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2021 Vol.58, Issue 6 Preview Page

Technical Report

Investigation of the Mechanisms and Technical Trends of Nano-EOR in Carbonate Reservoirs

탄산염암 저류층에서 Nano-EOR 공법 메커니즘 및 기술개발 동향

Jihwan Kim1
Jeonghwan Lee2*
김 지환1
이 정환2*
1Integrated PhD Program, Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
2Professor, Department of Energy and Resources Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea
1전남대학교 에너지자원공학과 석·박사통합과정
2전남대학교 에너지자원공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2021. pp. 580-591
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Abstract

탄산염암 저류층에는 전 세계 석유 매장량의 절반 이상이 부존되어 있으나 강한 친유성으로 인해 오일 회수율이 낮아 다양한 EOR 공법들에 대한 연구가 이루어져 왔다. 특히 첨단 기술인 나노 기술을 접목한 나노-EOR은 기존 EOR에서 사용되는 폴리머, 계면활성제와 같은 화학물질들이 가지는 저류층 환경에서의 기능 저하, 다량 주입으로 인한 높은 주입 비용 등의 한계점을 극복할 수 있는 새로운 공법으로 각광받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 탄산염암 저류층에서 나노-EOR의 기술 특성 및 메커니즘을 조사하고, 최신 기술개발 동향을 분석하였다. 조사 결과, 성공적인 나노-EOR 공법을 수행하기 위해서는 습윤도 개선, IFT 감소와 같은 오일 회수 메커니즘에 대한 분석이 필수적이며, 기존 EOR 공법과의 결합을 통해 시너지 효과가 발생함을 확인하였다. 제시된 결과는 향후 탄산염암 저류층에서 나노-EOR 공법을 적용한 오일 회수 증진 프로젝트 설계를 위한 기초 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

키워드
탄산염암 저류층
나노-EOR
나노유체
습윤도 개선
IFT 감소

Although more than half of the world's petroleum reserves exist in carbonate reservoirs, various enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods have been studied because of the low oil recovery resulting from its strong lipophilicity. In particular, nano-EOR, which incorporates advanced nanotechnology, has received considerable attention as a new technology that can overcome the limitations of common chemical substances used in conventional EOR. These limitations include degradation when these substances are exposed to reservoir environments and high injection cost due to high volumes of injection. In this study, the technical characteristics and mechanisms of nano-EOR in carbonate reservoirs were investigated and the latest technical trends were analyzed. Results showed that an understanding of oil recovery mechanisms such as improved wettability and reduced interfacial tension is essential for successful nano-EOR applications. In addition, it was confirmed that nano-EOR has a synergistic effect when combined with conventional EOR methods. These results can be used as basic data in designing EOR projects using the nano-EOR method in carbonate reservoirs.

Keywords
Carbonate reservoir
Nano-EOR
Nanofluids
Wettability alteration
IFT reduction
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
  • Volume : 58
  • No :6
  • Pages :580-591
  • Received Date :2021. 09. 23
  • Revised Date :2021. 11. 12
  • Accepted Date : 2021. 12. 27
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.32390/ksmer.2021.58.6.580
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