Areal sweep efficiency improvement by integrating preformed particle gel and low salinity water flooding in fractured reservoirs

Alhuraishawy, Ali K.; Sun, Xindi; Bai, Baojun; Wei, Mingzhen; Imqam, Abdulmohsin

doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.122

Areal sweep efficiency improvement by integrating preformed particle gel and low salinity water flooding in fractured reservoirs

Journal Article · Sat Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Fuel

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.122· OSTI ID:1538296

Alhuraishawy, Ali K. ^[1]; Sun, Xindi ^[2]; Bai, Baojun ^[2]; Wei, Mingzhen ^[2]; Imqam, Abdulmohsin ^[2]

Missan Oil Company, Amara (Iraq); Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States); DOE/OSTI
Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States)

The oil recovery from fractured reservoirs is usually low, which is usually caused by the existence of areal formation heterogeneity. Two existing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, low salinity water flooding (LSWF) and preformed particle gel treatment (PPG), have recently drawn great interest from the oil industry. We integrated both of these technologies into one process to improve both oil displacement and areal sweep efficiency. The objective of this study was to test how the integrated method could be used effectively to increase oil recovery and control water production. The semi-transparent five-spot models, which were made of sandstone cores and acrylic plates, were built. We investigated the effect of four parameters on the improvement of oil recovery and areal sweep efficiency of oil, including gel strength, water salinity, injection rate, and number of fractures. Two approaches were followed during core flooding, sequential mode and mixed mode. Here the result shows that PPG and LSW injected together as one mixture improved oil recovery factor more than the first approach. PPGs plugged the fractures and successfully improved areal sweep efficiency; however, they have little effect on displacement efficiency. LWSF increased displacement efficiency but had little or no effect on sweep efficiency. The integrated methods bypassed the limitations of each method when used individually and improved both displacement and sweep efficiency.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States); University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0024558

OSTI ID:: 1538296

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1582878

Journal Information:: Fuel, Journal Name: Fuel Journal Issue: C Vol. 221; ISSN 0016-2361

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
areal sweep efficiency
fractured reservoir
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Areal sweep efficiency improvement by integrating preformed particle gel and low salinity water flooding in fractured reservoirs

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