Home
Reservoir Physics – Energy Technology and CO2 Storage (CCUS)

Integrated EOR in Fractured and Heterogeneous Reservoirs

The IEOR project emphasizes research on Integrated EOR from fractured and heterogeneous reservoirs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT and nuclear tracer imaging are used to monitor flow in fractured reservoir blocks or core plugs at varous wettabilities to determine displacement mechanisms and the most efficient strategy for oil recovery.

Main content

Collaboration between 7Univ. in France, UK, USA, Canada and Norway and 5 oil companies emphasize research on Integrated EOR in fractured and heterogeneous reservoirs. Complementary high spatial resolution MRI and nuclear tracer imaging in-situ fluid saturation techniques are used in fractured reservoir blocks and plugs at various scales and at different wettabilities to determine the most efficient oil displacement mechanisms. A larger pressure vessel taking 1ft long blocks at supercritical conditions for CO2 floods is constructed. Numerical simulations will be performed using ECLIPSE and Sendra as well as pore scale modelling. The project has obtained industry support from 5 oil companies for 2009-2013; 4 Norwegian candidates for the proposed PhD and post doc positions are available. Last year we graduated 11 students, 5 PhDs and 6 MS; with 64% being female students. This semester 11 new Master students, all Norwegians, are all ready to start working on this project emphasizing the following EOR techniques applied individually or combined for an integrated approach:

-          CO2 floods at miscible and immiscible conditions
 

-          Mobility control using foam and polymer gels to reduce fracture permeabilities
 

-          Cost savings by injecting surfactants for fracture surface wettability alteration amounting to injection of only 1%PV; promotes wetting phase bridges across fractures and thus provide differential pressure gradients for the wetting phase in subsequent chase fluid injections; using water or CO2.
 

-          Numerical simulators and pore scale modelling will be used to match the in-situ fluid movements.
 

-          IEOR-strategy: Apply only 1%PV surfactant pre-flush in moderately oil-wet rock to alter the fracture surface wettability conditions to preferable water wet to obtain wetting phase bridges, then subsequently injecting either foam or polymer as fracture permeability reduction agent, with the objective to divert the subsequent water floods and/or CO2 floods into the matrix blocks

The following EOR techniques are applied individually or combined for an integrated approach:

  • CO2 floods at miscible and immiscible conditions
  • Mobility control using foam and polymer gels to reduce fracture permeabilities
  • Cost savings by injecting surfactants for fracture surface wettability alteration amounting to injection of only 1%PV; promotes wetting phase bridges across fractures and thus provide differential pressure gradients for the wetting phase in subsequent chase fluid injections; using water or CO2.
  • Numerical simulators and pore scale modelling will be used to match the in-situ fluid movements.
  • IEOR-strategy: Apply only 1%PV surfactant pre-flush in moderately oil-wet rock to alter the fracture surface wettability conditions to preferable water wet to obtain wetting phase bridges, then subsequently injecting either foam or polymer as fracture permeability reduction agent, with the objective to divert the subsequent water floods and/or CO2 floods into the matrix blocks