Dispersive Mixing Effects on the Sloss Field Micellar System

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents results of laboratory experiments and computer simulation studies of the micellar/polymer fluids injected in the Sloss field, NE. The paper shows that the dispersion coefficient for the partitioned sulfonate in the oil phase can be an order of magnitude larger than the dispersion coefficient in the water phase. The results show that the two principal components of the micellar fluid (sulfonate and polymer) propagate at different rates because of partitioning and dispersive mixing effects. Sulfonate is produced much earlier than polymer and is concentrated in the produced oil. Sulfonate partitions into the oil phase as a consequence of ion exchange, and the polymer remains in the water phase. The oil phase that contains the partitioned sulfonate—i.e., upper-phase microemulsion—has high mobility. The increased dispersion coefficient for a component in the nonwetting phase, in this case the partitioned sulfonate into the oil phase, is supported by an independent study. These mechanisms contribute to early sulfonate breakthrough and a larger sulfonate requirement per barrel of oil displaced than anticipated for a nondispersive displacement. The results of this paper can be beneficial for design of other micellar fluids and performance predictions and interpretation of micellar floods in other fields.