Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism

Abstract Gas flooding through the injection of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 is generally performed to achieve optimum oil recovery from underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, miscible flooding, which is the most efficient way to achieve maximum oil recovery, is not suitable for all reservoirs due to...

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Main Authors: Parisa Behnoud, Mohammad Reza Khorsand Movaghar, Ehsan Sabooniha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39706-1
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author Parisa Behnoud
Mohammad Reza Khorsand Movaghar
Ehsan Sabooniha
author_facet Parisa Behnoud
Mohammad Reza Khorsand Movaghar
Ehsan Sabooniha
author_sort Parisa Behnoud
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gas flooding through the injection of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 is generally performed to achieve optimum oil recovery from underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, miscible flooding, which is the most efficient way to achieve maximum oil recovery, is not suitable for all reservoirs due to challenge in maintaining pressure conditions. In this circumstances, a near-miscible process may be more practical. This study focuses on pore-scale near-miscible $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –Oil displacement, using available literature criteria to determine the effective near-miscible region. For the first time, two separate numerical approaches are coupled to examine the behavior of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –oil at the lower-pressure boundary of the specified region. The first one, the Phase-field module, was implemented to trace the movement of fluids in the displacement $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –Oil process by applying the Navier–Stokes equation. Next is the TDS module which incorporates the effect of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 mass transfer into the oil phase by coupling classical Fick’s law to the fluids interface to track the variation of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 diffusion coefficient. To better recognize the oil recovery mechanism in pore-scale, qualitative analysis indicates that interface is moved into the by-passed oil due to low interfacial tension in the near-miscible region. Moreover, behind the front ahead of the main flow stream, the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 phase can significantly displace almost all the bypassed oil in normal pores and effectively decrease the large amounts in small pores. The results show that by incorporating mass transfer and capillary cross-flow mechanisms in the simulations, the displacement of by-passed oil in pores can be significantly improved, leading to an increase in oil recovery from 92 to over 98%, which is comparable to the result of miscible gas injection. The outcome of this research emphasizes the significance of applying the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 -EOR process under near-miscible operating conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-3873fa982c4546eeaba56d5dac6214112023-11-26T13:19:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-08-0113111610.1038/s41598-023-39706-1Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanismParisa Behnoud0Mohammad Reza Khorsand Movaghar1Ehsan Sabooniha2Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic)Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic)Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic)Abstract Gas flooding through the injection of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 is generally performed to achieve optimum oil recovery from underground hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, miscible flooding, which is the most efficient way to achieve maximum oil recovery, is not suitable for all reservoirs due to challenge in maintaining pressure conditions. In this circumstances, a near-miscible process may be more practical. This study focuses on pore-scale near-miscible $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –Oil displacement, using available literature criteria to determine the effective near-miscible region. For the first time, two separate numerical approaches are coupled to examine the behavior of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –oil at the lower-pressure boundary of the specified region. The first one, the Phase-field module, was implemented to trace the movement of fluids in the displacement $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 –Oil process by applying the Navier–Stokes equation. Next is the TDS module which incorporates the effect of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 mass transfer into the oil phase by coupling classical Fick’s law to the fluids interface to track the variation of $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 diffusion coefficient. To better recognize the oil recovery mechanism in pore-scale, qualitative analysis indicates that interface is moved into the by-passed oil due to low interfacial tension in the near-miscible region. Moreover, behind the front ahead of the main flow stream, the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 phase can significantly displace almost all the bypassed oil in normal pores and effectively decrease the large amounts in small pores. The results show that by incorporating mass transfer and capillary cross-flow mechanisms in the simulations, the displacement of by-passed oil in pores can be significantly improved, leading to an increase in oil recovery from 92 to over 98%, which is comparable to the result of miscible gas injection. The outcome of this research emphasizes the significance of applying the $$\text{CO}_{2}$$ CO 2 -EOR process under near-miscible operating conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39706-1
spellingShingle Parisa Behnoud
Mohammad Reza Khorsand Movaghar
Ehsan Sabooniha
Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
Scientific Reports
title Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
title_full Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
title_fullStr Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
title_full_unstemmed Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
title_short Numerical analysis of pore-scale CO2-EOR at near-miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
title_sort numerical analysis of pore scale co2 eor at near miscible flow condition to perceive the displacement mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39706-1
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