Development of the Surfactant-Based Chemical EOR Formula for Low Permeability Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Chun Zhou ◽  
Meng Lu ◽  
Fuchen Liu ◽  
Wenhong Li ◽  
Jianshen Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Behavior ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Chemical Flooding ◽  
Residual Oil ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Low Tension ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

Abstract Based on the results of the foam flooding for our low permeability reservoirs, we have explored the possibility of using low interfacial tension (IFT) surfactants to improve oil recovery. The objective of this work is to develop a robust low-tension surfactant formula through lab experiments to investigate several key factors for surfactant-based chemical flooding. Microemulsion phase behavior and aqueous solubility experiments at reservoir temperature were performed to develop the surfactant formula. After reviewing surfactant processes in literature and evaluating over 200 formulas using commercially available surfactants, we found that we may have long ignored the challenges of achieving aqueous stability and optimal microemulsion phase behavior for surfactant formulations in low salinity environments. A surfactant formula with a low IFT does not always result in a good microemulsion phase behavior. Therefore, a novel synergistic blend with two surfactants in the formulation was developed with a cost-effective nonionic surfactant. The formula exhibits an increased aqueous solubility, a lower optimum salinity, and an ultra-low IFT in the range of 10-4 mN/m. There were challenges of using a spinning drop tensiometer to measure the IFT of the black crude oil and the injection water at reservoir conditions. We managed the process and studied the IFTs of formulas with good Winsor type III phase behavior results. Several microemulsion phase behavior test methods were investigated, and a practical and rapid test method is proposed to be used in the field under operational conditions. Reservoir core flooding experiments including SP (surfactant-polymer) and LTG (low-tension-gas) were conducted to evaluate the oil recovery. SP flooding with a selected polymer for mobility control and a co-solvent recovered 76% of the waterflood residual oil. Furthermore, 98% residual crude oil recovery was achieved by LTG flooding through using an additional foaming agent and nitrogen. These results demonstrate a favorable mobilization and displacement of the residual oil for low permeability reservoirs. In summary, microemulsion phase behavior and aqueous solubility tests were used to develop coreflood formulations for low salinity, low temperature conditions. The formulation achieved significant oil recovery for both SP flooding and LTG flooding. Key factors for the low-tension surfactant-based chemical flooding are good microemulsion phase behavior, a reasonably aqueous stability, and a decent low IFT.

scholarly journals Low-tension gas process in high-salinity and low-permeability reservoirs

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1329-1344
Author(s):  
Alolika Das ◽  
Nhut Nguyen ◽  
Quoc P. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Oxidative Degradation ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Displacement Efficiency ◽  
Fractional Flow ◽  
Hydrocarbon Gases ◽  
Low Tension ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

Abstract Polymer-based EOR methods in low-permeability reservoirs face injectivity issues and increased fracturing due to near wellbore plugging, as well as high-pressure gradients in these reservoirs. Polymer may cause pore blockage and undergo shear degradation and even oxidative degradation at high temperatures in the presence of very hard brine. Low-tension gas (LTG) flooding has the potential to be applied successfully for low-permeability carbonate reservoirs even in the presence of high formation brine salinity. In LTG flooding, the interfacial tension between oil and water is reduced to ultra-low values (10−3 dyne/cm) by injecting an optimized surfactant formulation to maximize mobilization of residual oil post-waterflood. Gas (nitrogen, hydrocarbon gases or CO2) is co-injected along with the surfactant slug to generate in situ foam which reduces the mobility ratio between the displaced (oil) and displacing phases, thus improving the displacement efficiency of the oil. In this work, the mechanism governing LTG flooding in low-permeability, high-salinity reservoirs was studied at a microscopic level using microemulsion properties and on a macroscopic scale by laboratory-scale coreflooding experiments. The main injection parameters studied were injected slug salinity and the interrelation between surfactant concentration and injected foam quality, and how they influence oil mobilization and displacement efficiency. Qualitative assessment of the results was performed by studying oil recovery, oil fractional flow, oil bank breakthrough and effluent salinity and pressure drop characteristics.

scholarly journals Study on Distribution Characteristics and Displacement Mechanism of Microscopic Residual Oil in Heterogeneous Low Permeability Reservoirs

Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yujia Fang ◽  
Erlong Yang ◽  
Xiaona Cui
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Polymeric Surfactant ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Residual Oil ◽  
Surfactant Flooding ◽  
Permeability Ratio ◽  
Displacement Mechanism ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

In order to explore the development methods suitable for heterogeneous low permeability reservoirs and study the distribution characteristics of residual oil, photoetched glass and artificial core models with three permeability ratios of 1, 6, and 9 were prepared in this research. Three displacement schemes including polymeric surfactant flooding, polymeric surfactant with binary flooding, and binary flooding were designed at the same expenses to obtain the displacement mechanism of various residual oil saturations. The results show that the best displacement efficiency can be achieved by polymeric surfactant flooding, followed by polymeric surfactant with binary flooding, and binary flooding for the models with the same permeability ratio. Binary flooding mainly activates cluster and oil drop residual oils, polymeric surfactant with binary flooding mainly activates cluster, oil film, and column residual oils, whereas polymeric surfactant flooding mainly activates cluster, oil drop, and column residual oils. In addition, with the increase of the model permeability ratio, the recovery ratio of water flooding decreases, whereas the enhanced oil recovery and the variations in residual oil saturation gradually increase after carrying out different displacement measures. The viscoelastic and shearing effects of the polymeric surfactant flooding system can better displace the residual oil, assisting in the further development of heterogeneous low permeability reservoirs.

ASSESSMENT OF OIL WELL PRODUCTIVITY IN LOW-PERMEABILITY RESERVOIRS IN THE FIELDS OF EASTERN SIBERIA

2017 ◽  
pp. 30-36
Author(s):  
R. V. Urvantsev ◽  
S. E. Cheban
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil Extraction ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Oil Well ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Development Costs ◽  
Traditional Fields ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

The 21st century witnessed the development of the oil extraction industry in Russia due to the intensifica- tion of its production at the existing traditional fields of Western Siberia, the Volga region and other oil-extracting regions, and due discovering new oil and gas provinces. At that time the path to the development of fields in Eastern Siberia was already paved. The large-scale discoveries of a number of fields made here in the 70s-80s of the 20th century are only being developed now. The process of development itself is rather slow in view of a number of reasons. Create a problem of high cost value of oil extraction in the region. One of the major tasks is obtaining the maximum oil recovery factor while reducing the development costs. The carbonate layer lying within the Katangsky suite is low-permeability, and its inventories are categorised as hard to recover. Now, the object is at a stage of trial development,which foregrounds researches on selecting the effective methods of oil extraction.

The Research and Evaluation of Finely Layered Water Injection Standard in Low-Permeability Reservoirs - A Case from Block A in one Low-Permeability Reservoir

2014 ◽  
Vol 1073-1076 ◽  
pp. 2310-2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Xian Wang ◽  
Wan Jing Luo ◽  
Jie Ding
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Injection Rate ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Reservoir Permeability ◽  
Engineering Parameters ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Problems ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

Due to the common problems of waterflood in low-permeability reservoirs, the reasearch of finely layered water injection is carried out. This paper established the finely layered water injection standard in low-permeability reservoirs and analysed the sensitivity of engineering parameters as well as evaluated the effect of the finely layered water injection standard in Block A with the semi-quantitative to quantitative method. The results show that: according to the finely layered water injection standard, it can be divided into three types: layered water injection between the layers, layered water injection in inner layer, layered water injection between fracture segment and no-fracture segment. Under the guidance of the standard, it sloved the problem of uneven absorption profile in Block A in some degree and could improve the oil recovery by 3.5%. The sensitivity analysis shows that good performance of finely layered water injection in Block A requires the reservoir permeability ratio should be less than 10, the perforation thickness should not exceed 10 m, the amount of layered injection layers should be less than 3, the surface injection pressure should be below 14 MPa and the injection rate shuold be controlled at about 35 m3/d.

scholarly journals Study on Prevention of Gas Channelling of Acid-resistant Gel Foam in CO2 Flooding of Low Permeability Reservoir

2020 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 01041
Author(s):  
Zhaoxia LIU ◽  
Ming GAO ◽  
Shanyan ZHANG ◽  
Wanlu LIU
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Crosslinking Agent ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Oil Reservoirs ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Co2 Flooding ◽  
Water Separation ◽  
Co2 Gas ◽  
Low Permeability Reservoirs

With the shortage of recoverable reserves in conventional oil reservoirs, the development of low-permeability oil reservoirs has received more and more attention. The oil recovery of low-permeability reservoirs can be significantly improved by CO2 flooding, as it can effectively supply formation energy. CO2 flooding is an effective technology for increasing oil production in low-permeability reservoirs. However, because of the heterogeneity of the reservoir and the effect of natural fractures, CO2 gas channelling easily occurs during CO2 flooding, seriously reducing CO2 flooding effect. In this study, the gas channelling technology of acid-resistant gel foam was investigated. Preferred acid-resistant gel foam system formula was found as 0.1% by mass of AOS foaming agent with 0.3% to 0.4% by mass of instant HPAM polymer and 1% to 2% by mass of water-soluble phenolic resin crosslinking agent. This system still has a good foaming ability and blocking performance under at pH=2 and a salinity of 10×104 mg/L. After 60 days of aging under oil reservoir conditions, there is no obvious water separation, and the plugging strength retention rate reached more than 60%. The gel foam channelling system can be applied to highly heterogeneous and low permeability reservoirs with a permeability gradient higher than 14 and can increase the recovery rate by more than 20% based on the CO2 flooding. Acid-resistant gel foam channelling technology can effectively inhibit CO2 gas channelling and improve CO2 flooding effect in low permeability reservoirs.

Phase Behavior, Wettability Alteration, and Oil Recovery of Low-Salinity Surfactant Solutions in Carbonate Reservoirs

SPE Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 1784-1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Veiskarami ◽  
Arezou Jafari ◽  
Aboozar Soleymanzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Phase Behavior ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Wettability Alteration ◽  
Study Phase ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Favorable State ◽  
Phase Behaviors ◽  
The Impact

Summary Recent investigations have shown that treatment with injected brine composition can improve oil production. Various mechanisms have been suggested to go through the phenomenon; nevertheless, wettability alteration is one of the most commonly proposed mechanisms in the literature. Wettability alteration of the porous media toward a more favorable state reduces the capillary pressure, consequently contributing to the oil detachment from pore walls. In this study, phase behavior, oil recovery, and wettability alteration toward a more favorable state were investigated using a combination of formulations of surfactant and modified low-salinity (LS) brine. Phase behaviors of these various formulations were examined experimentally through observations on relative phase volumes. Experiments were performed in various water/oil ratios (WORs) in the presence of two different oil samples, namely C1 and C2. These experiments were conducted to clarify the impact of each affecting parameter; in particular, the impact of resin and asphaltene of crude oil on the performance of LS surfactant (LSS) flooding. Hereafter, the optimal formulation was flooded into the oil-wet micromodel. Optimum formulations increased the capillary number more than four orders of magnitude higher than that under formation brine (FB) flooding, thus causing oil recovery rates of 61 and 67% for oil samples C1 and C2, respectively. Likewise, the wettability alteration potential of optimized formulations was studied through contact angle measurements. Results showed that LS and LSS solutions could act as possible wettability alternating methods for oil-wet carbonate rocks. Using the optimum formulation resulted in a wettability alteration index (WAI) of 0.66 for sample C1 and 0.49 for sample C2, while using LS brine itself ended in 0.51 and 0.29 for oil samples C1 and C2, respectively.

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