Three-Dimensional Coarse-Scale Simulation of Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes in Highly Heterogeneous Reservoirs

Worldwide oil production has been declining. Microbial enhanced oil recovery is one of the most important tertiary recovery processes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the surface activity properties of surfactin and mannosylerithritol lipids-B. In our previous studies, surfactin and mannosylerithritol lipids were produced using cassava wastewater as substrate and then purified by ultrafiltration. Thus, this work extends our previous studies. Experiments of surface activity under extreme conditions (temperature, ionic strength and pH), oil displacement, removal of oil from sand and emulsification index were carried out. Central composite rotational design was performed under extreme conditions of temperature, pH and ionic strength. The results indicated that ionic strength significantly affected the surface activity of surfactin. On the other hand, ionic strength, but also temperature and pH significantly affected the tenso activity of mannosylerithritol lipids-B. Regarding oil displacement test, mannosylerithritol lipids-B showed higher clear zone than surfactin. Contrary, in the experiments of removal of crude oil from sand, minimal differences were observed between surfactin and mannosylerithritol lipids-B. Therefore, both surfactin and mannosylerithritol lipids-B showed good surface activity under extreme conditions. In addition, it seems that mannosylerithritol lipids-B is subtly better than surfactin for microbial enhanced oil recovery.

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Experimental Investigation of Using Ionic-Liquids as Alternatives of Surfactants in Enhanced-Oil-Recovery Processes for Harsh Carbonate Reservoirs

10.3997/2214-4609.202010596 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

A. Esfandiarian ◽

A. Maghsoudian ◽

M. Shirazi ◽

M. Mohammadi ◽

S. Kord ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Investigation ◽

Ionic Liquids ◽

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Carbonate Reservoirs ◽

Recovery Processes

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Software Tool for the Study, Analysis and Evaluation of Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes

10.2118/spe-169917-ms ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

C. L. Delgadillo-Aya ◽

M.L.. L. Trujillo-Portillo ◽

J.M.. M. Palma-Bustamante ◽

E.. Niz-Velasquez ◽

C. L. Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enhanced Oil Recovery ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Water Injection ◽

Software Tool ◽

Steam Injection ◽

Hot Water ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Analytical Models ◽

Financial Assessment ◽

Recovery Processes

Abstract Software tools are becoming an important ally in making decisions on the development or implementation of an enhanced oil recovery processes from the technical, financial or risk point of view. This work, can be manually developed in some cases, but becomes more efficient and precise with the help of these tools. In Ecopetrol was developed a tool to make technical and economic evaluation of enhanced oil recovery processes such as air injection, both cyclic and continuous steam injection, and steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and hot water injection. This evaluation is performed using different types of analysis as binary screening, analogies, benchmarking, and prediction using analytical models and financial and risk analysis. All these evaluations are supported by a comprehensive review that has allowed initially find favorable conditions for different recovery methods evaluated, and get a probability of success based on this review. Subsequently, according to the method can be used different prediction methods, given an idea of the process behavior for a given period. Based on the prediction results, it is possible to feed the software to generate a financial assessment process, in line with cash flow previously developed that incorporates all the elements to be considered during the implementation of a project. This allows for greater support to the choice or not the application of a method. Finally the tool to evaluate the levels of risks that outlines the development of the project based on the existing internal methodology in the company, identifying the main and level of criticality and define actions for prevention, mitigation and risk elimination.

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