Development of a Mechanistic Numerical Simulator for Preformed Particle Gel Applications in Non-Crossflow Heterogeneous Reservoirs

Abstract

Water channeling is caused by reservoir heterogeneities that lead to the development of high-permeability streaks. A recent interest in microgel treatment using preformed particle gels (PPGs) has drawn more attention to reducing excess water production, improving sweep efficiency, and enhancing macroscopic oil recovery. The objective of this paper is to gain an inclusive understanding of PPG transport mechanisms through heterogeneous reservoirs. A numerical simulator was developed to characterize the propagation of PPGs through given reservoir. The simulator was used to optimize the gel treatment design to enhance oil recovery from un-swept, low-permeability, and oil-rich zones. A novel core flooding experiment was conducted to validate the developed mechanistic models. The experimental results using heterogeneous permeability model without cross flow showed large incremental oil recovery from the low permeability sand pack after treatment with PPGs. The developed models were implemented into the gel transport reservoir simulator to aid in the design and to optimize the water control processes using PPGs. The results obtained from the simulator indicated a good match with core flooding experiment results. The sensitivity analysis showed incremental oil recovery was strongly dependent on the permeability contrast, PPG concentration, and PPG treatment size.

Meeting Name

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (2015: Sep. 28-30, Houston, TX)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Floods; Gels; Petroleum Engineering; Petroleum Reservoir Engineering; Petroleum Reservoir Evaluation; Sensitivity Analysis; Simulators; Enhance Oil Recoveries; Heterogeneous Reservoirs; Mechanistic Models; Numerical Simulators; Permeability Contrasts; Reservoir Heterogeneity; Reservoir Simulator; Transport Mechanism; Oil Well Flooding

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-1510813229

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Sep 2015

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