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Nitrogen miscible displacement of light crude oil; A laboratory study--

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Engineering; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/17372-PA· OSTI ID:6915896
; ;  [1]
  1. National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (US)
A comprehensive laboratory study of N{sub 2} miscible flooding for enhanced recovery of light crude oil was performed. The minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of N{sub 2} is a major constraint to its EOR application, so an empirical correlation for MMP estimation was developed and found to be reliable. Supporting work included many in-house slim-tube displacement determinations of MMP and the compilation and analysis of previously published data. The reservoir fluid composition, especially the amounts of the methane and ethane-through-pentane fractions, was found to be the major determining factor for miscibility. High-pressure coreflooding tests with sandstone cores were performed to evaluate the effects of gravity stability and injection mode on the N{sub 2} miscible process. N{sub 2}-gas miscible flooding successfully recovered most of the oil from laboratory cores. Gravity-stable and gravity-unstable displacements gave different oil recoveries, as did secondary and tertiary N{sub 2} displacements.
OSTI ID:
6915896
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reservoir Engineering; (USA) Vol. 5:1; ISSN SREEE; ISSN 0885-9248
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English