Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery

Oil viscosity was studied as an important factor for alkaline flooding based on the mechanism of “water drops” flow. Alkaline flooding for two oil samples with different viscosities but similar acid numbers was compared. Besides, series flooding tests for the same oil sample were conducted at differ...

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Main Authors: Yong Du, Guicai Zhang, Jijiang Ge, Guanghui Li, Anzhou Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/938237
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author Yong Du
Guicai Zhang
Jijiang Ge
Guanghui Li
Anzhou Feng
author_facet Yong Du
Guicai Zhang
Jijiang Ge
Guanghui Li
Anzhou Feng
author_sort Yong Du
collection DOAJ
description Oil viscosity was studied as an important factor for alkaline flooding based on the mechanism of “water drops” flow. Alkaline flooding for two oil samples with different viscosities but similar acid numbers was compared. Besides, series flooding tests for the same oil sample were conducted at different temperatures and permeabilities. The results of flooding tests indicated that a high tertiary oil recovery could be achieved only in the low-permeability (approximately 500 mD) sandpacks for the low-viscosity heavy oil (Zhuangxi, 390 mPa·s); however, the high-viscosity heavy oil (Chenzhuang, 3450 mPa·s) performed well in both the low- and medium-permeability (approximately 1000 mD) sandpacks. In addition, the results of flooding tests for the same oil at different temperatures also indicated that the oil viscosity put a similar effect on alkaline flooding. Therefore, oil with a high-viscosity is favorable for alkaline flooding. The microscopic flooding test indicated that the water drops produced during alkaline flooding for oils with different viscosities differed significantly in their sizes, which might influence the flow behaviors and therefore the sweep efficiencies of alkaline fluids. This study provides an evidence for the feasibility of the development of high-viscosity heavy oil using alkaline flooding.
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spelling doaj-art-4170f897eba841c49db44d155ec70c612025-08-20T02:08:26ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712013-01-01201310.1155/2013/938237938237Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil RecoveryYong Du0Guicai Zhang1Jijiang Ge2Guanghui Li3Anzhou Feng4College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266555, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266555, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266555, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266555, ChinaXinchun Production Plant, Shengli Oilfield, Sinopec, ChinaOil viscosity was studied as an important factor for alkaline flooding based on the mechanism of “water drops” flow. Alkaline flooding for two oil samples with different viscosities but similar acid numbers was compared. Besides, series flooding tests for the same oil sample were conducted at different temperatures and permeabilities. The results of flooding tests indicated that a high tertiary oil recovery could be achieved only in the low-permeability (approximately 500 mD) sandpacks for the low-viscosity heavy oil (Zhuangxi, 390 mPa·s); however, the high-viscosity heavy oil (Chenzhuang, 3450 mPa·s) performed well in both the low- and medium-permeability (approximately 1000 mD) sandpacks. In addition, the results of flooding tests for the same oil at different temperatures also indicated that the oil viscosity put a similar effect on alkaline flooding. Therefore, oil with a high-viscosity is favorable for alkaline flooding. The microscopic flooding test indicated that the water drops produced during alkaline flooding for oils with different viscosities differed significantly in their sizes, which might influence the flow behaviors and therefore the sweep efficiencies of alkaline fluids. This study provides an evidence for the feasibility of the development of high-viscosity heavy oil using alkaline flooding.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/938237
spellingShingle Yong Du
Guicai Zhang
Jijiang Ge
Guanghui Li
Anzhou Feng
Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
Journal of Chemistry
title Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
title_full Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
title_fullStr Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
title_short Influence of Oil Viscosity on Alkaline Flooding for Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery
title_sort influence of oil viscosity on alkaline flooding for enhanced heavy oil recovery
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/938237
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AT guicaizhang influenceofoilviscosityonalkalinefloodingforenhancedheavyoilrecovery
AT jijiangge influenceofoilviscosityonalkalinefloodingforenhancedheavyoilrecovery
AT guanghuili influenceofoilviscosityonalkalinefloodingforenhancedheavyoilrecovery
AT anzhoufeng influenceofoilviscosityonalkalinefloodingforenhancedheavyoilrecovery