A Laboratory Investigation into Carbon Dioxide Flooding by Focusing on the Viscosity and Swelling Factor Changes

Abstract

Carbon dioxide flooding is an efficacious method of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) that has become one of the most important EOR processes. It is a very complicated process, involving phase behavior that can increase oil recovery by means of swelling, evaporating, and lowering oil viscosity. The present investigation reports the results of extensive experimental and theoretical work (using Eclipse 300 [2007]) to determine the viscosity and swelling factor changes of the live oil in the Cheshmeh Khoshk reservoir in southwestern Iran (Ilam District); minimum miscible pressure (MMP) was also determined. In this study, the potential of carbon dioxide injection application in improving oil recovery by simulating slim-tube experiments was studied. In order to obtain representative fluid samples of a reservoir, the right operation of mixing the separator oil and gas samples to match the bubble point pressure was necessary. The potential application of the study is that a good estimate of the recovery improvement under carbon dioxide gas injection, which will be the basic input parameters for the economic feasibility study, and a decision can then be made whether to implement or abandon the prospective project.