Flooding numerical simulation of heterogeneous oil reservoir using different nanoscale colloidal solutions

Abstract

In this study, flooding of oil reservoir by implementing Nanoscale colloidal solutions as a working fluid is simulated. All oil reservoirs are heterogeneous porous media; therefore, in this investigation for more accurate prediction of the problem, the porous media is considered heterogeneous. The governing equations of this problem are solved by finite element method (FEM). Moreover two-phase equations of Darcy and mass transfer equations are used.In this paper, the effect of temperature and volume fractions of nanoparticles on the rate of oil recovery is investigated. The SiO2, Al2O3, and CuO nanoparticles are used in the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. Also, in order to solve the dual-phase equations of Darcy, the relative permeability model of “Raafat” and the capillary pressure of “Brooks-Corey” have been used. Finally, the effect of volume fraction of nanoparticles on porosity and absolute permeability of the environment in the enhanced oil recovery process is investigated. The results showed that increasing inlet temperature has a high role in (EOR) process because changing the viscosity and density. Also at a concentration of less than 5%, the effect of precipitate is only shown in terms of porosity and absolute permeability of the environment.