6 Chemical Flooding
6 Chemical Flooding
6 Chemical Flooding
EOR Processes
6.1
6 Chemical flooding
6.1 Micellar/polymer flooding
6.2 Alkaline flooding
6.3 Design procedures
6.4 Exercise on oil recovery with chemical flooding
EOR Processes
6.2
6.1
Micellar/polymer flooding
Process description
The process involves injecting a surfactant slug
followed by a slug of polymer solution. Surfactant
slug consists of water, surfactant, an electrolyte and
a co-solvent (alcohol). The polymer solution is
polymer-thickened water.
Process rationale
(a) Surfactant is injected to reduce oil-water IFT,
increasing the capillary number, thus decreasing
residual oil saturation. This results in improving
displacement efficiency.
(b) The polymer slug reduces mobility ratio, thus
improving volumetric sweep efficiency.
EOR Processes
6.3
EOR Processes
6.4
MP flooding characteristics
EOR Processes
6.5
Mobility
Buffer
Slug
Preflush
Mobility buffer
Slug
Preflush
250-2500g/cm3
polymer
1-20% Surfactant
0-1% Alcohol
Stabilizers
Biocide
0-100% Vpf
EOR Processes
Taper
0-5% Alcohol
0-5%Cosurfactant
0-90% Oil
Sacrificial chemicals
0-100%Vpf
Polymer
5-20%Vpf
6.6
Types of surfactants
Four types of surfactants: anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric.
(1) Anionic
The anionic monomer is associated with an
inorganic metal (a cation, usually sodium). The
monomer molecule dissociates in aqueous solution
into free cations (positively charged), and anionic
monomer (negatively charged). Anionic surfactants
are the most common in MP flooding because they
are good surfactants, relatively resistant to
retention, stable, and can be made relatively cheap.
EOR Processes
6.7
(2) Cationic
The cationic surfactant molecule contains an inorganic
anion to balance the charge. In solution it ionizes into
a positively charged monomer, and the anion. Cationic
surfactants are readily adsorbed by clays and thus not
used in MP flooding.
(3) Non-ionic
This class of surfactant does not have ionic bonds.Nonanionic surfactants are much more tolerant to high
salinities than anionic, but they are poorer surfactants.
The non-ionic surfactants are used extensively in MP
floods mainly as co-surfactants.
EOR Processes
6.8
(4) Amphoteric
This surfactant contains characteristics of two or more
of the previous classifications and therefore has not
been used for EOR processes.
EOR Processes
6.9
Anionics
Cationics
Noionics
Amphoterics
Quaternary ammonium
Alkyl-, alkyl- aryl-,
organics, pyridinum,
Aminocarboxylic
acyl-, acylamindoimidazonlinium,
acids
acyl- aminepolyglycol,
piperidinium, and
and polyol ethers
sulfononium compounds
Sulfonates,
Sulfates,
Carboxylates,
Phosphates
O
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
O -Na +
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
O
S
O - Na +
O - Na +
EOR Processes
6.10
Surfactant Monomer
Concentration
Monomers
Critical Micelle
Concentration
(CMC)
6.11
WATER
OIL
WATER
(W)
MOLECULAR
DISPERSION
IN WATER
EOR Processes
OIL
WATER
(S1)
(S2)
WATER
EXTERNAL
OIL
EXTERNAL
(O)
MOLECULAR
DISPERSION
IN OIL
6.12
EOR Processes
6.13
Species
Concentration Unit
Phase
Water
Volume Fraction
Aqueous
Oil
Volume Fraction
Oleic
Surfactant
Volume Fraction
Microemulsion
Polymer
EOR Processes
6.14
EOR Processes
6.15
EOR Processes
6.16
EOR Processes
6.17
EOR Processes
6.18
EOR Processes
6.19
6.20
EOR Processes
6.21
EOR Processes
6.22
pH = log C H +
kw =
EOR Processes
C OH C H +
C H 2O
6.23
Controlling pH
There are two methods for increasing the pH of a
reservoir fluid:
(1) By dissociation of a hydroxyl containing
species such as NaOH, or KOH.
(2) By adding chemicals that will bind with CH+.
EOR Processes
6.24
Na2CO3 CO3 + 2 Na
CO3
+ 2H 2O H 2CO3 + 2OH
NaOH Na
EOR Processes
+ OH
6.25
Surfactant formation
EOR Processes
6.26
ROCK
A-
Na+
HAo
OIL
HAo
HAw
EOR Processes
H
NaOH
A- + H+
H2O
6.27
Oil requirements
EOR Processes
6.28
Acid number
The acid number is the milligrams of potassium
hydroxide (KOH) needed to neutralize one gram
of crude oil.
The acidic species HAo is removed from the crude
oil to the aqueous phase
The aqueous phase is brought to neutral pH=7 by
adding KOH.
EOR Processes
6.29
Useful considerations
For a meaningful value, the oil must be free of acidic
additives such as corrosion inhibitors and acidic
gases such as H2S and CO2.
A good alkaline flooding candidate will have an acidic
number of 0.5 mg/g or greater.
EOR Processes
6.30
SPE FOUNDATION
The Society gratefully acknowledges
those companies that support the program
by allowing their professionals
to participate as Lecturers.
And special thanks to The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical,
and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) for their contribution to the program.
EOR Processes
6.31
Sara Thomas
PERL Canada Ltd
STSAUS@aol.com
EOR Processes
6.32
The Past :
Limited Commercial Success
FUTURE: Very Bright
Past experience
High oil prices
Scaled models
EOR Processes
6.33
Objectives
Why chemical EOR methods have not been
successful?
Process limitations
Current status of chemical floods
Recent changes that make such methods
attractive
EOR Processes
6.34
EOR Processes
6.35
160
Assumed:
Primary Rec. 33.3 %OOIP
Chem. Flood Rec. 33.3 %OIP
120
100
100
84
80
77
63 61
60
51
40
40
EOR Processes
India
UK
3 0.9
France
Germany
Romania
Denmark
Dubai
Oman
Mexico
Qatar
Nigeria
Libya
Russia
Venezuela
Abu Dhabi
Kuwait
Iraq
USA
S. Arabia
Iran
12 10 10 9
Norway
20
Brazil
26 24
China
Billion Bbls
140
Canada
180
6.36
173100 84 77 63 61 51 40 26 24 12 10 10
Assumed:
Primary Rec. 33.3 %OOIP
Chem. Flood Rec. 33.3 %OIP
7
6
7
6
5
4
3
EOR Processes
Dubai
UK
India
Oman
Norway
Brazil
Canada
Mexico
Qatar
China
Nigeria
Libya
Russia
Venezuela
Abu Dhabi
Kuwait
Iraq
USA
S. Arabia
Iran
0.9
0.6
0.3 0.2
France
2
1
Germany
Romania
4
3
Denmark
Billion Bbls
9
8
6.37
Chemical Methods
Chemical EOR methods utilize:
Polymers
Surfactants
Alkaline agents
Combinations of such chemicals
ASP (Alkali-Surfactant-Polymer) flooding
MP (Micellar-Polymer) flooding
EOR Processes
6.38
Classification
CHEMICAL METHODS
Alkali
Surfactant
Polymer
EOR Processes
Micellar
Emulsion
ASP
6.39
CHINA
300,000
Total
25,000
Total
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Polymer
Micellar
Surfactant
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
Alkaline
19
78
19
80
19
82
19
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
EOR Processes
50,000
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
6.40
Venezuela
USA
India
France
China
EOR Processes
6.41
Indonesia
USA
China
EOR Processes
6.42
EOR Processes
6.43
EOR Processes
6.44
Polymer Flooding
Loss to rock by adsorption, entrapment, salt
reactions
Loss of injectivity
Lack of control of in situ advance
High velocity shear (near wellbore), ageing, crosslinking, formation plugging
Often applied late in waterflood, making it largely
ineffective
mixing zone
drive
water
polymer slug
residual oil
water
oil
Polymer Flood
EOR Processes
6.45
650
100
620
EOR OIL
75
Projected
590
50
560
25
530
0
1989
EOR Processes
500
1991
1993
1995
6.46
EOR Processes
Sandstone
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Carbonate
Sandstone
"
"
"
"
"
"
Carbonate
Carbonate
PAA
"
"
Biopolymer
PAA
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
2
0
0
0
8
10
23
13
7
30
13
9
1.2
5
8
6
4
1.1
1.8
2.5
6.47
Surfactant Flooding
Variations
Surfactant-Polymer Flood (SP)
Low Tension Polymer Flood (LTPF)
Adsorption on rock surface
Slug dissipation due to dispersion
Slug dilution by water
mixing zone
Formation of emulsions
drive
Treatment and disposal
polymer slug
water
problems
residual oil
water
oil
Polymer Flood
EOR Processes
6.48
OIL
1,000
100
WOR
10
1984 85
EOR Processes
86
87
88
89
90
91 92
6.49
Alkaline Flooding
Process depends on mixing of alkali and oil
Oil must have acid components
Emulsification of oil, drop entrainment and
entrapment occur
Effect on displacement and sweep
efficiencies?
Polymer slugs used in some cases
Polymer alkali reactions must be accounted
for
mixing
zones
Complex process to design
low
caustic IFT
slug zone
drive
water
water
oil
residual oil
Alkaline Flood
EOR Processes
6.50
Alkaline Flooding
Field Performance
Field
EOR Processes
6.51
Alkaline-Polymer Flood
David Field, Alberta
100
1000
Oil Cut
100
10
10
Oil Rate
1
Waterflood
Alkaline-Polymer
Flood
Primary
1
0.1
1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004
EOR Processes
6.52
ASP
SAP
PAS
Sloppy Slug
polymer
alkali
drive
water
Surf
Several variations:
oil water
bank
oil
ASP Flood
Injected as
premixed slugs
or in sequence
EOR Processes
6.53
Oil Rate
50
Oil Cut
20
10
1993
EOR Processes
1994
1995
1996
6.54
Micellar Flooding
polymer
drive
water
mixing
zone
micellar
slug
EOR Processes
water
oil
bank
oil
mixing zone
6.55
Micellar Flood
Oil Cut,%; Cum. Recovery,% OIP
100
100
80
92% OIP
80
Soi 32%
60
80% OIP
60
40
40
Oil Cut
20
20
0
0
0.5
1.5
2.5
Oil Cut
0.5
1.5
2.5
6.56
1,000
Oil Cut
1
100
Oil Rate
10
Dec. 81 Dec. 82
Dec. 83
Dec. 84
Dec. 85
0.1
micellar
injection
EOR Processes
6.57
Henry S
Henry E & Henry W
80
119-R
Wilkins
60
40
Dedrick
20
0
10
12
14
6.58
EOR Processes
6.59
Other Methods
Emulsion flooding
Micellar-Alkaline-Polymer flood (MAP)
ASP-Foam process
Surfactant huff npuff
Surfactant with thermal processes
EOR Processes
6.60
EOR Processes
6.61
Scale-Up Methods
Require:
Knowledge of process variables or complete
mathematical description
Derivation of scaling groups
Model experiments
Scale-up of model results to field
Greater confidence to extend lab results to field
EOR Processes
6.62
Scaling Groups
Micellar Flood:
L
d
gh
o
Soi o L2
kkromax pt
PcLEmax
o gh
PcLE
max
P
cEAmax
qL* o L2
kkromax p
krwmax o
kromax w
Soi KLo
kkromax p
KL
KT
krEmax w
krwmax E
q*A
*
qL
Cs
S
C
oi o L,s
qE*
*
qL
Cs
Cp
Additional Groups:
Slug Size, Flood Rate, Mixing Coefficient, Oil
Recovery
Soi p
( PV)Sp = ( PV)sM
SoiM
EOR Processes
kp
vp = vM
km
Soi
p = M aM
S
oip
rP =
SoiM (1rM )
SoiP
6.63
60
Actual
50
40
30
Predicted
20
10
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
EOR Processes
6.64
EOR Processes
6.65
EOR Processes
6.66
EOR Processes
6.67
Process Evaluation
Compare field results with lab (numerical)
predictions
Relative permeability changes?
Oil bank formation? If so, what size?
Mobility control?
Fluid injectivity?
Extent of areal and vertical sweep?
Oil saturations from post-flood cores?
EOR Processes
6.68
Interpretation of Results
Large number of chemical floods with little
technical success
Field tests implemented for tax advantage
misrepresent process performance
Questionable interpretations distort process
potential
EOR Processes
6.69
Cost of Chemicals
As oil prices rise, so does cost of chemicals, but
not in the same proportion
Typical Costs:
Polymer
- $3/lb
Surfactant
- $1.20/lb
Crude oil
- $60/bbl
Caustic - $0.60/lb
Isopropanol - $20/gallon
Micellar slug - $25/bbl
EOR Processes
6.70
EOR Processes
6.71
Conclusions
Valuable insight has been gained through
chemical floods in the past failures as well as
successes
MP and ASP methods hold the greatest potential
for commercial success; polymer flooding a third
option
Chemical flooding processes must be
re-evaluated under the current technical and
economic conditions
EOR Processes
6.72
Conclusions
Chemical floods offer the only chance of
commercial success in many depleted and
waterflooded reservoirs
Chemical flooding is here to stay because it holds
the key to maximizing the reserves in our known
reservoirs
EOR Processes
6.73