553

Arch. Min. Sci., Vol. 52 (2007), No 4, p. 553571

STANISLAW NAGY*, ANDRZEJ OLAJOSSY*
ANALYSIS OF USE OF LOW QUALITY NATURAL GAS TO IMPROVE OIL
RECOVERY FACTOR
ANALIZA MOLIWOCI WYKORZYSTANIA GAZU O NISKIEJ JAKOCI DO ZWIKSZENIA
WSPCZYNNIKA SCZERPANIA ZOA ROPY NAFTOWEJ
Enhanced oil recovery methods are applied more frequently nowadays, mainly because of economic
reasons. The classic water ooding methods that aim to maintain the reservoir pressure are substituted
or updated by the Water Alternating Gas (WAG) Technology. It involves alternating injection of water
and gas, or simultaneous injection of water into the bottom of reservoir and gas into the cap of it. The
application of high-nitrogen content gas, residue gases after methane-nitrogen separation processes,
carbon dioxide or solutions containing carbon dioxide and nitrogen are considered in terms of the oil
recovery efciency, dened as obtaining of a maximal depletion during twenty years of exploitation. For
the selected small oil reservoir in the Polish Lowland, it was performed model research with usage of
a pseudo-compositional simulator. Various aspects of gas injection concerning increasing of the reservoir
pressure were analyzed, particularly those involving injection into the cap through two wells as well as
through four ones. Performed calculations are presented in this paper. The best results were obtained for
the injection of the pure carbon dioxide. Other satisfactory solution involves injection of carbon dioxide
through two years, and after that injection of nitrogen or the mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The
presented results are promising and show potential possibilities of rising oil recovery by 50-80% with
reference to the case without gas injection.
Keywords: Enhanced Oil Recovery, EOR, gas injection, lean gas, nitrogen, carbon dioxide sequestration,
modeling
Metody wtrne w procesach eksploatacji ropy naftowej s stosowane coraz powszechniej w wiecie,
gwnie z przyczyn ekonomicznych. Klasyczne metody nawadniania zoa celem podtrzymania cinienia
zoowego s zastpowane lub uzupeniane poprzez technologi WAG naprzemiennego zataczania
wody i gazu, czy rwnoczesnego zataczania wody do spgu zoa i gazu do czapy. Wykorzystanie gazu
ziemnego zaazotowanego, azotu odpadowego po separacji metanu i wglowodorw, dwutlenek wgla
lub te roztworw zawierajcych dwutlenek wgla i azot jest rozwaane w aspekcie skutecznoci procesu
* AGH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, AL. MICKIEWICZA 30, 30-059 KRAKOW, POLAND; nagy@agh.edu.pl,
olajossy@agh.edu.pl
554
czerpania zoa, zdeniowanego jako uzyskanie maksymalnego sczerpania przez okres dwudziestu lat
eksploatacji. Dla wybranego niewielkiego zoa ropy naftowej Niu Polskiego wykonano badania mo-
delowe z wykorzystaniem symulatora pseudo-kompozycyjnego. Analizowano rne aspekty zataczania
gazu w celu podniesienia cinienia zoowego w szczeglnoci zataczanie do czapy zarwno poprzez
dwa odwierty, a take poprzez cztery odwierty. Wykonane obliczenia zaprezentowano w niniejszej pracy.
Najlepsze wyniki uzyskano dla zataczania czystego dwutlenku wgla. Innym dobrym rozwizaniem
jest zataczanie dwutlenku wgla przez okres dwch lat a nastpnie zataczanie azotu lub azotu z dwu-
tlenkiem wgla do zoa. Zaprezentowane wyniki s obiecujce i pokazuj potencjalne moliwoci
zwikszenia o 50-80% wydobycia ropy naftowej ze zoa w porwnaniu do przypadku eksploatacji
pierwotnej zoa.
Sowa kluczowe: wtrne metody eksploatacji ropy naftowej, EOR, gaz zaazotowany, zataczanie gazu,
azot, sekwestracja dwutlenku wgla, modelowanie
1. Introduction
Displacing of oil from porous medium through the uids mixing with oil found
application in the technologies of secondary oil reservoir exploitation methods (EOR)
and new projects related to EOR with carbon dioxide sequestration (Nagy et al., 2006;
Krzystolik et al., 2007; Siemek et al., 2006; Nagy, 2006). Those methods include: injection
of gases like CO
2
, N
2
or the natural gas. The gas injection reduces the pressure decline
connected with the production of oil from the reservoir. However, the gas injected affects
the equilibrium composition of the gas/oil system in the reservoir. Selective reduction of
ingredients in oil phase (VGD Vaporising Gas Drive) is observed. It may also occur
the inverse phenomenon which involves condensation of some ingredients from the gas
phase (CGD Condensing Gas Drive) or gas and oil may also have inclination to mi-
xing with each other at the rst contact (FCM First Contact Miscibility). The research
state concerning displacing is described in Stalkups works (1983) and Johns (1992).
Miscibility at the rst contact occurs in the reservoir if the original reservoir uid and
injected gas are miscible. This means that all possible mixtures for initial compositions
lead to forming of a single-phase system.
In case of condensing-drive process (CGD) the original reservoir uid and the in-
jected gas are not miscible; later the miscibility could be obtained near the injection
well. In this process intermediate components selectively may condensate from the gas
injected to oil.
To illustrate the mixing process the triangle diagrams are used, dividing mixture
composition into three component groups (Laciak & Nagy, 1995):
1) light components: C
1
+ CO
2
+ N
2
2) intermediate components: C
2
C
6

3) heavy components: C
7+
Each vertex represents 100% content of component group. The arbitrary concentration
between 0-100% is represented in the diagram in the form of an appropriate segment.
555
Bubble and dew curves for the specied pressure and temperature values determine
two-phase area, marked in the picture by the thick line, point C is the critical point of
the pseudo-mixture.
Gas injection with evaporation process (VGD) is shown in g. 1 and g. 2ad. Points G,
g
a
, g
1
, g
2
, g
t
pertain to the injected gas, whereas points O
p
, O
a
, O
1
, O
2
pertain to displaced
oil. Points G and O represents initial compositions of injected gas and oil, whereas points
g
1
, g
2
and O
2
indicate changes in compositions of both uids during injection process
which lead to formation of the mixing zone (g. 2ad). Presented mixing process occurs
in the distance of few meters from the injection well and involves situation in which the
injected gas is the natural gas. The process of mixing of uids (injected and displaced)
occurs at the specied pressure and the specied reservoir temperature (g. 3).
Fig. 1. Minimum Miscibility Pressure determination in the triangle diagram
Rys. 1. Minimalne cinienie mieszania (MMP) okrelone na diagramie trjktnym
2. Minimum mixing pressure (MMP) for methane and nitrogen
as injected medium
The rst dependence of his type was published by Stalkup (1984) and by Yelling
and Metcalfe (1980), however, the author suggested careful using of this method. The
main disadvantage of this work was not enough number of researches targeting its
conrmation. Two years later Firoozabadi and Aziz (1986) published the correlation
based on numerous experimental data, however, they did not sufciently included the
C
1
C
7
+ C C
2 6
G
g
a
g
1
g
2
g
t
O
O
p
O
a
O
1
O
2
O
1
C
556
Fig. 3. Minimum Miscibility Pressure as a function of oil and injection of gas compositions
in the reservoir temperature
Rys. 3. Minimalne cinienie mieszania, jako funkcja wasnoci ropy i zataczanego skadu gazu
dla temperatury zoowej
Fig. 2. Forming of mixing zone a. start of injection, b. start of mixing zone, c. continue of process,
d. origin of mixing zones (Laciak, Nagy, 1995)
Rys. 2. Tworzenie strefy mieszania a. pocztek zataczania, b. pocztek tworzenia strefy mieszania,
c. c.d. tworzenia strefy mieszania, d. utworzona strefa mieszania
G
G
O
O
1
O
O
O
a)
b)
c)
d)
O
g
1
G
O
1
O
g
2
O
g
1
O
1
G g
1
g
2
g
1
O
C
1
C
7
+ C C
2 6
P
1
Pm
P
2
P > Pm > P
1 2
O
557
temperature inuence on MMP. Meanwhile Glaso (1985, 1988) and Emanuel et al.
(1986) have proposed a number of MMP correlations for the natural gas, CO
2
and N
2
.
His work is based on the Benham et al. (1960) data. Unfortunately this correlation is
not very accurate.
Numerous works involving MMP, nitrogen and natural gas as an injecting medium
were published by Glaso (1988) and Hudgins et al. (1988) for nitrogen as a displacing
uid, Nouar and Flock (1988) for the natural gas and Eakin and Mitch (1988) for all
types of gases and mixing processes (CO
2
, N
2
and natural gas). The work of Nouar and
Flock (1988) differs widely from the other ones. The authors performed the very precise
interpretation of three-component diagram for methane as the displacing gas. It is the
graphical correlation, based on the numerous experimental data. Obtained results are
convergent with those given by Hudgins et al. (1988).
The most important parameters having direct inuence on mixing of the reservoir
uid with nitrogen or the natural gas are: content of intermediate pseudo-components
(hydrocarbons C
2
C
6
, CO
2
, H
2
S), molecular weight of heavy fractions M
C
7
+
and
temperature.
3. Problem of specication of minima mixing pressure for oil reservoirs
with gas cap and compositional grading reservoir uid
The extensive considerations according to the variation of the minimal mixing pressure
are included in the Hoeier & Whitson (2001). Analysing MMP variation for the depth
function, the variation of MMP reaches 10 MPa and is the depth function and MME
(Minimum Miscibility Enrichment see Zick (1986)). Such analysis could be performed
after obtaining full and reliable thermodynamic data regarding the total composition of
the reservoir uid attributed to the specied depth.
4. Minimum mixing pressure for nitrogen for the hypothetical
oil reservoir
Hanssens correlation was used for estimation of the minimal mixing pressure of
the oil (light) and nitrogen system. Because of lack of total composition of the system,
calculations should be treated with appropriate carefulness. In case of a Polish reservoir
those values varies between 56 and 70 MPa (see Tab.1).
558
TABLE 1
Estimated minimal miscibility MMP pressure for the typical Polish reservoir
from the Polish Lowland
TABLICA 1
Oszacowana minimalna warto cinienia mieszania (MMP) dla typowego zoa ropy
Niu Polskiego
% of
C
2
C
6
Molecular
mass C
7
+
MMP
[MPa]
8.2 160 56.2
8 200 64.0
7.5 220 69.6
5. Negative and positive aspects of injecting nitrogen into reservoir
Numerous negative phenomenons were observed during injection of nitrogen into
gas-condensate and light oil reservoirs (both in the laboratory scale and in the industry).
The most important factors are following:
a) Increase of the minima mixing pressure in comparison with carbon dioxide, com-
bustion gases or buffer injection of LPG with methane (see Hanssen, 1988);
b) Signicant decrease of efciency of the heaviest hydrocarbons in the reservoir re-
covery; supplying nitrogen causes increase of constants of the lightest equilibrium
and decrease of the heaviest components of the hydrocarbon system (Hagoort et.
al., 1988; Boersma & Hagoort, 1994; Evison & Gilchrist, 1992).
The one of benet of nitrogen usage for injection (leading to increase of the reservoir
pressure) is its availability. The second possibilities for source of nitrogen is separation
from nitrogen high content natural gas the cryogenic installations or adsorption me-
thods.
In the possible EOR project development case of injection of with CO
2
may be
useful. In the rst stage CO
2
is injected and in the later phase classical nitrogen injection
process may be consider (Donohoe & Buchanan, 1981; Eckles et al., 1981; Huang et al.,
1986; Metcalfe at al., 1987, 1988; Peterson, 1978; Sanger et al., 1994; Sanger & Hagoort,
1998; Siregar et al., 1992).
6. Example of possible use of pure nitrogen, nitrogen-methane
or nitrogen-carbon dioxide mixtures
The relatively high initial reservoir pressure encourages also to inject CO
2
-N
2
mixture
as an alternative to the basic case. In order to visualize these problems the numerical
559
model of one of Polish Lowlands oil reservoirs which is located close to the potential
high-nitrogen gas source was created.
PVT Properties. The PVT properties were based on laboratory research and using
the Peng-Robinsons equation of state (modied by Tsai-Chen.) was applied (Nagy,
2002). The saturation pressure and PVT properties of separated oil were matched. It was
created a simplied PVT model for 8 pseudo-components for use of Merlin simulator
(Merlin, 2006).
TABLE 1
Modeled oil composition and ash composition (1 atm, 15C)
of liquid and gas composition of oil
TABLICA 2
Modelowany skad ropy naftowej i skady ropy i gazu po separacji (1 atm, 15C)
Component
Total composition
(%)
Liquid composition
(%)
Vapor composition
(%)
CO
2
0.588 0.017 0.857
N
2
12.188 0.042 17.881
C
1
35.905 0.272 52.605
C
2
8.760 0.551 12.607
C
3
4.879 0.183 7.080
C
4-6
3.975 4.306 3.819
C
7+1
8.411 15.501 5.088
C
7+2
11.775 36.771 0.060
C
7+3
13.515 42.353 4.4E-07
Geological data. The model was designed basing on seismic data, geological data,
drilling data and exploitation data. The anticline reservoir was modeled by a 10-layer
set. These layers have various hydrodynamics properties. Simplied 3D anticline view is
presented in g. 5 and cross-section of structure map passing through well R-3 is presented
in g. 6. The hydrodynamic properties, as well as porosity and saturation of oil and water
were introduced into the model. Static data related to the reserves are tted in the model.
Available date from the past has been used to made history match in the project.
Simulation models used in this study. Basic case (a) no secondary method in oil
reservoir exploitation process: This case was created the model of reservoir simulation
that was exploited by 4 wells with an total initial rate of 290 Sm
3
/day
*
and Gas-Oil-Ratio
(GOR) of approx. 180 Sm
3
/m
n
3**
through the period of 20 years.
Cases with two injection wells for injection into gas-cap:
1. Injection of high-nitrogen gas (95% N
2
, 5% CH
4
) into reservoir (N
2
). Assumed
maximal injection rate was 6250 Sm
3
/hr for each well. The maximum Bottom
Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted to 320 bar (case (b)).
* Sm
3
cubuc meter measured at 1.01325 bar and 15C
** m
n
3
normal cubuc meter measured at 1.01325 bar and 0C
560
2. Injection of mixture CO
2
/N
2
/CH
4
high-nitrogen gas (15% CO
2
, 80% N
2
, 5% CH
4
)
MIX into reservoir (N
2
). Assumed maximal injection rate was 6250 Sm
3
/hr
for each well. The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted to 320 bar
(case (c)).
3. Injection of pure CO
2
(two years) and then mixture CO
2
/N
2
/CH
4
high-nitrogen
gas (15% CO
2
, 80% N
2
, 5% CH
4
) MIX Assumed maximal injection rate was
Fig. 5. The 3D structural map view of R-eld
Rys. 5. Widok 3D struktury zoa R
Fig. 4. Saturation curve of modeled reservoir uid, according to modied Peng-Robinson (1976)
equation of state (based on laboratory research)
Rys. 4. Cinienie nasycenia modelowanego pynu zoowego wg rwnania stanu Penga-Robinsona
(dopasowanie na podstawie bada laboratoryjnych)
200
100
0 100 200 300 400
Temperature, C
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,
b
a
r
R2
R4K
R11
R5K
R10
561
6250 Sm
3
/hr for each well. The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted
to 320 bar (case (d)).
The calculation has been applied also to cases with four injection wells for injection
into gas-cap:
1. Injection of pure carbon dioxide into reservoir (CO
2
). Assumed maximal injection
rate was 6250 Sm
3
/hr for each well. The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP)
is restricted to 320 bar (case (b)).
2. Injection of mixture CO
2
/N
2
/CH
4
high-nitrogen gas (15% CO
2
, 80% N
2
, 5% CH
4
)
MIX into reservoir (N2). Assumed maximal injection rate was 6250. Sm
3
/hr
for each well. The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted to 320 bar
(case (c)).
3. Injection of pure CO
2
(two years) and then mixture of high-nitrogen gas (95% N
2
,
5% CH
4
) N
2
Assumed maximal injection rate was 6250 Sm
3
/hr for each well.
The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted to 320 bar (case (d)).
4. Injection of pure CO
2
(two years) and then mixture CO
2
/N
2
/CH
4
high-nitrogen gas
(15% CO
2
, 80% N
2
, 5% CH
4
) MIX Assumed maximal injection rate was 6250
Sm
3
/hr for each well. The maximum Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP) is restricted to
320 bar (case (e)).
Fig. 6. Oil production rate (Sm
3
/day) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection using
two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 6. Wydajno ropy naftowej (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0
100
200
300
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
F
O
P
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2
N , 2 wells
2
MIX, 2 wells
base
562
Fig. 8. Oil production total recovery (Sm
3
) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 8. Sumaryczne wydobycie ropy naftowej (Sm
3
) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 7. Gas production rate (Sm
3
/day) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection using
two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 7. Wydajno gazu (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2
N , 2 wells
2
MIX, 2 wells
base
F
G
P
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX
2
N
2
MIX
base
2E+6
1E+6
1E+6
1E+6
8E+5
6E+5
4E+5
2E+5
0E+0
F
O
P
T
,
S
m
3
563
Fig. 10. Gas injection rate (Sm
3
) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection using two
wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX all cases 3e5 Sm
3
/day
Fig. 10. Wydajno zataczania gazu (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy bez
zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 9. Gas production total recovery (Sm
3
) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 9. Sumaryczne wydobycie gazu (Sm
3
) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2
N , 2 wells
2
MIX, 2 wells
base
F
G
P
T
,
S
m
3
2.0E+9
1.8E+9
1.6E+9
1.4E+9
1.2E+9
1.0E+9
8.0E+8
6.0E+8
4.0E+8
2.0E+8
0.0E+0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2
0.0E+0
1.0E+5
2.0E+5
3.0E+5
4.0E+5
F
G
I
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
564
Fig. 12. Reservoir pressure (@ WOC) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 12. rednie cinienie zoowe (na gbokoci kontaktu ropa-woda) dla nastpujcych przypadkw:
(a) wariant bazowy bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw
w czapie gazowej: (b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 11. Gas oil ratio for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection using two wells
into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 11. Wykadnik gazowy dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do dwch odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2 N , 2 wells
2
MIX, 2 wells
base
F
G
O
R
,
/
S
m
3
S
m
3
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /MIX, 2 wells
2
N , 2 wells
2
MIX, 2 wells
base
F
P
R
,
b
a
r
s
a
0
100
200
300
565
Fig. 14. Gas production rate (Sm
3
/day) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 14. Wydajno gazu (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 13. Oil production rate (Sm
3
/day) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 13. Wydajno ropy naftowej (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
0
100
200
300
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
F
O
P
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
2.0E+6
1.8E+6
1.6E+6
1.4E+6
1.2E+6
1.0E+6
8.0E+5
6.0E+5
4.0E+5
2.0E+5
0.0E+0
F
O
P
T
,
S
m
3
566
Fig. 16. Gas production total recovery (Sm
3
) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 16. Sumaryczne wydobycie gazu (Sm
3
) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 15. Oil production total recovery (Sm
3
) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 15. Sumaryczne wydobycie ropy naftowej (Sm
3
) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
2.0E+5
0.0E+0
F
G
P
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
3.0E+5
4.0E+5
5.0E+5
6.0E+5
7.0E+5
1.0E+5
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
0E+0
F
G
P
T
,
S
m
3
1E+9
2E+9
3E+9
567
Fig. 18. Reservoir pressure (@ WOC) for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection
using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 18. rednie cinienie zoowe (na gbokoci kontaktu ropa-woda) dla nastpujcych przypadkw:
(a) wariant bazowy bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw
w czapie gazowej: (b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 17. Gas oil ratio for several cases: (a) base without injection and injection using four wells
into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 17. Wykadnik gazowy dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy bez zataczania
gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej: (b) azot, (c) gaz MIX,
(d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
0
1000
2000
3000
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
F
G
O
R
,
S
m
/
3
S
m
3
4000
5000
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
base
0
100
200
300
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
F
P
R
,
b
a
r
s
a
400
568
Fig. 20. Total gas injection (Sm
3
) during exploitation of reservoir for several cases: (a) base without
injection and injection using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 20. Sumaryczny gaz zatoczony do zoa (Sm
3
) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
Fig. 19. Gas injection rate (Sm
3
/day) during exploitation of reservoir for several cases:
(a) base without injection and injection using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen,
(c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX. Injection into four wells.
Fig. 19. Wydajno zataczania gazu (Sm
3
/dob) dla nastpujcych przypadkw: (a) wariant bazowy
bez zataczania gazu oraz warianty zataczania do czterech odwiertw w czapie gazowej:
(b) azot, (c) gaz MIX, (d) ukad CO
2
/MIX
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX2
F
G
P
R
,
S
m
/
d
a
y
3
2.0E+5
0.0E+0
3.0E+5
4.0E+5
5.0E+5
6.0E+5
7.0E+5
1.0E+5
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Time, years
CO /
2
N
2
CO , pure
2
CO /MIX
2
MIX
F
G
I
T
,
S
m
3
0.0E+0
1.0E+9
2.0E+9
3.0E+9
569
7. Analysis of results of modeling
The analyses eld production/injection process (a-d) into two wells without and
with injection of gas mixture processes are presented in the gs. 6-12. The g. 6 and 7
show oil and gas production rate (Sm
3
/day) for several cases: (a) base without injec-
tion and injection using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas,
(d) CO
2
/MIX.
The total production of oil and gas during this process is presented in the g. 8 and 9.
Oil production rate is declining in the late period of exploitation for most cases. Only
the last case (7) allows maintaining oil production rate. The gas injection rate (Sm
3
) for
several cases: (a) base- without injection and injection using two wells into the cap of
reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX all cases 3e5 Sm
3
/day is presen-
ted in g. 10. Fig. 11 shows predicted gas oil ratio for several cases: (a) base- without
injection and injection using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX
gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX. The average reservoir pressure for several cases: (a) base- without
injection and injection using two wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX
gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX is given in g. 12.
The analyses eld production/injection process (a-e) into four wells without and
with injection of gas mixture processes are presented in the gs. 13-20. The gures 13
and 14 show oil and gas production rate (Sm
3
/day) for following cases: (a) base without
injection and injection using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX
gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX. The total production of oil and gas during this process is presented
in the g. 15 and 16. Fig. 17 shows apparent gas oil ratio for cases: (a) base without
injection and injection using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX
gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX. Reservoir pressure for cases: (a) base without injection and injec-
tion using four wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX
is given in g. 18. Gas injection rate (Sm
3
/day) and total gas injection (Sm
3
) during
exploitation of reservoir for cases: (a) base without injection and injection using four
wells into the cap of reservoir: (b) nitrogen, (c) MIX gas, (d) CO
2
/MIX is presented in
gures 19 and 20.
The most interested effect is achieved by injection (1) pure carbon dioxide and (2).
Carbon-dioxide-high-nitrogen gas containing 80% of CO
2
, 15% N
2
and 5% of CH
4

followed by injection of pure carbon dioxide in supercritical phase.
Created model of reservoir simulation of reservoir exploited with four production
wells and four injection well with maintained reservoir pressure is one of the best, but
the difference between injection of CO
2
slug/N
2
/MIX cases for 4 and 2 wells is below
15% (see g. 8 and g. 14).
570
8. Conclusions
Maximal plateau has been observed during injection of pure CO
2
into reservoir
until 17
th
year of production and small decline in the last three years by 20% is
observed (g. 6 or g. 12). The minimal patou has been obtained by injection of MIX
and N
2
streams. In this case after 8
th
year of oil production a declining production has
been observed up to 50% of initial value.
The negative aspect of presented EOR method is relative short breakthrough of gas
(c.a. 2 years). The longest non breakthrough time is estimated for CO
2
, and very short
time is observed for low quality streams: Mix and N
2
. This is evident explanation
of worse oil recovery factor for those cases.
The best results were obtained for the injection of the pure carbon dioxide in super-
critical phase. Other satisfactory solution involves injection of carbon dioxide through
two years (slug), and after that injection of nitrogen or the mixture of carbon dioxide
and nitrogen. The presented results are promising and show potential possibilities of
rising oil recovery factor by 50-80% with reference to the primary oil explaitation case
without gas injection
Acknowledgements
This study is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education grant: R09 02301.
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Received: 24 April 2007