Does prior gas injection increase waterflood recovery. Reservoir simulator results vs old theory

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1973 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/4727-MS· OSTI ID:5004442

Negron-Perez, E A; Farouq Ali, S M

For many years, gas injection prior to waterflooding has been practiced in Pennsylvania-New York oil fields, with an aim to enhance oil recovery. A number of investigators has reported laboratory results supporting the contention that prior gas injection helps to increase oil recovery. The Buckley-Leverett theory has provided the main theoretical basis for such studies. The present investigation aims to re-examine the role of prior gas injection on oil recovery by a waterflood, using a 3-phase, 2-dimensional simulator. Such an approach permits the inclusion of capillarity, gravity, and 3-phase flow effects which the Buckley-Leverett theory does not consider. Three-phase flow equations were formulated, and solved by the alternating direction implicit procedure. The simulator was tested for stability, and material balance errors, with excellent results. A number of situations encountered in gas injection prior to waterflooding was simulated. The main finding was that oil recovery is slightly increased for those cases where a small free gas saturation is present.

• Research Organization: Texas Petroleum Co.
• OSTI ID: 5004442
• Report Number(s): CONF-731193-
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-4727; Conference: SPE of AIME eastern region meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 7 Nov 1973
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
GAS INJECTION
WATERFLOODING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
GAS SATURATION
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM
SIMULATORS
WELL STIMULATION
ANALOG SYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
SATURATION
STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production