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Title: Development of cost-effective surfactant flooding technology. Quarterly report, April 1995--June 1995

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/221017· OSTI ID:221017

The objective of this research is to develop cost-effective surfactant flooding technology by using surfactant simulation studies to evaluate and optimize alternative design strategies taking into account reservoir characteristics, process chemistry, and process design options such as horizontal wells. Task 1 is the development of an improved numerical method for our simulator that will enable us to solve a wider class of these difficult simulation problems, accurately and affordably. Task 2 is the application of this simulator to the optimization of surfactant flooding to reduce its risk and cost. The objective of Task 2 is to investigate and evaluate, through a systematic simulation study, surfactant flooding processes that are cost-effective. We previously have reported on low tension polymer flooding as an alternative to classical surfactant/polymer flooding. In this reporting period, we have studied the potential of improving the efficiency of surfactant/polymer flooding by coinjecting an alkali agent such as sodium carbonate under realistic reservoir conditions and process behavior. The alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flood attempts to take advantage of high pH fluids to reduce the amount of surfactant needed by the chemical reactions between injection fluid and formation fluid or formation rocks.

Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin, TX (United States). Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-92BC14885
OSTI ID:
221017
Report Number(s):
DOE/BC/14885-13; ON: DE96010191
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1995]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English