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Ses - 01 - Prs - 03 - SPE - ATW - EOR - Quintero - PDF
Ses - 01 - Prs - 03 - SPE - ATW - EOR - Quintero - PDF
Unstable: M > 1 Stable M ≤ 1
Residual oil mobilization begins
Complete oil recovery
Qi, Pengpeng. (2017) PhD Dissertation, UT Austin
IFT ~ 10‐3 mN/m high Nc to reduce
the residual oil saturation
Screening Process for Formulations
Phase 1: lab plan /fluids characterization • Cost of surfactant and polymer
Selection of surfactant, alkali and polymer candidates • Number of experiments (time)
based on reservoir conditions (crude oil and water • Injection/production water and crude oil
properties, temperature) characterization
• EACN and acid number measurements
Phase 2a: surfactant, alkali, co‐solvent
Microemulsion phase behavior studies: salinity scan and • W‐III phase microemulsion
oil scan. Surfactant(s), alkali and co‐solvent type and • Low IFT and high oil solubilization
concentrations. Aqueous stability tests • Low viscosity microemulsion
• Short coalescence times
Phase 2b: polymer
Polymer rheology (shear rate and concentration) and
thermal stability • Target viscosity of polymeric solution with good
Fluids compatibility fluids compatibility
Phase 3: porous media
Coreflood tests, optional tests (sand pack, microfluidics) • High oil recovery
Adsorption evaluation • Low surfactant and polymer adsorption
(retention)
Phase 4: reservoir simulation
Simulation
• Slug size (pore volume) • Recovery factor: estimate volumetric sweep
• ASP concentration and displacement efficiency
• others • Production profile and economic
Laboratory Studies
Formulation Development Coreflood Test
• Aqueous stability of formulation Tests with dead oil and live oil on outcrop
• Salinity scans or alkali scan and reservoir cores:
• Solubilization ratio plots for different • Incremental oil recovery
WOR • Residual oil saturation
• Oil scan (10% to 50%) • Chemicals retention
• Activity map (the salinity scans at • Effluent analysis
different WOR) • Pressure data along pressure taps
• Polymer rheology
Aqueous Stability Test
Surfactant Blend in (Brine + Alkali) Surfactant Blend in (Brine + Alkali)/ Oil
Alkali, %: 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 Alkali, %: 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
TDS*103, ppm: After 1 day at static condition
17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5
Microemulsion Phase Behavior
Salinity Scan
Laboratory Tests at:
• WOR: 90/10 – 50/50
• Reservoir temperature
System:
• Injection brine
• Crude Oil
• Surfactant blend
• Alkali
• Polymer
Huh Equation:
∗
22 0.3
γ
γ 0.0006 mN/m σ
S∗ 22,500 ppm
Salinity Scan and Oil Scan
Salinity Scan at 40% Oil Solubilization Ratio
Alkali (%):
1.0 1.25 1.5 1.6 1.75 1.9 2.0 2.25 2.5
Activity Diagram
0.3% Surfactant in Brine/Crude Oil at Reservoir Temperature
35000
Aqueous Stability: 32,500 ppm
30000
Winsor II
Salinity, ppm TDS
25000 ASP
20000
Winsor III
15000
Winsor I
10000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Oil Concentration, vol%
Optimization of Formulation
Microemulsion Viscosity Reduction with Co‐solvent
Without Co‐solvent
With Co‐solvent
Coreflood Test with Outcrop Core and Dead Oil
ASP Slug Polymer Drive Injection Scheme Used in Coreflood Test
(0.3PV)
ASP: 0.3% Surfactant, 2% alkali and
0.29% polymer
Polymer drive: 0.23% polymer and 0.25%
alkali
Oil Recovery = 91.8%
Summary
• This formulation development process proved to be robust for
selecting formulations for specific reservoir conditions and properties
• Chemical EOR formulation development is a very complex technology
that requires a high level of expertise.
• A sequence of coreflood tests with dead oil and live oil on outcrop
and reservoir cores is key for evaluating the optimum formulation and
to collect data for chemical EOR simulation.
Thank you
Questions?
Advances in EOR/IOR Technologies