Project evaluation: Penn Grade Micellar Displacement Project
The Penn Grade Micellar Displacement Project tested the micellar/polymer flooding process in a low permeability portion of the Bradford Third Sand reservoir. This test, herein referred to as the Lawry Test, followed the successful test of the micellar/polymer flooding process in a higher permeability portion of the Bradford Third Sand reservoir (Bingham Test). The Lawry Test failed technically and economically as an oil recovery process. Total oil recovery amounted to about 5.2% of the oil-in-place at the time of micellar injection. Project failure did not appear to be the reusult of poor operational practice. Project participants recognized the difficulty of applying the micellar/polymer process in such a low permeability reservoir at the initiation of the project. Nevertheless, the large reserve of oil trapped within the low permeability portions of the Bradford Field made the project attractive. There appeared to be three major reasons for project failure: (1) reservoir heterogeneity; (2) adverse ion exchange phenomena; and (3) high sulfonate loss. Data from Phase I testing, injection well tracer surveys, injection well logging, produced chloride concentrations and the Phase II evaluation well confirmed that only a small portion of the Lawry pilot was contacted by injected fluids. Produced salinity and hardness levels suggested the occurrence of adverse ion exchange phenomena. Adverse ion exchange behavior would be expected to have resulted in severe sulfonate loss, and low oil recovery. Additional data are needed to confirm this conclusion. In addition, injectivity was low throughout the project. In the absence of the above problems, it is likely that the process would not be practical in areas typical of Lawry because of low injectivity. 10 references, 12 figures, 12 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Keplinger and Associates, Inc., Tulsa, OK (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC19-80BC10033
- OSTI ID:
- 6785848
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/BC/10033-10; ON: DE84012730
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
EVALUATION
FIELD TESTS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PENNSYLVANIA
PERMEABILITY
POLYMERS
WATER
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION III
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
TESTING
USA
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production