Improved / Enhanced Oil Recovery (IOR/EOR)
A full range of IOR/EOR laboratory experiments can be conducted prior to the pilot test. The key to a successful pilot test is to minimize the differences between the ideal and the realities found in the field. Texas OilTech Laboratories’ state of the art simulation and its strategic partner’s testing capabilities assist in predicting the reservoir response. This results in determining the best techniques for increasing the hydrocarbon recovery from an oil field.
Experiments and Simulations
Improved/Enhanced Oil Recovery techniques include experiments and simulations, coreflood experiments, and chemical screening and characterization.
The following tests are available for EOR processes:
- Chemical Injection
- Polymer Injection (Sand Control and Water Shut Off)
- Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)
- Steam Injection
- In-situ Combustion
Texas OilTech Laboratories performs the simulation and modelling of the lab data, screening and characterization of chemicals, formation damage and fluid displacement coreflood tests. Refined simulation studies will be used to build tuned model based on the laboratory data and history matching of the coreflood tests by numerical simulator.
Coreflood Experiments
The Texas OilTech Laboratories’ coreflood measurements are used for simulation inputs for adjusting the reservoir model parameters. The tuned model is then used to predict the performance of the EOR/IOR process at the pilot scale. The simulation program includes the following steps:
- Building of reservoir model with the pilot pattern
- History matching and model adjustments
- Simulation of different injection scenarios, sensitivity studies, slug size and injection rate
- Definition of a best scenario with performance forecasts
The main outcomes of simulation runs are (1) the evolution of pressure at injection wells and (2) the oil and water productions versus time.
Texas OilTech Laboratories’ testing capabilities offers a large number of coreflood experiments to investigate the permeability impairment, recovery efficiency and chemical performance.
Chemical Screening and Characterization
Together with our partners, we evaluate different chemical solutions or gases for their suitability in the reservoir. This includes chemical type and concentration, compatibility with reservoir oil and brine, interfacial tension and viscosity, stability at reservoir conditions, adsorption rate and environmental properties. Based on the results of fluid characterization tests, a chemical solution will be selected for coreflood experiments.
