Improvement of CO/sub 2/ flood performance. Quarterly report, July 1, 1984-September 30, 1984. [C/sub 1/-C/sub 6/ hydrocarbon mixtures]

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6486854

Heller, J P; Orr, Jr, F M

This report describes progress in a comprehensive research program on fundamental aspects of carbon dioxide flooding. The research is designed to permit more accurate prediction of the outcome of CO/sub 2/ floods and to produce information needed to improve process performance. The research effort is divided into three parts: (1) measurements and analysis of phase behavior and fluid properties of CO/sub 2/-crude oil mixtures, (2) displacement experiments to study mixing of CO/sub 2/ and oil in reservoir rocks, and (3) development of mobility control methods for CO/sub 2/ floods. In the first area, a viscometer based on an oscillating quartz crystal is being developed for installation in a continuous flow apparatus to study compositions and densities of phases in equilibrium. Simultaneous measurements of phase compositions, densities and viscosities will allow testing of the accuracy of viscosity correlations for CO/sub 2/-crude oil mixtures and quantitative assessments of the driving force for viscous instability. Component partitioning data obtained in the same apparatus for mixtures of CO/sub 2/ with well-characterized hydrocarbon mixtures and crude oils are being used to develop an improved correlation for minimum miscibility pressure which accounts for differences in oil and injected fluid composition. In the second area, miscible displacement experiments with fluids of matched densities and viscosities in reservoir cores are used to measure within the pore space on mixing of oil and CO/sub 2/. The third area, concerned with mobility control, is itself divided into two parts. The displacement behavior of CO/sub 2/ foams (dispersions of dense CO/sub 2/ in water) and the synthesis of polymeric materials soluble directly in CO/sub 2/ are being explored as means for thickening CO/sub 2/ to improve reservoir sweep efficiency. Improved experimental techniques for rapid evaluation of mobility control additives are also being developed. 26 references, 24 figures, 8 tables.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro (USA). New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-84MC21136
• OSTI ID: 6486854
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/21136-2; ON: DE85000799
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DATA
DENSITY
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MOBILITY
NUMERICAL DATA
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHASE STUDIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POROSITY
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RECOVERY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VISCOSITY
WELLS