Numerical Simulation of Mobility Control Process by Polymer Flooding

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2008 Vol.45, Issue 5 Next Page

Numerical Simulation of Mobility Control Process by Polymer Flooding 폴리머 공법에 의한 유동도 제어 프로세스의 수치 시뮬레이션: 이근상
Kun Sang Lee

31 October 2008. pp. 433-440

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Abstract

Injection of polymer solutions has been recognized as an effective mobility control process to increase the recovery of oil in mature fields. Polymer flooding is a way to reach the residual oil saturation more quickly or allow it to be reached economically. Evaluating whether a polymer flood is suitable for a given field and developing the optimal design, a considerable analysis using extensive numerical simulations is required prior to full-scale implementation. This paper presents numerical investigations of a two-well model in a five-spot pattern operating under polymer flood process. UTCHEM, a three-dimensional numerical model for fluid flow and mass transport, is used to analyze the performance of the reservoir. The model includes the effects of polymer concentration-dependent viscosities, shear-thinning rheology of the polymer solution, and inaccessible pore volume. This paper places an emphasis on the design and reservoir parameters including slug design, oil viscosity, and absolute permeability. For different parameters of the system, performances were compared in terms of cumulative oil recovery and water-oil ratio at the production well and pressure drop at the injection well. Results of numerical calculations indicate that properties of polymer bank such as concentration and size are shown to impact the predicted recovery. The results also show the effectiveness of using a buffer zone of grading polymer concentration to lessen the unfavorable mobility ratio between the chase water and the polymer solution. It is noted that although an increased recovery is obtained with a lower permeability, the significant increase in the amount of pressure drop at the injection well makes the application impractical.

Keywords

Enhanced oil recovery

Chemical method

Polymer flooding

Mobility control

Numerical model

폴리머 용액의 저류층 내 주입은 유동도 제어를 통하여 성숙 유전의 오일 회수를 증가시킬 수 있는 효과적인 수단이다. 폴리머 공법은 잔류 오일 포화도에 신속하고 경제적으로 도달할 수 있는 방법이다. 특정 유전에 대하여 폴리머 공법의 적합성을 평가하고 최적 설계를 개발하기 위하여 공법의 실제 적용 전 수치 시뮬레이션을 통한 분석이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 폴리머 공법이 적용된 5점 패턴 내 2정 모델에 대하여 수치 연구를 수행하였다. 저류층의 거동을 분석하기 위하여 유체 유동과 질량 이동에 대한 3차원 수치 모델인 UTCHEM을 사용하였다. 이 모델은 폴리머 농도 의존 점도, 전단 박화 거동, 비도달 공극 체적의 효과를 포함하고 있다. 폴리머 슬러그의 농도 및 크기, 오일 점도, 절대 투수도 등 설계 및 저류층 인자들의 영향을 분석하였다. 저류층 시스템의 거동은 생산정에서의 누적 오일 회수와 물-오일비, 주입정에서의 압력 강하량으로 비교하였다. 수치 계산의 결과에 따르면 폴리머 농도와 슬러그 크기로 결정되는 폴리머 뱅크의 특성이 오일 회수에 큰 영향을 미쳤다. 또한 추격수와 폴리머 용액 간 불리한 유동도 비를 감소시키는 완충대의 유효성을 보여주었다. 투수도가 작을수록 오일 회수는 증가하나 주입정의 압력 강하량이 급격히 증가하므로 적용에 한계가 있다.

키워드

증진회수

화학공법

폴리머 공법

유동도 제어

수치 모델

References

Anderson, G.A., Simulation of Chemical Flood Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes Including the Effects of Reservoir Wettability, M.S. Thesis, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, 2000, UTCHEM-9.0 A Three-Dimensional Chemical Flood Simulator, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Delshad, M., Pope, G.A., and Sepehrnoori, K., 1996, “A Compositional Simulator for Modeling Surfactant Enhanced Aquifer Remediation, 1 Formulation,” J. of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol. 23, pp. 303-327.
Giavedoni, M.D. and Deiber, J.A., 1986, “Two Directional Modelling of Oil Recovery through Polymer Flooding,” SPE 16324, unsolicited paper.
Green, D.W. and Willhite, G.P., 1998, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Soc. Pet. Eng., Richardson, TX.
Kaminsky, R.D., Wattenbarger, R.C., Szafranski, R.C., and Coutee, A.S., 2007, “Guidelines for Polymer Flooding Evaluation and Development,” IPTC 11200 paper presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, U.A.E., December 4-6.
Needham, R.B. and Doe, P.H., 1987, “Polymer Flooding Review,” J. of Petroleum Tech., pp. 1503-1507.
Takaqi, S., Pope G.A., Sepehrnoori K., and BenDakhlia H., and Putz, A.G., 1992, “Simulation of a Successful Polymer Flood in the Chateaurenard Field,” SPE 24931 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Washington, DC, October 4-7.
Wang, M., 1995, Laboratory Investigation of Factors Affecting Residual Oil Saturation by Polymer Flooding, Ph.D. Dissertation, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Wang, D., Cheng, J., Wu, J., and Wang, Y., 2002, “Producing by Polymer Flooding More Than 300 Million Barrels of Oil, What Experiences Have Been Learnt?,” SPE 77872 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, October 8-10.
Wang, D., Seright, R.S., Shao, Z., and Wang, J., 2007, “Key Aspects of Project Design for Polymer Flooding,” SPE 109682 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, CA, November, 11-14.
Wang, Y. and Liu, H., 2006, “Commercial Success of Polymer Flooding in Daqing Oilfield-Lessons Learned,” SPE 100855 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, Australia, September 11-13.
Yang, F., Wang, D., Yang, X., Sui, X., Chen, Q., and Zhang, L., 2004, “High Concentration Polymer Flooding Is Successful,” SPE 88454 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, October 18-20.
Yang, F., Wang, D., Wang, G., Sui, X., Liu, W., and Kan, C., 2006, “Study on High-Concentration Polymer Flooding to Further Enhance Oil Recovery,” SPE 101202 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, September 24-27.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society for Geosystem Engineering
Journal Title(Ko) :한국지구시스템공학회지
Volume : 45
No :5
Pages :433-440

[1] Anderson, G.A., Simulation of Chemical Flood Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes Including the Effects of Reservoir Wettability, M.S. Thesis, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

[2] Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, 2000, UTCHEM-9.0 A Three-Dimensional Chemical Flood Simulator, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

[3] Delshad, M., Pope, G.A., and Sepehrnoori, K., 1996, “A Compositional Simulator for Modeling Surfactant Enhanced Aquifer Remediation, 1 Formulation,” J. of Contaminant Hydrology, Vol. 23, pp. 303-327.

[4] Giavedoni, M.D. and Deiber, J.A., 1986, “Two Directional Modelling of Oil Recovery through Polymer Flooding,” SPE 16324, unsolicited paper.

[5] Green, D.W. and Willhite, G.P., 1998, Enhanced Oil Recovery, Soc. Pet. Eng., Richardson, TX.

[6] Kaminsky, R.D., Wattenbarger, R.C., Szafranski, R.C., and Coutee, A.S., 2007, “Guidelines for Polymer Flooding Evaluation and Development,” IPTC 11200 paper presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, U.A.E., December 4-6.

[7] Needham, R.B. and Doe, P.H., 1987, “Polymer Flooding Review,” J. of Petroleum Tech., pp. 1503-1507.

[8] Takaqi, S., Pope G.A., Sepehrnoori K., and BenDakhlia H., and Putz, A.G., 1992, “Simulation of a Successful Polymer Flood in the Chateaurenard Field,” SPE 24931 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Washington, DC, October 4-7.

[9] Wang, M., 1995, Laboratory Investigation of Factors Affecting Residual Oil Saturation by Polymer Flooding, Ph.D. Dissertation, U. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

[10] Wang, D., Cheng, J., Wu, J., and Wang, Y., 2002, “Producing by Polymer Flooding More Than 300 Million Barrels of Oil, What Experiences Have Been Learnt?,” SPE 77872 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, October 8-10.

[11] Wang, D., Seright, R.S., Shao, Z., and Wang, J., 2007, “Key Aspects of Project Design for Polymer Flooding,” SPE 109682 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, CA, November, 11-14.

[12] Wang, Y. and Liu, H., 2006, “Commercial Success of Polymer Flooding in Daqing Oilfield-Lessons Learned,” SPE 100855 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, Australia, September 11-13.

[13] Yang, F., Wang, D., Yang, X., Sui, X., Chen, Q., and Zhang, L., 2004, “High Concentration Polymer Flooding Is Successful,” SPE 88454 paper presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, October 18-20.

[14] Yang, F., Wang, D., Wang, G., Sui, X., Liu, W., and Kan, C., 2006, “Study on High-Concentration Polymer Flooding to Further Enhance Oil Recovery,” SPE 101202 paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, September 24-27.

Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

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