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Title: Improved CO sub 2 enhanced oil recovery -- Mobility control by in-situ chemical precipitation

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5614387· OSTI ID:5614387

The overall objective of this study has been to evaluate the feasibility of chemical precipitation to improve CO{sub 2} sweep efficiency and mobility control. The laboratory experiments have indicated that carbonate precipitation can alter the permeability of the core samples under reservoir conditions. Furthermore, the relative permeability measurements have revealed that precipitation reduces the gas permeability in favor of liquid permeability. This indicates that precipitation is occurring preferentially in the larger pores. Additional experimental work with a series of connected cores have indicated that the permeability profile can be successfully modified. However, Ph control plays a critical role in propagation of the chemical precipitation reaction. A numerical reservoir model has been utilized to evaluate the effects of permeability heterogeneity and permeability modification on the CO{sub 2} sweep efficiency. The computer simulation results indicate that the permeability profile modification can significantly enhance CO{sub 2} vertical and horizontal sweep efficiencies. The scoping studies with the model have further revealed that only a fraction of high permeability zones need to be altered to achieve sweep efficiency enhancement. 64 refs., 30 figs., 16 tabs.

Research Organization:
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (USA). Dept. of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC21-85MC22044
OSTI ID:
5614387
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/22044-15; ON: DE91002243
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English