Surfactant and SeMAR for EOR

By
Leksono Mucharam
FTTM ITB 2014

Introduction
SeMAR (Solution by Chemical Modifier to Enhance
Recovery) is a special chemical modified to
accelerate recovery of oil fields. With a low
concentration in a system, SeMAR has the ability to
imbibe and alter the amount of energy on the
surface or interfacial layers of the system.
SeMAR is also a wetting agent that takes part on
lowering the interfacial tension of a fluid and helps
distribute the fluid on the rock surface.
Surfactant is Surface Active Agent. This chemical is
able to lower IFT berween water and oil phases.

Typical of Mature oil field

High water cut
Oil production decreases significantly
Water channel has been formed every where
in the reservoir.
Low pressure
Difficult to increase by conventional methods
Remaining oil in place may range from 50 % to
90 %.

SCREENING OF EOR
METHODS
EOR
Methods

Thermal Flooding
CO2 Flooding

Gas Injection

Limitations

Reservoir Depth
Cost

Availability
Reservoir Temperature

Chemical Flooding

Others

December, 11-12 , 2009

Reservoir Pressure
Oil Properties

Oil Trapped in the tigher

porosity reservoir
Mature Oil Field

Oil
Traped
Oil

Water Channel

EOR
The primary goals in reservoir EOR operations are to
displace or mobilize more remaining oil from existing
formations than can be achieved using conventional

waterflooding techniques. Remaining oil left in reservoirs

after

long-time

recovery

operations

is

normally

discontinuously distributed in pores. From the view point of

fluid flow mechanics, there are two main forces acting on

residual oil drops: viscous and capillary forces. In
capillarly force, not only size of pore, this also
includes adhession force between solid surface (rock
properties) and liquids.

Advantages of SeMAR
SeMAR is new paradigm Chemical for Reservoir Performance Improvement,
because not Classified as Surfactant or Polymer

Cost
effective
at low oil
price

Tailor-made
products
derived from
extensive lab
testing

Sandstone or
carbonate
reservoirs; oilor water-wet

SeMAR
Proven for a
wide range of
reservoir
conditions

Unaffected
by high
salinity

Based on
both low IFT
and
wettability
alteration

Resistant to
high temps.

SeMAR
Improvement oil recovery & Reservoir
Performance by chemical means

How it works
Improve imbibition by:
Change wettability of reservoir rock to become
more water wet or totally water wet
Significantly reduce capillary pressure, thereby
releasing energy to allow movement of fluids

Improve flow performance in reservoir by

means of visco-modification phenomena in
water channels

Origins of SeMAR
Indonesia has long history of oil exploration & production and
technological innovation in the industry
Academic research stimulated by declining domestic oil
production in Indonesia and general lack of success with
conventional chemical EOR technology
Research took a holistic approach to modifying reservoir
fluid parameters in situ
Imbibition (wettability and capillarity)
Visco-emulsion (block water channels)
Mobilize and sweep unswept oil

Extensive lab testing and innovative chemical formulations

SeMAR successfully applied in a variety of reservoir

situations

Depleted oil fields (high water cut; low fluid influx)

Oil-wet carbonate reservoirs
Highly heterogeneous reservoirs
Wide ranges of oil gravity, oil viscosity, water salinities and reservoir
temperatures

Fluid-Rock Properties
Reservoir performance primarily impacted by four
fundamental reservoir/fluid characteristics
Capillary pressure (Pc) controls
initial fluid saturation distribution in
equilibrium situations
Wettability controls value of Pc and
relative permeability curves to a
large extent
Relative permeability (Kr) controls
fractional flow character when
coupled with fluid viscosity data in
multiphase flow
Interfacial tension (IFT) only
controls degree of (im)miscibility of
fluid phases

Free imbibition theory

(+)
Drainage
process

Pc
Imbibition
process

1
0.0
Legend
Pc = Capillary pressure
Sw = Water saturation
Swi = Initial water
(
saturation
Swr(ior) = Residual water
saturation after Improved
Oil Recovery (IOR) at
maximum PressureVolume (max PV)
Sor(ior) = Residual oil
saturation after IOR at
max PV

Swr(ior) = 1 Sor(ior)

Swi

Free imbibition process

-)

Change in Sw (%)

Explanatory Notes
1 = Change in Sw Max due to
imbibition of water at ambient
atmospheric pressure
2 = Change in Sw Max due to
imbibition of wetting chemical
(SurPlus) at ambient atmospheric
pressure
3 = Change in Sw Max due to
imbibition of wetting chemical
(SurPlus) at reservoir pressure
(Swr(ior) = 1 Sor(ior))

EOR
From the view point of fluid flow mechanics, there are two
main forces acting on residual oil drops: viscous and
capillary forces. In capillarly force, not only size of

pore, this also includes adhession force between solid

surface (rock properties) and liquids.

= Pc

Wetting and Non-Wetting

A general term referring to one or more of the
following specific kinds of wetting: adhesional wetting,
spreading wetting, and immersional wetting. It is
frequently used to denote the contact-angle between
a liquid and a solid is essentially zero where there is
spontaneous spreading of the liquid over the solid.
Nonwetting, on the other hand, is frequently used to
denote the case where the contact angle is greater
than 90o , so that the liquid rolls up into droplets.

OW
Angle

OIL

OS

WS
Rock Surface

Wettability of Oil-Water-Solid
System

Water

lFT, methane/n-pentane systems at 100 oF

WETTING AND NON-WETTING PHASES

wo

Non-Wetting
Phase

Interfacial Tension
Between Water and Oil
Wetting Phase

OIL
WATER
Sand Stone

PO > PW
PO

PW

Consider the oil/water interface in the horizontal glass

capillary tube in Figure above, which is at static equilibrium.
Water strongly wets the glass surface with a contact angle
near zero. If sensitive pressure gauges were attached to each
end of the capillary tube to measure the water-phase
pressure and the oil-phase pressure, we would observe that
the oil-phase pressure is always larger than the water-phase
pressure, regardless of the length of the tube. Water can be
displaced from the capillary tube by injecting oil into the
tube.

PO > PW
PO

PW

Oil phase will be displaced spontaneously

from the tube if the pressure of the oil
phase is reduced, even though the
pressure in the water phase is less than
the pressure in the oil phase.

PO > PW
PO

PW

By petroleum engineering convention,

the capillary pressure is po pW for
oil/water systems. Thus PC is negative
for an oil-wet surface.

Pnw

Pw

p nw (p r 2 ) + s ws (2 p r) - p w (p r 2 ) - s nws (2 p r) = 0

p nw - p w

2 (s nws - s ws )
r

Note : s nws - s ws = s nww cos q , so that

p nw - p w

2 s nww cos q
=
r

nws

ws
Pnw

Pw

nws

ws
x
Contact Line

p nw (p r 2 ) + s ws (2 p r) - p w (p r 2 ) - s nws (2 p r) = 0

p nw - p w

2 (s nws - s ws )
r

Note : s nws - s ws = s nww cos q , so that

p nw - p w

2 s nww cos q
=
r

WETTING PHASE
When two immiscible phases are placed in
contact with a solid surface, one of the phases is
usually attracted to the surface more strongly

than the other phase. This phase is identified as

the wetting phase while the other phase is the
non- wetting phase.

DEGREE of WETTING
PHASE

Absolute Non Wetting

Non Wetting

Normal Wetting
Stronger Wetting phase is related to lower contact angle
between liquid phase and the solid. Also, the lower contact
angle is related to stronger ability to imbibe non-wetting fluid.
This phenomena can be obtained by Spontaneous Imbibition
Test using Amott Imbibition Cell.

Totally Wetting

Spreading
The tendency of a liquid to flow and form
a thin coating an interface, usually a solid
or immiscible liquid surface, in an attempt
to minimize interfacial free energy. Such a
liquid forms a zero contact angle as
measured through itself.

Spreading

7
Totally Wet

The equation below describes the Young

equation, representing the force balance in the
direction parallel to the rock surface:

- = Cos

OW
Angle

OIL

OS

WS
Rock Surface

Wettability of Oil-Water-Solid
System

Water

CONTACT ANGLE

Oil

Water
Water Wet

CONTACT
ANGLE

MINERAL

OIL

CONTACT
ANGLE

Water
Water Wet

MINERAL

OIL
Water
Oil Wet

CONTACT
ANGLE

Interfacial Contact Angles : (a) Silica Surface and (b) Calcite Surface

PO > PW
PO

Oil

Water

PW

Consider the oil/water interface in the horizontal glass

capillary tube in Figure above, which is at static equilibrium.
Water strongly wets the glass surface with a contact angle
near zero. If sensitive pressure gauges were attached to each
end of the capillary tube to measure the water-phase
pressure and the oil-phase pressure, we would observe that
the oil-phase pressure is always larger than the water-phase
pressure, regard- less of the length of the tube. Water can be
displaced from the capillary tube by injecting oil into the
tube.

PO > PW
PO

PW

Oil will be displaced spontaneously from

the tube if the pressure of the oil phase
is reduced, even though the pressure in
the water phase is less than the
pressure in the oil phase.

PO > PW
PO

PW

In petroleum engineering convention,

the capillary pressure is po pW for
oil/water systems. Thus PC is negative
for an oil-wet surface.

Capillary pressure characteristics, strongly water-wet

rock. Curve 1, drainage and Curve 2, imbibition.

Oil/water capillary pressure characteristics,

intermediate wettability. Curve 1, drainage,
Curve 2, spontaneous imbibition, and Curve 3,
forced imbibition.

Oil/water capillary pressure characteristics,

Tensleep sandstone, oil-wet rock. Curve 1,
drainage and Curve 2, imbibition.

This figure shows oil and water

relative
permeability
curves
obtained with sandstone cores from
the Squirrel formation that had been
treated with solutions containing
different concentrations of GE DriFilm of a silicon polymer. Different
degrees of wetting were obtained by
increasing the concentrations of
silicon polymer in the treating
solution. Wettability is expressed in
terms of a wettability index devised
by USBM. This index ranges from 1.0
for a highly water-wet rock to - 1.5
for a strongly oil-wet rock.

Fluid distribution during

waterflood of water-wet rock

Residual Oil Saturation (SOR)

The oil saturation that remains trapped in a
reservoir rock after a displacement process
is dependent on many variables. These
include wettability, pore size distribution,
microscopic heterogeneity of the rock, and
properties of the displacing fluid.

Value of SOR
Lets examining the characteristics of water-wet systems in
which oil has been displaced by water to a residual
saturation. It is assumed that the displacement process
occurs without bypassing, which has been attributed to
viscous fingering or rock heterogeneities.

The value of the residual oil saturation is important for

two reasons. First, it establishes the maximum efficiency for
the displacement of oil by water on a microscopic level.

Secondly, it is the initial saturation for EOR processes in

regions of a reservoir previously swept by a waterflood.

Fluid distribution during waterflood of

an oil-wet rock Velocity = 1 2 ft/day
Trapped
Oil

Flow Path

The trapping process in uniformly oil-wet rock differs

from the process in uniformly water-wet rock. An oil film
surrounds the sand grains and is connected to smaller
flow channels. Oil flow persists at diminishing rates until
the smallest oil channels can no longer transmit fluid
under the prevailing pressure gradient.

Fluid distribution during waterflood of

an oil-wet rock
Water
Channel

Oil

Water

Oil Trap
Area

Water Wet

Water + 0.5 % Surfactant

Water Wet

Water + 0.5 % SeMAR

Non Wetting
Water

Oil Wet

Wall Tube
Oil

Water
Oil

Wall Tube
In Horizontal Capillary Tube

Oil and water phase

distribution in capillary
tube

Totally Wet
SeMAR

Oil Wet

Rock

Rock

Rock

SeMAR
Oil Wet
SeMAR

Rock
In Horizontal Capillary Tube

Oil

Oil Trapped

Water channel

Water channel

Water channel

Rock

Water channel
Water channel

Water channel

Water channel

Oil Rock System Model

Oil

Oil Trapped

Surfactant channel

Surfactant
channel

Surfactant
channel

Rock

Surfactant channel
Surfactant
channel

Surfactant
channel

Surfactant channel

Oil Rock System Model

Oil

Oil Trapped

Surfactant channel

Surfactant
channel

Surfactant
channel

Rock

Surfactant channel
Surfactant
channel

Surfactant
channel

Surfactant channel

Oil Rock System Model

Oil Rock Reservoir Model

Low Porosity

Larutan Surfactant with ultra

low concentration
Higher
Porosity

RECOVERY EFFICIENCY IN WATER FLOOD

PROCESS
Wettability is the next most important factor in
waterflood recovery after geology (Morrow, 1990).
The recovery efficiency of a flooding process is a
function of the displacement efficiency and sweep
efficiency. These efficiencies are a function of the
residual oil saturation (waterflood and chemical
flood) and mobility ratio, respectively.
The
residual oil saturation to waterflooding is a
function of wettability with the lowest value at
intermediate wettability (Jadhunandan and
Morrow, 1995).

Carbonate formations
Wettability alteration has received more
attention recently for carbonate formations
compared to sandstones because carbonate
formations are much more likely to be
preferentially oil-wet (Treiber, et al., 1972).
Also, carbonate formations are more likely to be
fractured and will depend on spontaneous
imbibition or buoyancy for displacement of oil
from the matrix to the fracture.

Carbonate Reservoir
Giants Carbonate
Fields in the
Middle East are:
Ghawar
Zakum

Kirkuk
Marun
North

Petrophysical Properties of Carbonate

Reservoir
A. Porosity and Permeability
Carbonate reservoirs are characterized
by extreme heterogeneity of porosity
and permeability.

This is related to the complexities of the

original depositional environment and
the diagenetic influences that can
modify the original textures.

Cross-Sectional View of Sliced

Carbonate Rock (contd)

Model Pore Dimension

In
1950s,
some
reservoir
engineer
proposed
complex
model of sinuous,
constant
cross
section flow tubes to
estimate fundamental
reservoir properties.

Spontaneous Imbibition
Spontaneous imbibition is the process by
which a wetting fluid is drawn into a porous
medium by capillary action (Morrow and
Mason, 2001). The presence of surfactant
in some cases lowers the interfacial tension
and thus the capillary pressure to negligible
values.

SURF-ACT-ANT
(Surface Active Agent)
Any substance that lowers the surface or
interfacial tension of the medium in which it is
dissolved. The substance does not have to be
completely soluble and may lower surface or
interfiacial tension by spreading over the
interface. Soaps (fatty acid salts containing at
least eight carbon atoms) are surfactants.

SURFACTANT

Nonionics
Anionics

Hydrocarbons
Cationics

Amphoterics
HEAD

TAIL

SODIUM DODECYL BENZENE

SULFONATE
HYDROPHOBIC
TAIL

CH3

CH2

CH

CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2

BENZENE RING
Anionics

SO3
HYDROPHILIC
HEAD

+
Na

CH3

Example :

SODIUM BENZENE
SULFONATE
HYDROPHOBIC
TAIL

OIL

CH3

CH2

CH

CH2

CH2

CH2

CH2

CH2

CH3

BENZENE RING

SO3
Water

+
Na

HYDROPHILIC
HEAD

MICELLE

OIL

The Micelle are quite small and are

invisible to the eye. Indeed, the radius of
the micelle is roughly the length of the
surfactants tail, which may range from 2
to 4 nm (10-12 m) = 0.000004 micron
Micellar solutions are often quite
transparent. They will easily pass through
most pores in sedimentary rock, so
micellar solutions can be injected as
treatment fluids.

Water

Oil Reservoir
Fresh Water : vary in composition
Low Salinity, Medium Salinity and High Salinity

Formation
Water
Reservoir
Rock

Mono valence and bivalence

Sand Stone ( - ), Carbonate ( + ), Shale,

Clay, Volcanic (+), Combination and
many other minerals rock

Crude Oil
Paraffinic Oil, Resin Oil, Light Oil,
Medium Oil, Heavy Oil, Asphaltic
Oil, Asphalt.

December, 11-12 , 2009

Oil Wetting Reservoir System

After Chemical Injection
ROCK GRAIN

OIL
Channeling Water
OIL

ROCK GRAIN

Microemulsion

Mix between oil and Surfactant solution

Microemulsion
A special kind of stabilized emulsion in which the
dispersed droplets are extremely small ( < 100
nm) and the emulsion is thermodinamically
stable. These emulsions are transparent and
may form spontaneously. In some usage a lower
size limit of about l0 nm is implied in addition to
the upper limit.

Macroemulsion
The
term
macroemulsion
is
sometimes employed to identify
emulsions having droplet sizes
greater than a specified value, or
alternatively, simply to distinguish an
emulsion from the microemulsion or
micellar emulsion types.

Spontaneous Imbibition
Spontaneous imbibition is the process by which a
wetting fluid is drawn into a porous medium by
capillary action (Morrow and Mason, 2001). The
presence of surfactant in some cases lowers the
interfacial tension and thus the capillary pressure to
negligible values. Spontaneous displacement by
wetting surfactant (SeMAR) can still occur in this
case by buoyancy or gravity drainage (Schechter, et
al., 1994).
Water Wet

SeMAR

Oil

Oil

Imbibed by Formation Water

Imbibed by Surfactant

Wettability Alteration of Oil Phase on a

Marble Plate

The height of the retained oil in oil-wet matrix pores is a

function of the pore radius, IFT and contact angle.

IFT ( Interfacial Tension )

The IFT is a fundamental thermodynamic
property of an interface. It is defined as
the energy required to increase the area
of the interface by one unit.

Surface tension of paraflin hydrocarbons.23

lFT, methane/n-pentane systems at 100 oF

WETTING PHASE
When two immiscible phases are placed in
contact with a solid surface, one of the phases is
usually attracted to the surface more strongly

than the other phase. This phase is identified as

the wetting phase while the other phase is the
non- wetting phase.

Schematic Diagram of the Spinning Drop Apparatus

Schematic Diagram of Capillary Tube and Epoxy Sealant

( Lyman Handy )

Phase Behavior

Sequence of simple microemulsion phase behavior :

(a) Lower Phase, (b,c) Middle Phase and (d) Upper Phase system

SCREENING OF EOR
METHODS
EOR
Methods

Thermal Flooding
CO2 Flooding

Gas Injection

Limitations

Reservoir Depth
Cost

Availability
Reservoir Temperature

Chemical Flooding

Others

December, 11-12 , 2009

Reservoir Pressure
Oil Properties

SEVERAL SCREENING FOR

SURFACTANT SELECTION

1. Very Low adsorbtion (Not adsorbed by rock

surface). This will not be good for Spontaneous

Imbibition.
2. Very low (Ultra Low) concentration of
Surfactant
3. Not affected by themperature

The Screening Criteria For Alternative

EOR selection (General)
Property

Micellar/ CO2
Polymer Wetting Nitrogen
ASP
Injection Injection Surfactant Injection

API Gravity

15 -< 40
20 35 22 35
< 35 13 <10 1.5 <150 >10

Viscosity
Rock Type
Thickness

Depth, ft
Temp, F

Perm, md

S
NC
<9000
<200
>10;
400

S,C
WD
>2500
NC
NC

S
NC
<9000
<200
>1000,
800

>10
200

48

< 0.4
S,C
S,C
NC NC
<12000 >6000
< 300 NC
> 10 NC

Surfactant Injection

SURFACTANT
Flood

3000 bbls Chemical

Solution

HUFF & PUFF STEPS

HUFF

INJECTION

PUFF

SOAKING
1 - 5 days

December, 11-12 , 2009

PRODUCTION

Well

Volume of fluid required to be

injected = Vf into production well
or huff & puff well.

Vf ( bbls) = 0.56 h r 2

Volume of the chemical to be injected

(Estimated )

Where :
h = net thickness of formation, ft
= avg porosity of rock, fraction
r = radius of influence, ft
Q = liquid rate of the well, bbl/d
W = fluid velocity in reservoir, ft/D

0.8937 Q
r =
w h

Well B

Well A

Symetrical
Disribution

Surfactant Huff & Puff in

a reservoir

A Symetrica
Distribution

Well C

Well D

Surfactant
Distribution

Surfactant
Distribution
Surfactant Huff & Puff in
a reservoir

Well B

Well A

Non Symetrical
Distribution
Symetrical
Disribution

Surfactant Huff & Puff in

a reservoir

Well A

Well B

Non
Symetrical
Distribution

Non
Symetrical
Disribution

Surfactant Huff & Puff in

a reservoir

Well C

Well D

Channeling

Surfactant
Distribution

Surfactant
Distribution
Surfactant Huff & Puff in
a reservoir

Huff and Puff well

in a reservoir

Production Wells

Surfactant concentration
getting lower

Weak Water Drive

Field Result of SeMaR Implementation

at Daleel Field - Oman
Daleel field is located in Oman, Middle East. The oil is produced from carbonate
reservoir. The incremental oil gain is more than twice from the forecast baseline after
SeMAR injection using Huff and Puff Method.

DL-104 Performance
600

test_oil bbl/d
500

400

300

200

100

Oil Production Increases

DL-103 Performance
600

test_oil bbl/d
500

400

Start SurPlus
Injection

300

200

100

Oil Rate
0

Oil Production
Increases

DL-104 Performance
600

test_oil bbl/d
500

400

300

200

100

Start of SurPlus Injection

DL-103 (DL-132 Monitor Well)

600

500

400

y = 0.272x - 5E+06
R = 0.451
Deg = 15.216o

300

200

y = 0.278x - 6E+06
R = 0.281
Deg = 15.536o

100

0
12/7/2012

1/26/2013

3/17/2013

5/6/2013

6/25/2013
Oil Rate

8/14/2013

10/3/2013

11/22/2013

1/11/2014

Commonly Oil Wetting

Reservoirs

Commonly Mix Wetting

Reservoirs

Commonly Water
Wet Reservoirs

0.3
0.2
0.1

II

III

0.0
0.5

Potential of Oil Recovery

Factor From Surfactant
Flooding

0.4

Carbonate Oil
Reservoirs,
Heavy oil reservoirs,
Resinics Oil
Reservoirs.

0.0
0.6

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Oil Recovery Factor of Water

Flooding or Natural Water Flooding

0.5

Interfacial tension (ift) measurement

PHASE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

(TUBE TEST)
Oil
Surfactant
Solution

Middle Phase Shows

Miscibility of Dilute
Surfactant in Oil

Lower Phase, Shows

Immiscibility of
Surfactant in Oil

February, 15 2010

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BANDUNG

Imbibition Process

OIL

Water

Surfactant

OIL

OIL

SeMAR

At CMC, a surfactant reaches the lowest IFT value

CMC

IFT

IFT

Micelle

Surfactant Concentration

Critical Micele Concentrations

CMC
Start to form
middle phase

IFT
( Dynes / cm )

IFT < 1x10-3 merupakan Ultra

Low IFT Surfactant
1

Surfactant Concentration

(%)

SPONTANEOUS IMBIBITION TEST

Produced Oil

Thermostated Air Bath

Graduated Tube
Saturated -Oil
Core

Oil

Surfactant
Solution

Cell Contained
Surfactant Solution

December, 11-12 , 2009

Core Specimen Immersed

in Surfactant Solution
(Saturated with Oil)
AMOTT
IMBIBITION
CELL

OIL

Thin Film of
adsorbed
surfactant

Silica Rock

OIL

Silicate or
Carbonate Rock

Thin Film of
adsorbed
surfactant

OIL

Thin Film of
adsorbed
surfactant

Silica Rock

OIL

Silicate or
Carbonate Rock

Thin Film of
adsorbed
surfactant

OIL

Silica
Rock

Silica
Rock

Thin Film of
adsorbed
surfactant

OIL WETTING IN GLASS TUBES

Oil
wetting

Tube
Filled by
water

Tubes Filled by Wetting Solution

Closed

Water

Closed

Closed

Open

Oil

Oil

Water

Open

Chemical

Open

Oil

Oil
Closed

Water
Chemical

Open

Counter Flow
Phenomenon

Capillary Tube

Closed

Water

Water

Oil

Open
SeMAR

Closed

Closed

Closed

Water

Water

Water

Oil
Oil

Open

Oil

Open

Oil

Open

Fracture Rock

Matrix

Fracture

Fracture Rock

Matrix

0.5 Micron

50 Micron

Fracture

Counter
Flow

Cross-Sectional View of Sliced

Carbonate Rock
2 m

Fracture
Rock

0.2 m
Matrix

Matrix

Fracture Rock

0.2 Micron
Spontaneous Imbibition
Test

50 Micron

SMR Fluids

Fracture

Counter Current
Flow , Oil and the
Chemical

Matrix

Fracture Rock

0.2 Micron
Spontaneous Imbibition
Test

60 Micron

SMR Fluids

Fracture

Counter Current
Flow , Oil and the
Chemical

CORE +
OIL

SMR Fluids

CORE +
OIL

Imbibition Test results from cores

with only one top side is open.

Imbibition Test In Carbonate Core

IMBIBITION TEST RESULTS OF PARTIALLY OPEN CORE

SAMPLE
100

Oil Recovery ( % )

90
80

One Side
Open Only

70

Oil

60

Core
Sample

50

Formation water

40

30
20
10
0
0
25

10
15
Time, Days

20

Soaking
120 min

Results of Spontaneous Imbibition Test of Oil and Rock

from well # 135 at T = 60 C, Using Amott Imbibition Cell

X
Spontaneous Imbibition Test with Field Core for Daleel#97
(Natih)
30

Brine (DN-13B)

S12A 0.5% (DN-18T)

25
S12A 0.5% + STA-2A
0.5% (DN-17B)

54 times

S12A 0.5% + STA-3

0.25% (DN-18B)

20
% Oil Recovery

S12A 1% (DT-02B)

S12A 2% (DN-17T)

15

S13A* 0.5% (DN-16B)

10

S13A* 1% + STA-3 0.5%

(DN-13T)
S16A 0.5% (DT-05B)

5
S16A 1% (DN-16T)
S18A 1% (DT-03T)

10

15

20

25

Soaking Time (Day)

December, 11-12 , 2009

30

35

40

Results of Spontaneous Imbibition Test of Oil and Rock

from well # 135 at T = 60 C, Using Amott Imbibition Cell

Results of Spontaneous Imbibition Test of Oil and Rock

from well # 135 at T = 60 C, Using Amott Imbibition Cell

FREE
IMBIBITION
(+)

Pc = Pnw - Pw

Pc

0.0
Free
Imbibition

(-)

Sw
(%)

Heavy Oil and Carbonate

Reservoirs

Oil Viscosity Reduction

SEMAR REDUCING OIL

VISCOSITY

GLASS
Capillary
TUBE

OIL

OIL

OIL
OIL FLOW
VERY FAST

SEMAR

R
OIL

OIL

OIL FLOW
VERY SLOW

LOWERING VISCOSITY OF OIL

Mixture Viscosity
120
S12A 0,5%
100

S13A* 1%
S16A 2%

Viscosity (cP)

80

S18A 2%
60
S16A 0,5%
40

20

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

% Oil

60

70

80

90

100

SeMAR Concentration 2%
1200

avg, cp

1000

Semar Reducing
Heavy Oil Viscosity

800
600

90 C

400

80 C
70 C

200
0

20

40

60

% oil

80

100

 avg, cp

1200

SeMAR Concentration 2%

1000
800
600

400

90 C

200

80 C

20

40

60

80

100

70 C

avg, cp

% oil
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

SeMAR Concentration 3%
90 C
80 C
70 C
0

20

40

60

% oil

80

100

82
79.94

80

avg, cp

78
76
74

75.14
73.14

72
70

68
S16A 2%

S16A 3%

S16A 4%

Imbibition test on
API
Heavy
= 17 Oil with API = 17
Spontaneous Imbibition Test with Carbonate Stone for Zulu Field
9
Formation
Water (KS18)

% Oil Recovery

Sea Water
(KS-4)

8X

S16A 0.5%
(KS-1)

4
3

S16A 1%
(KS-3)

2
1
0
0

8
10
Soaking Time (Day)

12

14

16

Z-Field

B - Field

Viscosity of Mixture, Oil and SEMAR S28A (0.5%)

253 CP

140

114 CP

Viscosity of Mix (cP)

120
100

MIXTURE SEMAR AND OIL

80

76 CP

60
40
20
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Volume of Oil
135

Z-Field
Viscosity of Mixture, Oil and SEMAR S28A (0.5%)
350

Viscosity of Mix (cP)

300
Brine + Oil

250
200
150

114 CP

100
50
0

SEMAR + Oil
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Volume of Oil
136

Enhanced oil recovery Thermal methods

Viscosity
Reducing Viscosity by
Heating

10,000,000 cp
1,000,000 cp
100,000 cp
10,000 cp

Oil Viscosity = f ( Temp )

1,000 cp

Typical Steam
Temperature

100 cp

Semar

10 cp
1 cp

100

200

300

Temperature, oC
By Kemp

137

Oil Viscosity Reduction

using Thermal

Viscosity, cp

144
cp

P = 14.7 psi

Semar
2 cp

60 C

300 - 350 C

Temperature, C
138

SEMAR

Viscosity, cp

253
cp

Oil Viscosity Reduction

using SEMAR and Thermal

144
cp

P = 14.7 psi
78
cp

2 cp

2 cp

70 C

300 - 350 C

Temperature, C
139

Inlet Pressure = 18 psig

Outlet Pressure = 14.7

psia

SEMAR S 28A
*

WATER CUT
RF

CORE FLOOD ON
HEAVY OIL CORE

BW Field

SEMAR Flooding
SEMAR Flooding and Soaking

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

140

OIL RECOVERY SUMMARY

From Core Flood Test

Core Flood

Core Flood # 1
SEMAR S28A* 0.5 %
Core Flood # 2
SEMAR S28A 0.5 %

Total Recovery
Total
Factor ( % ),
Incremental Oil
including water
Recovered ( % )
flood / drive
47

98

45

96

141

SeMar Injection in Carbonate Oil Reservoir

Recovery Factor (%)

SeMar Core-Flood in Oil

Carbonate core

Soaking
23%

Water Injection

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

PV Injected

5.0

6.0

7.0

SeMar Injection in Sandstone Oil

Reservoir

Effect of SeMAR injection and Soaking on oil production Well A-2,

AB field
48
(d)
40

End of soaking

BOPD

32
24

Start of 3rd
SurPlus
soaking

Start 1st soaking

Start of 2nd
SurPlus
soaking

SurPlus Flooding

(c)
16

(b)
(a)

8
0

Chased injected water

+low conc. SeMAR

4
Time (months)

ARAHAN - BANJARSARI
Field AB OIL GAIN
250

240
230
220

BS

210

AR

200
190

180
170

160
150
BOPD

140

130

TOTAL OIL GAIN SINCE

1/5/09 UNTIL 31/12/10 =
64,243 BBL OIL
Start S-13A*
Injection

120
110

100
90

80

BASELINE

70
60

50
40

30
20
10

0
Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09 Jun-09 Jul-09 Aug-09 Sep-09 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10 Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10

DATE

Is the project economically viable?

Huff n Puff

3000 bbls Chemical

Solution

HUFF & PUFF STEPS

HUFF

INJECTION

PUFF

SOAKING
1 - 5 days

December, 11-12 , 2009

PRODUCTION

No water
channeling

Well

Well

SOAKING PROSES
SURROUNDING
WELL

December, 11-12 , 2009

Water
Chanelling

Surfactant Injection in
Homogeneous Reservoir

Surfactant Injection in
Heterogeneous Oil Reservoir

So = 60 %

So = 60 %

So = 40%

So = 40%

20%

20%

Production Well
December, 11-12 , 2009

Injected Surfactant

Surfactant Injection in
Homogeneous Reservoir

Surfactant Injection in
Heterogeneous Oil Reservoir

So = 60 %
So = 40%

OIL

20%

OIL

Injected
Surfactant
December, 11-12 , 2009

Water
Channel

Fluid Flow in
Mature Field
OIL

OIL
Production
Well

December, 11-12 , 2009

Heterogeneous Oil
Reservoir

Injected
Surfactant

OIL

OIL
Production
Well

December, 11-12 , 2009

FLOODING

Well Injection Pattern

5 - spot

7 - Spot

Producer

Producer

Injector

Injector

Oil Recovery Factor of EOR Surfactant

1

Surfactant Flooding

Water Flood

Surfactant Flooding

Very good WF
3

Water Flood

Water Flood

No Good WF

Surfactant Flooding

Surfactant Flooding

X%

Water Flooding

Producer Well
Un-swept Area

Sor
25 %

Trapped Oil
Swept Area

Un-swept Area

Water
Injection Well

In Swept Area, trapped

oil can not be displaced
by water, however it
could be released and
flowed
by
injecting
surfactant.

Surfactant Flooding

Producer Well
Un-swept Area

SOR
25 %

Trapped Oil
Swept Area

Un-swept Area

Surfactant
Injection
Well

In Swept Area, trapped

oil can not be displaced
by water, however it
could be released and
flowed
by
injecting
surfactant. In addition to
that, surfactant flood
can improve swept
areal by stripping out oil
zone close by.

Water Flooding in
Medium Oil

Water Flooding in
Heavier Oil
Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

25 %

Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

Trapped Oil

Trapped Oil

Swept Area

Un-swept
Area
Water
Injection
Well

Un-swept
Area
Water
Injection
Well

Surfactant Flooding in
Medium Oil

Surfactant Flooding in
Heavier Oil
Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

25 %

Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

Trapped Oil

Trapped Oil

Swept Area

Un-swept
Area
Surfactant
Injection
Well

Un-swept
Area
Surfactant
Injection
Well

SWEEP EFFICIENCY

ON INJECTION PATTERN
Between RF versus Cost
(economics concern)

Well Injection Pattern

5 - spot

7 - Spot

Producer

Producer

Injector

Injector

Surfactant / Water Injection

Pattern
Unswept
Unswept
Unswept
Swept
Area
Unswept
Swept
Area

7- SPOT

5-SPOT

Water Channeling due to Water

Flooding Implementation

Heterogeneity Effect

OIL

OIL

Swept Area

Swept Area

OIL
OIL

One Quarter of 5-Spot

Pattern

The Injected Surfactant FlowsThrough

Water Channeling
OIL

RFWF = 35 %

OIL

RFSUR= 12 %

RFWF = 25 %
RFSUR= 17%

RF = 17 %

RF = 10 %
OIL

RF = 22 %

December, 11-12 , 2009

OIL

RF = 27 %

OIL RECOVERY BY STRIPPING

Production
Well
STRIPPING

OIL

Injection
Well

SURFACTANT CAN ALTER WETTABILITY OF

OIL PHASE , FROM WETTING TO NON
WETTING
WATER
INJECTION

Water

Stripping
OIL

OIL

OIL WET
OIL BECOMES NON-WETTING

SURFACTANT
INJECTION

SURFACTANT
OIL

Stripping Phenomenon
Core of
Reservoir Rock
Sand

sand

Fluid
Flow
Sand

Oil

SURFACTANT

OIL

OIL

Rock Surface

Production
Well

Oil
Channel

Surfactant Injection Flow

through Water channels in
a Mature Oil Reservoir

Water
Channel

Injection
Well

In this phenomenon,
oil phase is stripped
by the surfactant and
then it is flown to the
production well.

Water Flooding

Producer Well
Un-swept Area

Sor
25 %

Trapped Oil
Swept Area

Un-swept Area

In Swept Area, trapped

oil can not be displaced
by water, however it
could be released and
flowed
by
injecting
surfactant.

Water
Injection Well

5-Spot Injection
Pattern

Surfactant Flooding

Producer Well
Un-swept Area

SOR
25 %

Trapped Oil
Swept Area

Un-swept Area

Surfactant
Injection
Well

In Swept Area, trapped

oil can not be displaced
by water, however it
could be released and
flowed
by
injecting
surfactant. In addition to
that, surfactant flood
can improve swept
areal by stripping out oil
zone close by.

Water Flooding in
Medium Oil

Water Flooding in
Heavier Oil
Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

25 %

Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

Trapped Oil

Trapped Oil

Swept Area

Un-swept
Area
Water
Injection
Well

Un-swept
Area
Water
Injection
Well

Surfactant Flooding in
Medium Oil

Surfactant Flooding in
Heavier Oil
Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

25 %

Producer
Well

Un-swept
Area

Trapped Oil

Trapped Oil

Swept Area

Un-swept
Area
Surfactant
Injection
Well

Un-swept
Area
Surfactant
Injection
Well

Recovery Factor Surfactant

Relation Between RF Water Flood VS RF Surfactant

Seven Spots Pattern

Five Spots Pattern

Recovery Factor of Water

Flood

IMPROVING SWEEP EFFICIENCY

OF THE CHEMICAL INJECTION

INJECTION PATTERN
Between RF versus Cost
(economics concern)

Well Injection Pattern

5 - spot

7 - Spot

Producer

Producer

Injector

Injector

Surfactant Injection Pattern

Swept
Area

Swept
Area

7- SPOT
Factor affecting Sweep eff:
(a) Oil properties, (b) Rock Properties ( c )
Geometry of the reservoir, (d) Injected Fluid, (e)
Injection rate, (f) formation water properties.

5-SPOT

Water Channeling due to Water

Flooding Implementation

Heterogeneity Effect

OIL

OIL

Swept Area

Swept Area

OIL
OIL

One Quarter of 5-Spot

Pattern

The Injected Surfactant FlowsThrough

Water Channeling
OIL

RFWF = 35 %

OIL

RFSUR= 12 %

RFWF = 25 %
RFSUR= 17%

RF = 17 %

RF = 10 %
OIL

RF = 22 %

December, 11-12 , 2009

OIL

RF = 27 %

OIL RECOVERY BY STRIPPING

Well pattern pada reservoir

yang sama.
Well Spacing 40 Acres

B
Jika tekanan reservoir
sama, apakah PI nya sama?

Well Spacing 60 Acres

Well pattern pada reservoir

yang sama.

Well pattern pada reservoir

yang sama.
Well Spacing 40 Acres
Swept Area

B
Jika tekanan reservoir
sama, apakah PI nya sama?

Well Spacing 60 Acres

Well pattern pada reservoir

yang sama.
Well Spacing 40 Acres
Swept Area

B
Jika tekanan reservoir
sama, apakah PI nya sama?

Well Spacing 60 Acres

5-Spot

4-Spot

7-Spot

9-spot

5 SPOT
PATTERN

Injector
Producer

5 SPOT
PATTERN

5 SPOT
PATTERN

5 SPOT
PATTERN

5 SPOT
PATTERN
1
2

9 SPOT PATTERN

WCT-90%

WCT-90%

100.00

100.00
80.00

98.00
RF, %

RF (%)

99.00

97.00
96.00

60.00
40.00
20.00

95.00

0.00

94.00
0

200
400
600
Rate Injeksi Surfaktan, bbl/D

Rate Injeksi Surfaktan

(bbl/D)

RF (%)

200

95.00

240

96.30

300

97.00

400

98.50

500

99.00

Triangle
Horizontal
wells

1
2
3
PoreVolume

Water and Surfactant Injection System

using Horizontal Triangle Pattern
RF (%)

LUAS
(ACRE)

BC

BC + SF

RF SF
(%)

10

37.76

98.84

61.08

20

36.42

97

60.58

50

34.7

80

45.3

70

34

63.7

29.7

100

32.5

43.27

10.77