Chemical Methods Unit

Vladimir AlvaradoDepartment of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

07/17/2007

CMU Outline• Objective• WY context. Chemical Methods Review• Data collation and screening• Experimental infrastructure• Modeling and simulation

2007 2007-2008 2008-2009

S F W SP S F W SP S

Review report → →

Data-Screening → → → →

Laboratory → → → → → → →

Modeling → → → → → → → → →

Activity/Year

Objective

• The Chemical Methods Unit will help to fulfill the mission of the Institute through research and service activities by screening traditional and developing new EOR chemical methods. ASPwill be used as the paradigm for Chemical Methods.

• Well conformance or stimulation will be reviewed, but not emphasized.

Main Functions of Chemical Additives Main Functions of Chemical Additives and Mechanisms in ASP Floodingand Mechanisms in ASP Flooding

EORI’s Objectives1

• Assist Wyoming operators with their EOR projects by applying existing technologies and creating new knowledge when necessary.

• Maximize the economic potential and minimize the risk of EOR projects.

• Facilitate the testing, evaluation, and documentation of EOR recommendations in the real world settings.

• Transfer the information to Wyoming producers by forming partnerships and conducting workshops and conferences.

• Develop technologies for capturing CO2 from flue gases.

1http://eori.gg.uwyo.edu/WWD.asp

Chemical Floods since 1985*

Ranch

CambridgeWestKiehl

EnigmaDriscollCreek

LaSalina

KaramayDaqing – 8 ASP

Adena

Tanner

Sho-VelTum

Wardlaw

David

Lagomar

CessfordEtzikom

Thompson Cr.

Rapdan

Buracica

CantodoAmaro

Carmopolis

GudaoGudong

Sanand

Gudong

Shuanghe

XingLongTai

Daqing, Commercial

ASP AP Polymer

India – ASP

Mellott

Warner

Catriel Oesta

*Surtek’s experience

Wyoming Oil Basins

Map

Map

Map

Map

Data Collation and Screening

• Contribute to EORI database construction for screening and scoping efforts

• Carry out screening using fuzzy-logic algorithms and heterogeneity indicators

• Cluster Wyoming reservoirs to find similarities and analogues

• Determine field candidates for laboratory studies

ASP Field Experiences:ASP Field Experiences:GudongGudong Field, ChinaField, ChinaDaqingDaqing Field, ChinaField, China

KaramayKaramay Field, ChinaField, ChinaXingbeiXingbei Field, ChinaField, China

VirajViraj Field, IndiaField, IndiaSalina Field, VenezuelaSalina Field, Venezuela

ASP in ASP in GudongGudong Field, China Field, China (14 (14 °°API)API)

Pilot area consists of four I-5 Spot patterns with well spacing of 50m Including 4 injectors, 9 producers and 2 observation wells.

Well pattern of the pilot area (SPE-39613)

ASP in ASP in DaqingDaqing Field, China Field, China (32 (32 °°API)API)

Pilot area consists of four I-5 Spot patterns with 4 injectors and 9 producers.

Distance between producers and injectors is 200m and between producers 280m.

Well Pattern of the ASP Flood at XII Area Daqing (SPE-49018)

ASP in ASP in KaramayKaramay Field, China Field, China (28 (28 °°API)API)

Pilot area consists of four I-5 Spot patterns with 4 injectors (I) and 9 producers (P).

I-P distance is 50m and 70 m between producers.

A chemical formulation of this field study has been used for preliminary numerical simulation (Input Data available in UTCHEM)

Karamay EZ District Pilot Test Area (SPE 50918 and 64726)

ASP in ASP in XingbeiXingbei Field, ChinaField, China

Large well spacing are due to low net pays 2 to 9 m (SPE-84896).

AP Field ExperiencesAP Field ExperiencesXinLongXinLong Tai Field, ChinaTai Field, China

David Pool, CanadaDavid Pool, Canada

AP in AP in XingLongXingLong Tai Field, ChinaTai Field, China

SPE-57291

AP in David Pool, Canada AP in David Pool, Canada (22.6 (22.6 °°API)API)

Irregular patterns (7 injectors and 18 producers) in a 20 Acre

spacing (SPE-89386).

Experimental Infrastructure

• Coreflooding system. Many parts ordered.• Interfacial tension. Spinning drop available. • Rheological fluid characterization. Rheometers

specs under reviewed.• Injection brine and effluent characterization. IC

available on campus. • Radial flooding system under consideration for

later development.• Saturation monitoring system under

consideration.

ASP:ASP: Effect of Surfactant Conc. Effect of Surfactant Conc.

Example of spontaneous emulsification of a 24° API gravity crude oil and a commercial surfactant (synthetic petroleum sulfonate) solution dissolved in injection water after 60 days at reservoir temperature (60° C).

Example of salting out effect (surfactant precipitation at concentrations higher than 1200 ppm) in the same crude oil with a different commercial surfactant and experimental conditions.

Coreflooding System (AP)

Oven

By - pass

Oil

CoreBack-pressure regulator

Isco pump

N2

or H

e

Pressure transducers

Confining pressure

V1

Two-phase separator or

Sample collector

BrineTransferVessels

Alkali-Polymer

Alkali

Isco pump

Chemical Flooding:Chemical Flooding: Injection SequenceInjection Sequence

WF

2PV

Waterflood

AP flood

ASP flood

Pre-Flood WFAP

Flow Direction

0.5PV0.4PV0.3PV

Pre-Flood WFASP

0.5PV0.4PV0.3PV

AP

0.15

WF

WF

Modeling and Simulation

• UTCHEM (University of Texas, Austin)• STARS (Computer Modeling Group, CMG)• Analytic S, P and SP simulation • Chemical Equilibrium Calculations• Molecular Dynamics

Modeling and Simulation