Bell Creek field micellar-polymer pilot demonstration. Final report, June 1976-March 1982

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6823142

Goldburg, A

In June 1976, Gary Energy Corporation initiated a DOE cost-shared 40-acre micellar-polymer demonstration project in Unit A of the Bell Creek Field, Powder River County, Montana. This pilot project was located in the northern part of the unit in an area in which the original line drive waterflood had been in operation since August 1970. The 40-acre pilot 5-spot was developed in 1977 by infill drilling four injection wells and an observation well adjacent to one of the injectors. This report summarizes all aspects of the pilot demonstration project. A discussion of the reservoir geology and fluid chemistry, chemical flood process design, and an analysis of overall project performance, including estimates of total secondary and tertiary incremental oil recoveries, are presented. A reservoir engineering analysis included detailed examination of data from pressure pulse testing, injection of radioactive tracers, and logs and cores from the five new infill wells. The analysis indicated the presence of a permeability barrier across the southeast quadrant of the 40-acre confined area. The Uniflood oil-external micellar-polymer process was chosen for application in the pilot. Union Oil company designed the process specifically for the Bell Creek reservoir rock and fluid system. A caustic preflush slug of 18.0% pore volume (PV) was injected, followed by a 3.9% PV micellar slug. A viscosity tapered polymer slug of 100% PV was specified for injection after the micellar slug to provide mobility control. Conventional water injection into the pilot 5-spot was started in October 1977, and continued through January 1979. This pattern waterflood period was necessary to allow time for the completion of the reservoir analysis. Micellar process injection commenced during February 1979, with injection of the preflush. As of March 31, 1982, 77% PV of the polymer slug had been injected.

• Research Organization: Gary Energy Corp., Englewood, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC19-78SF01802
• OSTI ID: 6823142
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/01802-61; ON: DE83000259
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESOURCES
USA
WELLS