EP0886035B1 - Method of enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons in an underground formation - Google Patents
Method of enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons in an underground formation Download PDFInfo
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- EP0886035B1 EP0886035B1 EP98401342A EP98401342A EP0886035B1 EP 0886035 B1 EP0886035 B1 EP 0886035B1 EP 98401342 A EP98401342 A EP 98401342A EP 98401342 A EP98401342 A EP 98401342A EP 0886035 B1 EP0886035 B1 EP 0886035B1
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- Prior art keywords
- water
- injection
- wetting fluid
- gas
- slugs
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 27
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title claims description 19
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 title claims description 9
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 title claims description 9
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 title description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 31
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000006911 nucleation Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010899 nucleation Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dihydrogen sulfide Chemical compound S RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004088 foaming agent Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000007480 spreading Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003892 spreading Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000037 hydrogen sulfide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010952 in-situ formation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000237858 Gastropoda Species 0.000 claims 7
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- PHTQWCKDNZKARW-UHFFFAOYSA-N isoamylol Chemical compound CC(C)CCO PHTQWCKDNZKARW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000195940 Bryophyta Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- -1 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000004858 capillary barrier Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001804 emulsifying effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005187 foaming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000000959 isobutyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])(C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 238000009533 lab test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000080 wetting agent Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/18—Repressuring or vacuum methods
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons
- E21B43/164—Injecting CO2 or carbonated water
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an enhanced recovery method for petroleum fluids in an underground deposit making it possible to increase the efficiency of scanning and more particularly to improve a recovery technique.
- Recovery is said to be of primary type when using energy in if you.
- the expansion of the fluids initially under high pressure in the deposit allows to recover part of the oil in place. During this phase, the pressure in the deposit can drop below the bubble point and a gas phase appears, which helps increase the recovery rate.
- the principle consists in displacing petroleum fluids by an external energy supply to the deposit. Fluids are injected into the deposit through one or more wells injection and the displaced petroleum fluids (hereinafter referred to as "oil") are recovered by production wells.
- Water can be used as a displacement fluid but its efficiency is limited. A large part of the oil remains in place, in particular because its viscosity is often much stronger than that of water. The oil also often remains trapped by narrowing of the pores due to the high interfacial tension between them and water. As the deposit is often heterogeneous, the water easily sweeps the areas the most permeable, bypassing the others, resulting in a significant loss of recovery.
- the method according to the present invention makes it possible to move fluids tankers retained in the pores of a porous underground deposit. It has a pressure injection step by one or more injection wells successively, caps of fluids intended to move the hydrocarbons in the rock-reservoirs, and a stage of recovery, by one or more production wells, of displaced hydrocarbons.
- the injection step includes the successive injection plugs of the wetting liquid which have been saturated with a gas under soluble pressure in the said wetting liquid and gas caps intended to sweep the areas more permeable, and the production stage involves the release of the prevailing pressure in the deposit, so as to generate gas bubbles in situ by nucleation in the pores of less permeable areas (part of the matrix with the most pores small) and drive the oil out to the more permeable areas where they are moved by gas caps.
- part of the dissolved gas is released in the form of bubbles preferably on the irregular surface elements and therefore on the walls of the pores.
- the nucleation effect is more marked where the density of pore walls by volume unit is the largest i.e. in areas of lower permeability with smaller pores where the oil is the most difficult to remove.
- the wetting fluid is for example water, at least one plug of water injected being saturated with pressurized carbon dioxide for example or hydrogen sulfide.
- At least one of the liquid stoppers wetting agent injected during the injection step may include water with a substance capable of making the spreading coefficient of the drops negative hydrocarbons and for example alcohol. We can thus alternate the plugs of wetting liquid, some saturated with gas under pressure, others added with the said substance, others without any additives.
- At least one of the plugs wetting liquid injected during the injection step includes added water foaming agents or surfactants, so that the release of pressure in the deposit generates the in situ formation of mosses which greatly simplifies the implementation of this type of scanning.
- the bar is provided at its two opposite ends with two end pieces which have conventionally been connected to circuits for injection and drainage of water and oil.
- the bar was prepared by the following operations to bring it successively into a state of saturation with irreducible water Swi and residual saturation with oil Sor.
- water plugs are added injected with foaming agents or surfactants.
- the pressure drop caused after injection has the effect of foaming or emulsifying these additives, which allows to greatly simplify the problems generally posed by the injection of these additives.
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Description
La présente invention concerne une méthode de récupération assistée de fluides pétroliers dans un gisement souterrain permettant d'accroítre l'efficacité du balayage et plus particulièrement d'améliorer une technique de récupération.The present invention relates to an enhanced recovery method for petroleum fluids in an underground deposit making it possible to increase the efficiency of scanning and more particularly to improve a recovery technique.
Pour mieux déplacer les fluides pétroliers vers les puits de production, on peut recourir à des méthodes de récupération de type primaire ou secondaire bien connues des spécialistes. La récupération est dite de type primaire quand on utilise l'énergie in situ. La détente des fluides initialement sous pression élevée dans le gisement permet de récupérer une partie du pétrole en place. Au cours de cette phase, la pression dans le gisement peut descendre au-dessous du point de bulle et une phase gazeuse apparaít, qui contribue à augmenter le taux de récupération.To better move petroleum fluids towards production wells, we can use well-known primary or secondary recovery methods specialists. Recovery is said to be of primary type when using energy in if you. The expansion of the fluids initially under high pressure in the deposit allows to recover part of the oil in place. During this phase, the pressure in the deposit can drop below the bubble point and a gas phase appears, which helps increase the recovery rate.
Pour éviter une baisse trop importante de la pression dans le gisement, on a plutôt recours à des méthodes de récupération de type secondaire. Le principe consiste à déplacer les fluides pétroliers par un apport d'énergie extérieure au gisement. Des fluides sont injectés dans le gisement par un ou plusieurs puits d'injection et les fluides pétroliers déplacés (ci-après désignés par "huile") sont récupérés par des puits de production.To avoid an excessive drop in the pressure in the deposit, we have rather use secondary recovery methods. The principle consists in displacing petroleum fluids by an external energy supply to the deposit. Fluids are injected into the deposit through one or more wells injection and the displaced petroleum fluids (hereinafter referred to as "oil") are recovered by production wells.
L'eau peut être utilisée comme fluide de déplacement mais son efficacité est limitée. Une grande partie de l'huile reste en place du fait notamment que sa viscosité est souvent bien plus forte que celle de l'eau. L'huile en outre reste souvent piégée par les rétrécissements des pores en raison de la tension interfaciale importante entre elle et l'eau. Comme le gisement est souvent hétérogène, l'eau balaie facilement les zones les plus perméables, en contournant les autres, d'où une perte importante de récupération.Water can be used as a displacement fluid but its efficiency is limited. A large part of the oil remains in place, in particular because its viscosity is often much stronger than that of water. The oil also often remains trapped by narrowing of the pores due to the high interfacial tension between them and water. As the deposit is often heterogeneous, the water easily sweeps the areas the most permeable, bypassing the others, resulting in a significant loss of recovery.
Il est connu aussi d'injecter du gaz sous pression qui pénètre dans les pores des roches et déplace une quantité importante du pétrole en place. Même si de l'eau a d'abord été injectée dans le gisement, comme cela arrive souvent, le gaz a la propriété bien connue de déplacer une quantité supplémentaire non négligeable de pétrole.It is also known to inject gas under pressure which penetrates into the pores of rocks and displaces a significant amount of the oil in place. Even if water has first injected into the deposit, as often happens, the gas has the property well known to displace a sizeable additional amount of oil.
L'inconvénient notable de cette technique de récupération au gaz, c'est qu'il est beaucoup moins visqueux que le pétrole qu'il doit déplacer et aussi que l'eau éventuellement en place. A cause de sa grande mobilité, le gaz traverse le gisement en n'utilisant que quelques chenaux les plus perméables atteignant le/les puits de production sans avoir déplacé une importante quantité d'huile.The notable drawback of this gas recovery technique is that it is much less viscous than the oil it has to move and also than the water possibly in place. Because of its great mobility, the gas crosses the deposit in using only a few of the most permeable channels reaching the well (s) production without having displaced a large quantity of oil.
Si le gisement n'est pas homogène, mais comporte des couches ou des noyaux de perméabilités différentes, cet effet est encore accentué et le gaz contournant les endroits les moins perméables arrive encore plus vite aux puits de production. Quand le gaz perce ainsi précocement sans avoir l'effet de déplacement attendu, il perd toute efficacité. Poursuivre l'injection n'a plus alors d'effet pratique.If the deposit is not homogeneous, but has layers or cores of different permeabilities, this effect is further accentuated and the gas bypassing the Least permeable places reach production wells even faster. When the gas thus pierces early without having the expected displacement effect, it loses all efficiency. Continuing the injection no longer has any practical effect.
Il est connu également de combiner les deux techniques suivant une méthode dite de WAG. On injecte successivement de l'eau et du gaz, et on répète cette séquence en alternant les bouchons d'eau et les bouchons de gaz et ceci aussi longtemps que l'on produit du pétrole dans de bonnes conditions économiques. Cette méthode d'injection combinée donne de meilleurs résultats car le gaz de chaque bouchon, plus efficace que l'eau au niveau des pores, voit sa mobilité relativement réduite par la présence du bouchon d'eau qui le précède. Mais le volume réduit des bouchons devant le chemin qu'ils doivent parcourir entre les puits d'injection et de production, et l'hétérogénéité du gisement font que l'efficacité du balayage macroscopique ne dure pas longtemps. Des agents tensio-actifs peuvent être ajoutés à l'eau pour abaisser la tension interfaciale eau-huile, et améliorer l'efficacité de ces injections combinées. La mousse qui se forme en présence du gaz, a pour effet de réduire la mobilité du gaz et les digitations. Une telle méthode avec bouchons alternés est décrite par exemple par le brevet US N° 5 465 790. It is also known to combine the two techniques according to a method called WAG. We successively inject water and gas, and repeat this sequence by alternating the water caps and the gas caps and this too long as oil is produced under good economic conditions. This combined injection method gives better results because the gas of each plug, more efficient than water at pore level, sees its mobility relatively reduced by the presence of the water plug which precedes it. But the reduced volume of plugs in front of the path they must travel between the injection wells and production, and the heterogeneity of the deposit make the scanning efficiency macroscopic does not last long. Surfactants can be added to water to lower the water-oil interfacial tension, and improve the efficiency of these combined injections. The foam that forms in the presence of gas has the effect of reduce gas mobility and digitations. Such a method with alternating plugs is described for example by US Patent No. 5,465,790.
Par le brevet FR 2 735 524 du demandeur, on connaít une méthode permettant de déplacer des fluides pétroliers hors d'un gisement souterrain au moyen d'injections successives, par un ou plusieurs puits d'injection, de bouchons d'un fluide mouillant tel que de l'eau, et de bouchons de gaz, et la récupération, par un ou plusieurs puits de production, des fluides pétroliers déplacés par le fluide mouillant et le gaz injectés. Cette méthode consiste essentiellement à additionner dans au moins un bouchon du liquide mouillant injecté, une quantité de substances propre à rendre négatif le coefficient d'étalement. On utilise notamment de l'alcool dans la proportion de 1 à 5% en poids par exemple. Il peut s'agir par exemple d'un alcool de faible poids moléculaire de la classe de l'alcool isobutylique ou isoamylique. On peut utiliser aussi des composés polaires légers tels que des amines, des produits fluorés ou des acides légers.By patent FR 2 735 524 of the applicant, we know a method for to move petroleum fluids out of an underground deposit by means of injections successive, by one or more injection wells, of plugs of a wetting fluid such only water, and gas caps, and recovery, by one or more wells of production, petroleum fluids displaced by the wetting fluid and the injected gas. This method essentially consists in adding in at least one cap of the injected wetting liquid, a quantity of substances capable of making the spread coefficient. Alcohol is used in the proportion of 1 to 5% by weight for example. It may, for example, be a low-weight alcohol molecular of the class of isobutyl or isoamyl alcohol. We can also use light polar compounds such as amines, fluorinated products or acids light.
Le procédé selon la présente invention permet de déplacer des fluides pétroliers retenus dans les pores d'un gisement souterrain poreux. Il comporte une étape d'injection sous pression par un ou plusieurs puits d'injection successivement, de bouchons de fluides destinés à déplacer les hydrocarbures dans les roches-réservoirs, et une étape de récupération, par un ou plusieurs puits de production, des hydrocarbures déplacés.The method according to the present invention makes it possible to move fluids tankers retained in the pores of a porous underground deposit. It has a pressure injection step by one or more injection wells successively, caps of fluids intended to move the hydrocarbons in the rock-reservoirs, and a stage of recovery, by one or more production wells, of displaced hydrocarbons.
Il est caractérisé en ce que l'étape d'injection comporte l'injection successive de bouchons du liquide mouillant que l'on a saturés avec un gaz sous pression soluble dans le dit liquide mouillant et de bouchons gazeux destinés à balayer les zones plus perméables, et l'étape de production comporte le relâchement de la pression régnant dans le gisement, de manière à générer in situ des bulles de gaz par nucléation dans les pores des zones moins perméables (partie de la matrice comportant les pores les plus petits) et en chasser les hydrocarbures vers les zones plus perméables où ils sont déplacés par les bouchons de gaz. It is characterized in that the injection step includes the successive injection plugs of the wetting liquid which have been saturated with a gas under soluble pressure in the said wetting liquid and gas caps intended to sweep the areas more permeable, and the production stage involves the release of the prevailing pressure in the deposit, so as to generate gas bubbles in situ by nucleation in the pores of less permeable areas (part of the matrix with the most pores small) and drive the oil out to the more permeable areas where they are moved by gas caps.
A la détente, une partie du gaz dissous est libéré sous la forme de bulles préférentiellement sur les éléments de surface irréguliers et donc sur les parois des pores.On expansion, part of the dissolved gas is released in the form of bubbles preferably on the irregular surface elements and therefore on the walls of the pores.
L'effet de nucléation est plus marqué là où la densité de parois de pores par unité de volume est la plus grande c'est-à-dire dans les zones de plus faible perméabilité avec des pores plus petits d'où l'huile est la plus difficile à chasser. Le balayage très efficace que provoque cette nucléation dans les zones les moins accessibles du gisement, permet d'améliorer grandement le taux de récupération d'huile.The nucleation effect is more marked where the density of pore walls by volume unit is the largest i.e. in areas of lower permeability with smaller pores where the oil is the most difficult to remove. The very efficient scanning caused by this nucleation in the least accessible from the deposit, greatly improves the recovery rate oil.
On a donc une opération de balayage en deux temps. Dans un premier temps, par relâchement de la pression du gaz dissous dans les bouchons d'eau et nucléation, on chasse l'huile des pores les moins perméables vers les zones plus perméables, et dans un temps ultérieur, on utilise le gaz des bouchons de gaz suivants dont la fonction est précisément de balayer les zones les plus perméables, pour déplacer cette huile récupérée dans le premier temps vers le puits producteur.There is therefore a two-stage scanning operation. Firstly, by releasing the pressure of the gas dissolved in the water plugs and nucleation, the oil is expelled from the least permeable pores towards the more permeable areas, and in a later time, the gas from the following gas caps is used, the function is precisely to scan the most permeable areas, to move this oil initially recovered to the producing well.
Le fluide mouillant est par exemple de l'eau, au moins un bouchon de l'eau injectée étant saturé avec du dioxyde de carbone sous pression par exemple ou de l'hydrogène sulfuré.The wetting fluid is for example water, at least one plug of water injected being saturated with pressurized carbon dioxide for example or hydrogen sulfide.
Suivant un mode de mise en oeuvre, au moins un des bouchons de liquide mouillant injecté durant l'étape d'injection peut comporter de l'eau additionnée d'une substance propre à rendre négatif le coefficient d'étalement des gouttes d'hydrocarbures et par exemple de l'alcool. On peut ainsi faire alterner les bouchons de liquide mouillant, les uns saturés de gaz sous pression, d'autres additionnés de la dite substance, d'autres encore sans aucun additif.According to an embodiment, at least one of the liquid stoppers wetting agent injected during the injection step may include water with a substance capable of making the spreading coefficient of the drops negative hydrocarbons and for example alcohol. We can thus alternate the plugs of wetting liquid, some saturated with gas under pressure, others added with the said substance, others without any additives.
Suivant un autre mode de mise en oeuvre, l'un au moins des bouchons de liquide mouillant injecté durant l'étape d'injection comporte de l'eau additionnée d'agents moussants ou de tensio-actifs, de façon que le relâchement de la pression dans le gisement engendre la formation in situ de mousses ce qui simplifie beaucoup la mise en oeuvre de ce type de balayage.According to another embodiment, at least one of the plugs wetting liquid injected during the injection step includes added water foaming agents or surfactants, so that the release of pressure in the deposit generates the in situ formation of mosses which greatly simplifies the implementation of this type of scanning.
Des essais comparatifs en laboratoire sur un modèle physique de roche hétérogène imprégnée d'huile, ont montré que le taux de récupération obtenu par application du procédé selon l'invention pouvait atteindre près de 20%, alors qu'un procédé classique de type WAG, ne conduit au mieux qu'à un taux de récupération de 8 à 9%.Comparative laboratory tests on a physical rock model heterogeneous oil impregnated, have shown that the recovery rate obtained by application of the method according to the invention could reach almost 20%, while a conventional WAG type process, at best only leads to a recovery rate of 8 to 9%.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages du procédé selon l'invention, apparaítront à la lecture des résultats expérimentaux ci-après.Other characteristics and advantages of the process according to the invention, will appear on reading the experimental results below.
On a utilisé pour tester la validité du procédé le modèle physique qui a été réalisé pour modéliser un milieu hétérogène et qui est décrit dans la demande de brevet FR 2 748 471 du demandeur. Il comporte un bloc inhomogène obtenu en juxtaposant dans un récipient par exemple au moins deux volumes de matériaux de porosités et de températures de fusion différentes, et en plaçant le récipient dans un four dont la température est programmée pour s'élever progressivement jusqu'à une température suffisante pour le ramollissement du matériau poreux de plus faible température de fusion pendant un premier intervalle de temps, s'y stabiliser durant un deuxième intervalle temps défini et décroítre plus lentement jusqu'à la température ambiante, durant un troisième intervalle de temps. Le matériau poreux qui s'est ramolli constitue un moyen de collage des matériaux empêchant la formation par exemple d'une quelconque lame d'air qui constituerait un passage préférentiel pour les fluides, en évitant la création d'une interzone formant une barrière capillaire.We used to test the validity of the process the physical model which was carried out to model a heterogeneous medium and which is described in the request for Applicant's patent FR 2,748,471. It includes an inhomogeneous block obtained in juxtaposing in a container for example at least two volumes of materials of porosities and different melting temperatures, and placing the container in a oven whose temperature is programmed to rise gradually to a sufficient temperature for softening the porous material of lower melting temperature during a first time interval, stabilize there during a second defined time interval and decrease more slowly to temperature ambient, during a third time interval. The porous material that has softened is a means of bonding materials preventing formation for example any air space which would constitute a preferential passage for fluids, avoiding the creation of an interzone forming a capillary barrier.
Pour constituer un tel bloc, on peut utiliser une juxtaposition d'un matériau poreux naturel tel que du grès notamment avec une perméabilité de l'ordre de 70mD par exemple, et d'un matériau composite tel que du verre en poudre par exemple. To constitute such a block, one can use a juxtaposition of a material natural porous such as sandstone in particular with a permeability of around 70mD for example, and of a composite material such as powdered glass for example.
Le modèle physique constitué se présente sous la forme d'un barreau de longueur L = 21,2 cm et de section S = 19,6 cm2, dont le volume des pores est de 110 cm3. Le barreau est pourvu à ses deux extrémités opposées de deux embouts que l'on a relié classiquement à des circuits d'injection et de drainage d'eau et d'huile.The physical model formed is in the form of a bar of length L = 21.2 cm and section S = 19.6 cm 2 , the pore volume of which is 110 cm 3 . The bar is provided at its two opposite ends with two end pieces which have conventionally been connected to circuits for injection and drainage of water and oil.
On a préparé le barreau par les opérations suivantes pour l'amener
successivement dans un état de saturation en eau irréductible Swi et de saturation
résiduelle en huile Sor.
On a procédé a une méthode classique dite de WAG avec injection alternée dans le modèle de bouchons d'eau et de gaz de 10 cm3 à la pression d'injection et avec les débits indiqués, les résultats de récupération de l'huile étant consignés dans le tableau ci-dessous: A conventional method called WAG was carried out with alternating injection in the model of water and gas plugs of 10 cm 3 at the injection pressure and with the flow rates indicated, the oil recovery results being recorded in the table below:
La méthode selon l'invention a ensuite été mise en oeuvre de la manière suivante:The method according to the invention was then implemented in the manner next:
Préparation de l'eau saturée avec du gaz à une pression P sat = 150 kPa. Injection de cette eau à faible débit dans le modèle : 1 Vp en 6 heures environ - avec Pentrée = 150 kPa, P sortie = 135 kPa - Détente brusque à la pression atmosphérique, nucléation à l'intérieur du milieu poreux pendant 16 heures. Envoi d'un bouchon d'eau à 100 cm3/h récupération de 2 cm3 d'huile supplémentaire soit 2/21 ou, en pourcentage, 9,5 % du Sor ou 10,5 % du gain après récupération ternaire, ce qui représente une amélioration considérable par rapport à ce qui peut apporter une méthode classique.Preparation of water saturated with gas at a pressure P sat = 150 kPa. Injection of this water at low flow rate into the model: 1 Vp in approximately 6 hours - with P inlet = 150 kPa, P outlet = 135 kPa - Sudden relaxation at atmospheric pressure, nucleation inside the porous medium for 16 hours. Sending a cap of water at 100 cm3 / h recovery of 2 cm3 of additional oil or 2/21 or, in percentage, 9.5% of the Sor or 10.5% of the gain after ternary recovery, which represents a considerable improvement compared to what can bring a traditional method.
Une nouvelle injection d'un bouchon d'eau saturée de dioxyde de carbone suivie d'un bouchon d'eau, a permis de porter la récupération d'huile en place (Sor) à 12,5 % soit encore une augmentation de 3 %.A new injection of a cap of water saturated with carbon dioxide followed by a water cap, brought the oil recovery in place (Sor) to 12.5%, an increase of 3%.
Suivant un autre mode de mise en oeuvre, on ajoute à des bouchons d'eau injectés des agents moussants ou des tensio-actifs. La chute de pression provoquée après l'injection, a pour effet de faire mousser ou émulsionner ces additifs, ce qui permet de simplifier grandement les problèmes que posent généralement l'injection de ces additifs.According to another mode of implementation, water plugs are added injected with foaming agents or surfactants. The pressure drop caused after injection, has the effect of foaming or emulsifying these additives, which allows to greatly simplify the problems generally posed by the injection of these additives.
Suivant un autre mode de réalisation, on peut combiner les effet propres à la méthode selon l'invention avec ceux décrits dans le brevet FR 2 735 524 précité c'est-à-dire la formation de ménisques résultant de l'addition à l'eau de substances telles que de l'alcool qui modifient le coefficient d'étalement.According to another embodiment, it is possible to combine the effects specific to the method according to the invention with those described in the aforementioned patent FR 2 735 524, that is to say the formation of menisci resulting from the addition of substances such as alcohol that changes the spreading coefficient.
Dans les exemples précédents, on a choisi le dioxyde de carbone pour saturer certains au moins des bouchons d'eau, ceci en raison du faible coût de ce gaz. On ne sortirait pas cependant du cadre de la méthode en utilisant d'autres gaz présentant de façon plus marquée que le dioxyde de carbone la particularité d'être soluble dans le liquide mouillant tel que par exemple l'hydrogène sulfuré.In the previous examples, we chose carbon dioxide to saturate at least some of the water plugs, this because of the low cost of this gas. Onne would not go beyond the scope of the method using other gases presenting more markedly than carbon dioxide the particularity of being soluble in the wetting liquid such as for example hydrogen sulphide.
Claims (6)
- A method of displacing hydrocarbons retained in the pores of reservoir rocks of an underground reservoir, comprising a stage of forced injection, through one or more injection wells successively, of fluid slugs intended to displace the hydrocarbons in the reservoir rocks, and a stage of recovery, through one or more production wells, of the hydrocarbons displaced, characterized in that the injection stage comprises successive injection of wetting fluid slugs saturated with a gas under pressure soluble in said wetting fluid and of gas slugs intended to sweep the more permeable zones, and the production stage comprises relieving the pressure prevailing in the reservoir so as to generate in situ gas bubbles by nucleation in the pores of the less permeable zones and to drive the hydrocarbons therefrom to the more permeable zones where they are swept by the gas slugs.
- A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wetting fluid is water, at least one injected water slug being saturated with carbon dioxide under pressure.
- A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wetting fluid is water, at least one injected water slug being saturated with hydrogen sulfide.
- A method as claimed in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the wetting fluid slugs injected during the injection stage comprises water to which a substance suited to make the spreading coefficient of the hydrocarbon drops negative, alcohol for example, is added.
- A method as claimed in the previous claim, characterized in that at least one of the wetting fluid slugs injected during the injection stage comprises water without additive.
- A method as claimed in any one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the wetting fluid slugs injected during the injection stage comprises water to which foaming agents or surfactants are added so that the pressure relief in the reservoir generates in-situ formation of foams or emulsions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR9707611 | 1997-06-17 | ||
FR9707611A FR2764632B1 (en) | 1997-06-17 | 1997-06-17 | ASSISTED RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FLUIDS IN A SUBTERRANEAN DEPOSIT |
Publications (3)
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EP0886035A2 EP0886035A2 (en) | 1998-12-23 |
EP0886035A3 EP0886035A3 (en) | 2001-09-26 |
EP0886035B1 true EP0886035B1 (en) | 2004-09-08 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP98401342A Expired - Lifetime EP0886035B1 (en) | 1997-06-17 | 1998-06-05 | Method of enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons in an underground formation |
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US (1) | US6105672A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0886035B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2239759C (en) |
FR (1) | FR2764632B1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO323039B1 (en) |
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FR2792678B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2001-06-15 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | ASSISTED RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS BY COMBINED INJECTION OF AN AQUEOUS PHASE AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY MISCIBLE GAS |
US7186673B2 (en) * | 2000-04-25 | 2007-03-06 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Stability enhanced water-in-oil emulsion and method for using same |
US6988550B2 (en) * | 2001-12-17 | 2006-01-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same |
US7338924B2 (en) | 2002-05-02 | 2008-03-04 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion |
EP2045439B1 (en) * | 2002-05-24 | 2010-07-21 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Use of surface-modified nanoparticles for oil recovery |
US6988552B2 (en) * | 2003-06-19 | 2006-01-24 | Conocophillips Company | Liquid carbon dioxide cleaning of wellbores and near-wellbore areas |
WO2005100745A1 (en) * | 2004-04-13 | 2005-10-27 | Coriba Technologies, L.L.C. | Composition and process for enhanced oil recovery |
WO2006037045A1 (en) * | 2004-09-27 | 2006-04-06 | Coriba Technologies, L.L.C. | Composition and process for the extraction of bitumen from oil sands |
US7678201B2 (en) * | 2005-07-22 | 2010-03-16 | Coriba Technologies, L.L.C. | Composition and process for the removal and recovery of hydrocarbons from substrates |
US8100178B2 (en) | 2005-12-22 | 2012-01-24 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Method of oil recovery using a foamy oil-external emulsion |
WO2008024147A1 (en) | 2006-08-23 | 2008-02-28 | Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company | Composition and method for using waxy oil-external emulsions to modify reservoir permeability profiles |
EP2109631B1 (en) * | 2007-01-19 | 2013-11-06 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Fluorinated surfactants and methods of using the same |
US20100025038A1 (en) * | 2007-01-19 | 2010-02-04 | Savu Patricia M | Methods of using stable hydrocarbon foams |
FR2927938B1 (en) * | 2008-02-21 | 2012-03-30 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | PROCESS FOR RECOVERING PETROLEUM OIL HYDROCARBONS BY INJECTION OF AQUEOUS SOLUTION |
EP2233689A1 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-09-29 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. | Integrated method and system for acid gas-lift and enhanced oil recovery using acid gas background of the invention |
CN103256030B (en) * | 2013-05-13 | 2016-04-13 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Hot water slug, a pipe many notes ground aqueous vapor alterative injection technology |
CA2939283C (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2017-07-11 | Thomas Harding | Pressure swing processes for producing heavy hydrocarbons from reservoir |
MX2018014005A (en) * | 2016-05-17 | 2019-08-22 | Nano Gas Tech Inc | Methods of affecting separation. |
US11193359B1 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2021-12-07 | NanoGas Technologies Inc. | Treatment of subterranean formations |
CN113685155B (en) * | 2020-05-18 | 2023-05-26 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Yield increasing method for improving recovery ratio by injection and production in same well |
US20230112608A1 (en) | 2021-10-13 | 2023-04-13 | Disruptive Oil And Gas Technologies Corp | Nanobubble dispersions generated in electrochemically activated solutions |
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US3032101A (en) * | 1958-04-10 | 1962-05-01 | Pure Oil Co | Improved waterflooding process |
US3342256A (en) * | 1964-04-17 | 1967-09-19 | Union Oil Co | Method for recovering oil from subterranean formations |
US3529668A (en) * | 1968-07-24 | 1970-09-22 | Union Oil Co | Foam drive oil recovery process |
US3599717A (en) * | 1969-12-03 | 1971-08-17 | Mobil Oil Corp | Alternate flood process for recovering petroleum |
US3580335A (en) * | 1969-12-19 | 1971-05-25 | Texaco Inc | Oil recovery by a combination of solution gas drive and waterflooding |
US3893511A (en) * | 1971-06-09 | 1975-07-08 | Sun Oil Co | Foam recovery process |
US3800874A (en) * | 1973-01-22 | 1974-04-02 | Atlantic Richfield Co | High pressure gas-carbonated water miscible displacement process |
US4224992A (en) * | 1979-04-30 | 1980-09-30 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Method for enhanced oil recovery |
US4601337A (en) * | 1984-05-10 | 1986-07-22 | Shell Oil Company | Foam drive oil displacement with outflow pressure cycling |
US4683948A (en) * | 1986-05-23 | 1987-08-04 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Enhanced oil recovery process employing carbon dioxide |
US4856589A (en) * | 1988-08-30 | 1989-08-15 | Shell Oil Company | Gas flooding with dilute surfactant solutions |
US5465790A (en) | 1994-04-11 | 1995-11-14 | Marathon Oil Company | Enhanced oil recovery from heterogeneous reservoirs |
FR2735524B1 (en) * | 1995-06-13 | 1997-07-25 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | ASSISTED RECOVERY OF OIL FLUIDS FROM AN UNDERGROUND DEPOSIT |
FR2748472B1 (en) | 1996-05-09 | 1998-06-26 | Inst Francais Du Petrole | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING INHOMOGENEOUS POROUS MATERIAL |
-
1997
- 1997-06-17 FR FR9707611A patent/FR2764632B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-06-05 EP EP98401342A patent/EP0886035B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-06-16 CA CA002239759A patent/CA2239759C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-06-16 NO NO19982769A patent/NO323039B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-06-17 US US09/098,497 patent/US6105672A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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NO982769L (en) | 1998-12-18 |
EP0886035A3 (en) | 2001-09-26 |
US6105672A (en) | 2000-08-22 |
EP0886035A2 (en) | 1998-12-23 |
NO323039B1 (en) | 2006-12-27 |
NO982769D0 (en) | 1998-06-16 |
FR2764632B1 (en) | 2000-03-24 |
CA2239759A1 (en) | 1998-12-17 |
CA2239759C (en) | 2008-01-29 |
FR2764632A1 (en) | 1998-12-18 |
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