TM- 4143 METODA ENHANCED

OIL RECOVERY (EOR)

Prepared by:

David Maurich, MT
MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT
 MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT
Two fluids that mix together in all proportions within
a single-fluid phase are miscible. Therefore, miscible
agents would mix in all proportions with the oil to be
displaced. But most practical miscible agents exhibit
only partial miscibility toward the crude oil itself, so
we use the term solvent flooding in this text. Many
solvents will become miscible with crude under the
right conditions, but all solvents of commercial
interest are immiscible to an aqueous phase.
Solvent flooding refers to those EOR techniques
whose main oil recovering function is because of
extraction, dissolution, vaporization, solubilization,
condensation, or some other phase behavior change
involving the crude. These methods have other,
sometimes very important, oil recovery mechanisms
(viscosity reduction, oil swelling, solution gas drive),
but the primary mechanism must be extraction.
 MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT

Miscible Gas Injection: CO2, Nitrogen,

Air, flue gas, Light Hidrocarbon.
Solvent Injection: LPG/LNG, alcohol,
etc.
CO2 Flooding
CO2 Phase Diagram

Pc = 72.9 atm, 7.39 MPa, 1,071 psi

Tc = 304.25 K, 31.10 C, 87.98 F
 Description

CO2 flooding consists of injecting large quantities of CO2 (15%

or more hydrocarbon pore volume) in the reservoir to form a
miscible flood.

Mechanisms That Improve Recovery

CO2 extracts the light to-intermediate components from the
oil, and if the pressure is high enough, develops miscibility to
displace oil from the reservoir (vaporizing gas drive).
Viscosity reduction/oil swelling.

Limitations
Very low viscosity of CO2 results in poor mobility control
Availability of CO2.
 Challenges

Early breakthrough of CO2 causes problems.

Corrosion in producing wells
The necessity of separating CO2 from saleable hydrocarbons.
Repressuring of CO2 for recycling.
A large requirement of CO2 per incremental barrel produced.

Screening Parameters

Gravity >27 API Viscosity <10cp

Composition C5-C20 (C5-C12) Oil saturation >30% PV
Formation type sandstone/carbonate Net thickness relatively thin
Average permeability not critical Transmissibility not critical
Depth <2300 ft Temperature <250
 Constraints for Gas EOR Technologies

1) Reservoir heterogeneity
2) Mobility control and reservoir conformance
3) Incomplete mixing
4) Lack of predictive capability
5) Poor injectivity
6) Corrosion problems with CO2
Schematic of The First-Contact Miscible
Schematic Of The Vaporizing Gas Drive Process
Schematic of The Rich-gas Drive Process
(Condensing Gas Drive)
Schematic of an Immiscible Displacement
 DEFINITIONS
Minimum Miscibility Pressure (MMP) is the minimum
pressure at a fixed temperature at which the
displacing fluid becomes miscible with the
displaced fluid.
Tekanan Tercampur Minimum (TTM) adalah tekanan
pada titik belok atau tekanan pada titik maksimum
kurva dimana recovery tidak mengalami
penambahan lagi. Metode ini diusulkan oleh
Sebastian et al. dan Flock et al. Flock menjelaskan
bahwa titik maksimum recovery ini merupakan
indikasi paling baik adanya ketercampuran.
MME is the minimum enrichment at a fixed pressure
at which the limiting tie-line passes through the
injection gas composition.
MEASUREMENT & PREDICTION OF MMP

Experimental Measurement:
1. Slim Tube Apparatus (5/16 in stainless-
steel tube with 40 ft long which filled with
sands or glass beads).
2. Rising Bubble Apparatus (RBA).
Empirical correlations based on
experimental results.
Phase behavior calculations based on
EOS & computer modeling.
 Rising Bubble Apparatus (RBA)
Metode kenaikan gelembung CO2 pada kolom minyak
(CO2 Bubble Rises in a Column of Oil). Metode ini
dikembangkan oleh Christiansen dan Kim pada tahun
1984.
Tekanan tercampur minimum (TTM) sebagai fungsi dari
temperatur didefinisikan sebagai tekanan dimana terjadi
pengurangan tegangan antar muka yang dramatis antara
minyak dengan crude oil yang diamati.
Umumnya metode ini didasarkan pada eksperimen
dengan menggunakan peralatan Rising Bubble
Apparatus (RBA).
Kendatipun alat ini sangat cepat dalam pengukuran TTM,
namun belum diketahui pasti apakah alat ini dapat
mengukur secara akurat TTM pada
Condensing/vaporizing gas drive seperti yang lazim
dalam pendesakan crude oil.
 MMP PREDICTION BASED ON EMPIRICAL
CORRELATIONS

Condensing Gas Drive

1. Benham et al. Ranges of parameters:
Pressures (1500-3000 psia),
temperatures (70-260 oF), AMW C5+ (180-
240), AMW C2-C4 (34-58).
2. Stalkup, crossplotted the Benham et al.
results as functions of same variables.
Benham et al. & Stalkup Correlation for
Condensing Gas Drive MMP
 Example 6.3
Assume that a reservoir is to be flooded with
a condensing gas process is at 150 oF. The
average molecular weight of the C5+ fraction
of the reservoir oil is 200. A displacement
gas is available with the composition 60
mol% CH4, 30 mol% C3H8, and 10 mol%
C4H10. The maximum pressure at which the
displacement can be conducted is 2000
psia. Determine whether MCM can be
achieved at specified conditions?
 Solution
Intermediate (C3 & C4) percentage:
C3 + C4 = 30%+10% = 40%.
Apparent Molecular Weight:
C3 = (30/40)x100% = 75%.
C4 = (10/40)x100% = 25%.
AMW (C3 & C4) = (0.75x44)+(0.25x58) =
47.5.
From Fig.6.33, by interpolation MMP is
attained at 2070 psia (> max. operating
pressure).
Stalkup Correlation for Vaporizing Gas Drive MMP

Parameters ranges:
Temperatures (140-265 oF)
Pb (596-4035 psia)
AMW C7+ (149-216)
MMP (3250-4750 psia)
 CO2 MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT
Korelasi Yellig dan Metcalfe
Korelasi Holm dan Josendal
Korelasi Mungan
Korelasi Johnson dan Pollin
Korelasi Newitt et al. (Recommended
by Orr dan Jensen)
Korelasi Cronquist
Korelasi H. M Sebastian, R. S Wenger
dan T.A. Renner (impure CO2)
Mungan, Holm & Josendal Correlation
Yellig & Metcalfe Correlation
 Alston et al. Correlation

PCO2 = MMP for pure CO2 injection

T = Reservoir temperature
MwC5+ = Molecular weight of C5+
Xvol = Mole fraction of the volatile component
(assumed to consist of C1+N2)
Xint = Mole fraction of intermediate component
(assumed to consist of C2-C4, CO2 & H2S)
 The Effect of Impurities on MMP

When CO2 stream is contaminated with

other components, the MMP is
affected.
The addition of C1 or N2 increases
MMP, while addition of C2, C3, C4, or
H2S reduces the MMP.
 Alston et al. Correlation

PCO2-imp = MMP for CO2 with impurities

Tcm = Weight average critical temperature of the injected gas.
Tci = Critical temperature of component i in the mixture.
Xi = Mass fraction of component i in the mixture.
 Sebastian et al. Correlation

PCO2-imp = MMP for CO2 with impurities

Tcp = Pseudocritical temperature of the injected
gas.
Tci = Critical temperature of components in the
mixture.
Xi = Mole fraction of components in the mixture.
CRITICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL GAS
CONSTITUENTS
 EXAMPLE 6.4
Two different displacing fluids are to be
considered. 1). 100% CO2. 2). A mixture
of 92.5 mol% CO2 and 7.5 mol% C1. The
reservoir temperature is 130 oF, MW C5+
is 185.8, the volatiles make up 5 mol% of
the oil & the intermediate 7.5 mol%. The
ratio of mole fractions of volatiles to
intermediates in the oil is 0.667.
Determine the MMP for the two specified
crude oils?
 SOLUTION
1). For pure CO2. Holm & Josendal (Fig. 6.36) gives a C5+ MW
of 185.8 & an MMP of 1880 psia. The Yellig & Metcalfe (Fig.
6.37) gives an MMP of 1630 psia. The Alston et al. correlation:

2). For mixture of 92.5 mol% CO2 & 7.5 mol% C1. Alston et al.
correlation:
Weight fraction of CO2:

Critical Temperature:

Correction factor:

MMP with correction:

 SOLUTION

Sebastian et al. correlation:

The Yellig & Metcalfe (Fig. 6.37) gives an MMP of 1630 psia. Thus;
The Effect of Gravity on Displacement Efficiency
FLOW REGIMES IN MISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT OF
UNFAVORABLE MOBILITY RATIOS
 Example
Consider the displacement of an oil by CO2
in a linear system. The effective length of
the horizontal reservoir is 500 ft & thickness
is 40 ft. The other properties & conditions
are listed below:
Solution
VOLUMETRIC (VERTICAL) SWEEP EFFICIENCY AT BREAKTHROUGH AS
A FUNCTION OF THE RATIOS OF VISCOUS/GRAVITY FORCES, LINEAR
SYSTEM (FROM CRAIG et.al.)
 RECOVERY BY MATERIAL BALANCE

Cumulative Oil Recovery:

Recovery Factor:
Example
Solution
Example
Solution