Experimental and numerical modeling of a novel surfactant flooding: Core scale to reservoir models

Abstract

This comprehensive study delves into an application of surfactant flooding as a robust enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique, incorporating both core-scale experiments and reservoir-scale numerical simulations. The research's focal point is to evaluate a novel surfactant's performance in extending oil recovery efficiency within an oil reservoir. The study commences with thorough laboratory experiments at the core scale, illuminating the interplay of fluids within porous media. Transitioning seamlessly to reservoir-scale numerical modeling, the research replicates real-world reservoir conditions. Various well configurations are scrutinized to optimize surfactant flooding strategies for EOR purposes. A key aspect of this analysis is the in-depth examination of the sensitivity of numerical simulations to changes in relative permeability curves during surfactant injection, enabling a robust assessment of the performance of surfactant injection in a broad spectrum of uncertainties. Comparative experiments elucidated the significant influence of a surfactant molecular structure, with aliphatic variants showcasing superior oil displacement efficiency. Moreover, combining surfactant and polymer proved pivotal, enhancing reservoir sweep efficiency and significantly boosting oil recovery. This work establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating chemical flooding, including surfactant and polymer, as a potent EOR method by bridging the gap between core-scale experiments and reservoir-scale simulations.