Hybrid Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques: A Simulation Study

Haiyan Zhou,Afshin Davarpanah

doi:10.3390/sym12071086

Haiyan Zhou, Afshin Davarpanah

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12071086

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Journal: Symmetry	Publication Date: Jul 1, 2020
Citations: 18	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Aberystwyth University, Wenzhou University

Abstract

Simultaneous utilization of surfactant and preformed particle gel (henceforth; PPG) flooding on the oil recovery enhancement has been widely investigated as a preferable enhanced oil recovery technique after the polymer flooding. In this paper, a numerical model is developed to simulate the profound impact of hybrid chemical enhanced oil recovery methods (PPG/polymer/surfactant) in sandstone reservoirs. Moreover, the gel particle conformance control is considered in the developed model after polymer flooding performances on the oil recovery enhancement. To validate the developed model, two sets of experimental field data from Daqing oil field (PPG conformance control after polymer flooding) and Shengli oil field (PPG-surfactant flooding after polymer flooding) are used to check the reliability of the model. Combination of preformed gel particles, polymers and surfactants due to the deformation, swelling, and physicochemical properties of gel particles can mobilize the trapped oil through the porous media to enhance oil recovery factor by blocking the high permeable channels. As a result, PPG conformance control plays an essential role in oil recovery enhancement. Furthermore, experimental data of PPG/polymer/surfactant flooding in the Shengli field and its comparison with the proposed model indicated that the model and experimental field data are in a good agreement. Consequently, the coupled model of surfactant and PPG flooding after polymer flooding performances has led to more recovery factor rather than the basic chemical recovery techniques.

Highlights

To provide sustainable oil demand in numerous industries, it is important to increase the recoverable oil from the oil reserves
One of the chief aims of enhanced oil recovery (; EOR) techniques is to improve the sweep efficiency of the reservoirs after the polymer flooding processes, which is known as the conformance control [15–23]
We aimed to developed a numerical model simulate the profound impact of hybrid chemical enhanced oil recovery methods (PPG/polymer/surfactant) in sandstone reservoirs the restarting and deposition is taken into consideration by the utilization of a threshold pressure gradient

Summary

Introduction

To provide sustainable oil demand in numerous industries, it is important to increase the recoverable oil from the oil reserves. Drilling the new exploration wells or enhanced oil recovery methods considered as the preferable ways to produce more oil volume [1–7]. Chemical recovery techniques revolutionize the way petroleum industries operate the full range of reservoir management and how to optimize each method to eliminate unnecessary expenditures virtually [8–14]. Polymer flooding is considered as one of the efficient chemical enhanced oil recovery techniques especially in heavy oil reservoirs to improve sweep efficiency, it has specific limitations in actual oil fields operational performances. One of the chief aims of enhanced oil recovery (; EOR) techniques is to improve the sweep efficiency of the reservoirs after the polymer flooding processes, which is known as the conformance control [15–23]

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Conclusion