Mobilization of residual oil under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions
A microvisual study of residual oil mobilization that uses a relatively simple chemical system consisting of water, n-propanol, and cyclohexane is presented. Two different classes of experiments were performed to determine the sensitivity of the capillary number required to displace a particular residual oil globule from chemical equilibrium. It was found that under certain circumstances the capillary number required to mobilize the oil drop could be reduced greatly if the displacing phase contained more alcohol than it would in equilibrium with the trapped phase. Experiments clearly demonstrated that spontaneous emulsification by a diffusion and stranding mechanism could not account for the differences between equilibrium and nonequilibrium capillary numbers. Experimental observations did correlate well with the development of interfacial turbulence (Marangoni effect). Variations that, according to theory, tended to enhance the level of interfacial turbulence between the equilibrium and nonequilibrium capillary numbers were observed. The importance of the Marangoni effect relative to laboratory oil recovery experiments is discussed. A second class of experiments consisted of observing the displacement of residual oil globules that had been increased in volume (swollen) by mass transfer from a continuous phase flowing too slowly to displace the drop. Once the residual oil globule attained equilibrium with the continuous phase, the flooding velocity was increased until the swollen globule was displaced.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas
- OSTI ID:
- 5359937
- Journal Information:
- SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 23:5; ISSN SSPJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Spontaneous emulsification: a possible mechanism for enhanced oil recovery
Factors affecting residual wetting phase saturation
Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
CYCLOALKANES
CYCLOHEXANE
DIFFUSION
DROPLETS
EMULSIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOMETRY
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSTABILITY
MATHEMATICS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PETROLEUM
PROPANOLS
RECOVERY
RESIDUAL PETROLEUM
STABILITY
STIMULATION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SWELLING
VOLUME
WATER
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS