Fluid Recovery Research Articles

Study on the combination of the annular jet pump and static mixer to improve the fluid‐carrying capacity of gas wells

AbstractAiming at the problem that the suction chamber of the gas‐driven jet pump has insufficient mixing of the power gas and the sucked fluid leading to efficiency reduction, this study proposes to effectively combine the static mixer with the annular jet pump and design a new type of annular jet pump and apply it to the gas wells to improve the fluid recovery capacity. Numerical simulations based on the gas–liquid two‐phase flow model are carried out for a conventional annular jet pump (CAJP) and a new annular jet pump (NAJP). The reliability of the simulation results is verified by gas–liquid two‐phase flow experiments, and the differences between the two in terms of velocity, pressure loss, and turbulent kinetic energy are analyzed. Meanwhile, the validity of NAJP is verified, and the effects of different structures such as static mixer torsion angle, suction chamber angle, and area ratio on the performance of NAJP are analyzed. The results show that NAJP enhances the degree of mixing between the sucked fluid and the power gas through the cyclonic effect created by the static mixer compared with CAJP. It results in a 10.6% year‐on‐year increase in the velocity of the sucked fluid, a 3% year‐on‐year increase in the pressure drop, and a 12.2% year‐on‐year increase in efficiency. NAJP can significantly improve the fluid‐carrying performance. With a mixer angle of 210°, a suction chamber angle of 21°, and an area ratio of 1.77, the NAJP achieves an efficiency of 39.7%, which is a year‐on‐year increase of 7.3% compared to the structure under the same conditions before optimization. This study lays a foundation for the determination of the optimal design scheme of the annular jet pump and at the same time can provide theoretical and technical support for researchers in related fields.

Experimental investigation of the mutual influence of micro- and macroscale processes on the displacement of viscous oil by water in a two-layer porous medium

This paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical study of the immissible displacement of high-viscosity model oil from the two-layer porous medium with different layers permeability. The experiments were performed using cylindrical model of the porous medium having the ratio of transverse size to length D/L equals to 0.05 and ratio of layers permeability equals to 0.46 during forced imbibition and drainage. It is shown that the alignment of a displacement front in the layers is caused by macroscale capillarity-driven flow arising from the curvature of the front. The conditions for stabilized motion of the displacement front for this case are determined using the analytical model and proved using experimental data on the recovery of displaced fluid. Microscale processes in pore level caused by the influence of the capillary forces are taken into account throw the relative phase permeability and capillary pressure curves.

Investigating the impact of pulsed plasma-based shockwave technology on the characteristics of Indian crude oil

The declining production from oil wells has become a growing concern worldwide, primarily because conventional methods are becoming less efficient in extracting the original oil reserves. Due to limitations associated with traditional oil recovery techniques, including their high expenses, depth limitations, heat losses, instability of additives, and environmental hazards, it is imperative to investigate the impact of alternative technologies on reservoir fluid properties and recovery. This research proposes a pulse plasma-based shockwave technology (PPBSW) using an indigenously developed tool that uses repeated electrohydraulic shock waves. The liquid pulsed discharge's plasma channel rapidly expands causing an electrohydraulic shock wave. The crude oil samples were exposed using repeated, steep-fronted shock waves of high strength. Crude oil samples were obtained from the Indian Oilfield and underwent characterization both before and after exposure to shockwaves. After the shockwave treatment, there were observable changes in the weight percentages of wax, saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes in the composition of the oil. C13 NMR investigations reveals that MCL (mean chain length) of the exposed samples was slightly affected. Further, the impact of shock wave on the viscosity of the crude oil was evaluated and viscosity of the samples found to be altered after exposure. Oil recovery was evaluated using core flooding studies on a saturated Berea sandstone core. The core was saturated using core plug saturator at 1000 psi. As a result of altered viscosity and reduced interactions between the rock and fluid, the oil recovery from the treated samples was approximately 24% greater as compared to the untreated samples. Given the oil recovery and mixed effect on the viscosity of studied crude oil samples, it can be inferred that PPBSW has a favourable effect on the hydrocarbon recovery.

Crushing the Contents of Valbenazine Capsules for Potential Addition to Soft Foods or Administration via Gastrostomy Tube

PurposeOne-capsule, once-daily valbenazine is approved for tardive dyskinesia and under evaluation for chorea associated with Huntington's disease, conditions in which patients often experience dysphagia. In vitro studies were conducted to assess the suitability of crushing the contents of valbenazine capsules (40 and 80 mg) for mixing with soft foods or liquids or administration via a gastrostomy tube (G-tube). MethodsIn study 1, the dissolution of whole valbenazine capsules and crushed capsule contents were measured serially for 1 hour. In study 2, valbenazine recovery was evaluated after crushed contents were mixed with soft foods, buffer solutions (pH range, 1.2–6.8), and fed-state simulated gastric fluid. In study 3, valbenazine recovery was evaluated after crushed contents were dispersed in water and delivered via a G-tube. In studies 2 and 3, acceptable valbenazine recovery was 90% to 110%. FindingsStudy 1 indicated rapid and complete drug release for whole valbenazine capsules and crushed capsule contents, with similar release at 10 minutes (whole, 94%–99%; crushed, 98%–100%) and 60 minutes (whole, 101%–103%; crushed, 101%–102%). Study 2 found acceptable valbenazine recovery within 2 hours of adding crushed capsule contents to tested foods, buffers, or fed-state simulated gastric fluid (recovery, 92%–102%). Study 3 found acceptable valbenazine recovery when crushed contents were added to cold or hot water and delivered via G-tube, with a water cup rinse to capture residual contents (recovery, 91%–97%). ImplicationsThese studies indicate the potential viability of valbenazine formulation(s) that can be added to soft foods or liquids or delivered via G-tube. Such formulations will be important for individuals who require treatment with a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor but cannot swallow whole pills.

Dynamic evolution of Strouhal number in flexible pipes coupling rotation

The dynamic response evolution mechanism of the rotating and non-rotating pipe (RP-NRP) system remains inadequately explored, and there is a lack of a precise Strouhal-Reynolds (St-Re) model to effectively characterize the rotational and interference effects. To address this research gap, hydrodynamic experiments were conducted on flexible RP-NRP systems with varying spacing and angles. The spacing ratios ranged from 4-12 times the diameter, and the angle ranged from 0° to 270°. The experimental results reveal that St numbers in tandem systems are lower than those of the isolated pipe due to wake feedback inhibition and shadowing effect. Conversely, St numbers in side-by-side systems consistently exceed those of the isolated pipe due to the side-wall effect. Notably, the staggered systems exhibit fluctuations in St numbers, which are highly sensitive to the incident angle. A novel St-Re model accounting for rotation and interference effects was proposed based on the experimental data. The proposed model (Strms= 9.4 × 10−10Re2-2.05 × 10−5Re+0.26) demonstrates a "dumbbell-shaped" pattern, which can be categorized into regions of interference enhancement and attenuation based on the StRms curve. Furthermore, the critical Reynolds number of 6400 identifies the strong regions of interference enhancement and attenuation. Within these regions, 45.18 % of St numbers fell into the enhanced area of interference while 54.82 % in the weakened area. The St numbers of flexible pipes, accounting for rotation and interference effects, are lower than those of fixed cylinders and non-rotating vibrating flexible pipe systems. Additionally, the dominant frequencies are weakened in the 0°, 180°, and 135 – 180° RP-NRP systems, these angles could guide the layout of the riserless drill string and drilling fluid recovery riser.

Diagnostics of gas-dynamic connection between gas caps and their influence on the product composition of the North Caspian production wells as per tracer tests

Diagnostics of gas-dynamic connection between gas caps and their influence on the product composition of the North Caspian production wells as per tracer tests

Multi-Scale Fractal Characteristics of the Pore System in Low-Permeability Conglomerates from the Junggar Basin

The pore structure and its complexity play a critical role in fluid migration and recovery efficiency. Multiple pore types, broad pore size distribution (PSD), and extremely irregular pore morphology hinder the comprehensive investigation of pore systems and their complexity in low-permeability conglomerates. In this study, the multi-scale pore system and fractal characteristics of the Permian Lower Wuerhe Formation and Triassic Baikouquan Formation conglomerates from the Junggar Basin were investigated, combining physical property analysis, casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results show that the pore system of conglomerates consists of residual intergranular pores (RIPs), dissolution pores (DPs), clay-related pores (CRPs), and microfractures. Three types of PSD were identified according to the shape of the T2 spectrum. Based on the fractal characteristics derived from NMR data, pore systems in conglomerates were divided into macropores (mainly RIPs and DPs), mesopores (mainly CRPs), and micropores (reflect adsorption spaces). The fractal dimension of macropores (D3) increases with the increase of clay mineral content and the decrease of contents of quartz and feldspar. Moreover, the volume of macropores decreases with the increase of clay mineral content and the decrease of contents of quartz and feldspar. In addition, the fractal dimensions and volumes of mesopores and micropores have no obvious relationship with mineral composition. D3 and macropore volume control the physical properties and fluid mobility of conglomerates. T2,gm shows a strong negative correlation with D3 and macropore volume. Meanwhile, the high value of D3 would reduce the volume of macropores. These results demonstrate that D3 is a good indicator to reveal the quality of pore structure in low-permeability conglomerates.

Effects of ultrasound on the removal of emulsion plugging in oil reservoirs

The generation of water-in-crude oil emulsions in a reservoir can cause formation damage due to droplet trapping at pore spaces. The removal of the damage is anticipated to be inexpensive and eco-friendly when done with ultrasound as opposed to chemical demulsifiers. The influence of ultrasonic power and frequencies on the removal process, however, is not well understood. Additionally, the process's underlying mechanism is largely speculated. In this study, the effect of ultrasound on the removal of emulsion plugging in oil reservoirs was investigated using a glass micromodel. Emulsion blockage during oil production was replicated in the micromodel and subjected to different ultrasonic frequencies (20 and 40 kHz) and powers (100–1000 watt). The experiments demonstrate that when ultrasonic power and frequency increase from 100 to 1000 watt and 20–40 kHz, respectively, demulsification effectiveness decreases. Ultrasound at low frequency (20 kHz) and power (100 watt) proved to be the most efficient condition to dislodge trapped emulsions in the micromodel pores, facilitate droplet coalescence and increase fluid recovery. The percentage of recovered emulsions increased to 58 % when the micromodel was exposed to ultrasound (20 kHz, 100 watt), as opposed to 53.3 % in the case without ultrasound. This study provides insights into the microscopic behavior of emulsions under the influence of ultrasonic waves, allowing petroleum engineers to optimize ultrasound demulsification process.

In the quest for ionic liquid entrainers for the recovery of R-32 and R-125 by extractive distillation under rate-based considerations

In line with the reduction targets imposed on the production of high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons by the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the recovery of refrigeration fluids at the end-of-life of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and the selective separation of the most valuable refrigerants is sought for recycling purposes and climate change mitigation. To that end, extractive distillation (ED) processes using ionic liquids (ILs) as entrainers is considered a promising technology to solve the difficulty of separating the typical close boiling or azeotropic behaviour of fluorinated hydrocarbon mixtures. This work provides insight into the design of ED processes evaluating the influence of both mass transfer phenomena (rate-based models) and IL properties (absorption capacity, solubility selectivity and viscosity) on the critical process variables (e.g., solvent-to-feed ratio, reboiler temperature, packing height) to separate the components of the binary mixture R-410A (50 wt% difluoromethane (R-32) + 50 wt% pentafluoroethane (R-125)) with minimum energy consumption and purity greater than 99.5 wt% of the two products. Results point to the solubility selectivity as the most influential IL property, and to [C2C1im][SCN], among all ILs assessed, as a promising entrainer because of its high R-32/R-125 solubility selectivity and low viscosity, which enables to operate the ED process at lower temperatures. The recovered R-32 can be used as a greener alternative to the high-GWP R-410A, as well as a main component in the formulation of new low-GWP mixtures.

New Insight into Enhancing Organic-Rich Shale Gas Recovery: Shut-in Performance Increased through Oxidative Fluids

Oxidizing stimulation of organic-rich shale reservoirs, as a supplement of hydraulic fracturing, was proposed to enhance shale gas recovery. Previous publications revealed that the interaction between organic-rich shale and oxidative fluids causes the components’ dissolution, which induces lots of pores and microfractures, resulting in rock microfracturing without confined pressure and associated increments of the matrix permeability, and improving unpropped fracture conductivity. However, the enhancement of shale gas recovery with oxidative fluids still lacks an implementation clue targeted for specific engineering problems. In recent years, water–rock interaction inducing microfractures indicates a positive effect of retained fracturing fluid on the stimulation after the fracturing operation, which sheds light in the enhancement of shale gas production by shut-in. The objectives of this study are to provide a new perspective whereby the shut-in performance to enhance shale gas recovery could be increased by the injection of oxidative fluids into the formation during the fracturing operation. Firstly, the mechanisms of shut-in performance increased by oxidative dissolution, which illustrate the increment of the density of fracture networks, the improvement of fracture network conductivity, and the promotion of gas desorption and diffusivity, are demonstrated. Then, the feasibility of using oxidative fluids to increase shut-in performance, which follows the geological and engineering characteristics of organic-rich shale reservoirs, is evaluated. Finally, according to the analysis of production performance for two typical types of shale gas wells, in which one is a low gas production and a high fracturing fluid recovery (LGP-HFR) and the other is a high gas production and a low fracturing fluid recovery (HGP-LFR), a shut-in strategy with oxidative fluids to enhance shale gas recovery is developed. This indicates that the injection of oxidative fluids during the fracturing operation may become a promising and cost-effective approach to enhance shale gas recovery.

Reservoir quality evaluation as a measure to forecast hydrocarbon and CO2 storage prospects in Irati and Rio Bonito Formations, Paraná Basin

Enhanced hydrocarbon recovery processes coupled with CO2 storage are, by far, the cheapest carbon capture and storage (CCS) options in geological structures. However, reservoirs are also being explored for CO2 storage in regions without producing/depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, such as the Irati and Rio Bonito Formations in the southwestern part of São Paulo. Therefore, the study involves petrophysics-based flow unit factors to predict the reservoirs’ quality, primarily focusing on hydrocarbon viability with CO2 storage possibilities based on the shale, carbonate, sandstone and siltstone rock units. The methodology involving the models for the research objective is uncommon for the Irati and Rio Bonito Formations. The porosity range is 0.02 to 0.15 in shales, 0.028 to 0.18 in siltstones, 0.03 to 0.21 in carbonates, and 0.10 to 0.31 in sandstones based on the sonic-density porosity (ФS-D) approach. Permeability (k) is 0.00005mD to 36.6mD in shales, 0.0008mD to 132mD in siltstones, 0.025mD to 786mD in carbonates and 8mD to 10000mD in sandstones. The results show more significant fluid transmission indices for the sandstone based on Ф, k, free fluid index-FFI, reservoir quality index-RQI, and flow zone indicator-FZI. Also, the parameters are considerably significant for carbonates in some instances, less effective for siltstone and comparatively insignificant for shale. However, shales` total organic content (TOC) values are up to 10.5%, suggesting their hydrocarbon generation potentials. Significant values (e.g., Ф ≥25% and FFI ≥20%) in sandstones indicate reservoirs with the potential for hydrocarbon accumulation. Considerable physical qualities, as presented for the sandstone, suggest reservoir rock units with reasonable fluid (e.g., gas) recovery and CO2 injection rates. Therefore, based on the research results, the Irati Formation shales are viable hydrocarbon source rocks, and the Rio Bonito Formation sandstones are potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Subsequently, future hydrocarbon production events will enhance CO2 storage options in the region. Furthermore, the research results may serve as input data in related hydrocarbon exploration studies. However, if further research indicates non-commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves, the findings will also aid in delineating dedicated geological reservoirs for CO2 storage when needed.

Analytical Study of (Ag-Graphene)/Blood Hybrid Nanofluid Influenced by (Platelets-Cylindrical)nanoparticles and Joule Heating via VIM.

Applications: Flow-through permeable media have a wide range of applications in biomedical engineering, geophysical fluid dynamics, and recovery and refinement of underground reservoirs and large-scale chemical applications such as filters, catalysts, and adsorbents. Therefore, this study on a nanoliquid in a permeable channel is conducted under physical constraints. Purpose and Methodology: The key purpose of this research is to introduce a new biohybrid nanofluid model (BHNFM) with (Ag-G)hybridnanoparticles with additional significant physical effects of quadratic radiation, resistive heating, and magnetic field. The flow configuration is set between the expanding/contracting channels, which has broad applications, especially in biomedical engineering. The modified BHNFM was achieved after the implementation of the bitransformative scheme, and then to obtain physical results of the model, the variational iteration method was applied. Core Findings: Based on a thorough observation of the presented results, it is determined that the biohybrid nanofluid (BHNF) is more effective than mono-nano BHNFs in controlling fluid movement. The desired fluid movement for practical purposes can be achieved by varying the wall contraction number (α1 = -0.5, -1.0, -1.5, -2.0) and with stronger magnetic effects (M = 1.0,9.0,17.0,25.0). Furthermore, increasing the number of pores on the surface of the wall causes the BHNF particles to move very slowly. The temperature of the BHNF is affected by the quadratic radiation (Rd), heating source (Q1), and temperature ratio number (θr), and this is a dependable approach to acquire a significant amount of heat. The findings of the current study can aid in a better understanding of parametric predictions in order to produce exceptional heat transfer in BHNFs and suitable parametric ranges to control fluid flow inside the working area. The model results would also be useful for individuals working in the fields of blood dynamics and biomedical engineering.

Microscopic Production Characteristics of Pore Crude Oil and Influencing Factors during Enhanced Oil Recovery by Air Injection in Shale Oil Reservoirs.

High-pressure air injection (HPAI) is one of the effective methods to improve shale oil recovery after the primary depletion process. However, the seepage mechanisms and microscopic production characteristics between air and crude oil are complicated in porous media during the air flooding process. In this paper, an online nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) dynamic physical simulation method for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by air injection in shale oil was established by combining high-temperature and high-pressure physical simulation systems with NMR. The microscopic production characteristics of air flooding were investigated by quantifying fluid saturation, recovery, and residual oil distribution in different sizes of pores, and the air displacement mechanism of shale oil was discussed. On this basis, the effects of air oxygen concentration, permeability, injection pressure, and fracture on recovery were studied, and the migration mode of crude oil in fractures was explored. The results show that the shale oil is mainly found in <0.1 μm (small pores), followed by 0.1-1 μm (medium pores), and 1-10 μm (macropores); thus, it is critical to enhancing oil recovery in pores less than 0.1 and 0.1-1 μm. The low-temperature oxidation (LTO) reaction can occur by injecting air into depleted shale reservoirs, which has a certain effect on oil expansion, viscosity reduction, and thermal mixing phases, thereby greatly improving shale oil recovery. There is a positive relationship between air oxygen concentration and oil recovery; the recoveries of small pores and macropores can increase by 3.53 and 4.28%, respectively, and they contribute 45.87-53.68% of the produced oil. High permeability means good pore-throat connectivity and greater oil recovery, and the production degree of crude oil in three types of pores can be increased by 10.36-24.69%. Appropriate injection pressure is beneficial to increasing the oil-gas contact time and delaying gas breakthrough, but high injection pressure will result in early gas channeling, which causes the crude oil in small pores to be difficult to produce. Notably, the matrix can supply oil to fractures due to the mass exchange between matrix fractures and the increase of the oil drainage area, and the recoveries of medium pores and macropores in fractured cores increased by 9.01 and 18.39%, respectively; fractures can act as bridges for matrix crude oil migration, which means that proper fracturing before gas injection can make the EOR better. This study provides a new idea and a theoretical basis for improving shale oil recovery and clarifies the microscopic production characteristics of shale reservoirs.

Effects of source of supplementary trace minerals in pre- and postpartum diets on reproductive biology and performance in dairy cows

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of complete replacement of inorganic salts of trace minerals (STM) with organic trace minerals (OTM) in both pre- and postpartum diets on ovarian dynamics, estrous behavior measured by sensors, preimplantation conceptus development, and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Pregnant cows and heifers (n = 273) were blocked by parity and body condition score and randomly assigned to either STM or OTM diets at 45 ± 3 d before their expected calving. Pre- and postpartum diets were formulated to meet 100% of recommended levels of each trace mineral in both treatments, taking into consideration both basal and supplemental levels. The final target concentrations of Co, Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn were, respectively, 0.25, 13.7, 40.0, 0.3, and 40.0 mg/kg in the prepartum diet, and 0.25, 15.7, 40.0, 0.3, and 63.0 mg/kg in the postpartum diet. The STM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn sulfates and sodium selenite, while the OTM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn proteinates and selenized yeast. Treatments continued until 156 d in milk (DIM) and were assigned to individual cows using automatic feeding gates. Starting at 21 DIM, ultrasonography examinations of the ovaries were performed weekly to determine the presence of a corpus luteum and postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity. Cows were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF2α at 42 and 56 DIM. Estrous behavior was monitored using electronic activity tags that indirectly measured walking activity. Cows detected in estrus after the second PGF2α were inseminated, and those not detected in estrus by 67 DIM were enrolled in a synchronization program. Cows that returned to estrus after artificial insemination (AI) were reinseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 33 d after AI, and nonpregnant cows were resynchronized. Transcript expression of interferon-stimulated genes in peripheral blood leukocytes was performed in a subgroup of cows (STM, n = 67; OTM, n = 73) on d 19 after AI. A different subgroup of cows (28 STM, 29 OTM) received uterine flushing 15 d after AI for recovery of conceptuses and uterine fluid for analyses of transcriptomics and metabolomics, respectively. In addition, dominant follicle diameter, luteal size and blood flow, and concentration of progesterone in plasma were measured on d 0, 7, and 15 relative to AI. After flushing, PGF2α was given and the dominant follicle was aspirated 2 d later to measure the concentration of trace minerals by mass spectrometry. Estrous behavior, size of the dominant follicle and corpus luteum, concentration of progesterone, time to pregnancy, and proportion of cows pregnant by 100 d of the breeding period did not differ between treatments. A greater proportion of cows supplemented with OTM had a corpus luteum detected before presynchronization (64.3 vs. 75.2%), and primiparous cows supplemented with OTM tended to resume cyclicity earlier than their STM counterparts. Cows supplemented with OTM had a greater concentration of Cu in follicular fluid than cows supplemented with STM (0.89 vs. 0.77 µg/mL, respectively). In pregnant multiparous cows, expression of receptor transporter protein 4 in peripheral blood leukocytes was 42% greater in the OTM group. Conceptuses of the 2 treatments had 589 differentially expressed transcripts, with many indicating advanced conceptus elongation and greater transcript expression of selenoproteins in the OTM group. In pregnant cows, 24 metabolites were more abundant in the uterine fluid of OTM, including spermidine, sucrose, and cholesterol. In conclusion, replacing STM with OTM caused modest improvements to resumption of ovarian cyclicity and important changes in preimplantation conceptus development, but it did not alter conception risk and pregnancy rate.

Friction and stability of granite faults in the Gonghe geothermal reservoir and implications for injection-induced seismicity

The Gonghe Basin in northwest China has significant potential for the recovery of deep geothermal fluids. However, a large number of earthquakes were observed during stimulation by hydraulic fracturing with the maximum magnitude reaching ∼ ML 2. To understand the mechanisms of deep fault stability and the clusters of earthquakes, we recovered seven granite cores from the Gonghe geothermal reservoir and powdered them to simulate fault gouges. XRD results show that the granites are dominated by quartz and feldspar and show a high chlorite content. Triaxial shear experiments were conducted on the seven gouges to explore the frictional and stability properties at conditions typifying the depths of 2450–3600 m in the Gonghe geothermal site. Results show that the friction coefficients of the tested gouges are high and close to 0.70. At hydrothermal conditions, all gouges show slight velocity-weakening to velocity-neutral behavior, which is indicative of potentially unstable fault slip. Our results have important implications for understanding the fault stability behavior and induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing in granite geothermal reservoirs.

Heterogeneity Effect on Polymer Injection: a Study of Sumatra Light Oil

The production of oil and gas is heavily dependent on the heterogeneity of the reservoir. Optimizing the production plan and maximizing recovery from the reservoir depends on an understanding of how heterogeneity affects fluid flow and recovery. Techniques such as water flooding and polymer flooding were used to increase oil production from reservoirs while evaluating the impact of reservoir heterogeneity. Numerical simulations in homogeneous and heterogeneous models were performed in this research to identify the optimal operational parameters that will optimize oil recovery and assess the effect of heterogeneity in the reservoir on the recovery factor of the reservoir. The result showed that the homogeneous model obtained 59.86% of the oil recovery factor, while the heterogeneous reservoirs for Lk = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 resulted from 45.83%, 69.27%, and 80.46% of oil recovery after twenty years of production, respectively. The heterogeneous reservoir with Lk = 0.6 indicated the highest sweep efficiency compared to other scenarios, while the reservoir with Lk = 0.2 showed the lowest sweep efficiency

Human Uterine Lavage: First Live Births from In Vivo Conceived Genetically Screened Blastocysts.

We wish to report the first live births from genetically screened human euploid blastocysts obtained by uterine lavage. The embryos transferred to infertile women were previously obtained using a novel fully automated uterine lavage catheter and fluid recovery device developed for this indication. The objective of this portion of the research was to confirm embryo implantation and live births with these unique in vivo conceived blastocysts obtained by uterine lavage. In vivo conceived embryos recovered by uterine lavage 5days after intrauterine insemination were available for embryo donation. In vivo embryos were the result of prior controlled ovarian stimulation cycles in oocyte donors and intrauterine insemination with donor sperm. An observational case series of nine embryo transfer procedures was performed at an outpatient fertility center. One to two embryos were transferred to eight infertile women since one woman had two separate embryo transfer procedures. Nine embryo transfer procedures were performed with 14 blastocysts in eight women resulting in a blastocyst implantation rate of 36% (5/14) and live birth rate of 44% (4/9). Five infants have been born from the four delivered pregnancies with one set of twins. This is the first report of live births from genetically screened human euploid blastocysts obtained by uterine lavage. The nonsurgical uterine lavage office procedure represents the only current approach to obtain in vivo conceived embryos and can provide a benchmark for comparison to standard in vitro cultured blastocysts. Live births of in vivo conceived blastocysts represent the validation that the nonsurgical uterine lavage procedure allows simplified access to naturally conceived embryos without performing the surgical procedure of an oocyte aspiration. Owing to its simplicity, uterine lavage may be useful in screening embryos for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in fertile and infertile couples. ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier NCT03426007).

Design of injected water salinity for enhanced oil recovery applications in sandstone reservoirs using coupled flow-geochemical simulation

Many previous studies have highlighted the effect of injected fluid salinity on recovery performance and effluent analysis in sandstone reservoirs. However, the complex interactions between the oil, original formation water, injected water, and rocks make capturing all the relevant mechanisms difficult. This paper presents a simulation study where complex mechanisms and interactions are represented, including multiple ion exchange, mineral dissolution, wettability alteration, pH variation, and electrical double layers. The models are used to examine how the salinity of injected water may affect oil recovery and compositions of the effluent fluids. The results show that the wettability changes caused by ion exchange and mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions may strongly affect the recovery performance of low-salinity water injection. In contrast, mineral dissolution/precipitation effects are less significant for high-salinity water injection. In addition, the complex interactions between these processes also affect the pH in the effluent (producing) streams.

Viscosity ratio effects on fluid displacement pattern and recovery efficiency on porous media

Viscosity ratio effects on fluid displacement pattern and recovery efficiency on porous media

Hydrochemistry, Sources and Management of Fracturing Flowback Fluid in Tight Sandstone Gasfield in Sulige Gasfield (China)

Hydraulic fracturing technologies have been frequently utilized in the oil and gas industry as exploration and development efforts have progressed, resulting in a significant increase in the extraction of natural gas and petroleum from low-permeability reservoirs. However, hydraulic fracturing requires a large amount of freshwater, and the process results in the production of large volumes of flowback water along with natural gas. In this study, three tight sandstone gas wells were fractured in the Sulige gasfield (China), and a total of 103 flowback fluid samples were collected. The hydrochemical characteristics, water quality and sources of hydrochemical components in the flowback fluid were discussed. The results show that the flowback fluid is characterized by high salinity (Total dissolved solids (TDS) up to 38,268mg/L, Cl- up to 24,000mg/L), high concentrations of metal ions (e.g., Fe, Sr2+, Ba2+) and high chemical oxygen demand (COD). The flowback fluid is a complex mixture of fracturing fluid and formation water, and its composition is impacted by water-rock interactions that occur during hydraulic fracturing. The major contaminants include COD, Fe, Ba2+, Cl-, Mn and pH, which constitute a high risk of environmental pollution. Meanwhile, chemical elements such as K, Ba and Sr are unusually enriched in the flowback fluid, which has an excellent potential for recycle of chemical elements. The Sulige gasfield's flowback fluid recovery methods and treatment scenarios were discussed, taking into consideration the pollution and resource characteristics of the flowback fluid. Options for dealing with the flowback fluid include deep well reinjection, reuse for making up fracturing fluid, recycling of chemical elements and diverse reuse of flowback water. This research offers guidance for managing the fracturing flowback fluid in unconventional oil and gas fields.