Control of viscous fingering in enhanced oil recovery processes: effect of heterogeneities

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6274514

Claridge, E L

In enhanced oil recovery processes such as miscible flooding, polymer flooding or chemical flooding using surfactants and polymers, it is typically necessary at some point in the process to drive more viscous fluids through the oil reservoir with a less viscous (cheaper) fluid. The ensuing viscous fingering will endanger success of the process if the fingering is not controlled. A control design method for linear flow in homogeneous reservoirs previously has been presented. In this work, the method is developed further by introducing nonlinar flow in well patterns and by introducing heterogeneities in the form of a layered system. Example calculations by means of a pattern efficiency correlation are used to develop a relationship for such a layered system between the fractional oil recovery at an economically-limiting oil effluent concentration and the degree of heterogeneity of the reservoir, with the protection afforded by a chemical or polymer slug or a graded bank as a parameter. For any specific reservoir, the addition of cost data and oil value to this relationship enables an economic design to be made, when this is possible. 10 references.

• OSTI ID: 6274514
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE-7662; ISSN SEAPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
020700 -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
CONTROL
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ECONOMICS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLOW MODELS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID INJECTION PROCESSES
FLUIDS
HETEROGENEOUS EFFECTS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
OIL WELLS
PLANNING
PROCESS CONTROL
RECOVERY
VARIATIONS
VISCOSITY
WELLS