Mobilization of waterflood residual oil by gas injection for water-wet conditions

Journal Article · Sat Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1992 · SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

OSTI ID:5519031

Billiotte, J ^[1]

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1. Ecole des Mines de Paris (FR)

This paper reports that mechanisms by which waterflood residual oil is mobilized and recovered during tertiary gasflooding at quasistatic rates and strongly water-wet conditions were investigated with 2D glass micromodels. Two three-phase oil/water/gas systems were used in the displacement experiments. One system had a positive spreading coefficient, the other a negative coefficient. Results for the two systems were compared to determine the differences in displacement mechanisms and oil recovery efficiency. Displacement in both systems proceeds by a double-drainage mechanism where a gas/oil displacement is always associated with an oil/water displacement. The oil/water displacement leads to coalescence and reconnection of oil blobs. Oil recovery was significantly higher for the positive spreading system. The higher displacement efficiency resulted from flow through thin but continuous oil films that always separated the oil and water phases in the positive spreading system. The absence of oil films and the possibility of direct gas/water displacements reduced oil recovery for the negative spreading system.

• OSTI ID: 5519031
• Journal Information: SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN 0885-923X; ISSN SFEVE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
DRAINAGE
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESIDUAL PETROLEUM
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
WATERFLOODING
WELL DRILLING
WELLS