Theoretical Study on the Micro-Flow Mechanism of Polymer Flooding in a Double Heterogeneous Oil Layer

Huiying Zhong, Yuanyuan He, Xin Zhao and Xiaojuan Peng
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Huiying Zhong: Key Laboratory for Enhanced Oil & Gas Recovery of the Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
Yuanyuan He: Key Laboratory for Enhanced Oil & Gas Recovery of the Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
Xin Zhao: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Daqing Oilfield Company, Daqing 163712, China
Xiaojuan Peng: No. 1, Oil Recovery Plant, PetroChina Daqing Oilfield Company, Daqing 163255, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: Critical issues in the development of oil fields include the differences in the layer properties as well as serious interlayer conflicts and disturbances that can lead to the formation of a preferential flow pathway. In order to understand the interlayer disturbance mechanism between the heterogeneous oil layers, mathematical models of the polymer, and oil two-phase micro-flow in porous media are established based on the Navier-Stokes equation. The phase-field method is used to track the two-phase interface during the displacement process. Then, the influences of wettability, injection modes, and permeability contrasts on the front length coefficient and the displacement efficiency are studied. The results showed that when the rock surface is water-wet (oil-wet), the polymer displaced the low (high) permeability layer first, and the interlayer breakthrough is obvious in the early stages of displacement. After the front broke through, the water-wet (oil-wet) rocks began to displace the high (low) permeability layer, and the preferential flow pathway is formed, which slowed the subsequent polymer flooding. When the rock surface is oil-wet, the perforation degree of the inlet had a greater effect on the micro-oil displacement efficiency. The micro-oil displacement efficiency of the full perforation and commingling production model is 26.21% and 37.75% higher than that of the separate-layer injection and commingling production, as well as the partial perforation and commingling production-injection models, respectively. The larger the permeability contrast, the more obvious the interlayer breakthrough. This study reveals the influence of different wettability characteristics, injection modes, and permeability contrasts on the front length coefficient and the displacement efficiency in a micro-heterogeneous model and provides an important theoretical basis for the formulation of enhanced oil recovery schemes for heterogeneous oil layers.

Keywords: heterogeneous oil layer; wettability; injection method; permeability contrast; front length coefficient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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