Open AccessExperimental study on the enhanced oil recovery by in situ foam formulation
Author(s) -
Chen Hailong,
Li Zhaomin,
Wang Fei,
Li Aixin,
Wanambwa Silagi,
Lu Teng
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
energy science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.638
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2050-0505
DOI - 10.1002/ese3.570
Subject(s) - surface tension , enhanced oil recovery , pulmonary surfactant , viscous fingering , anhydrous , viscosity , materials science , dissolution , capillary action , in situ , chemical engineering , chromatography , permeability (electromagnetism) , displacement (psychology) , petroleum engineering , chemistry , composite material , porous medium , porosity , membrane , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , geology , biochemistry , physics , engineering , psychology , psychotherapist
In situ CO 2 foams (ISCF) are studied systematically by combining in situ CO 2 gas reactants (carbonate anhydrous, hydrochloric acid) and bio‐based surfactant. Sandpack flooding experiments at 60°C along with PVT experiments were carried out to analyze the oil displacement mechanisms. The results showed that ISCF could increase oil recovery from heterogeneous multilayer formation of permeability ratio over 6, and displacement efficiency increased with the injection volume increased before the injection of 1 PV. The incremental oil recovery by ISCF was much greater than that of conventional foam or in situ CO 2 (ISC) without foam under the same injection conditions. The generated CO 2 foam could reduce the interfacial tension between displacement phase and displaced phase effectively which contributed to the great increase in capillary number. The CO 2 dissolution greatly reduced the viscosity of crude oil, and the highest viscosity reduction rate at 60°C could be as high as 98%. The Ca 2+ concentration of produced liquids analysis revealed the ISCF could distribute intelligently the acid in heterogeneous formations.