CO2 Applications-2018

In my previous features, I discussed the challenges facing carbon dioxide (CO₂), both technical and economic. By far the biggest use of CO₂ is in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In this feature, the focus is on overcoming the biggest challenges facing CO₂ EOR—gravity override and mobility.

When CO₂ is injected into a reservoir, it has a tendency to rise and segregate to the top of the reservoir, thereby bypassing some of the remaining oil. This is primarily because of the density difference between CO₂ and reservoir fluids. CO₂ also fingers through the oil because of its high mobility and lower viscosity. One way to control CO₂ mobility and improve its sweep efficiency (and thus improve the incremental oil recovery) is by injecting a CO₂ foam or CO₂ emulsion. The foam, because of its high viscosity, diverts the CO₂ away from the paths already created and conforms it to previously bypassed areas of the reservoir. It does so by blocking the flow channels, thus improving reservoir sweep.

During the past several decades, and especially the last few years, considerable effort has been made to address this challenge. Most of this research has been in either viscosifying or densifying the CO₂. Some of the mobility- and conformance-control methods that have been tried include surfactants that create CO₂ foams, direct thickening of CO₂ using polymers and gels, and nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foams.

Some of the leading research on CO₂ foams/emulsions is being carried out by, in no particular order,

• George Hirasaki’s group at Rice University
• Quoc Nguyen’s group at The University of Texas at Austin
• Texas A&M University
• Delft University of Technology
• Robert Enick’s group at the University of Pittsburgh
• Arne Graue at the University of Bergen
• IFP Energies Nouvelles in France

The papers that follow are meant to be a starting point for understanding this phenomenon and further research. The focus in the coming months and years should be on extending the field deployment of this emerging technology.

This Month's Technical Papers

CO2-Foam Field Pilot Test in a Sandstone Reservoir

Integrated CO2-Foam Pilot in a Heterogeneous Carbonate Field

Foaming Behavior of CO2-Soluble, Viscoelastic Surfactant

Recommended Additional Reading

CMTC 486622 Surfactant and a Mixture of Surfactant and Nanoparticles Stabilized CO₂/Brine Foam for Gas-Mobility Control and Enhanced Oil Recovery by Z.A. AlYousef, Texas A&M University, et al.

SPE 190176 Fluoroacrylate Polymers as CO₂-Soluble Conformance-Control Agents by Robert M. Enick, University of Pittsburgh, et al.

Sunil Kokal, SPE, is a principal professional (senior adviser) and a focus-area champion of enhanced oil recovery in the Reservoir Engineering Technology team at the EXPEC/Advanced Research Center at Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Since joining Aramco in 1993, he has been involved in applied research projects on enhanced/improved oil recovery, reservoir fluids, hydrocarbon phase behavior, crude-oil emulsions, and production-related challenges. Currently, Kokal is leading a group of scientists, engineers, and technicians to develop a program for CO₂ EOR and to conduct appropriate studies and field demonstration projects. He has authored or coauthored more than 125 technical papers and authored the chapters on Crude Oil Emulsions and Reservoir Fluid Sampling for the revised edition of the SPE Petroleum Engineering Handbook (2006). Kokal has served as associate editor for the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering and SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering. Earlier, he served on the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology. Kokal received the 2012 SPE DeGolyer Distinguished Service Medal, the 2011 SPE Distinguished Service Award, and the 2010 SPE Regional Technical Award for Reservoir Description and Dynamics, and he attained SPE Distinguished Member status in 2008 for his services to the Society. He also served as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer during 2007–08. Kokal holds a PhD degree in chemical engineering from the University of Calgary and a BS degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. He is a member of the JPT Editorial Committee and can be reached at sunil.kokal@aramco.com.