Balancing foam generation and stability in rough fractures for effective CO2 mobility control

Lin Sun, Zhenghui Li, Xuehui Sun, Jun Xin, Liyou Zeng, Haoyue Li and Bing Wei

Energy, 2025, vol. 335, issue C

Abstract: CO2 channeling severely undermines sweep efficiency in fractured, low-permeability reservoirs, posing a critical challenge to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geological carbon sequestration. While foam injection is a proven method for CO2 mobility control in porous media, its performance in rough fracture systems remains insufficiently understood. This study systematically investigated the in-situ generation and transport behavior of three tailored supercritical CO2 foams using a novel high-temperature, high-pressure rough-fracture model under varying surface roughness coefficients (Rs) and injection conditions. Results indicate that increased roughness promotes foam generation through shear-induced disturbances but also accelerates film rupture due to excessive deformation. In low-roughness fractures (Rs ≤ 1.01), sufficient foam generation is essential, whereas in high-roughness fractures (Rs ≥ 1.05), maintaining foam stability becomes equally important. A synergistic formulation combining hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon surfactants, xanthan gum, and nano-SiO2 enhances interfacial adsorption, increases bulk viscosity, and improves wall friction, achieving a balance between foam generation and stability. These effects are further amplified by optimizing foam quality and exploiting shear-thinning behavior. The findings deepen understanding of foam-fracture interactions and provide practical guidance for improving CO2-EOR and geological sequestration strategies in fractured, low-permeability reservoirs.

Keywords: CO2 foam; Fracture reservoirs; Foam mobility control; Rough fractures; Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:335:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225036680

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.138026

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