of CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. A thorough experimental investigation of the supercritical CO 2 diffusion in n -decane-saturated Berea cores with permeabilities of 50 and 100 mD was conducted in this study at elevated pressure (10–25 MPa) and temperature (333.15–373.15 K), which simulated actual reservoir conditions. The supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficients in the Berea cores were calculated by a model appropriate for diffusion in porous media based on Fick's Law. The results show that the supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficient increases as the pressure, temperature and permeability increase. The supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficient first increases slowly at 10 MPa and then grows significantly with increasing pressure. The impact of the pressure decreases at elevated temperature. The effect of permeability remains steady despite the temperature change during the experiments. The effect of gas state and porous media on the supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficient was further discussed by comparing the results of this study with previous study. Based on the experimental results, an empirical correlation for supercritical CO 2 diffusion coefficient in n -decane-saturated porous media was developed. The experimental results contribute to the study of supercritical CO 2 diffusion in compact porous media.

Pilot Project Evaluating WAG Efficiency for Carbonate Reservoir in Eastern Siberia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Zharko ◽  
Dmitriy Burdakov
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Oil Production ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Water Cut ◽  
Wag Injection ◽  
Injection Rates

Abstract The paper presents the results of a pilot project implementing WAG injection at the oilfield with carbonate reservoir, characterized by low efficiency of traditional waterflooding. The objective of the pilot project was to evaluate the efficiency of this enhanced oil recovery method for conditions of the specific oil field. For the initial introduction of WAG, an area of the reservoir with minimal potential risks has been identified. During the test injections of water and gas, production parameters were monitored, including the oil production rates of the reacting wells and the water and gas injection rates of injection wells, the change in the density and composition of the produced fluids. With first positive results, the pilot area of the reservoir was expanded. In accordance with the responses of the producing wells to the injection of displacing agents, the injection rates were adjusted, and the production intensified, with the aim of maximizing the effect of WAG. The results obtained in practice were reproduced in the simulation model sector in order to obtain a project curve characterizing an increase in oil recovery due to water-alternating gas injection. Practical results obtained during pilot testing of the technology show that the injection of gas and water alternately can reduce the water cut of the reacting wells and increase overall oil production, providing more efficient displacement compared to traditional waterflooding. The use of WAG after the waterflooding provides an increase in oil recovery and a decrease in residual oil saturation. The water cut of the produced liquid decreased from 98% to 80%, an increase in oil production rate of 100 tons/day was obtained. The increase in the oil recovery factor is estimated at approximately 7.5% at gas injection of 1.5 hydrocarbon pore volumes. Based on the received results, the displacement characteristic was constructed. Methods for monitoring the effectiveness of WAG have been determined, and studies are planned to be carried out when designing a full-scale WAG project at the field. This project is the first pilot project in Russia implementing WAG injection in a field with a carbonate reservoir. During the pilot project, the technical feasibility of implementing this EOR method was confirmed, as well as its efficiency in terms of increasing the oil recovery factor for the conditions of the carbonate reservoir of Eastern Siberia, characterized by high water cut and low values of oil displacement coefficients during waterflooding.

Application of Hybrid Biosystems for Stimulation of Oil Production

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baghir Alakbar Suleimanov ◽  
Sabina Jahangir Rzayeva ◽  
Ulviyya Tahir Akhmedova
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Single Phase ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Oil Production ◽  
Pore Channel ◽  
Subcritical Region ◽  
Slippage Effect ◽  
Liquid Systems ◽  
Reservoir Conditions

Abstract Microbial enhanced oil recovery is considered to be one of the most promising methods of stimulating formation, contributing to a higher level of oil production from long-term fields. The injection of bioreagents into a reservoir results in the creation of oil-dicing agents along with significant amount of gases, mainly carbon dioxide. In early, the authors failed to study the preparation of self-gasified biosystems and the implementation of the subcritical region (SR) under reservoir conditions. Gasified systems in the subcritical phase have better oil-displacing properties than non-gasified systems. The slippage effect determines the behavior of gas–liquid systems in the SR under reservoir conditions. Slippage occurs more easily when the pore channel has a smaller average radius. Therefore, in a heterogeneous porous medium, the filtration profile of gasified liquids in the SR should be more uniform than for a degassed liquid. The theoretical and practical foundations for the preparation of single-phase self-gasified biosystems and the implementation of the SR under reservoir conditions have been developedSR under reservoir conditions. Based on experimental studies, the superior efficiency of oil displacement by gasified biosystems compared with degassed ones has been demonstrated. The possibility of efficient use of gasified hybrid biopolymer systems has been shown.

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