Experimental investigation of the interaction of phase behavior with microscopic heterogeneity in a CO/sub 2/ flood

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

OSTI ID:6681074

Bahralolom, I; Bretz, R E; Orr, Jr, F M

This paper reports results of an experimental investigation of the effects of microscopic heterogeneity on local displacement efficiency in a CO/sub 2/ flood. Flow-visualization experiments for first-contact miscible displacements are described and compared with effluent composition measurement for the same models. High-pressure flow-visualization experiments for multicontact miscible CO/sub 2/ floods are also described. The displacement were performed in two-dimensional (2D) etched glass models made from thin-sections of San Andres carbonate core from the Maljamar field. Techniques used in preparation of the models are described briefly. Observations of first-contact miscible displacements in heterogeneous models indicate that early breakthrough and a long transition zone occur when preferential flow paths exist in the pore structure. This behavior corresponds to a flowing fraction less than 1 in the Coats-Smith model. Because the 2D models contained no dead-end PV, the results presented indicate that a low flowing fraction can occur if flow velocities in different portions of the pore space differ significantly. Coats-Smith parameters obtained for models were comparable with values obtained in floods performed in reservoir samples. Visual observations of the CO/sub 2//crude-oil displacements indicate that there is an interaction between phase behavior and microscopic heterogeneity. Mixing of nearly pure CO/sub 2/ in the preferential flow path with oil in adjacent regions leads to a residual oil saturation (ROS) that forms in the preferential path after oil initially present has been displaced.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center (US)
• OSTI ID: 6681074
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 3:2; ISSN SREEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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