CO sub 2 Huff 'n' Puff recovery feasibility as function of the effect of CO sub 2 on mineral stability in a Dakota Sandstone Reservoir, central Wyoming

Conference · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6676002

Smith, L K; MacGowan, D B; Surdam, R C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie (USA)

The high pressures required for CO{sub 2} injection in Huff n' Puff treatment have the potential to destabilize carbonate minerals in the formation. Scaling problems caused by precipitating cements may occur after production resumes. However, the presence of sufficient organic acid anion buffers may stabilize carbonate minerals at high P{sub CO2} causing them to precipitate from the formation waters and block pore throats, Modeling these conditions for individual reservoirs is important in the design of the Huff n' Puff treatment in order to avoid formation damage or production-line clogging. Based on the authors modeling, they predict that in the Huff n' Puff treatment on this Dakota sandstone reservoir, scale buildup in the production line will not be a significant problem. The CO{sub 2} injection Pressures expected (1,100-2,000 psi) are sufficiently high to keep carbonates in solution. No formation damage is expected because there is little carbonate cement in this Dakota sandstone reservoir to dissolve and reprecipitate in the pore throats after pressures decline. Also, organic acid anions are in sufficiently low concentration (3.56 meq/L) that they cannot buffer the pH; thus carbonates will not precipitate with increased {Sigma}CO{sub 2}, especially since calcium concentrations are also low (26 ppm). These predictions will be tested when this Huff n' Puff treatment is initiated. Test results will provide refined input data (especially pressure data) for modeling future treatments. The predictions and test results presented will then be used to improve the predictive capability of the modeling process.

• OSTI ID: 6676002
• Report Number(s): CONF-900605-; CODEN: AABUD
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Vol. 74:5; Conference: Annual convention and exposition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, San Francisco, CA (USA), 3-6 Jun 1990; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
58 GEOSCIENCES
OIL WELLS
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
WYOMING
CARBONATE ROCKS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FORMATION DAMAGE
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
PH VALUE
SANDSTONES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
580000 - Geosciences