Enhanced oil recovery potential analysis through simulation of a bio-based surfactant using CFD

Abstract

Bio-based surfactant flooding is encouraged as an EORmethod, as it is obtained from natural sources and is economically attractive. In the present study, the EOR efficiency of a natural surfactant synthesized from rapseed oil has been simulated using ANSYS FLUENT. The process of oil recovery from a core by injection of surfactant has been simulated by incorporatingcore, brine, surfactant, and crude oil properties into the numerical model. Mass transfer of surfactant between the aqueous phase and crude oil has been modeled using species transport without a chemical reaction model. Species transport model has been coupled with the multiphase VOF model, where the flow of each phase is determined as per their respective viscous resistance. Experimental data of inletpressureand oil production has been used for history matchingand later used to visualize the oil flow through the porous media, concludingthat simulation of surfactant flooding can be achieved by species transport model.