Introduction to enhanced oil

recovery processes
for conventional hydrocarbons
Lecture 3
Introduction to gas injection
Phase equilibrium for gas drives

Ternary diagram with 3

components, 1 phase
C1
.9

.7
a
.5
.1

.1
.3

.5
.7
.9
C3

.5
.1

.7
.9
C2

Ternary diagram with 3

components, 1 phase
C1
.9

.7
a
.5
.1

.1
.3

.5
.7
.9
C3

.5
b

.1

.7
.9
C2

Ternary diagram with 3

components, 1 phase
C1
.9

.7
a

.1

.5
.1
.3

.5
.7
.9
C3

.5
b

.1

.7
.9
C2

Ternary diagram with 3

components, 1 phase
C1
.9

.7
a

.1

.5
.1
.3

.5
.7
.9
C3

.5
b

.1

.7
.9
C2

Two component VLE diagram (two phases)

CO2 and n-hexane at 333.15 K

Potoff and Siepmann (2001) AIChE Journal 47 (7), 1676-1682

Ternary diagram with 3

components, 2 phases
Light component, injection
C1 fluid, e.g., CO2, CH4

Phase 1: C1 rich
c11,c21,c31

Plait point

c12,c22,c32
Phase 2: C3 rich
C3
Intermediate pseudocomponent, e.g., C7 +

Crude oil composition

Single
phase
C2
Intermediate pseudocomponent, e.g., C6 -

Fluid mixing on ternary diagrams

First contact miscible
C1

Mixing
line

Resident
oil
C3

C2

Miscibility increases with pressure

Wasson crude oil at 1350 psi, 105 F

Wasson crude oil at 2000 psi, 105 F

Gardner et al. (1981) SPE Journal 33 (11), 2067-2081

Development of miscibility
Multi contact miscible
Vaporising gas drive
C1

gas
ing
oris ion
Vap posit
com
B

Plait
point

Miscible
Resident
oil
C3

C2

Multi contact miscibility

Gardner et al. (1981) SPE Journal 33 (11), 2067-2081

Condensing gas drive

C1

Injected
gas
A
B

Resident
oil

C3

Miscible

Condensing oil
composition

C2

Multi contact miscibility

Batch concept

Gardner et al. (1981) SPE Journal 33 (11), 2067-2081

1D Simulation, composition in
central grid block shown

General 2 phase ternary diagram

C1

g1

g2
Plait
point
Critical
tie line
r1
C3

r2
C2