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Results
Abstract Proper application of surfactant is critical to the completion process. It not only enhances initial production (IP), but helps sustain long-term production. Conventional wisdom suggests that the use of a nonemulsifying surfactant will work appropriately across most low-permeability reservoirs. Laboratory and field results, however, suggest that a weakly emulsifying surfactant is, in fact, far more efficient in solubilizing and mobilizing oil globules. In this paper, an experimental toolbox and key strategies are presented for properly selecting surfactants for specific reservoir conditions. Dynamic surface tension, emulsion tendency, oil recovery, wettability and adsorption tests were all considered to select the proper surfactant for the case study. On the basis of these results, the field performance of both the nonemulsifying and weakly emulsifying surfactants are evaluated using production data from the Eagle Ford. The production-enhancement data appears to correspond well to lab results and strongly suggests that weakly emulsifying surfactants are superior at enhancing production.
Abstract A typical assumption for promoting the use of surfactants is that traditional surfactants will work appropriately across a large gamut of fields, but our laboratory tests show that inappropriate application leads to much lower efficiency of the oil recovery and thereby diminished production. Operators must understand how surfactants extract the oil and then select surfactants cautiously in order to maximize recovery and minimize risk. This paper presents a study on surfactant chemicals and their most relevant parameters. In particular, the key characteristic of surfactant additives in unconventional oil and gas formations was found to be the emulsion tendency. It was found that a weakly emulsifying surfactant was more capable of solubilizing and mobilizing additional oil globules via self association. In stark constrast to a conventional non-emulsifying surfactant, the correct application of a weakly emulsifying surfactant led to better well cleanup and a higher ultimate oil recovery.
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Utica Shale Formation (0.89)
- North America > United States > Texas > West Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.89)
- North America > United States > Texas > Sabinas - Rio Grande Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.89)
- (9 more...)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (0.50)
- Production and Well Operations > Production Chemistry, Metallurgy and Biology > Downhole chemical treatments and fluid compatibility (0.50)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management > Drillstem/well testing (0.34)