Low Tension Gas Process in High Salinity and Low Permeability Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract Chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in carbonate reservoirs has always been technically and economically challenging. Conventional Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding has limited application in low permeability (2-20 mD) and high salinity formations (~200,000 ppm TDS) with a large concentration of divalent cations. Also injectivity into such low permeability reservoirs can be a significant problem with polymer solutions. The process of low tension gas (LTG) in tight carbonates has exhibited good microscopic displacement and mobility control. It combines interfacial tension (IFT) reduction with improved mobility control by in-situ generation of foam in low-permeable heterogeneous formations. This process has been tested in the lab for a Middle Eastern carbonate reservoir, which is the subject of this paper. This strategy has been tested through either co-injection or alternating injection of slug/drive surfactant solution and gas (CO2, N2, or hydrocarbon) at low foam quality (high water content). A successful surfactant screening was performed to select the optimum surfactant formula that exhibits ultra-low IFT, good aqueous stability, and low microemulsion viscosity. The formulation allows tailoring of optimal salinity for ultra-low oil-water IFT to the variation of formation and produced water salinity. Core flood experiments have been performed, which demonstrated favorable mobilization and displacement of residual oil. Tertiary recoveries of up to 85% on remaining oil were achieved for cores with permeability less than 10 mD. An innovative experimental method was also developed to achieve high initial oil saturation in tight rocks.