The Effects of Initial Gas Content of the Oil on Recovery by Natural Gas Flood

Abstract

Effects of initial gas content in oil (IGC) on oil properties and interactions between oil and natural gas were firstly studied by measurements of oil viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT) between oil and gas, and continual dissolution capacity (CDC) of natural gas in oil, which were the main factors affecting oil recovery. Secondly, core flood tests using the oils with different IGC were conducted, so that effects of IGC on oil recovery could be known. Finally, reasons why IGC could influence oil recovery were mechanistically analyzed according to the breakthrough data of natural gas. The results show that, with increased IGC, oil viscosity decreased linearly and IFT was also reduced, but the CDC of natural gas in oil was weakened. Oil recovery of natural gas flood decreased obviously with increased IGC, which is mainly due to the getting-earlier breakthrough of natural gas resulting from the reduced CDC of natural gas in oil and the consequently weakened capacity of oil to dissolve the fingering gas. So for the light oils that are similar to the experimental samples, the lower the IGC was, the higher the oil recovery of natural gas flood was.