0CPTb5-oL/- 0 «

Effect of Temperature on Waterflooding

By T. A. EDMONDSON"

(Hea'vy Oil Seminar, The Petroleum Society of C.I.M., Calgary, Alay 5, 1965)

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

HERE is a great deal of current interest in ther-

This paper describes laboratory experiments im'oh'ing
waterflooding at eleYated temperatures using two refined
oils and two crudes_ The test core and injection ",.ater
were both held at test temperatures for the duration of
the flood, thus eliminating the problem of thermal front5_
The findings reported here 31lpl}' to waterflooding in gen-
eral and thermal reco"er~' in particular, as most thermal
reco\"ery methods incJude a phase where "hot" water dis-
)llaces "hot" oil-
\\raterflood tests were conducted at 75°F, lOooP, 150 D F,
200°F. 300°1i'. 400°F and 500°F using two refined oils:
No.5 white oil and No. 15 white oil. Two crude oils were
used in waterflooding at 75°1", 150°F and 300°F_
The re~iUlt5 show that residual oil saturation decreases
with increasing temperature. Consequently, ultimate oil
reco"ery increases with increasing temperature and the
relative permeability ratio is different for different tem~
perature,;;. The magnitude of the temperature effect va-
ries, but in most cases it is appreciable, especiall:r for the
crude oils. Crude oil waterflood behaviour in the labora-
tory tests differs significantly from refined oil behaviour.
because in crude oil waterfloods "mter breakthrough is
earlier and subordinate (lroduction is much higher. Conse-
quently, predictions of field hot waterfloods require dis-
placement data at the actual field flood temperature, u,;:;-
ing res en oil' materials.
;;"CalifoI'1lia. Re,';earc!l COI']}01'atirm,
Califo1"lIia_
1,00
" ::
50 0_
T mal methods for recovering crude oil, especially
the heavy vise-ous crude!:;. Many forms of thermal I'C-
coyery inc:lude a phase where hot water displacef.l oil.
In such a process, two fronts will form: a leading
cold-water front and a hOI-water front (2). Oil and
water viscosities decrease and the liquids swell as
the temperature increases. These effects ma)' influ-
ence fluid flow in a way not described b.... simple rela-
tive permeability cOllcepts. However, all (ll"Ocesses ill-
"olved in hot waterflooding ottur slowly, ami thcl'nl,l!
equilibrium rna.)' be con.:;idered tu prevail at ever....
spac.e-time point during the flood. Con!:;equently, the
relative flow rates of oil and watel' are determined
b,y relative permeability ratios and viscmiitie::i, despite
the complicating thermal effects mentioned above.
Although intensive re!ieal'ch intu thermal recovery
has taken place over the past ten years, little experi-
mental ,vork has been reported on the water displace-
ment of oil at elevated temperature (ll. Theoretical
work to date has predicted the performance of thiH
phase by assuming that the on1)' important temp ern-
ture effect is viscosity reduction (2). The implica-
tions of thi!i as!iumption are: (a) residual oil :-iatllrll~
La Habra, tion after hot \...· aterflooding is independent uf tem-
perature and (b) the oil/water relative permeability
I'atio is also independent of temperature. If these as-
sumptions are valid, hot waterflood performance cun
be predicted from room-temperature relative Jlerme~
ability ratio data.

10 0
-
1\ --....,---..---"'T'"--..,.-,
IO ........

\
10 0
~. "I-+"":-+~-+-~ f----f--~
oJ
w 0
I \
0\ ~
6
~
-'
\ CRUDE 8
~
z 'y/
0:: \ \
w

,
U
, ,,~
>
~
5- ~ "-...
lQ
0 -
" ""
~ WHI;;~
"-
s::::::.-"'O I~ V.HITE OIL
- -
"
w
>
1- NO

"-
~~
CRUDE A

5
?- "- ----
-
~ /51--+--+--+-~"'k:---r-1
~
-
1

I
70 100 ISO 200 ,so
TEMPERATURE OF
----,
300
--
3,,0 HiO ~50 500 1O'-..-:!!:----;!:,....--±--~b_---d::_..J
~ 100 ~oo JOD
TEMPERATURE
400
aF
~oo

Fi.qurc 1.-0il and ll'uter "Fiscosily 'vs. Figw'e £.-Oil and Waler Deusil!! liS.
Tempcratllre. Tempcratul"f!.

236 The Journal af Canadian Pctralaum

 Aeliel
Valve Relief
Valve

Charged wlcalorBd
-+-- White oil
trtg 0
Insula lian
•o :, .

,
~

Elec. Hlg Tape • '. '.

,.;

.
o
~
Annular Vol. Filled
Colored
wI Red
"While" oil

,
Grove Back
z Press Reg. "
"

Steel Care Halder ,"

,','
.
, ~.~ " ,
Figure 3.-Hot IVate1'flood Experimental Apparatus.

,I (All heating tapes are controlled by Wheelco Controllers from strategically located thermocouples at the
positions noted above).
o.

The purposes of this experimental investigation
,,,ere to look for changes in the residual oil saturation
and relati,re permeability ratio as a result of tempera-
ture changes, and thus to test the validity of the above
assumptions, which are commonly used to describe
waterflood behaviour at elevated temperatures.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
using two refined oils: No.5 white oil and No. 15
white oil. One run was also made using No.1 white
oil at 75°F. Two crude oils of different viscosity
characteristics were also flooded at 75°F, 150°F and
300°F to determine whether their behaviour could be
predicted from that of the refined oils. Properties of
the oils as a function of temperature are presented in
Figures 1 and 2.

The experiments were conducted to determine the
residual oil saturation and also to provide data to
calculate the relative permeability ratios by the
Welge method. That is, the test core and the injec-
tion water were maintained at the same constant tem-
perature throughout a run. thus maintaining the con-
stant viscosities required in the relative permeability
The experiments were performed on consolidated
cores_ These were conditioned, mounted, saturated
with water and then flooded with the test oil to ir-
reducible water at room temperature. The core assem-
bly was then heated to the test temperature and flood-
ed with hot water. Samples of the effluent were col-
lected throughout the run and analyzed for t"he water ~.

ratio calculations. Waterflood tests were conducted at and oil content. A diagram of the apparatus is' pre-
75°F, 100°F, 150°F, 200°F, 300°F, 400°F and 500°F sented in Figu~'e 3.

TABLE 1
CORE PROPERTIES

Air Water
Permeability Permeability Porosity
Lenglh Diameler Pore Volume ka kw oj>
Core No, em em ee md md %
1. - ......... ... .... . 22.60 4.13 63.52 578 562 21.1
2 .......... ......... , ..... 66.04 5.09 274.8 550 510 20.5

Technology, October-December, 1965, Montreal 237

 The h,;o test core:=; used in these experiments were
shaped from samples of Berea sandstone. Their phys-
ical properties are listed in Table I. The cores were
conditioned by heating in a 750°F oven for 24 hours
to remove any organic material, to insure that the
core would be initially water-\'vet and to desensitize
RESULTS
The results of all individual runs are listed in Table
II, and the averaged results for duplicate floodti an'
presented graphicall~' in Fi[Jllre.~ .4 through 11. These
graph~ de:icl'ihe waterflood history in two ways: (1)

the cla,Y.s. They ,'..-ere then enclosed in a Hassler sleeve
made of Viion "A" rubber. Air permeability ,,·as
measured after each roasting to determine whethe:,'
the core had reverted to its original condition.
The water saturation was ascertained under vac-
uum, u.sing deaerated di.stilled water ,..-,hich had been
treated with iodine Lo prevent bacterial formation.
'Vater saturations of at lea:it 98 per cent. based on
pore volume calculations, were attained. The core was
pore volumes of water injected vs. pore vulumes 01'
oil recovered, and (2) permeability ratio (lc,,/[(,,) vs.
water saturation (S" 1. (Volumes and saturations fl'·l!
l'eported at test temperature) _ Initial water saturation
'...-as normalized to 20 per eent on the relative pel'mc-
400"F
]OOPF
2oo~~(1
10

oil-flooded at room temperature until only irreducible o

IO?-( ?"F

water remained. Irreducible water saturation varied w

f- 0
between 17 and 27 per cent; this was adju.sted to a U I-
ba::;e of 20 per cent, as described later. ~
Z
01----- - - - - - f---- -.. -. ---
Prior to high-temperature flooding. the core and
injection water were heated to the desired test tem- "
W
f-
perature. Temperatures were monitored by thermo-
couples at the entrance and exist as well as along the
~
axis of the core. Temperatures were controlled OJ' "o
\Vheelco Controllers, sensing the temperature of the w 'i-
annular bath from thermocouples. Heat was supplied
w
L
I/
~~
by electrical heating tapes wrapped around the core :> i-
-' 6
holder. The entire s}'stem was insulated to minimize ~ i-
heat losses. w
As the core was being heated some oil was produced "o l
by thermal expansion. This oil \vas not included as
water-flood production. None of the production dur-
" V
ing flooding was due to expansion, because constant
temperature was reached before the flood started,
'Vater was injected at a con:itant rate of 7 cc/min.
oI
o 10
/ 10
'" 50 60

POPE VOLUMES OF OIL RECovERED-"/.

This high rate was selected to minimize capillary end
effects. Sufficient core pre.ssllre ' ...· as maintained to FiyHl"l' .~.-Jrutl'rjlo(ld Hi,~tOl'!' at l'ariou,~
insure that the water would always be in a liquid Tem1JC1'(lfIl1"l:s.
state. Annular pressure always exceeded core pressure Core No. 1-010. 15 White Oil
by at least 200 psi.
In the white oil floods, the production samples were
'00". IIso"r I
00"
analyzed for oil content by adding a knO\\'n amount of
normal heptane and measuring the refractive index of " 1S"FZ /:--300"F
400 P F
the mixture. For crude oils. the produced emul.sion o -
was broken by adding a small amount of concentrated ~ ,•
hydrochloric acid and the oil volumes were read di- u
w
, C-
rectl~· from calibrated test tubes. Z
o
Hot waterflooding was terminated after the injec-
tion of eight to ten pore volumes. This corresponded
"
W
f- ~

to a ,,;ater-oil ratio of at lea::;t 1,000 for the white oil ~

floods. The crude oil floods were terminated at a
lower produced water-oil ratio-IOO to 1. "o
w 'c-
w
Following hot waterflooding, the core was cooled L f::
hy circulating water and again oil-flooded until ir- 3 •6

Ifl
o c-
reducible water remained. Another hot waterflood >
would be made if the irreducible water saturation was w c-
± :2 per cent of that for the preceding run. In the "o "J
event of a larger initial water saturation variance,
the apparatus would be dismantled and the core 'would
" f-- /
be fired at 750°F. This firing process removed all
the oil and water, and returned the core to its original
condition. .1
1/
'"
GO

All data were converted to test temperature by cor- POR E VOLUt....ES OF OIL RECOVERED - "I,
recting the volumes of oil and water for thermal ex-
Figm'c 5_-lVatcrflood Hil{tol'y at l'al"ilws
pansion. Generally, te::;t runs '.vere performed at least Tell~]J(;l'atIfl"{:,'l_
twice. ,,,'ith satisfactory reproducibilit)r. Core No.1-No.5 'White Oil

23B The Journol of Canadian Petroleum

 ability ratio graphs, Fig,,;-.s 8 to 11, for ease of com-
parison. This normalizing was accomplished by shift-
ing the water saturation b~~ an amount equal to the
difference between initial water saturation and 20
per cent. Sman variances in initial water saturation,
as encollntered in the -repurted tests, usually do not
appreciably affect the displacement efficiency (3)_
The graphs show that residual oil saturation de-
creased as the temperature increased. Residual oil sat-
uration was defined as the amount of oil remaining
,,'hen the slope of the kw/ka vs. S.. .· curve became in-
. finite. Variations in the initial water saturations men-
tioned earlier are reflected in the residual oil satura-
tions. However, if initial water saturation is llormal-
ized to 20 pel' cent, residual oil saturation, as deter-
mined from adj llsted relative permeability ratio
curves, decreases regularly with increasing tempera-
ture in all cases, as shown in FigUl"es 8 to 11. Oil re-
covery, despite variations in initial water saturations.
systematicalb~ increased with increasing temperature
for all oils tested. This is illustrated in Figures 4. to
7 and in Table II_ The effect of temperature on the
performance of a hot waterflood is not predictable
from the change in viscosity or oil-water viscosity
ratio.
" 0
I
:300D~

" I ..-s0O·F

I ,o~ , 200"F

I "IOO"F

'~f-----+----+---'OO~F 1 - ~OO·F-
, IOO::J.
M
~ "
8 6.01---+--+---+-+--+-++-1-----1
I- f--
Ir

,
'/,1//
8 '-
"z
f--
jf/J
oJ---+--+-----jf--++-H-+-----J ••
I
;I rt
•"o ,l:r-=-----+--+-----jf--+--+++-+---1 '.0 , '/ ~"

~ ::: 1/
3 o.61---+----'----+-J4---+++-I-----1 I ".: "
~::: "0' WHOlE m, '''·F ~~

DOD ,
· - 1/v-
~ O.31---+---I------;;4-"e:::----t---t------I
I

" 3D
" 50
" I' BD
WATER SATURAT10N- Sw -%

"~o---;,~':----.;,:,---:lO;---t,";---*50~-"""":'!" FiguTC B.-k.../k o 1JBTS'/LS' B.... at Various

TBm.pBratU?"BS_

PORE VOLUMES OF OIL RECOVERED - %

Core No. I-No. 15 White Oil
,
FiguTe a.-Water/lood History at VaTious
Temperatu1'es. ", 200"F
Core No_ 2-No. 15 White Oil 300 D F
-..
,,;
150 D F... ~,
G
/400 F
100 "F
y•
I , " 7i~
CRUDE 8
0
a
o - ( \
w
•r-
CRUDE A ~
"> ,
}-
o
",
z I- 150'F
\ II 1,0;) Y I- ;j,
• • ,., J ., "IOO"F-

"
}-

~
"o ..
l- / I/ ~OO'
V"'·'
NO 15
WHITE

"",
<
w
iii

::;

•"w ,.,,
w .I
30o·~B
200"F
ISO" IOO"F
7S"F

,•3w o., j, / V
>

I~~
o I- ~
> I- .--' •
w ,.
•o •,
~

" ",
w

• V
II
000
l- ;:, '

, .00 I
• 0

PORE VOLUMES
lD
'"
OF OiL RECOVERED -%
50
'" 0
" 10 3D
" 5'
" 10
"
WATER SATURATiON - Sw -%

FigUTe 7.-WatBTflood HiJJtm'y at l'm'ious Figure 9.-k w/k o versus Swat Various
Ternperatu1"es. Temperaiu1"BS. "
Core No.2-with Crude Oils Core No. I-No.5 White Oil

Technology, October-December, 1965, Montreal 239

 A comparison of the behaviour of two different re-
fined oils (No.5 and No. 15 white oils) in hot water-
floods is given in FiguTes J,. and 5. The results show
the same trend-decreasing residual oil saturation 01'
increa::>ing ultimate reco\'ery "lith increasing tempera-
ture. The No. 15 ,vhite oil floods shmved greater tem-
perature dependenc.e than the No.5 white oil floods.
This I::; not unexpected, because the decrease in vis-
displacement, with venT little oil produced after watel'
breakthrollgh. Ultimate oil recovery for the refined
oil floods \....as only slightly more than the amollnt of
all recover}' achieved with an injection of one por~
volume. On the other hand, the crude oil floods had
an earlier brl:!akthnmgh, with a very ~ignificlll1L
amount of :,;ubordinate production, as shown in Figll}'11
7. This Figure also presents, for comparisun, a :300 Ii' 0

cosit.y of No. 15 white oil with temperature i::; much
greater than that for No.5 white oil.
The hot water - crude oil floods exhibited a dis-
tinctly different behayiour tha.n the refined oil floods,
The refined oil floods showed a typically piston-like
flood using No. 15 \\.-hite oil. This oil and crude A
have essentially equal "i~cosity at :lOocF, One pmisi-
ble reason for the difference in Lehaviour is inter-
facial tension. At 75°F, the intel'facial tension be-
tween distilled water and crudes A and B b 21 and

TABLE II
---- -
[niliul Rl'sidlwl
II'all r Oil Rccul'~r)' - I ( Pore Volume" Oil
Salrlrtllioll -------~- -----_.- - - '-- Salljmlimr"
fu.' I PI/n' Fol.
CUTC Oil Tellll)· Run S", @ Brw~'l"rollgJI n'{l{a 11l}f!Ch1d Uflimalt' Sur
-._------ ------- ------ ---- ----~--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ --- -- ._.

,11 #15 \\'0 10001' I 18,5 23,1 35,9 37.5 H.O

I 15 Iva 100"F ~ 1~,5 23.1 33, I 33.9 ·17.6
I 15 IVO 200"F I 17.2 ~4.7 41.2 .[1..[ ·11.,1
I 15 IVa 200"1' 2 20.n 34,5 ·11.0 <ll.-I :I~.G
1 15 IVO 200"F 3 20.0 3-1.5 ·11.3 ·12.0 :18.0
------ ----_.-- ----- ---- ------- ------- --------- ------- -- --- ----

.#1 #15 IVa 200°F 4 20.0 3-1.5 -10.2 .[O.G 39.<1

1 15 IVO 300"1' I 2-1.1 38,8 42.7 -1·1.2 31.7
1 151'10 300'1' 2 25.1 37.2 ·11.6 ·13.6 :11.3

---r----
1 15 IVO -100'1' 1 23.0 -12.2 ·15.9 4u,8 2~).8
I 15 \VO 400'1' 2 Run Failed
- - - - - . ----_. ---- - - - - - - - - ----_. ._- -----

;;11 #!5WO 400"1' 3 19,B -11.8 ,IG.6 '18.5 31.7

1 15 'WO 500"F 1 Run ailed
I 15 \\'0 500°F 2 22,0 42.3 ·lu.8 48.9 29.1
1 15 wa 500'1' 3 ~ 1.fj -19,1 5U.3 52.<1 26.0
1 15 wa 500"1' -I 17,0 .,19.2 51.0 52.7 30,3
- - - - _ . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ._------ - - - - - - - - ------ .- ._---.

jll ,#5 \\'-0 73°[-' I 25.0 25.7 35,9 3u.5 3~,5

1 5 \YO Q
73 F 2 25.0 25,3 369 37.7 37.3
1 5\\'0 73 c F 3 l{un Failed
1 5\\'0 73°F -I l{un Failed
I 5\\'0 73'1' 5 27.0 25,3 3u.5 37.9 35.9
- - - - - - - - - - - - - ----_. -.
#1 jl5 \\-() 100'1' I 27.0 29.5 37.6 3~.1 3·1.9
I 5 \YO 100"1' 2 270 29.6 38.4 38,7 301.3
1 5 \YO 150"1' I 270 33.~ 38.0 39.3 33.7
1 5 \YO 150"1' 2 26,~ 33.8 39.3 39.7 33.5
1 511'0 200"1' I 27.0 37.1:~ 39.~ 40.0 33.0
-- ---- ------

,fl #5 WO 200'1' 2 2/.0 3G.7 ~9.7 ,0.2 32,8

1 5 WO 300"F 1 Run ailed
1 5 WO 300"1' 2 I{un Failed
1 5WO 300°F 3 27.0 37.1 40..1 ,11.5 :n,5
1 5WO 300"F 4 26.:3 37.:~ 40.2 40,5 :-13.5
1 5\\'0 -IOO"F 1 26.3 3~,0 42.5 -12.7 :n,o
----- ------_. - - - _ . - - - ----
jl2 ,415 \IIlO LOO°F I 20.2 26.0 37.7 37.1 ,12.7
2 15 WO LOO°F 2 2-1.8 24.6 34.~ 35.8 39.<1
2 15 \VO LOO°F 3 2-1.8 23.5 34.0 3ol.7 ·10.5
2 15 WO 100'1' 4 24..,1 23.2 35.5 36.2 39.01
2 15 WO 100'1' 5 2.,l,.13 23.2 35.7 37,0 38.2
- - - - - - -----._- ---_. ----- .-
&'2. 1511'0 200"F 1 24 1 37.3 42,4 42.7 33.2
2 1511'0 200'1' 2 2 , _0 36.3 -13.0 ·1:1.2 29.8
2 15 \VO 300"1' I 17.0 4-1.1 ·15.1 ·15.2 :l7,~
2 1511'0 300"1' 2 17,0 .,12.1 -13.8 H.2 38,8
2 111'0 73"F 1 26.5 32.1 3·1.7 3,1.7 3B,~
------- -------- .- ._----- - - - - - -
,2 Crude A
c
73 F I 17.0 8.0 32,0 .- -
2 Crude A 73"1' 2 17.0 B.G :31.7 .- -
2 Crude A 300"1' I 17.0 27.2 50.2 .- .-
2 Crude A 300"1' 2 17.0 26.1 49.1 -
------ ------~ ._----- ---- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - _ . - - - - --- - - - -

jl2 Crude B 150'F I 18A 12,1 29.1 - -

2 Crude [3 150"F 2 20..1 11.G 27.3 -

2 Crude 13 300'F 1 23.0 21.8 3~.0 -

2 Crude B 300"1' ~ 210 2U 37.3 - ..

:tAt test temperature

240 The Journal of Canadian Petroleum

 10 0 00

20,OP
'" ,
0 V
OD F
' - 10

]
lo'ZD
o 0
/
NOJWHIT~~ ;::
• 1/ '.
75°F
~ ,.
L"
I.0 > .0
/ ,

.. /I ~
J 1/./ '1 r '
:,,'
iii ••
1/ •w
J
/
~
~
CRUDE A
/\1 ~ /
on , 1/1 W
Q
.I
l~
75" F /
r/ II
r7 W Q]
•
'"W1/
>
;:: CRUDE B

o. 01 •"
W .0 I
/'-..
150¥F_300"F

, r
000
~

000 , /

.0 01
ID 20· lD 40 50 6D 10
.00 I
/
WATER SATURATION - Sw·%
'" 10 10
WATER
3D
'" 50
SATURATIO~- Sw
60 10
- %
80

Figure 10.-k... /k o 'lJeTS~ S.. . at Va.l"iolls Figw'e 11.-k w /k o 'l1erSltS S", at Val'ious
Tem.pel'atW"es_ TempeTatm'es_
Core No_ 2-No. 15 White Oil Core No.2-with Crude Oils

4.1 dynes/em, respectively. The interfacial tension be-
1
j
tween distilled water and the refined oils is much
higher, 49 dynes/em, at this temperature.
i ance is greater than that due solely to the reduction
!, Temperature had a significant effect on the rela-
tive permeability ratio, as shown in Figures 8 to 11.
Characteristically. the permeability ratio increased
with temperature at low autfIm\' water saturations.
However, at a permeability ratio of approximately
unity, the higher temperature curves crossed those
for the lower temperature. No special significance is
attached to this observation at this time.
A further demonstration of the effect of tempera-
ture is shown in Figu1·e 6, where a 75 Cl F No.1 white
oil flood may be compared with No_ 15 white oil floods.
ComparisoIL of the 75 Cl F No_ 1 white oil flood with
the 100°F No. 15 white oil waterflood shows that the
recoveries, residual saturations and relative perme-
ability ratio are about the same. The flood histories,
however, are different. In the 100°F No. 15 white oil
75 ° F No. 1 oil flood, but also exhibited a much later
water breakthrough. This behaviour illustrates that
the effect oJ temperature on waterflooding perform-
of the viscosity ratio_
CONCLUSIONS
The contribution of this study is a presentation of
experimental results showing that ultimate oil recov-
ery and consequently residual oil saturation and rela-
tive permeability are affected by temperature. The
findings reported here apply to waterflooding in gen-
eral and thermal recoverJr in particular, as most ther-
mal recovery methods include a phase where ·'hot"
water displaces "hot" oiL
The results presented here lead to the following con-
elusions:
I.-Residual oil decreases and consequently ultimate "~,A

flood, water breakthrough occurred earlier and con-
siderably more water throughput 'vas required to ar-
rive at residual oil saturation_ This is conventional
behaviour which could be predicted, as the No. 15
white oil- water viscosity ratio at IOOClF is much
higher than the No.1 white oil- water viscosity ratio
at 75°F. Figure 10 shows that the relative permeabil-
ity ratio function of the 75°F No.1 white oil flood
is identical to that for the 100°F No. 15 white oil
flood, therefore substantiating the fact that the rela-
tive permeability ratio function is independent of vis-
cosity ratio when refined oils are used at temperatures
between 75°F and 100°F. At 300°F, the oilfwate,·
viscosity ratio of No_ 15 white oil is the same as that
of No.1 white oil at 75°F. Conventionally, one would
expect equal oil recoveries and similar flooding his-
tories if viscosity ratio were the only important tem-
perature-dependent variable. The 300°F flood, how-
ever, not only showed greater oil recovery than the
oil recovery increases with temperature.
2_-The water-oil permeability ratio changes with
temperature for a given oil.
3.-Field waterflood recovery predictions l'equire
relative permeability ratio data at the actual
flood temperature using reservoir fluids. In-
correct behaviour will be predicted if room-tem-
perature relative permeability ratios are extra-
polated or if displacement data are based on
refined oils.
The results of this 'work are valid where the forma-
tion is completely heated; that is, in the region behind
the heat front. More theoretical and experimental work
will be needed for an adequate understanding of the
extent that displacement efficiency is affected by a
heat front moving through an oil-bearing formation,
where the formation and the injection water are at
different initial temperatures.

TechnolDgy, October-December, 1965, MDntreal 241

 REFERENCES

(1) H"llIlHaJI, B. T., l'allcl'oll. 1'. F., R1/lIber,lJ. G, JF..

COJ l/elw8, .-1.. J. and Powenl. L. H',. "Laboratory T. A. Edmondson was born in BokC!rs-
Studies of Oil Rec'Dvery by Stealll Injeetion/' .I0/l?'_ field, California, and attended the Uni-
Pet. Tcch_, .July, l!)GL versity of California at Berkeley. He ab-
I ~) .hll·dftll, J fC, RaYI/f', .I. n., and JluTshall. S. l-F., HI, tOlned a B.S. in petroleum engineenng
"A Calculation P~'ocedure for Estimating the Produc- In 1960 and on M.S. in petroleum engi-

tion Hi.~tory during Hot \Vater [njection in Linear neering In 1961. He jOined Chevron [le-
Ke.~l'r\'(.;r;:;." Unpubli."hed-prepared for presenbdon search Company a t the La Habra Labor-
at the T",,·enlieth Technical Conference on Petl"oleum atory In 1961 and completed lh(! sub-
Pl"oduction, The PE'nnsJrlvania State University, Uni- ject experiments while assigned to their
vet'sity Park. Pa., j'day 9-10, 1!.l57, Oil Recovery Section. He is now working
(3 ) SareIH, A. M., ".-\. Significance of \Vater-Oil Re.la- in Chevron Research's Producing Tech-
tive Pel"lueability Data Calculated from Di~place­ nology Section, which IS also located at
lllent Tests." Digc.~·t P'-occr.d., Confet'eoce on Theory (he La Habra Laboratory.
of Fluid Flow in Porous Media, at the Univ. of
Okla., A[ar. 23-.2-1. 1959.

DiscussiolD • • •• • •
T HE su b.ied pape.r is an excel-
lent presentation of much
needed experimental information
exLending the temperature range
uver which displacement of oil br
water has been closely examined.
The care exercised in the experi-
mental wurk is reflected in the
data obtained. The papel" mentions
the effect of tempel"ature on the
oil-water interfacial tension. It is
unfol"tunate that interfacial ten-
sion nata were not obtained on
each s}'~tem at the conditions stud-
iecL Such data would be of value
in correlating and interpreting the
results obtained, particularly in the
calculation uf relative permeability
hy \Velge's (1) method, which ap-
plies to the performance obtained
after water breakthrough. The de-
termining and reporting in the im-
mediate future of appropriate in-
terfacial tension values of the oil
and water samples used in the ex-
perimental \.. ' ork would enhance the
value of the investigation.
\Yith regard to the interpreta-
tion of the results obtained, the fol-
lowing ~pecific comments are of-
fered.
On page 238, the author states
that an injection rate of 7 cc/min
was used. This was selected to
minimize capillary end effects.
Rapoport and Leas (2) showed that
for the linear \vaterflood to be in
the stable region, i.e., no capillmT
end effect, the product of LV.. . !L....
should be > 5. (L is the length of
the sample in cm. V" is the 'i\'ater
flow velocity in em/min and !1." is
the water viscosity in cp.) For
• • •• • •
most of the runs conducted on core
1. the product LV.. . !J.... :::: 2. 'which
is l:oIlsidel"ab1}r below the l:ritical
value of 5. For these runs. end ef-
fect may be significant and the re-
sults of waterfloods could be con-
siderably influenced b)r it.
In reference to relative perme-
ability ratio results as described
in Figl/re,') 8, !} and 10, a qualita-
ti\'e explanation of the tempera-
ture effect may relate to the be-
haviour noted earlier by Yuster
(3) and studied later by .several
inve:itigators (4, 5, 6). Relative
permeability [s considered primar-
ily as a fundion of saturation; the
condition of the boundary between
the liquid phases is not specified.
In the subject stud,).., neglecting in-
terfacial ten.sion effects at high oil
satun"'!.tion:i, the primary difference
created by temperature i.s in the
viscosity of the oil 'Phase. At high
oil saturations, oil flow could be
complemented by the wetting
phase, which is either flowing or
\\·hich provides a "lubricating" la.r-
er or moving boundary for the non-
wetting phase. Although this be-
haviour is operative \\'ith either a
lo\\'- or high-viscosity non-wetting
phase, its effect on the permeabil-
ity to a high-viscosity non-wetting
'Phase is relatively greater. From
this it follows that at a given high
oil saturation. the oil permeability
at low temperature (high oil vis-
cosity) may be effectively higher
than that of the same system at
high temperature (low oil viscos-
ity). Hence, the observed higher
k . . /ko ratios at high temperatures.
AS.:-iuming that the effect resideH
primarily in the k" \·.due, the re-
.suits are in fair agreement with
thoRe previously obtained (5, 6),
At a higher water saturation,
the nil flow becomes more discon-
tinuous in natul'e and leRs subject
to laminar flow concepts. At very
high water-oil ratios. the oil flow
is particulate. or corpuscular, and
less dependent all viscosity .mel
more dependent on oil-water inter-
facial tension, Assuming that in-
terfacial tension decreases with
increased temperature, the limiting
pOl'e size opening through which
the discontinuous flow can OCCLlr
will be smaller at higher tempera-
tureR. Alternately stated, an in-
crease in temperature permitfi a
gi'i"en level of oil permeability ttl
be extended into a slightly lower
oil saturation range.
Finally, on page 241 the author
states that "the relati'i"e permeabil-
ity ratio function of the 75 Cl F No.
1 white oil flood is identical to that
for the lOO°F No. 1:3 white oil
flood." He concludes from this that
"relative permeability ratio func-
tion is independent of viscosity
ratio when refined oils are used nt
temperatures between 75°F and
100°F." It was pointed out above
that the relative permeability cnl-
culated by 'Velge's method is af-
fected by water-oil interfacial ten-
sion. Therefore, unless the author
shows that the intel'facial tension
for No.1 oil at 75"F is equal to
tlwt of No. 15 oil at LOO°F, he can-
not conclude the independence of
relative penneabilit:y on viscosity.
A. S. Odell and E. L. Cook
Socon}" Mobil Oil Company, Inc.,
Field Research Laboratory,
Dallas, Texas

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242 The Journol of Canadian Petroleum