Research on heterogeneous compound flooding system based on dispersed particle gel

Abstract

Aiming at the problem that the heterogeneity of the reservoir became strong, the remaining oil distributed universally after polymer flooding and the existing chemical compound flooding systems had limited application, a heterogeneous compound flooding system based on gel dispersion particles (DPG) was proposed as a substitution technology for further enhanced recovery of reservoirs after polymer flooding. This paper has carried out the design and characterization of heterogeneous compound flooding system, influencing factors, and application performance. With the system viscosity and oil-water interfacial tension as evaluation indicators, the application performance of the optimized heterogeneous polymer flooding system based on DPG was examined. The results showed that the system viscosity was 12.1 to 17.3 mPa•s while the interfacial tension was maintained at 10^-3 mN/m magnitude. At 80 °C, with 60 days aging, the viscosity retention ratio of the system is over 83.5%, and the interfacial tension between oil and water was still maintained at 10^-3 mN/m. The core flow experiment shows that, the heterogeneous compound flooding system has good injection performance, moving characteristics of plugging, breakthrough migration and re-plugging. After high-temperature aging, subsequent water flooding still maintained at a high pressure with good resistance to erosion. Through the selective high and low permeability layers, the water absorption profile was improved, and finally enhanced oil recovery to 20.61% after polymer flooding.

Cited as: Li, H., Wang, K., Han, X., Zheng, J. Research on heterogeneous compound flooding system based on dispersed particle gel. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2019, 3(2): 156-164, doi: 10.26804/ager.2019.02.05

References

Babu, K., Pal, N., Bera, A., et al. Studies on interfacial tension and contact angle of synthesized surfactant and polymeric from castor oil for enhanced oil recovery. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2015, 353: 1126-1136.

Carrero, E., Queipo, N.V., Pintos, S., et al. Global sensitivity analysis of Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer enhanced oil recovery processes. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2007, 58(1-2): 30-42.

Cash, L., Cayias, J.L., Fournier, G., et al. The application of low interfacial tension scaling rules to binary hydrocarbon mixtures. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1977, 59(1): 39-44.

Dai, C., Liu, Y., Zou, C., et al. Investigation on matching relationship between dispersed particle gel (DPG) and reservoir pore-throats for in-depth profile control. Fuel 2017, 207: 109-120.

Dai, C., Wang, K., Liu, Y., et al. Reutilization of fracturing flow back fluids in surfactant flooding for enhanced oil recovery. Energy Fuels 2015, 29(4): 2304-2311.

Gong, H., Zhang, H., Xu, L., et al. Further enhanced oil recovery by branched-preformed particle gel/HPAM/sur-factant mixed solutions after polymer flooding in parallel-sandpack models. RSC Adv. 2017, 7(63): 39564-39575.

Hou, J., Liu, Z., Zhang, S., et al. The role of viscoelasticity of alkali/surfactant/polymer solutions in enhanced oil recovery. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2005, 47(3-4): 219-235.

Khan, M.Y., Samanta, A., Ojha, K., et al. Design of Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer (ASP) slug and its use in enhanced oil recovery. Pet. Sci. Technol. 2009, 27(17): 1926-1942.

Liu, Y., Dai, C., Kai, W., et al. Investigation on preparation and profile control mechanisms of the dispersed particle gels (DPG) formed from phenol-formaldehyde cross-linked polymer gel. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2016, 55(22): 6284-6292.

Nasr-El-Di, H.A., Hawkins, B.F., Green, K.A. Recovery of residual oil using the alkali/surfactant/polymer process: Effect of alkali concentration. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 1992, 6(4): 381-401.

Nedjhioui, M., Moulai-Mostefa, N., Morsli, A., et al. Combined effects of polymer/surfactant/oil/alkali on physical chemical properties. Desalination 2005, 185(1-3): 543-550.

Olajire, A.A. Review of ASP EOR (alkaline surfactant polymer enhanced oil recovery) technology in the petroleum industry: Prospects and challenges. Energy 2014, 77: 963-982.

Panthi, K., Mohanty, K.K. Effect of alkaline preflush in an alkaline-surfactant-polymer flood. Energy Fuels 2013, 27(2): 764-771.

Samanta, A., Bera, A., Ojha, K., et al. Comparative studies on enhanced oil recovery by alkali-surfactant and polymer flooding. J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol. 2012, 2(2): 67-74.

Samanta, A., Ojha, K., Mandal, A. Interactions between acidic crude oil and alkali and their effects on enhanced oil recovery. Energy Fuels 2011, 24(4): 1642-1649.

Taber, J.J. Research on enhanced oil recovery: Past, present and future, in Surface Phenomena in Enhanced Oil Recovery, edited by D.O. Shah, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 13-52, 1981.

Wang, K., Liu, C., Zhou, W. Investigation on interfacial properties of viscoelastic-based surfactant as an oil displacement agent recovered from fracturing flow back fluid. RSC Adv. 2016, 6(44): 38437-38446.

Wever, D.A.Z., Picchioni, F., Broekhuis, A.A. Comblike polyacrylamides as flooding agent in enhanced oil recovery. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013, 52(46): 16352-16363.

Zamani, A., Maini, B., Pereira-Almao, P. Experimental study on transport of ultra-dispersed catalyst particles in porous media. Energy Fuels 2010, 24(9): 4980-4988.

Zhao, G., Dai, C., Zhao, M. Investigation of the profile control mechanisms of dispersed particle gel. PLOS ONE 2014, 9(6): e100471.