Design and Application of an Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer Recovery System for the West Kiehl Field

Abstract

The West Kiehl Unit, Crook County, Wyoming produces from the Minnelusa Lower "B" Sand reservoir. Original oil in place (OOlP) is estimated at 238,481 m 3 . Estimated ultimate primary production is 27,028 m 3 or 11% OOlP. Four enhanced oil recovery methods were considered for application in this reservoir: conventional waterflood, polymer flood, an alkaline-polymer flood, and an alkalinesurfactant-polymer (ASP) flood.Estimated ultimate recoveries are 95,392 m 3 (40% OOlP), 95,392 m 3 (40% OOlP), 95,392 m 3 (40% OOlP), and 135,934 m 3 (56% OOIP), respectively. The polymer flood is expected to deplete the field faster than a conventional waterflood without an increase in ultimate recovery, while the ASP technology is expected to extend the field life and increase ultimate recovery dramatically. The ASP process has been implemented and early performance is very good.Two purposes are being served by implementation of the West Kiehl alkaline-surfactant-polymer flood. The rust is to recover additional oil not recoverable by a waterflood or a polymer flood. The second is to pilot this potentially significant enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique for other Minnelusa reservoirs. If this method proves successful, it will represent a sizable increase in ultimate recovery with the incremental oil recovery ranging as high as 25% OOIP. This paper discusses the goal for utilizing the alkalinesurfactant-polymer technology at the West Kiehl. Further, it details the development of the West Kiehl Field project including laboratory studies, reservoir parameters, initial injection and production history, facilities design, and operations of the flood.

Effect of viscosity and interfacial tension of surfactant–polymer flooding on oil recovery in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoirs

“…Alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding can effectively reduce oil residual saturation to reduce interfacial tension (IFT) and the mobility ratio between the water phase and oil phase (Clark et al 1988;Meyers et al 1992;Vargo et al 1999). Alkali is added in ASP flooding to decrease the quantity of the surfactant through competitive adsorption with the surfactant and reaction with petroleum acids in crude oil to generate a new surfactant (Pope 2007;Rivas et al 1997).…”

Characterization of Mixed Wettability at Different Scales and Its Impact on Oil Recovery Efficiency

“…Important differences in the shape of the wetting phase capillary desaturation curve are seen when our data is compared with data from the literature 23,24,25,26 obtained using both centrifuge displacement and dynamic displacement methods for desaturating the core ( Figure 1.3). It is observed that all the centrifuge data (unfilled data points) appear to follow a slightly different trend than the dynamic displacement data (filled points).…”

“…It builds on the previous understanding developed for alkaline surfactant flooding 23,24 . Also, this technology has found many applications during the past decade when it was commonly thought that surfactant flooding was not economical because of the expense of the surfactant [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] .…”

Potential for Non-thermal Chemical Augmented Waterflood for Producing Viscous Oils

“…Generally speaking, the application of chemical flooding in carbonate reservoirs is complicated by increased uncertainties. Clark et al (1993) implemented an ASP design on the West Kiehl Unit at Crook County, WY. The design was based on laboratory coreflood that recovered 23% OOIP beyond waterflood.…”