A Numerical Study of Waterflood Performance In a Stratified System With Crossflow

Goddin, C.S.; Craig, F.F.; Wilkes, James O.; Tek, M.R.

doi:10.2118/1223-pa

Cited by 47 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Equation (18) is similar to the expression suggested by Goddin et al (1966) except that we again account here for contrasts in the relative permeability end-points between layers. The storage ratio is given by…”

Section: Scaling Analysismentioning

confidence: 90%

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

et al. 2017

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We examine the effect of viscous forces on the displacement of one fluid by a second, immiscible fluid along parallel layers of contrasting porosity, absolute permeability and relative permeability. Flow is characterized using five dimensionless numbers and the dimensionless storage efficiency, so results are directly applicable, regardless of scale, to geologic carbon storage. The storage efficiency is numerically equivalent to the recovery efficiency, applicable to hydrocarbon production. We quantify the shock-front velocities at the leading edge of the displacing phase using asymptotic flow solutions obtained in the limits of no crossflow and equilibrium crossflow. The shock-front velocities can be used to identify a fast layer and a slow layer, although in some cases the shock-front velocities are identical even though the layers have contrasting properties. Three crossflow regimes are identified and defined with respect to the fast and slow shock-front mobility ratios, using both theoretical predictions and confirmation from numerical flow simulations. Previous studies have identified only two crossflow regimes. Contrasts in porosity and relative permeability exert a significant influence on contrasts in the shock-front velocities and on storage efficiency, in addition to previously examined contrasts in absolute permeability. Previous studies concluded that the maximum storage efficiency is obtained for unit permeability ratio; this is true only if there are no contrasts in porosity and relative permeability. The impact of crossflow on storage efficiency depends on the mobility ratio evaluated across the fast shock-front and on the time at which the efficiency is measured.

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Section: Scaling Analysismentioning

confidence: 90%

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

et al. 2017

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“…Some researchers studied the the capillary cross-flow influence on oil recovery using simulation techniques. Goddin, et al, 1966, studied capillary cross-flow effects using a water-wet 2-layer system with two different capillary pressure curves. They concluded that the maximum capillary cross-flow occurs in the vicinity of the flood front.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Evaluation of the Combined Effect of Wettability and Heterogeneity on Waterflood Performance

Lenormand¹,

Li²,

Robin³

et al. 1997

IOR 1997 - 9th European Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery

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Laboratory experiments have shown that wettability affects fluid distribution at the pore scale and therefore has an important effect on the end-point saturations and the shapes of capillary pressure (Pc) and relative permeability (kr) curves. At reservoir scale, the combined effect of wettability and permeability heterogeneity is not so clear. Effects due to a change in the end-point saturations is straightforward but the ones due to the change of the shape of the Pc curve has not been studied. In reservoir simulation, the Kr curves are generally known but there is an uncertainty on the Pc curves, due to the lack of information on wettability (imbibition curves are derived from mercury porosimetry or drainage curves). The purpose of the paper is to quantify the effect of this uncertainty on oil recovery. Breakthrough times and fraction of recoverable oil during waterflood were numerically studied on a simple 2-dimensional reservoir using 3 and 5 facies. Permeability heterogeneity is characterized by its stochastic properties (variance and correlation length). In order to obtain a uniform reservoir wettability, the Pc curves of the various facies are calculated using the classical J function. The results are presented as recovery vs. correlation lengths, CL and wettability indices, WI. At intermediate flow rate ( 0.3 m/day ),• from intermediate to water-wet wettabilities (0 < WI < 1)), final (asymptotic) recovery is always near 1, recovery decreasing with an increase of the WI. The correlation length. shows no significant effect.• for oil-wet reservoirs, final recovery is about 30% less. In addition, there is a strong effect of heterogeneity : the best recovery occurs for layered reservoirs.At higher flow rates, capillary effects are comparatively reduced and the effect of wettability on recovery becomes less important.2

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“…This was used to study the imbibition process for a stratified porous medium. The study of Goddin et al (1966) identified the existence of a crossflow due to capillary forces and due to viscous effects. More recently, Yokoyama and Lake (1981) have presented an extensive study of the effect of capillary forces on the exchange between layers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media III: Laboratory experiments for flow parallel to a stratified system

Bertin

Quintard

Corpel³

et al. 1990

Transp Porous Med

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Abstract. Two-phase flow in stratified porous media is a problem of central importance in the study of oil recovery processes. In general, these flows are parallel to the stratifications, and it is this type of flow that we have investigated experimentally and theoretically in this study. The experiments were performed with a two-layer model of a stratified porous medium. The individual strata were composed of Aerolith-10, an artificial; sintered porous medium, and Berea sandstone, a natural porous medium reputed to be relatively homogeneous. Waterflooding experiments were performed in which the saturation field was measured by gamma-ray absorption. Data were obtained at 150 points distributed evenly over a flow domain of 0.1 • 0.6 m. The slabs of Aerolith-10 and Berea sandstone were of equal thickness, i.e, 5 centimeters thick. An intensive experimental study was carried out in order to accurately characterize the individual strata; however, this effort was hampered by both local heterogeneities and large-scale heterogeneities.The theoretical analysis of the waterflooding experiments was based on the method of large-scale averaging and the large-scale closure problem. The latter provides a precise method of discussing the crossflow phenomena, and it illustrates exactly how the crossflow influences the theoretical prediction of the large-scale permeability tensor. The theoretical analysis was restricted to the quasi-static theory of Quintard and Whitaker (1988), however, the dynamic effects described in Part I (Quintard and Whitaker 1990a) are discussed in terms of their influence on the crossf!ow.Key words. Two-phase flow, experimental results, stratified porous media, large-scale averaging. Nomenclature Roman LettersA,o~ b~ interfacial area between the ~o-region and the ,/-region contained within

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A Numerical Study of Waterflood Performance In a Stratified System With Crossflow

Cited by 47 publications

References 0 publications

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

Numerical Evaluation of the Combined Effect of Wettability and Heterogeneity on Waterflood Performance

Two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media III: Laboratory experiments for flow parallel to a stratified system

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