The novel technology for reservoir stimulation: in situ generation of carbon dioxide for the residual oil recovery

Abstract

Abstract The gas and chemical flooding for reservoir stimulation with residual hydrocarbons reserves are highly relevant problem of current oil and gas recovery strategy. The objective of this paper is laboratory study and field implementation of new gas-EOR technology—in situ carbon dioxide generation technique for CO2-liquid slug formation under oil displacement, increasing the reservoir sweep efficiency and residual oil recovery. This paper presents a summary of a wide range of laboratory tests conducted on different core samples and chemical compositions. Several physical and hydrodynamic phenomena of in situ CO2 generation in highly permeable zones of a porous medium have been investigated as a part of complex study, which involved laboratory tests on the field-scale industrial technology applications, determination of optimal concentrations of foaming agents and inhibiting additives in gas-releasing solutions, etc. The results of laboratory experiments showed that the incremental recovery ranged between 30 and 35% oil original in place. The unique results of the field implementation provide developing an optimal technological scheme of reservoir stimulation with residual oil reserves both onshore and offshore oil fields. Technology of in situ CO2 generation was applied on the group of wells on Penglai offshore oil field (Bohai Bay). Incremental oil production for field operation was 37,740 bbl of crude oil. Theoretical and laboratory studies, as well as the outcomes of industrial implementation of a new method of residual oil recovery, using a CO2-slug confirm technology and economic profitability of the proposed solution.

Keywords

• Carbon dioxide
• Gas flooding
• In situ generation
• Oil displacement
• Sweep efficiency
• Gas–liquid slug