Evaluation of the low tension flood process for high-salinity reservoirs--laboratory investigation under reservoir conditions

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/8999-PA· OSTI ID:5884603

Murtada, H; Marx, C

In northwest Germany, oil reservoirs are characterized by high-salinity brines with up to 23% TDS. For such salinity conditions, fatty alcohol derivatives with 4.5 ethene oxide (EO) units were found to lower the interfacial tension (IFT) drastically and to mobilize residual oil almost completely. Intensive flood experiments under reservoir conditions with the use of sandpacks 2 m in length allowed optimizing the low-tension process for an oil field that was considered a possible candidate. A combination of surfactant slug followed by a tailored mobility buffer showed best results in terms of additional oil recovery and process duration. A preflush of low-concentration aqueous polymer solution brought a decisive further increase in additional oil recovery. Results obtained for the slug process indicated that variables such as IFT, surfactant concentration, flooding velocity, and pressure gradient influence the low-tension process in a combined manner. Oil produced in the oil bank showed alteration in properties, compared with the oil used to saturate the pore space.

• Research Organization: Veba Oel, A.G.
• OSTI ID: 5884603
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 22:6; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
BRINES
BUFFERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ETHYLENE
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
FLOW RATE
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
RELAXATION
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESIDUAL PETROLEUM
RESOURCES
SALINITY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
WELLS
WESTERN EUROPE