Crude-oil-in-water emulsions to improve fluid flow in an oil reservoir
An oil-in-water emulsion was injected into water injection wells of a waterflood in progress in the Midway-Sunset oil field near Taft, Calif. The sands under flood were the first and second fingers of the Top Oil sands and the Kinsey sand. The average permeability of these sands is 450 md. The oil gravities are about 20/sup 0/ API for the Top Oil sands and 25/sup 0/ API for the Kinsey sand. The sands have porosities from 33 to 35 percent and residual oil saturations after core waterfloods were from 30 to 33 percent. Salinity of the water was approximately 14,000 to 15,000 ppM. The emulsion contained 70 percent Midway-Sunset Section 26C crude oil (14/sup 0/ API) and 30 percent fresh water containing 1 percent sodium hydroxide. A fresh water cushion preceded the emulsion. Approximately 4 percent PV of fresh water was injected after the emulsion and then saline waterflooding was continued. Increased oil production and lower water-oil ratios indicated that emulsion treatment had reduced water channeling from injection to producing wells.
- OSTI ID:
- 7093226
- Journal Information:
- J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 25; ISSN JPTJA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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