Numerical Simulation of Hot-Water and Flue-Gas Injection Under Typical North Sea Reservoir Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper describes numerically simulated reservoir performance during the injection of hot water and flue gas at North Sea reservoir conditions. Studies of hydrocarbon/water phase behaviour at elevated temperatures and reservoir simulations showed that a hot water flood in a light-oil reservoir could increase the recovery by 3-9 % of the- original oil in place. A theoretical study of flue gas injection concluded that minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) for this gas was equal to MMP for an oil/nitrogen system. A nitrogen displacement was estimated to be immiscible at initial reservoir pressure and temperature, but miscibility would be developed at a slightly higher temperature. The results predict that the combination of hot water and flue gas injection has a substantial potential for increasing the recovery from light-oil reservoirs.