Micellar-Polymer
Abstract
This article will talk about the general concept behind Micellar-Polymer flooding. The general concept of the study will entail an introduction of Micellar-Polymer. What Micellar-Polymer is all about, how the process was initiated and its purpose. Regarding the initiation of the process, the article will state the exact year of its initiation and the reasons behind its initiation. Micellar-Polymer is an interesting process, hence; the paper will explain interesting concepts behind the process. Generally, the article first part will talk about the general back round of the Micellar-Polymer flooding process.
The second part of the article will focus on the main body; the main body of the paper will extensively explain how the Micellar-Polymer flooding process works. The Micellar-Polymer process is a wide process hence the paper will explain in depth how the viscosity decreases, the advantage of the viscosity process and finally what happens inside an interfacial tension process. This section will focus on how the different mechanisms operate. The main body will also focus on case studies in comparison with screening criteria and finally how they operate. Other important information covered on this article’s main body includes; how the reservoirs are making use of the miculler polymerizations in the modern worn. Currently there are various reservoirs miculler polymerizations modernly. The exact number of reservoirs is 12, which proves that the method is good. The article will explain whether the method is good and to what aspects. At the end of the article, there would be a conclusion, which will elaborate on the potentials of the Micellar-Polymer flooding process. It will generally explain if the process is favorable or not, whether it is effective regarding oil recovery or not and finally, if the process is recommended for companies or not. The paper will have findings and results, discussion parts and different graphics, which will help the user in defining and elaborating the article.
Introduction
Micellar-Polymer flooding process began back in 1979. By the year 1983, its completion was in progress. During this year, a tertiary oil recovery was projected to be about 33.6% of the total oil, which was in 1979. In the same year, the chemical efficiency of the Micellar-Polymer flooding process was about 11 pounds. Micellar-Polymer is an oil recovery process or technique where a micelle solution is propelled into a reservoir via various injection wells. The technique can also be improved oil recovery methods, where by chemicals, which are dissolved in water, are propelled in various reservoirs via an injection wells. It is obvious that mixing oil and water can prove to be a difficult task unless a third component, which might be soap or surfactant, is added in the solution (Hong, 39). Addition of the component helps in reducing interfacial tension, which might be between water and oil. In order to come up with a perfect micellar flooding, the levels of the interfacial tensions must be lowered to 0.001 dyne/cm.
Generally, the micellar solution causes fluids to be miscible in the system’s reservoir. Because of this, most of the oil in the process will be displaced. Oil displacement will occur because of the presence of alkaline in the system (Hong, 39). Despite this, the recovery of oil will be reduced because of the reservoir rock, which will be non-uniform in the field. The main reason behind micellar injection is interfacial tension reduction in order to recover the oil. Micellar solution has various names depending on the types of references
Many oil companies have researched about the Micellar-Polymer flooding process as a way of overcoming the surfactant-polymer flooding limitations. The process of Micellar-Polymer flooding has been proved a successful process in various field scales. Despite all the success of the process, there is the fear of uneconomic world because of the high surfactant concentrations, which are used during the process. Apart from the high surfactant concentrations, the other disadvantage of the process is the high costs of the process (Camilleri, 84).
Generally, the micellar-polymer flooding procedure entails a preflight. In this situation, the preflight is the low salinity water. Other solutions involved in this process are chemical solutions such as alkaline or micellar, mobility buffer and water. Water in the procedure is the driving fluid. During the process, the water displaces various chemicals hence this will result to oil bank to wells production. In this situation, the chemical solution will reduce the interfacial and the forces that are between the water and the oil hence; it will generate an increase in the production of oil (Donaldson, 76).
The forces involved here are the capillary forces. The chemical solutions that are involved here include surfactant-forming chemicals or the surfactants, which are important during the process. With the reduction of the interfacial, there will be a release of the oil, which will then be directed to the pores where it was earlier trapped (Donaldson, 94). The solution in this process also contains, the co surfactants, which are supposed to match the solution’s viscosity. The purpose of oil in this process is to stabilize the solution. The oil also prevents the absorption by the reservoir rock. An electrolyte is usually added in the solution for the purposes of aiding the adjustment of the viscosity.
Findings and Discussion
Findings
According to the laboratory tests, a micellar slug, which is polymer-driven, has the capacity to displace tertiary oil efficiently. Studies that pertain to surfactant adsorption also reveal non-classical behavior. The permeability-reducing micellar or clay interaction and reduction loses behind a micellar slug decreases polymer requirements. However, the required volume of polymer slug would increase following an increase in the inaccessible pore volume (Scott et al 633). Long-core tests exhibiting multiple pressure taps shows the existence of an oil water bank with higher mobility as well as an oil micellar mixing zone of low-mobility. Different tests indicate that the micellar fluid comprises a brine preflush, which in turn constitutes condition of formation. The flooding is attractive as an integrated process of oil recovery and gravity segregation seldom affects it. The presence of an ultimate surfactant poses no limit to the cellular flooding. The research further reveals the significance of surfactant adsorption by the rock surfaces as this is an essential factor in limiting the cellular fluid propagation hence enhancing oil recovery. This property is commonly applicable in large systems or field scales. These large systems would essentially account for recovery of a larger amount of oil in the end (Scott et al 633).
The size of the micellar slug is dependent on fluid dispersion, adsorption rate, economics, and the heterogeneity of the rock. Hence, adsorption, economics, and rock heterogeneity among other factors would influence the slug size for an optimum micellar. Similarly, the least amount of surfactant necessary for a complete tertiary recovery must satisfy the rock adsorption at the injected concentration. Thus, studies about adsorption for a micellar system with varying concentration reveal a micellar composition with maximum oil recovery (Scott et al 633). Dispersion at the leading edge of the slug would trigger surfactant dilution in a micellar flood. The resulting concentration gradient would influence a variation in magnitude of the adsorption loss in the zone of mixing. Levels of concentrations such as 1,000 to 20,000 ppm would make adsorption emanating from the already diluted micellar fluid greater than the adsorption of the injected material. In essence, whenever undiluted micellar fluid moves into the region, a state of super saturation ensues. This is an outcome of adsorption of the excess sulfunate by the rock surface. In attempting to reestablish the equilibrium point, the sulfonate would desorb as well as raise the level of concentration of the micellar fluid usually a value greater than the injected. This is the basis of the variation in the magnitude of adsorption loss (Scott et al 633).
The type and amount of clays in the rock determines the extent to which the micellar solution reduces the level of permeability. The electron microscope reveals a dispersion of clays, particularly the montmorilonite, by the micellar fluid. Clay deposits are realized at the pore throats. The findings further show the significance of mobility control to achieving good oil displacement performance. It is also instrumental in making critical decisions on processes aimed at preventing dissipation of a much expensive micellar fluid on basis of front as well as rear mixing. Apparently, various banks build up ahead of the micellar slug as per the tertiary conditions of recovery. Similarly, the zone of maximum flow resistance is usually the oil-water bank that precedes the micellar slug. Hence, it is necessary to adjust the mobility of the micellar solution along with mobility of buffer bank to levels almost equal to that of oil-water mobility.
The results of the Second Wall Creek cores’ lab tests with micellar fluids indicate beneficial as well as surprising effects. There was no restoration of permeability to theoretical value after a large slug of the micellar solution displaces all the oil. Only 35 percent of the initial permeability to oil in the Second Wall Creek cores drives water following the micellar solution.
Discussion
The technology of micellar flooding continues to advance. Researches demonstrate a culmination of a lab development on a given fluid system for a particular reservoir. Through a comprehensive investigation, it is necessary for researchers to conduct multiple filed tests to optimize the polymer system because the outcomes of the investigations serve as the new input for the lab studies (Gogarty 1089). To achieve varied results, it is important to carry out tests with patterns of different types and sizes. Field-testing of the improved fluid system that is specially designed in the lab would be inevitable. Interactive procedures would result into long lead times as well as large expenditures. Every project would only serve as the initial step towards accomplishing a viable economic system for a particular area (Gogarty 1089). This will help gain more insight and advance the understanding of micellar flooding in the contemporary context. The outcomes attest to a higher displacement frequency and generation of channels exhibiting high water-permeability in the reservoir with insufficient mobility control. Apart from micellar flooding process displaying a low residual oil saturations (o to 10 percent PV), it also prevents build up of a stable water or oil bank. This would trigger an early burst through. This leads to loss of costly chemicals in the micellar slug. Therefore, it is necessary to design sufficient mobility control for the miscible-type water fluids (Gogarty 1089).
The micellar slug contains a mixture of surfactant, co-surfactant, brine, alcohol, and oil. The solution plays essential role of releasing the oil from reservoir rock. The task is compared to the function of the dishwashing detergent I releasing grease from dishes to ease flushing away by the flowing water (Chang et al 1055). The micellar solution would then move into the oil-bearing formation in the reservoir. The movement requires a lot of pressure to effect the movement. This will ensure the mixture reaches the formation in the reservoir that contains oil and eventually flushing it away. To enhance release of larger amounts of oil from the reservoir, continuous pumping of large amounts of micellar solution into the reservoir is necessary (Chang et al 1055).
In the end, release of much of the oil trapped in the rock would be the basis of the entire process. This forms the basis of the micellar flooding as a fundamental process with the primary aim of releasing oil from the pores of a reservoir rock. However, the process could be slower than anticipated leading to release of relatively smaller amounts of oil. Hence, it requires some backup mechanism. Injecting the polymer-thickened water behind the micellar slug would be instrumental to facilitate mobility control and in the end enhance oil production (Chang et al 1055). Further enhancement of the process would mean injecting a buffer of fresh water. This would come in after the polymer and ahead of the drive water to prevent contamination of the chemical solutions. The method has one of the most efficient among the current methods. However, it is also one of the moist costly methods in history of oil extraction from the reservoir rocks (Chang et al 1055).
The micellar-polymer flooding technique looked at enhancing oil recovery involving dissolved chemicals in water masses. As such, pumping the water into the reservoir via injection wells is a means of mobilizing off the left behind of both the primary and secondary recovery endeavors along with shifting it towards the wells of production. The chemical way outs include making use of surfactants. Surfactant flooding signify enhanced methods of oil recovery advanced in a bid to augment the energy supply of the U.S. Additional techniques involve thermal methods, CO, polymer flooding, flooding, as well as, the utilization of caustic solutions. The injection of micellar systems aim to enhance the efficiency of displacement in the reservoir. There has been a demonstration of these solutions encompassing the capacity of reducing saturations of residual oil in the laboratories, as well as, fields that are far below the values obtainable from a water flood. The subsequent injection of polymer solutions bears the objective of propagating the costly micellar system effectively through the reservoir.
Conclusion
The polymer solutions enhance the overall conformance of the reservoir through provision of mobility control. Ultimately, there occurs water injection subsequent to the polymer solution. The utilization of surfactants assists with the enhancing of oil recovery. Fundamentally, there has been an advancement of two differing concepts stemming from the utilization of surfactants. One conception makes use of a large aperture volume of lowly concentrated surfactant solutions whereas the second conception makes use of a miniature aperture volume of the processes. The utilization of lowly concentrated surfactant solutions results in stumpy tension of water flood processes. There exist certain subclasses referred to as fine emulsions, swollen micelles, micro-emulsions, or even soluble oils. Miniature volume utilization of superior concentrated surfactant dispersions results in miscible form recovery procedure.
As such, this paper has presented an impression of the continuing advancement of the low-tension surfactants flooding. There is a consideration of the contemporary technology emanating from the perception of the DOE and additional projects undertaken. Certain projects have depicted an intensifying technology. The foundation is on the amount of latest examinations, as well as, continuing field activities at a superior level. Further, this paper deliberated on the commercial appliances concerning the expenditures and lead-time. The consideration of the prospective for commercial appliances in view of the different industry players’ reports required improvements for the technological advancement. The timing for large-scale appliances requires review concerning the demand, supply, and rivalry encountered from the other mechanisms including the liquid hydrocarbon energy. Precise economic instances founded on experiences such as the experience of the Marathon Oil Company in the Illinois back in the year 1975 and 1978.
The dynamics of displacing oil from a layered reservoir that encompasses non-uniformity in thickness boasts of dual hydro dynamically connected differing layers with absolute permeability. Consequently, there is a provision of results from the numerical calculations. The effect of the main determinant factors concerning the dynamics of oil displacement ought to be under study. The design of the micellar-polymer systems under utilization in the recovery of oil is through examination of the oil-bearing reservoirs in order to establish its suitability in handling secondary-form operations of oil recovery. In addition, the aim is to establish whether the secondary-form recovery of oil is essentially economical. In the event of accomplishing the predestined criteria of reservoir economic and configuration yield, there is a preparation of appropriate micellar dispersions from the elements, which are both economical and obtainable.
The existing interfacial tensions between all the micellar dispersions including the preferred micro-emulsions and reservoir fluids, optimally determine the stability, as well as, the mobility of the dispersion on contact with fluids in the reservoir. The determinations of the filterability have the purpose of screening out any micellar dispersion, whose plugging may be onto the reservoir.
In a procedure of formulating micellar-polymer fluid mechanism of controlled mobility for the recovery of oil functions in an oil-bearing reservoir, encompassing injection and production requires consideration. Conversely, there should be an evaluation if the fluid communication alongside the said reservoir and taking into regard the attributes of the reservoir comprising the makeup of the crude oil, reservoir water, and the temperatures of the reservoir. The objective is to establish the suitability of the oil recovery operation by utilizing micellar-polymer dispersion as the displacing medium of the oil. There is a characterization of the reservoir fluids along with the formulation of micellar-drive system through the utilization of laboratory-sized, secondary-form oil recovery flood in the stimulating material of the reservoir. The micellar dispersion slugs of the suitable dimension and the drive fluid. The involved steps include:
Formulation of a plurality of the micellar dispersions slug from elements appropriate for the displacement of oil in the reservoir pending flooding
Conduction of at least a flood in substance stimulating the reservoir through the utilization of broad slug of micellar dispersions of all the formulated micellar dispersion whereby there occurs a selection of the determinants of the micellar dispersion designing the displacement of oil.
Conduction of a flooding utilizing combinations of the miniature slugs of the micellar dispersion designs, which displace oil efficiently consequently driving fluid in the material stimulating the reservoir in order to establish the recovery of oil. These slugs of the ratio dimension r of all the micellar dispersions under evaluation.
Conduction of at least a flood in material that stimulates the reservoir through the utilization of the transitional-sized slugs of all of the micellar dispersions encompassing superior recovery of oil to slug size the ratio and propel the fluid to selecting optimum micellar dispersion of the drive fluid mechanism.
Modification of the micellar dispersions alongside the driving fluid in a bid for the system evaluation, which approximates the predestined optimum criterions
Conduction of at least a flood in substance stimulating the reservoir through the utilization of transitional-sized micellar dispersions that slug of all the optimized micellar dispersions of the driving fluid mechanism for the reservoir flooding.
Injection into the reservoir satisfactory quantities of optimum micellar dispersions driving fluid mechanism in order to displace the fluids of the reservoir from the means of injection towards the means of production
Owing to the superior displacement efficiencies of the micellar solutions, there will be a generation of generation of superior water permeability fingers or even channels in a reservoir devoid of satisfactory control in mobility. The stumpy saturations of oil, ranging from 0-10 percent of the PV, connected with the process of micellar flooding along with superior permeability channels will prevent the swelling of an unwavering water or oil bank, as well as, result in the breakthrough of the process. Consequently, there will be a loss of costlu chemicals within the micellar slugs.
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