CT studies of surfactant-induced CO2 mobility control

S. L. Wellington, H. J. Vinegar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Foam mobility control for CO2 was studied by Computerized pornography (CT) in tertiary first-contact miscible corefloods. The CT images show that injection of 0.05 wt% Neodol 25-12 Ethoxy Glycerol Sulfonate (NEGS 25-12S) in brine prevents gravity and viscous instabilities, and enables CO2 to displace all the oil from cores in a piston-like manner. Surfactant screening tests, designed to test the debilitating effect of temperature, salinity, and crude oils on foam performance, are described. NEGS is both temperature and salinity tolerant: it forms stable foams with CO2 in the presence of oil to at least 76 deg C with hard brines containing at least 18 wt% TDS. CT studies revealed a combination of factors contributing to effective CO2 mobility control. These include both increases in apparent CO2 viscosity and capillary pressure changes which produce a high-saturation brine bank insitu. This brine bank separating the CO2 and oil banks further reduces CO2 mobility through relative permeability effects but does not impair oil recovery efficiency by brineshielding mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSociety of Petroleum Engineers - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition 1985
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
ISBN (Electronic)9781555636258
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1985
Externally publishedYes
Event60th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers 1985 - Las Vegas, United States
Duration: 22 Sep 198526 Sep 1985

Publication series

NameProceedings - SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition
Volume1985-September

Conference

Conference60th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers 1985
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas
Period22/09/8526/09/85

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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