Numerical Simulation of CO 2 Immiscible Displacement Based on Three-Dimensional Pore Structure

Feng Shi, Xiaoshan Li (), Gen Kou, Huan Liu, Sai Liu, Zhen Liu, Ziheng Zhao and Xiaoyu Jiang
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Feng Shi: Research Institute of Experiment and Detection, Xinjiang Oilfeld Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Xiaoshan Li: Research Institute of Experiment and Detection, Xinjiang Oilfeld Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Gen Kou: Research Institute of Experiment and Detection, Xinjiang Oilfeld Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Huan Liu: Research Institute of Experiment and Detection, Xinjiang Oilfeld Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Sai Liu: Research Institute of Experiment and Detection, Xinjiang Oilfeld Company, PetroChina, Karamay 834000, China
Zhen Liu: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Ziheng Zhao: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Xiaoyu Jiang: State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: CO 2 -enhanced tight oil production can increase crude oil recovery while part of the injected CO 2 is geologically sequestered. This process is influenced by factors such as gas injection rate, oil/gas viscosity ratio, and contact angle. Understanding how these factors affect recovery during CO 2 non-mixed-phase substitution is essential for improving CO 2 -enhanced tight oil production technology. In this study, three-dimensional pore structure was numerically simulated using physical simulation software. The effects of three key parameters—the gas injection rate, contact angle and viscosity slope—on flow displacement during a CO 2 non-mixed-phase drive were analyzed. In addition, the study compares the fluid transport behavior under mixed-phase and non-mixed-phase conditions at the pore scale. The simulation results show that increasing the replacement velocity significantly expands the diffusion range of CO 2 and reduces the capillary fingering phenomenon. In addition, the saturation of CO 2 increases with the increase in the viscosity ratio, which further improves the diffusion range of CO 2 . The wetting angle is not simply linearly related to the drive recovery, and the recovery is closely related to the interfacial tension and capillary force under the influence of wettability. The recoveries under mixed-phase conditions were slightly higher than those under unmixed-phase conditions. During the mixed-phase replacement process, CO 2 is dissolved into the crude oil, resulting in oil volume expansion, which improves the distance and extent of CO 2 permeation.

Keywords: numerical modeling; 3D pore structure; key parameters; recovery; unmixed phase; mixed phase (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: 2025
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