Mathematical modeling of the Colloidal Gas Aphron transport through porous medium using the filtration theory

Abstract

Recently, Colloidal Gas Aphron fluids, which includes micro-bubbles in a based fluid, have been successfully employed in drilling depleted reservoirs or formations which had previously experienced huge fluid losses. Aphron bridging in the front of the porous media in near wellbore zone, reduces the formation damage and fluid depth of invasion into the formation. Although more experimental investigation is carried out on Aphron fluid filtration, a few modeling works were performed in the literature. In this work, the filtration theory approach is used to mathematically model the Aphron transport in porous medium. Several physical/chemical parameters including surfactant type, surfactant concentration, temperature, rock porosity and permeability, grain and bubble size, and pressure, were investigated. Results from the modeling suggest that retention of Aphrons could be adequately described by the filtration theory.

Investigation of Stability of CO2 Microbubbles—Colloidal Gas Aphrons for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using Definitive Screening Design

“…Several studies, for example [27,28], have been carried out modeling works on aphrons. Ali Alizadeh and Ehsan Khamehchi [29] developed a mathematical model for transportation of aphrons in porous medium using the filtration theory. Bjorndalen [30] reported on blocking ability of microbubbles when they were injected into porous media.…”

Experimental Investigation of Water Based Colloidal Gas Aphron Fluid Stability

“…Arabloo et al [10] employed a charged coupled device camera and a light microscope to investigate the size distribution of CGAs of different aphronized drilling fluids. Alizadeh and Khamehchi [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] proposed a new and novel diffusion model for CGA fluids including the mass transfer, which is described as diffusional phenomena in the presence of convective motion. In this model the mass transfer resistance for all phases and interfaces of a bubble was taken into account.…”