Interpretation of Differential Pressure in Laboratory Surfactant/Polymer Displacements

Abstract

Abstract Experimental data were obtained for two surfactant/polymer systems in which fluid mobilities and mobility control were studied through the analysis of differential pressure measurements. One system used nonane as the hydrocarbon phase, while the other system used crude oil from the Madison field, Greenwood County, KS. During the experimental studies, capillary-pressure effects were observed in differential pressure data when floods were conducted at reservoir rates and small port spacing. Capillary-pressure effects interfered with the measurement of the "true" or viscous pressure drop in oil/water banks and the transition region between the oil/water bank and surfactant slug. Pressure ports were designed to permit injection of small quantities of fluid at the rock surface during displacements to verify and to eliminate capillary-pressure effects. Movement of fluid regions through the core was inferred from the differential pressure measurements along the core. Similar pressure perturbations at the ports were extrapolated to the end of the core and correlated with effluent fractions. In the nonane system, the microemulsion surfactant slug changed to a more mobile macroemulsion within the first half of the displacement. This macroemulsion moved through the last half of the core as a stabilized, constant velocity bank indicating good mobility control even though the apparent viscosity of the macroemulsion was less than that of the stabilized oil/water bank. In the crude-oil surfactant system, pressure data collected along the core indicated capillary-pressure effects at the leading edge of the oil bank and the formation of a viscous, less mobile region resulting from mixing of the microemulsion slug with resident fluids. Phase-behavior studies indicated the formation of a viscous lower phase as the microemulsion was diluted with brine. The formation and propagation of this viscous region during displacement leads to favorable mobility control illustrated by the pressure/ mobility curves as well as by good oil recoveries (80 to 95%).