EORI Research – Adjusted Brine Chemistry for Improved Recovery
Geoffrey Thyne Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute
University of Wyoming
Update on Progress – January 2009
Outline
Overview of ProjectsChemical and Water Flooding Field Data AnalysisLaboratory Progress
Major Projects – Jun-Dec 2008
Completion of EORI Chemical and Adjusted Brine Chemistry LabDesign of Laboratory ExperimentsPreliminary Lab WorkGeochemical Compatibility StudiesProduction History Analysis for Chemical and Water FloodingScreening and Scoping ToolsInvestigation of Controls on Emulsion Formation (organic geochemistry with WRI)
Major Projects – Jun-Dec 2008
Completion of EORI Chemical and Adjusted Brine Chemistry LabDesign of Laboratory ExperimentsPreliminary Lab WorkGeochemical Compatibility StudiesProduction History Analysis for Chemical and Water FloodingScreening and Scoping ToolsInvestigation of Controls on Emulsion Formation (organic geochemistry with WRI)
EORI Laboratory
Courtesy Glen Murrell
EORI LaboratoryAll equipment calibrated
Preliminary core flood (Berea) completedBerea block characterized
Minnelusa Oil fully characterized
0.0E+00
2.0E+04
4.0E+04
6.0E+04
8.0E+04
1.0E+05
1.2E+05
0 20 40 60 80 100
Oil
Cap
illar
y Pr
essu
re (P
a)
Water Saturation (%) - Brine 2000ppm
Rock Wy - X1
Rock Wy - Z1
Rock Wy - Y1
EORI Laboratory
Chemical and Water Flooding in Wyoming
Evaluate water flood and chemical flooding history in Minnelusa Wyoming reservoirs using recovery factor
Mean polymer recovery = 53%
Mean WF recovery = 46%
0
25
50
75
100
125
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rec
over
y Fa
ctor
(%O
OIP
)
PV
Polymerlow-sal polymerWFlow sal-WF
Chemical Flooding in Wyoming Mean polymer recovery = 53%
Mean WF recovery = 46%
0
25
50
75
100
0 1 2 3 4
Rec
over
y Fa
ctor
(%O
OIP
)
PV
Minnelusa Fields
Polymer
Chemical Flooding in Wyoming Mean polymer recovery = 53%
Mean low sal polymer recovery = 48%
0
25
50
75
100
0 1 2 3 4
Rec
over
y Fa
ctor
(%O
OIP
)
PV
Minnelusa Fields
Polymer
low-sal polymer
Modified Chemistry Water Flooding Mean WF recovery = 46%
0
25
50
75
100
0 1 2 3 4
Rec
over
y Fa
ctor
(%O
OIP
)
PV
Minnelusa Waterfloods
WF
Modified Chemistry Water Flooding Mean FWF recovery = 50%
Mean low sal SF = 45%
0
25
50
75
100
0 1 2 3 4
Rec
over
y Fa
ctor
(%O
OIP
)
PV
WF low sal-WF
Chemical Profiles of Water Chemistry
Compare reservoir, injection and lab water chemistry in order to evaluate possible causes for observed differences.Substantial differences in water chemistry exist that may explain observations.
Better geochemical evaluation of formation and injected brines
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
1000
10000
Na K Ca Mg HCO3 Cl SO4
meq
/L
Ions
Minnelusa Formation and Injection Brines
Laboratory formation brine and formation waterare not the same chemically
Minnelusa Formation water
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
1000
10000
Na K Ca Mg HCO3 Cl SO4
meq
/l
Laboratory injection water and field injected water are not the same chemically
Minnelusa Injection Water
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
1000
10000
Na K Ca Mg HCO3 Cl SO4
meq
/l
Production History Analysis for Screening and ScopingIncremental recovery for each phase
Falcon Ridge Field - Production History
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Nov-84 Nov-89 Nov-94 Nov-99 Nov-04
Date
Bbl
s O
il
End of PrimaryProduction
Start of Next Production Phase
Transition
Screening tool for chemical flooding in Wyoming refined by historic performance metric
-50
200
450
700
950
1200
1450
1700
SP
RIN
G H
OLE
HA
IGH
TB
ISH
OP
RA
NC
HS
WA
RTZ
DR
AWS
PIR
ITLO
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TR
EE
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WA
RT
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ST
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PS
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RA
NC
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EE
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EK
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ES
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LF D
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ISS
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RI
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H …
OK
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ED
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EY
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KA
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INTE
R D
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OO
RC
RO
FT W
ES
T
% in
crem
ent
Fieldsorted by inj water
Minnelusa Fields
P_S increment
S_T increment
P_T increment
low salinityhigh salinity
unknown salinity
Coming Attractions
Complete production history analysisExpand recovery factor analysis data for more fieldsGenerate dimensionless chemical flooding curves for scoping modelSystematic core flooding experimentsTest geochemical modeling for optimizing chemical floodingFurther investigation of emulsion controls
Questions?