Assignment 2

Date posted: September 23, 2019

Due date: September 28, 2019
Question 1:
The mobility of a polymer solution through a porous medium can be described by:

𝜆𝑝 = 𝜆∗𝑝 𝑢(𝑛−1)

where u is the Darcy velocity. Laboratory core flow tests were used to establish the following
correlations for a specific polymer solution in a target reservoir
1.2
𝑘𝑤𝑝 = 0.4 𝑘𝑤 (where kw is permeability to water in m2)

𝜆∗𝑝 = 0.2 𝑘𝑝𝑤

0.6

𝑛 = 0.6
This polymer solution was then injected into a 0.30 m long core of 0.05 m diameter at constant
pressure drop across the core. Given that the core permeability to polymer-free water was 1.0 x 10-
13
m2, calculate the flow rate of polymer solution through the core corresponding to 300 kPa steady-
state pressure drop across the core. Use SI units in your calculations.
Question 2:
Equal volumes (100 ml of each) of dry gas and oil compositions shown in the following phase
diagram (which has compositions shown in volume fractions) were mixed in a phase behavior cell.
After reaching equilibrium the liquid phase was withdrawn from the cell and the remaining gas was
mixed with equal volume (equal to the gas phase volume in the cell) of fresh oil. At equilibrium this
mixture had certain volume of liquid oil and some gas.

(a) Calculate the compositions and volumes of liquid and gas in the cell.

Question 3:
(a) Explain why surfactants adsorb at the interface between oil and water and why this
reduces the oil-water interfacial tension
(b) Explain why surfactants form micelles at higher concentrations
(c) List three important differences between micro-emulsions and ordinary emulsions