Investigation of the plugging capacity and enhanced oil recovery of flexible particle three-phase foam

Abstract

In the later stage of water flooding in reservoirs, the oil production decreases. The stability of three-phase foam system is strong, enhancing oil displacement effects of ultrahigh water cut reservoirs. In this paper, the flow state of the foam system was studied by using a microscopic visualization model. Second, sandpack flooding experiments were performed to analyze the optimal plugging conditions of three-phase foam through resistance factors. Finally, single and parallel sandpack flooding experiments were carried out to analyze plugging effect and production conditions under different injection systems and permeability ratios. The research shows that three-phase foam is more stable and capable of plugging. The stable residual resistance factor after injection of the three-phase foam system is 172.75. When the foam and particles are injected simultaneously, the gas–liquid ratio is 1:1, the formation permeability is 5526.5 mD, and the plugging effect of three-phase foam is the best. The oil recovery increases by 24.9% after the injection of three-phase foam system. The three-phase foam system combines Jamin effect of foam and dynamic plugging characteristics of flexible particles. The highest oil recovery factor of 80.87% is achieved at a permeability ratio of 9.99. Three-phase foam flooding has broad application prospects.