fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractSince the recent trend of oil price opened new vistas in IOR/EOR scenario, the laboratory study looked at different new type of super (S) and viscoelastic (S v ) surfactants that provide both IFT lowering and mobility control. The paper is basically focusing on evaluation of viscoelastic surfactants as mobility controlling agents used as pre-flush, co-surfactant and post-buffer media. The experimental work is extended to their effects on bulk phase and interfacial rheological properties, surface and interfacial tension, phase behavior, wettability, flow properties in porous media and displacement efficiency using various injection protocol. Beside determination of mobility, mobility ratio, normal and differential displacement curves, the solution structure was analyzed by transmission and backscattering photon correlation spectroscopy.Measurements and core studies confirmed that the viscoelastic surfactants might be used to replace traditional mobility controlling agents (polymers) over a wide temperature and pressure range. Their sensitivity to shear rate and other degrading effects is much less than found for high molecular weight synthetic and biopolymers. Thus, the viscoelastic surfactants may offer an excellent opportunity for mobility control in various enhanced oil recovery techniques independent of injection protocol. Their positive influence on recovery efficiently can be explained by mobility control, front stabilization (buffering) and profile correction. The viscoelastic surfactants may also improve the "microscopic displacement efficiency", which is not widely recognized as a significant part of the displacement mechanism, and hence the recovery efficiency. General conclusion of the laboratory studies is that viscoelastic surfactants may open new vistas in chemical flooding.
An extensive research programme was launched with the aim at evaluating the potential of seven different polyamino carboxylic acids (PACAs) using both technical and economic aspects. Dissolving capacity of each compounds was determined under equilibrium conditions as a function of concentration for barite and reservoir rock (sandstone). The absolute and relative selectivity of dissolution, viz. the matrix effect of formation rock were precisely analyzed. Dissolution of barium sulfate, calcium and magnesium carbonate and iron compounds was followed in time, and thus, the kinetic calculation could also be made. Results of the research programme provided reliable data for comparison of dissolution capacities under identical chemical (equilibrium, kinetic, dissociation, etc.) conditions. On the basis of the experimental findings it was concluded that the sequence of dissolution capacity is different if the results were evaluated in technical or economic senses. It was also shown that the preferentially used compounds (e.g. DTPA, and particularly EDTA) are not the best choices when technical considerations are only enforced. The economic grounds, however, may partly justify their application at the expense of poor efficiency. The systematic analysis of the mentioned dissolvers may open new vistas in mitigation of formation damage caused by barite or barium sulfate scales and accelerate the search for more effective mixtures of complex-forming agents to be applied under field conditions. Introduction Deposition of barium sulfate in surface facilities at the Saratoga field (Texas) has been recognized nearly a hundred years ago. In the middle of the thirties it was also realized that precipitation of scales may take place not only in the bottom hole or the production tubing, but also in the vicinity of wells causing the well known formation damage. In the same time substantial amount of knowledge in physical chemistry has been accumulated which gave satisfactory explanation for solid phase formation from homogeneous solutions. The supersaturation, seed formation and crystal growth as subsequent steps of scale formation are still regarded as main elements of the unfavorable process. In the mean time detailed analysis of factors influencing the side reactions and part processes contributed significantly to better understanding of mechanisms, but the information obtained opened also new vistas in predicting and controlling the precipitation of different materials from formation water. In practice of the hydrocarbon production the "scale" or "injectivity/producibility" problems have always been omnipresent and hence, a great deal of efforts had been made in the past decades to prevent scale formation or to develop efficient technology to remove the precipitated solids if they already formed. Therefore it is not a surprising remark, as Sloat1 stated as early as 1963, that the scale inhibitors are the real "work horses" of the industry and without organic phosphates type well packing a stable production rate can not be maintained at most of the oil fields. Although the application of scale inhibitors has started much earlier in karstic formations2,3, blocking of seeding or crystal growth by these compounds remained effective for different types of scales until now. On the other hand, it is also evident that acidization serves the same important purposes in alleviation of formation damage if acid soluble compounds, usually inorganic scales are responsible for deterioration of injectivity or producibility in wells. These two techniques, inhibition or dissolution of scales, still represent fundamental technologies in oilfield service and they are the most frequently applied stimulation techniques in both continental and off-shore fields. The formation damage may ensue already during drilling. Recently, extension of exploration and drilling activity towards greater depth, and as a result, application of weighing additives more widely, increase logically the danger of formation damage. It is true that partial replacement of barite with acid soluble materials may offer a temporary solution, but on the other hand, the colloidal barite having numerous advantages over other mud components, might result worsening situation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.