An experimental study of waterflooding from a two-dimensional layered sand model

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/13599-PA· OSTI ID:5340147

Ahmed, G; Castanier, L M; Brigham, W E

The effect of flow rate on oil recovery by waterflooding is studied with a two-dimensional (2D), layered sand model that allows visual observation. The model consists of three communicating layers of equal thickness of water-wet sand with the permeability ratio of 2:4:1 from top to bottom. Three white mineral oils of viscosity 15, 30, and 150 cp (15, 30, and 150 mPa . s) have been used for immiscible liquid/liquid displacement under constant pressure drops covering a range of flow rates. The changes in flow regimes in the various layers are observed with respect to the variations in pressure drop across the model. The effects of capillary imbibition, gravity segregation, and viscous pressure gradient are observed and an attempt is made to calculate the instantaneous crossflow. Crossflow of oil from the tight layers to the most-permeable layer increases the intermediate oil recovery for a given volume of water injected. Oil recovery increases somewhat with a decrease in flow rate and considerably with a decrease in oil viscosity. Slow flow rates produce higher recovery but may not be feasible in the field for economic reasons. For M>1, viscous crossflow contributes very slightly to oil recovery until the time of breakthrough of water from the most-permeable layer. After that, the viscous crossflow increases and creates a secondary oil stream close to the interfaces of the most-permeable layer. The additional oil is produced until the least-permeable layer also breaks through.

• Research Organization: Petroleum Engineering at Stanford Univ. (US)
• OSTI ID: 5340147
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 3:1; ISSN SREEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STIMULATION
STRATIFICATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VISCOSITY
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS