Experimental study on enhanced oil recovery in deepwater carbonate reservoirs via reinjection of high-CO2 produced gas
Author of the article:LI Yunbo1,2, LIU Chengbin1,3, YE Yu1, YANG Zhaopeng1,2, YU Yang1,2, LI Jian1,2
Author's Workplace:1. China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation, Beijing, 100034, China; 2. PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, 100083, China; 3. PetroChina Brazil Company, Rio de Janeiro, 22250040, Brazil
Key Words:WAG; Physical modeling; Similarity criteria; Oil displacement efficiency
Abstract:
In one deepwater carbonate M reservoir, the gas-oil ratio is as high as 200~350 m3/m3, and the
produced gas contains over 40% CO2. To reduce carbon emissions and fully
utilize the high-CO2
produced gas to enhance oil recovery efficiency, this study conducted
continuous gas injection, water flooding, and water alternating gas (WAG)
injection, experiments under simulated reservoir conditions. It further
analyzed the oil displacement efficiencies of different displacement methods
and the impacts of core heterogeneity, gas injection rate, and injection
pressure changes on the effectiveness of WAG injection. The results indicate
that WAG injection achieves the highest oil displacement efficiency, up to
71.88%, followed by continuous gas injection at 56.83%. These are respectively
29.8 and 14.75 percentage points higher than water flooding, which has an oil
displacement efficiency of 42.08%. Core heterogeneity, gas injection rate, and
injection pressure significantly influence the oil displacement effectiveness
of WAG injection. Greater core heterogeneity leads to poorer water control and
delayed gas breakthrough, resulting in lower displacement efficiencies.
Injection gas at a rate higher than the optimal level can cause premature gas
breakthrough, ultimately reducing recovery. Additionally, maintaining injection
pressure within the miscible displacement conditions is beneficial for
improving oil displacement efficiency. This study provides a basis for
utilizing high-CO2
produced gas in deepwater carbonate reservoirs through WAG injection to enhance
oil recovery.