Entrapment and mobilization of residual oil in bead packs

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/14423-PA· OSTI ID:6679668

Morrow, N R; Chatzis, I; Taber, J T

Phase behavior, interfacial tension (IFT), viscosity, and density data were determined for the system 2% CaCl/sub 2/ brine/isopropyl alcohol (IPA)/isooctane. Liquid pairs from this system were used in a test of capillary number as a correlating function for mobilization of residual oil in geometrically similar porous media as provided by bead packs. Close correlation of results was obtained for a more than five-fold variation in permeability and a more than six-fold variation in IFT. Extensive investigation was also made of the change in trapped oil saturation given by vertical upward flooding; the ratio of gravity to capillary forces varied more than 100-fold. Acorrelation between trapped oil saturation and Bond number was obtained that was in good agreement with previous results obtained for gas entrapment. However, capillary numbers for entrapment of a given reduced residual oil saturation (ROS) were found to be slightly higher than those for entrapment of gas. Relative permeabilities were independent of whether the trapped phase was oil or gas and were determined mainly by the magnitude of the trapped nonwetting-phase saturation. Capillary numbers for mobilization of residual oil from bead packs were much higher than typical values for sandstones. For bead packs that had been consolidated by sintering, capillary numbers for prevention of entrapment increased and those for mobilization decreased. The net results was that differences in capillary numbers for mobilization and entrapment were greatly reduced and results became more akin to relationships observed for consolidated sandstones.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center (US)
• OSTI ID: 6679668
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 3:3; ISSN SREEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALCOHOLS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BRINES
CALCIUM CHLORIDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HALIDES
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
OIL SATURATION
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
PHASE STUDIES
RECOVERY
RESIDUAL PETROLEUM
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STIMULATION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VISCOSITY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS