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Collaborating Authors
Fluid Characterization
Feasibility Study of Miscible Gas Injection in a Carbonate Oil Reservoir; A Systematic Experimental and Simulation Approach
Kallehbasti, Mehdi Alipour (NIOC) | Paroodbari, Javad Rostami (Schlumberger) | Alizadeh, Nasser (Schlumberger) | Ravari, Reza Rostami (University of Stavanger) | Amani, Mahmood (Texas A&M University at Qatar)
Abstract Gas injection is a common practice in many carbonate oil fields; however, there is a lot of debate around the viability of economical enhanced oil recovery by miscible gas injection. For a correct simulation of miscible gas injection and monitoring the progress of the miscible front in the reservoir, a compositional reservoir simulation is needed. Fluid characterization is one of the most important parts of this simulation. In this paper, fluid characterization for such a mechanism is discussed and a systematic approach is presented which could be used in any other similar study. The dynamic reservoir simulation is also brought at the end for comparison. The carbonate reservoir of the field of interest, contains 900 million barrels of under-saturated, 34 API degrees oil, with initial reservoir pressure of 8200 psi. After building a PVT model and adjusting the Equation of State (EOS), the Minimum Miscibility Pressure (MMP) of four different injection gases (N2, CO2, associated gas and sales gas) were calculated with different methods. Swelling test and slim tube test were also conducted which were used to cross check the EOS tuning. Although, MMPs in all cases were much lower than initial reservoir pressure, their effects on recovery factor were different. A compositional reservoir model was built based on the tuned EOS and the effects of all injection gases in different scenarios were examined. The procedures as well as the main results are explained in this paper.
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Gas-injection methods (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Fluid modeling, equations of state (1.00)
Abstract This paper describes a workflow that was applied to a carbonate field in Oman to derive fracture and effective permeability models that were validated with multiple blind wells and reservoir simulation. The studied block is the largest and most faulted within a field which is currently under water-flood FDP. The study was kicked off with extensive borehole image interpretation. In parallel, several high resolution seismic inversions and spectral imaging attributes were generated as drivers to geological and fracture modelling. High resolution seismic was used to highlight subtle faults. Facies changes were also visible from seismic as seen in cored wells. Sequential geological modelling of GR, density, porosity and SW was carried out and constrained by seismic attributes. The derived fracture frequency logs were compared against geological, structural and seismic drivers in a process called driver ranking. The results confirmed the role of faults as well as facies being primary controls of fracturing. Subsequently, the screened and cross-correlated potential drivers were carried forward to constrain the fracture models. Multiple stochastic realizations were derived through neural network training and testing and an average model was kept. Final models were validated against hidden BHI data. A new BHI was used to confirm model prediction. Different types of dynamic data in non-BHI wells were also used to validate the fracture models as specific production/injection related issues could be directly linked to presence of fractures. These data include PLT, PTA and tracer tests from which injectivity issues and short circuiting were explained by higher fracture densities and corridors derived from modeling. Through dynamic calibration, the fracture model was converted to fracture permeability. The fracture permeability is the product of fracture density and a scaling factor derived from history matching. Subsequently, the addition of matrix permeability and fracture permeability will determine the effective permeability. This Keffective was directly used in the reservoir simulator without upscaling since it was part of the same grid hosting the fracture models. The results were encouraging as the simulation was smooth and error-free.
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Seismic Interpretation (0.37)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Borehole Seismic Surveying (0.34)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying > Seismic Modeling (0.34)
Abstract Downhole pressure and temperature sensors have been installed either separately as stand-alone sensors hanged on the production tubing of a well or jointly with Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) or Intelligent Well Completions (IWC). However, their utilization thus far has been limited to static/flowing bottom-hole pressures measurement for buildup/drawdown pressure tests analysis or ESP/intelligent well performance monitoring. Eighty-eight (88) wells located offshore Saudi Arabia have been equipped with ESPs combined with downhole pressure and temperature sensors installed at the intake and discharge of the pumps. Each well was equipped with a surface coriolis meter to measure the total liquid flow rate and water-cut assuming that the well's production will be maintained above the bubble point pressure. However, the coriolis meters’ readings have become erroneous ever since the wells’ flowing wellhead pressure declined to and below the saturation pressure due to the flow of liberated gas through the meters. In order to compensate for the meters’ measurement deviation, wellhead samples had to be collected and analyzed to determine the wells water-cuts where the total flow measurement was still acceptable. Alternatively, other means of multiphase flow rate measurements were used. This has proven to be costly and time consuming. This paper proposes a technique which uses real-time data transmitted from existing surface and subsurface sensors to calculate the water-cut and flow rate of each well and avoid the risky and costly field trips for wellhead sample collection and analysis. In addition, the paper describes an innovative technique to estimate the error in the measured density and calculated water-cut based on the bubble point pressure which accurately determines the application envelope of this method. The paper provides examples to illustrate the validity of the proposed technique in comparison with measured and sampled water-cuts which were collected above and below the bubble point pressure. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on the main issues impacting the method's reliability.
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Conformance improvement (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (1.00)
- Production and Well Operations > Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring > Production logging (1.00)
Abstract A Jurrasic oilfield in Saudi Arabia is characterized by black oil in the crest and with mobile heavy oil underneath and all underlain by a tar mat at the oil-water contact. The viscosities in the black oil section of the column are fairly similar and are quite manageable from a production standpoint. In contrast, the mobile heavy oil section of the column contains a large continuous increase in asphaltene content with increasing depth extending to the tar mat. The tar shows very high asphaltene content but not monotonically increasing with depth. Because viscosity depends exponentially on asphaltene content in these oils, the observed viscosity varies from several to ~ 1000 centipoise in the mobile heavy oil and increases to far greater viscosities in the tar mat. Both the excessive viscosity of the heavy oil and the existence of the tar mat represent major, distinct challenges in oil production. Conventional PVT modeling of this oil column grossly fails to account for these observations. Indeed, the very large height in this oil column represents a stringent challenge for any corresponding fluid model. A simple new formalism to characterize the asphaltene nanoscience in crude oils, the Yen-Mullins model, has enabled the industry's first predictive equation of state (EoS) for asphaltene gradients, the Flory-Huggins-Zuo (FHZ) EoS. For low GOR oils such as those in this field, the FHZ EoS reduces to the simple gravity term. Robust application of the FHZ EoS employing the Yen-Mullins model accounts for the major property variations in the oil column and by extension the tar mat as well. Moreover, as these crude oils are largely equilibrated throughout the field, reservoir connectivity is indicated in this field. This novel asphaltene science is dramatically improving understanding of important constraints on oil production in oil reservoirs.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East > Saudi Arabia (0.48)
Abstract The paper presents a C7+ characterization procedure for the PC-SAFT equation of state. The characterization procedure was applied to model both routine and EOR PVT for a Middle East reservoir fluid. The injection gas contained 60 mole% of CO2. No other parameter adjustment was needed than to determine the optimum binary interaction parameters for CO2. Among the data matched was a liquid-liquid critical point on a swelling curve for a CO2 mol% of 43. The PC-SAFT simulation results suggest that the fluid for this CO2 concentration has two critical points. The one at the lower temperature agrees with the critical point found in the swelling test. The study shows that the potential of the PC-SAFT equation of state in the oil industry is not limited to modeling of asphaltene precipitation and other specialized applications. Extensive routine and EOR PVT data including a minimum miscibility pressure has been modeled using the PC-SAFT equation. Unlike cubic equations, a volume correction does not have to be applied to match liquid densities.
- North America > United States (0.46)
- Asia > Middle East (0.28)
- Research Report > Experimental Study (0.54)
- Research Report > New Finding (0.34)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Materials > Chemicals > Commodity Chemicals > Petrochemicals (0.31)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Fluid modeling, equations of state (1.00)
Abstract Understanding the properties of formation fluid is a critical step in reservoir characterization. The use of Logging While Drilling (LWD) based fluid sampling becomes increasingly important in high risk scenarios. The LWD environment is significantly different from that of Wireline (WL) for sampling operations as the dynamic filtrate invasion is still in effect. LWD sampling is a relatively new technology and its sampling efficiency compared to WL sampling is not well known. This study aims to understand the effects of dynamic invasion processes on LWD fluid sampling and compare its performance with WL based fluid sampling. The results of the simulation study performed revealed that when the wait time after the drilling is optimized, LWD can provide cleaner samples in shorter cleanup time than WL sampling. It also revealed that the reservoir fluid breakthrough time would be shorter in LWD sampling compared to that of WL. This study indicates that with proper modeling, an optimized sampling program can be executed to meet the objectives of the LWD sampling operations in the most economic manner.
- Research Report (0.34)
- Overview (0.34)
- Well Drilling > Drilling Measurement, Data Acquisition and Automation > Logging while drilling (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Formation Evaluation & Management > Open hole/cased hole log analysis (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization (1.00)
Phase Behavior and Displacement Characteristics for CO2 EOR with a Reservoir Fluid from a Middle Eastern Offshore Reservoir
Takahashi, Satoru (JOGMEC) | Okabe, Hiroshi (JOGMEC) | Mitsuishi, Hiroshi (JOGMEC) | Kawahara, Hiroshi (INPEX Corporation) | Al-Shehhi, Hamad Rashed (ADMA-OPCO) | Al-Hammadi, Hamdan Mohamed (ADMA-OPCO)
Abstract This describes the results of extensive phase behavior and slim-tube analyses for CO2 EOR study in a Middle Eastern offshore reservoir. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of CO2 injection to the target reservoir and to reduce uncertainties based on laboratory and simulation studies. This study is focused on solubility and slim-tube tests in the laboratory studies, and its analyses using an equation of state (EOS) model that reproduces the majority of conventional PVT and solubility swelling results for an associated hydrocarbon gas and oil system. We performed conventional PVT and solubility swelling tests for a CO2-Oil system successfully. With the results of solubility tests, an EOS model was established and tuned for predicting the solubility behavior in the mixing fluid between CO2 and the target reservoir oil within sufficiently acceptable ranges. In addition, we conducted a series of slim-tube tests with CO2 and a synthetic hydrocarbon gas, which is similar compositions to the associated hydrocarbon gas, at some pressure levels. In comparison between CO2 and the synthetic hydrocarbon gas injection, there is a significant difference of oil recovery at relatively low pressure, indicating that CO2 injection is more effective than the synthetic hydrocarbon gas injection. Results of slim-tube tests with CO2 show that the oil recovery reaches greater than 90% at any pressure level, but the displacements of oil at the outlet of slim-tube by the visual cell observations appear in different manners. We simulated slim-tube tests with the adequate EOS model for CO2 injection under carefully arranged simulation conditions. As a result, we confirmed that simulated gas saturation and k-value profiles are consistent with the visual cell observations, and this displacement of oil by CO2 is characterized as condensing/vaporizing drive. These results confirm the effectiveness of CO2 injection to the target reservoir and lessen the uncertainties of fluid interaction at the laboratory scale.
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East > UAE (0.28)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Gas-injection methods (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Chemical flooding methods (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Fluid modeling, equations of state (1.00)
Abstract It is fundamental to pilot and deploy IOR/EOR initiatives to improve recovery from petroleum reservoirs using cost effective methods, ensuring a continuous supply of production that would meet the ever-increasing demand for energy. Under-Balanced Drilling (UBD) technology proved worthy as a valuable initiative in the redevelopment strategy of a Giant Carbonate reservoir located in the Middle East. It improved well deliverability especially in low permeability reservoir zones. The strategy for this has been to deploy 3-4000 feet laterals to maximize reservoir contact to such tight units or drill as far as possible to have maximum flow input/productivity. Horizontalization (non-UBD), together with stimulation has been going on for many years with mixed success as recent production log surveys showed negligible contribution from several wells completed in these low permeability units. In 2011, well-X was drilled underbalanced to assess the value of this technology in augmenting productivity and improving reservoir characterization. Significant improvement in Productivity Index was accomplished by minimizing damage from drilling and completion operations. In addition, considerable knowledge was acquired from Flowing While Drilling (FWD) data and multi-rate tests in four segments of the production zone. Real-time geosteering was actively used to account for changes in the reservoir architecture. Analysis of the FWD data has derived in new understanding of the dynamic nature of the reservoir's South-central region, highlighting sectors of high permeability, fractures, tight areas, different pressure regimes and varying fluid composition. Furthermore, despite the innovative nature of the technology, drilling and completion was very well controlled by the Well Construction teams, resulting in costs not significantly higher than normal over-balanced wells. The enhanced reservoir knowledge that UBD delivers as shown from well-X will result in improved recovery efficiency and possible delayed water production. Moreover, it is a lead value improvement technology that will meet strategic business objectives with minimum risk and lowest Unit Technical Cost.
- Asia > Middle East (0.88)
- Europe (0.88)
- North America > United States > Texas (0.68)
- North America > United States > Texas > Permian Basin > Yeso Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Permian Basin > Yates Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Permian Basin > Wolfcamp Formation (0.99)
- (21 more...)
Modeling of Asphaltene Precipitation in Heavy Oil Reservoirs Using Hydrate-Flory-Huggins Model
Nikookar, M.. (IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company) | Sahranavard, L.. (IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company) | Roayaei, E.. (IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company) | Emadi, M. A. (IOR Research Institute, National Iranian Oil Company) | Pazuki, G. R. (Department of chemical Engineering Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran)
Abstract In this study, an equation of state (EOS) was developed based on volume correlation in predicting phase behavior of pure fluids. The Average Absolute Deviations (AAD %) of the modified EOS are 1.116, 4.318 and 2.93 for the saturated pressure, liquid density and vapor volume, respectively. The results of the proposed EOS are compared with those of Peng-Robinson (PR) and Modified Peng-Robinson (M-PR) equations of state. In the next step, the modified EOS was coupled with the hydrate-Flory-Huggins Gibbs energy model in order to predict asphaltene precipitation phase behavior in the crude oil. The results show that the hydrate-Flory-Huggins model can more accurately predict asphaltene precipitation than the original Flory-Huggins model.
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Fluid modeling, equations of state (1.00)
- Production and Well Operations > Production Chemistry, Metallurgy and Biology > Inhibition and remediation of hydrates, scale, paraffin / wax and asphaltene (1.00)
- Facilities Design, Construction and Operation > Flow Assurance > Precipitates (paraffin, asphaltenes, etc.) (1.00)
Abstract The Microemulsion phase behavior model based on oleic-aqueous-surfactant pseudo-phase equilibrium, commonly used in chemical flooding simulators, is coupled to Gas-Oil-Water phase equilibrium in our new four-fluid-phase, fully implicit InHouse Research Reservoir Simulator (IHRRS). The method consists in splitting the equilibrium in two stages, where all the components other than surfactant are equilibrated first (e.g. using a black-oil, K-value or equation of state model), and the resulting Gas, Oil and Water phases are then lumped into pseudo-phases to be equilibrated using the Microemulsion model. This subdivision in stages is conceptual, and at each converged time-step the four phases (Gas, Oil, Water and Microemulsion, when simultaneously present) will be in equilibrium with each other. The fluid properties (such as densities, viscosities and interfacial tensions) and rock-fluid properties (such as relative permeabilities), required in the transport equations, are evaluated with models from well-known industrial or academic simulators. Surfactant flooding being usually implemented as a tertiary recovery mechanism, on fields for which complete models that we do not wish to modify already exist, particular care is devoted to ensuring continuity of the physics at the onset of surfactant injection. Our code is validated against a reference academic chemical flooding simulator, on 1D corefloods where the original hydrocarbons in place form a dead-Oil phase, possibly with free dry-Gas. Some numerical aspects of our implementation such as numerical dispersion versus time-step size and nonlinear convergence performance are also discussed. As an application example of our code where it is necessary to account for four phases in equilibrium, we consider a scenario where the chemical flood is preceded by a vaporizing Gas drive.
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Simulation (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Waterflooding (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Improved and Enhanced Recovery > Chemical flooding methods (1.00)
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Fluid Characterization > Phase behavior and PVT measurements (1.00)