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GAS INJECTION
1 3
1-5 - Exploration
5 - PRIMARY
6-7 - EOR
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5 6
1-4 7
Screening FLUID
Pre-POD SAMPLING
EOR ?
Fluid Analysis
(Lab. Work)
Economic EOR STUDY • PVT
• Chemical Selection
Evaluation PROJECT • Fluid-Fluid comp.
• Fluid-Rock Comp.
MANAGEMENT • Core Flooding
Process& • Slim Tube
Facilities
Design ? PVT
(Region) Modeling
Reservoir
simulation G&G Production
? (Region) Modeling
Analysis 4
Fault Seal
Table 1
EOR Screening Technical Criterias2,3,9
Recommended Range
Properties
N2 CO2 In Situ Combustion Steam Injection
Gravity, API > 35 > 22 10 to 27 8 to 25
Viscosity, cp < 0.4 < 10 < 5,000 <100,000
Not Critical but some
High percentage of light High percentage of intermediate Some asphaltic components to aid
Composition light ends for steam
hydrocarbons hydrocarbons (especially C5 to C12) coke deposition
distillation will help
Oil Saturation, % PV > 40 > 20 > 50 > 40
Sandstone or carbonate with few Sand or sandstone with
Sandstone or carbonate with few Sand or sandstone with high
Type of formation fractures and high permeability high porosity and
fractures and high permeability streaks porosity
streaks permeability
Relatively thin unless formation is Relatively thin unless formation is
Net Thickness > 10 > 20
dipping dipping
Not critical if sufficient injection rate
Average Permeability, mD Not critical > 50 > 200
can be maintained
For miscible displacement, depth must
Depth, ft > 6000 < 11,500 < 5,000
be great enough
Temperature, F Not critical Not Critical > 100 Not Critical
Recommended Range
Properties
Polymer Micellar, ASP, and Alkaline Surfactant Microbial
Gravity, API > 15 > 20 > 20 > 15
< 150 (preferably <100 and
Viscosity, cp < 35 < 100 Not Critical
>10)
Light intermediate which contain
Composition Not Critical Not Critical Not Critical
organic acid to achieve lower IFT
Oil Saturation, % PV > 50 > 35 > 35 > 25
Sandstone preferred but can be
Type of formation Sandstone prefered Sandstone Not Critical
used in carbonate
Net Thickness, ft Not critical Not critical Not critical Not Critical
Average Permeability, mD > 10 > 10 > 40 > 50 md
Depth, ft < 9000 < 9000 < 6000 < 8000
Temperature, F <200 to minimize degradation < 200 < 200 < 160
Waterflooding
Miscible Gas Flooding (CO2 Injection)
CO2 Injection Water Separation and Production Well
Injection Well Injection Storage Facilities
From Pump
Pipeline
or Recycle
4 3 2 1
Description
Screening Parameters
Gravity > 27° API
Viscosity < 10 cp
Composition C5 - C20 (C5 - C12)
Oil saturation > 30% PV
Formation type sandstone / carbonate
Net thickness relatively thin
Average permeability not critical
Transmissibility not critical
Depth > 2,300 feet
Temperature < 250° F
Miscible Gas Flooding
(Hydrocarbon Injection)
HC Gas Injection Water Separation and Production Well
Injection Well Injection Storage Facilities
From Pump
Pipeline
or Recycle
4 3 2 1
Description
4 3 2 1
Screening Parameters
Gravity > 24° API (> 35 for nitrogen)
Viscosity < 10 cp
Composition C1 - C7
Oil saturation > 30% PV
Formation type sandstone / carbonate
Net thickness relatively thin (not critical for
pressure maintenance)
Average permeability not critical
Transmissibility not critical
Depth > 4,500 feet
Temperature not critical
Oil Gravity Guides for Enhanced
Oil Recovery Methods
CO2
CH4
N2
Heavy Intermediate
component component
DK - 37 -
Comparison of Solvents
- Higher viscosity
- Low formation volume factor
- High density
- Low miscibility pressures with reservoir oils
- Easy to handling
- Relatively low cost
DK - 38 -
Gas Injection Options
Reinjection of Reservoir Gas:
The first option to consider in a low permeability
reservoir is reinjection of reservoir gas. This can
only occur in a relatively unproduced, newer
reservoir that originally was nearly saturated with
gas. The gas will have already been produced from
older reservoirs.
If this option is possible, the reservoir pressure is
controlled so as to optimize gas production, gas
recycle, and oil production.
Gas Injection Options
Nitrogen or Air Injection:
If reservoir gas is not available, injecting either
nitrogen or air to increase oil recovery is common.
Nitrogen, extracted from air using membranes or
pressure swing adsorption, is relatively inert because
it contains less than 4 percent oxygen.
It is best used in shallower reservoirs to enhance
production by increasing reservoir pressure.
Produced nitrogen can be recompressed and recycled
so that very little new gas is needed and the
production can continue for several decades.
Gas Injection Options
Nitrogen or Air Injection:
Air is used in deeper reservoirs, temperature (> 150
ºF) where the air spontaneously reacts with the oil to
form flue gas. The CO2 in the flue gas dissolves in
the oil. In addition, water and light oil evaporate
from the combustion zone. This means that three
mechanisms (pressure maintenance, swelling and
waterflooding by condensed steam) combine to
increase oil recovery.
DK - 41 -
Gas Injection Options
CO2 Sequestration:
When a CO2 pipeline is not nearby but CO2 is
available from plants in a nearly pure form and is
not being sold for another purpose, it can be
injected into light-oil reservoirs where the CO2 and
oil could become miscible.
In the few instances where these conditions exist,
carbon dioxide is the best choice for recovering oil
for decades from a low-permeability, deeper
reservoir where gas will not override the reservoir
fluids.
Miscible (Solvents) Injection
Nitrogen becomes an efficient miscible displacement
only for light oils, temperatures greater than 240 0F (115
0C) and pressures greater than 5,000 psig, where its