Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments
To address the challenges of low displacement efficiency and gas channeling in the Lukqin thick oil reservoir, characterized by high viscosity (286 mPa·s) and strong heterogeneity (permeability contrast 5–10), this study systematically investigated water flooding and foam flooding mechanisms using a...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Qingchun Meng Hongmei Wang Weiyou Yao Yuyang Han Xianqiu Chao Tairan Liang Yongxian Fang Wenzhao Sun Huabin Li |
| author_facet | Qingchun Meng Hongmei Wang Weiyou Yao Yuyang Han Xianqiu Chao Tairan Liang Yongxian Fang Wenzhao Sun Huabin Li |
| author_sort | Qingchun Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To address the challenges of low displacement efficiency and gas channeling in the Lukqin thick oil reservoir, characterized by high viscosity (286 mPa·s) and strong heterogeneity (permeability contrast 5–10), this study systematically investigated water flooding and foam flooding mechanisms using a large-scale 2D sandpack model (5 m × 1 m × 0.04 m). Experimental results indicate that water flooding achieves only 30% oil recovery due to a mobility ratio imbalance (M = 128) and preferential channeling. In contrast, foam flooding enhances recovery by 15–20% (final recovery: 45%) through synergistic mechanisms of dynamic high-permeability channel plugging and mobility ratio optimization. By innovatively integrating electrical resistivity tomography with HSV color mapping, this work achieves the first visualization of foam migration pathways in meter-scale heterogeneous reservoirs at a spatial resolution of ≤0.5 cm, reducing monitoring costs by approximately 30% compared to conventional CT techniques. Key controlling factors for gas channeling (injection rate, foam quality, permeability contrast) are identified, and a nonlinear predictive model for plugging strength ((<i>S</i> = 0.70<i>C</i><sup>0.6</sup> <i>k</i><sub>r</sub><sup>−0.28</sup>) (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.91)) is established. A composite optimization strategy—combining high-concentration slugs (0.7% AOS), salt-resistant polymer-enhanced foaming, and multi-round profile control—achieves a 67% reduction in gas channeling. This study elucidates the dynamic plugging mechanisms of foam flooding in heterogeneous thick oil reservoirs through large-scale physical simulations and data fusion, offering direct technical guidance for optimizing foam flooding operations in the Lukqin Oilfield and analogous reservoirs. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-7084 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | ChemEngineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d0c64f9a80d43d3b4e979d6ff5a655e2025-08-20T03:26:51ZengMDPI AGChemEngineering2305-70842025-06-01936210.3390/chemengineering9030062Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack ExperimentsQingchun Meng0Hongmei Wang1Weiyou Yao2Yuyang Han3Xianqiu Chao4Tairan Liang5Yongxian Fang6Wenzhao Sun7Huabin Li8PetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaCollege of Energy (Modern Industrial College for Shale Gas), Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaPetroChina North China Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, ChinaCollege of Energy (Modern Industrial College for Shale Gas), Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaTo address the challenges of low displacement efficiency and gas channeling in the Lukqin thick oil reservoir, characterized by high viscosity (286 mPa·s) and strong heterogeneity (permeability contrast 5–10), this study systematically investigated water flooding and foam flooding mechanisms using a large-scale 2D sandpack model (5 m × 1 m × 0.04 m). Experimental results indicate that water flooding achieves only 30% oil recovery due to a mobility ratio imbalance (M = 128) and preferential channeling. In contrast, foam flooding enhances recovery by 15–20% (final recovery: 45%) through synergistic mechanisms of dynamic high-permeability channel plugging and mobility ratio optimization. By innovatively integrating electrical resistivity tomography with HSV color mapping, this work achieves the first visualization of foam migration pathways in meter-scale heterogeneous reservoirs at a spatial resolution of ≤0.5 cm, reducing monitoring costs by approximately 30% compared to conventional CT techniques. Key controlling factors for gas channeling (injection rate, foam quality, permeability contrast) are identified, and a nonlinear predictive model for plugging strength ((<i>S</i> = 0.70<i>C</i><sup>0.6</sup> <i>k</i><sub>r</sub><sup>−0.28</sup>) (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.91)) is established. A composite optimization strategy—combining high-concentration slugs (0.7% AOS), salt-resistant polymer-enhanced foaming, and multi-round profile control—achieves a 67% reduction in gas channeling. This study elucidates the dynamic plugging mechanisms of foam flooding in heterogeneous thick oil reservoirs through large-scale physical simulations and data fusion, offering direct technical guidance for optimizing foam flooding operations in the Lukqin Oilfield and analogous reservoirs.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/9/3/62thick oil reservoirsfoam floodinggas channeling controllarge-scale physical simulationpermeability heterogeneityenhanced oil recovery (EOR) |
| spellingShingle | Qingchun Meng Hongmei Wang Weiyou Yao Yuyang Han Xianqiu Chao Tairan Liang Yongxian Fang Wenzhao Sun Huabin Li Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments ChemEngineering thick oil reservoirs foam flooding gas channeling control large-scale physical simulation permeability heterogeneity enhanced oil recovery (EOR) |
| title | Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments |
| title_full | Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments |
| title_fullStr | Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments |
| title_short | Mechanisms and Optimization of Foam Flooding in Heterogeneous Thick Oil Reservoirs: Insights from Large-Scale 2D Sandpack Experiments |
| title_sort | mechanisms and optimization of foam flooding in heterogeneous thick oil reservoirs insights from large scale 2d sandpack experiments |
| topic | thick oil reservoirs foam flooding gas channeling control large-scale physical simulation permeability heterogeneity enhanced oil recovery (EOR) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/9/3/62 |
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