Polymer Flood at Adverse Mobility Ratio in 2D Flow by X-ray Visualization

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tormod Skauge ◽  
Bartek Florczyk Vik ◽  
Per Arne Ormehaug ◽  
Berit K. Jatten ◽  
Vegard Kippe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobility Ratio ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Polymer Flood ◽  
2D Flow ◽  
Adverse Mobility Ratio

Systematic Modelling of Unstable Displacement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne Skauge ◽  
Kenneth Stuart Sorbie ◽  
Iselin Cecilie Salmo ◽  
Tormod Skauge
Keyword(s):  
Single Point ◽  
Viscous Fingering ◽  
Mobility Ratio ◽  
Fluid Viscosity ◽  
Fractional Flow ◽  
Fine Grid ◽  
Rock Heterogeneity ◽  
Unstable Displacement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Adverse Mobility Ratio

Abstract Modelling unstable displacement is a challenge which may lead to large errors in reservoir simulations. Field scale coarse grid simulations therefore need to be anchored to more reliable fine grid models which capture fluid displacement instabilities in a physically correct manner. In this paper, a recently developed approach for accurately modelling viscous fingering has been applied to various types of unstable displacement. The method involves estimation of dispersivity of the porous medium and length scale of the model to determine the required size of the simulation grid cell. Fractional flow theory is then applied to obtain the correct saturation of the injected phase in the unstable fingers formed due to the adverse mobility ratio. Unstable displacement experiments have been history matched using 2D-imaging of in-situ saturation as a calibration of our method, before carrying out sensitivity calculations on the effect of fluid viscosity, and rock heterogeneity. Our modelling approach allows us to carry out simulations using a conventional numerical simulator using elementary numerical methods (e.g. single-point upstreaming). The methods used to model instability (Sorbie et al, 2020) was originally developed for immiscible water/oil systems. The current paper now presents new results applying this approach to unstable gas displacements, where adverse viscosity ratios may be even higher than in water/oil systems. The displacement with injected gas is shown to be influenced by mass exchanges between the gas and oil as the alternating fluids (water and gas) are injected in WAG processes. Swelling of fingers delay the gas front and WAG processes divert the injected gas and improve sweep efficiency. We have also modelled water-oil displacement at adverse mobility and shown the benefit which is obtained by reducing the instability by adding polymers to viscosify the injected water. The impact of rock heterogeneity has different effect depending on buoyancy forces and the degree of crossflow into the high permeable zones. This paper extends our novel approach to modelling the fine scale distribution of the injected fluids in adverse mobility ratio displacements. This approach has now been applied to both, gas/oil and water/oil systems where viscous fingering is present, either at extremely adverse mobility ratios and/or for reservoirs where the permeability field is very heterogeneous.

A Finite-Element Method for Reservoir Simulation

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (01) ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry C. Young
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Finite Element Methods ◽  
Reservoir Simulation ◽  
Finite Differences ◽  
Time Derivative ◽  
Mobility Ratio ◽  
Difference Approximation ◽  
Central Difference ◽  
Fine Grid ◽  
Adverse Mobility Ratio

Abstract Several previous studies have applied finite-element methods to reservoir simulation problems. Accurate solutions have been demonstrated with these methods; however, competitiveness with finite difference has not been established for most nonlinear reservoir simulation problems. In this study a more efficient finite-element procedures is presented and tested. The method is Galerkin-based, and improved efficiency is obtained by combining Lagrange trial functions with Lobatto quadrature in a particular way. The simulation of tracer performance, ion exchange preflush performance, and adverse mobility ratio miscible displacements is considered. For the problems considered, the method is shown to yield accurate solutions with less computing expense than finite differences or previously proposed finite-element techniques. For the special case of linear trial functions, the method reduces to a five-point central difference approximation. In contrast to previously reported results, this approximation is found to simulate adverse mobility ratio displacements without grid orientation sensitivity, provided a sufficiently fine grid is used. Introduction In the past few years several studies have investigated the use of finite-element methods in reservoir simulation. These include single-phase two-component simulations in one1–3 and two4,5 spatial dimensions and two-phase immiscible calculations in both one6–8 and two9,10 dimensions. These studies have demonstrated that the method is capable of giving accurate solutions, particularly for small slug problems and adverse mobility ratio displacements. All these studies used what we term conventional Galerkin finite-element techniques,1 and, unfortunately, these methods have not proved to be cost competitive with finite differences for most nonlinear reservoir simulation problems. A reduction in computing requirements is, therefore, necessary to make finite-element methods truly useful for reservoir simulation. Relative to finite differences, the increased computing requirements of conventional Galerkin-based methods are due to the following.The approximation of time-derivative terms involves the same number of surrounding grid points as the approximation of flow terms; thus, implicit-pressure/explicit-saturation (IMPES) techniques are not possible (see Ref. 12, Chap. 7).The matrices which result from the approximation of flow terms are not nearly so sparse as in finite differences; thus, the solution of matrix problems requires more computation.The computational work required to generate matrix coefficients is considerably greater than with finite differences due to the number of numerical integrations which must be performed.

A Potentiometric Study of the Effects of Mobility Ratio on Reservoir Flow Patterns

1961 ◽  
Vol 1 (03) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.B. Bradley ◽  
J.P. Heller ◽  
A.S. Odeh
Keyword(s):  
Mobility Ratio ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Sweep Efficiency ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Reservoir Flow ◽  
Well Pattern ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Production Wells ◽  
Production History ◽  
Water Cut

Abstract A potentiometric model technique is presented for determining the a real sweep efficiency of a five-spot well pattern, at and beyond breakthrough. A sharp interface between displaced and displacing fluids is assumed. Although the prototype system is referred to as a water flood operation, obvious changes in the notation and computations will adapt the results to other displacement processes. The results of the study include the following.Areal sweep efficiencies for a five-spot well pattern, at and beyond breakthrough, for mobility ratios (displacing to displaced fluid) of 4:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:4.Extension of potentiometric analysis to the investigation of the areal sweep-efficiency beyond breakthrough in a five-spot pattern by the application of conformal mapping and conductive-solid models.The use of layers of conductive fabric in representing mobility ratio changes in potentiometric models.The development of a probe mechanism for probing conductive solids. The results obtained by conductive-cloth models agree with earlier areal sweep efficiencies at breakthrough obtained by Aronofsky and Ramey on the potentiometric analyzer using electrolytic-tank models. Results beyond breakthrough differ from those obtained by the X-Ray Shadowgraph technique. Data from this study show that, for mobility ratios greater than one, water cut rises rapidly as fluid is produced after breakthrough. However, for mobility ratios smaller than one, a large increase in area swept resulted with only a small increase in water cut. Introduction In calculating reservoir performance of waterflooding operations and other fluid-injection programs, it is necessary to estimate the areal sweep efficiency before and after injected-fluid breakthrough into production wells. Influence of mobility ratio on oil-production history, before and after breakthrough for a five-spot well pattern, has been studied by X-Ray Shadowgraph techniques and by gelatin models. In none of these investigations was the transition zone controlled experimentally.

Bhagyam Full Field Polymer Flood: Implementation and Initial Production Response

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitish Koduru ◽  
Nandini Nag Choudhury ◽  
Vineet Kumar ◽  
Dhruva Prasad ◽  
Rahul Raj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Mobility Ratio ◽  
Western India ◽  
Field Scale ◽  
Fractional Flow ◽  
Polymer Injection ◽  
Polymer Flood ◽  
Expansion Plan ◽  
Production Response

Abstract Bhagyam is an onshore field in the Barmer basin, located in the state of Rajasthan in Western India. Fatehgarh Formation is the main producing unit, comprising of multi-storied fluvial sandstones. Reservoir quality is excellent with permeability in the range of 1 to 10 Darcy and porosity in the range of 25-30%. The crude is moderately viscous (15 – 500 cP) having a large variation with depth (15 cP – 50 cP from around 270 m TVDSS to 400 m TVDSS and then rising steeply to 500 cp at the OWC of 448m TVDSS). Lab studies on Bhagyam cores show that the reservoir is primarily oil wet in nature. Bhagyam Field was developed initially with edge water injection and with subsequent infill campaigns, prior to polymer flood development plan implementation, the Field was operating with 162 wells. Simple mobility ratio and fractional flow considerations indicate that improving the mobility ratio (water flood end-point mobility ratio is 30-100) in Bhagyam would substantially improve the sweep efficiency. Early EOR screening studies recommended chemical EOR (polymer and ASP flood) as the most suitable method for maximizing oil recovery. The lab studies further demonstrated good recovery potential for Polymer flood. Bhagyam's first Polymer flood field application started with testing in one injector which was later expanded to 8 wells. Extended polymer injection in these wells continued for four years. Observing a very encouraging field response, field scale polymer expansion plan was designed which included drilling of 28 new infill wells (17 P+ 11 I) and 24 producer-to-injector conversions. Modular skid-based polymer preparation units were installed to meet the injection requirements of the expansion plan. Infill producers were brought online in 2018 as per the plan but polymer injection was delayed due to various external factors. The production rate, however, was sustained without significant decline, aided by continuous polymer injection in initial 8 injectors, continuing water flood and good reservoir management practices. First polymer injection in field scale expansion started in Oct’20 and was quickly ramped up to the planned 80000 BPD in 4 months, supported by analyses of surveillance data, indicating very encouraging initial production response. Laboratory quality check program was designed to check quality of polymer during preparation and to ensure viscosity integrity till the well head. The paper discusses modular polymer preparation unit set-up and the additional installations designed to reduce pipeline vibrations during pumping of polymers., Experience gained while bringing online the polymer injection wells and the lab quality checks employed to ensure good polymer quality during preparation and pumping have also been discussed. The paper also discusses reservoir surveillance program adopted at the start of polymer injection like spinner survey, Pressure fall-off surveys and the stimulation activities that worked in improving the injectivity of polymer injectors. The paper further outlines the observations from the production response and the surveillance data collected to ensure good polymer flow in this multi-darcy reservoir.

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