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Flow Behavior and Displacement Mechanisms of Nanoparticle Stabilized Foam Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Teng Lu

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

  • Zhaomin Li

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

  • Yan Zhou

    (College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China)

Abstract

In this study, nanoparticle stabilized foam experiments were performed in bulk tests, micromodels, and sandpacks at elevated temperatures and pressures to investigate the flow behavior and displacement mechanisms for enhanced heavy oil recovery. The results from the bulk tests showed that the stability of the foam and oil in water (O/W) emulsion improved when silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 ) were added, compared with the anionic surfactant alone. Also, the SiO 2 nanoparticles increased the dilatational viscoelasticity of the gas-water interface, which is an important fluid property and mechanism for improving heavy oil recovery. The micromodel studies demonstrated that several gas bubbles and oil droplets were stably dispersed during the nanoparticle stabilized foam flooding. The gas bubbles and oil droplets plug pores through capture-plugging and bridge-plugging, thereby increasing the sweep efficiency. The trapped residual oil is gradually pushed to the pores by the elastic forces of bubbles. Subsequently, the residual oil is pulled into oil threads by the flowing gas bubbles. Then, a greater improvement in displacement efficiency is obtained. The sandpack tests showed that the tertiary oil recovery of nanoparticle stabilized foam flooding can reach about 27% using 0.5 wt % SiO 2 nanoparticles. The foam slug size of 0.3 pore volume (PV) and the gas liquid ratio (GLR) of 3:1 were found to be the optimum conditions in terms of heavy oil recovery by nanoparticle stabilized foam flooding in this study. A continuous nanoparticle dispersion and N 2 could be more effective compared with the cyclic injection pattern.

Suggested Citation

  • Teng Lu & Zhaomin Li & Yan Zhou, 2017. "Flow Behavior and Displacement Mechanisms of Nanoparticle Stabilized Foam Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:4:p:560-:d:96277
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiankang Xin & Yiqiang Li & Gaoming Yu & Weiying Wang & Zhongzhi Zhang & Maolin Zhang & Wenli Ke & Debin Kong & Keliu Wu & Zhangxin Chen, 2017. "Non-Newtonian Flow Characteristics of Heavy Oil in the Bohai Bay Oilfield: Experimental and Simulation Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Wei Guo & Zhendong Wang & Youhong Sun & Xiaoshu Lü & Yuan Wang & Sunhua Deng & Qiang Li, 2020. "Effects of Packer Locations on Downhole Electric Heater Performance: Experimental Test and Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, 2019. "A Novel Approach to Stabilize Foam Using Fluorinated Surfactants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-12, March.

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