Repair the Fingering Profile

THROUGH SYNERGIC OF HUFF & PUFF

WITH IMPROVE WATERFLOOD
TO INCREASE OIL PRODUCTION &
RECOVERY

OIL RECOVERY
„ Primary Recovery, using only the natural energy of
reservoir, typically recovers up to (15% until 39%) of
OOIP.
„ Secondary Recovery, involves adding energy to the
natural system by injecting water to maintain pressure
& displace oil also known as WATERFLOOD. Typical
recoveries are 10% until 25% OOIP after primary rec.
„ Tertiary Recovery, includes all other method used to
increase the amount of oil recovered. Typical recovery
are 10% until 30% of OOIP after secondary & primary
recovery
Modified/Improved secondary recovery & Tertiary
Recovery are together referred as Enhanced Oil
Recovery (EOR)

1
 PRIMARY & SECONDARY RECOVERY
„ After primary and secondary recovery (Waterflood), oil
remains in the reservoir as:
- uncontacted (unswept) oil (So= 1 – Swi)
- partialy remove oil (1-Sw, <So>Swi)
- residual oil (So=Sor)
„ Uncontacted oil remains because the volumetric sweep
efficiency, including both areal and vertical sweep
efficiency, is never 100%
„ Sweep efficiency depend on geology (permeability
anisotropy and inhomogenity) and mobility ratio
(density& viscosity). Viscouse Fingering can seriously
reduce sweep efficiency. Vertical sweep efficiency is
strongly influenced by geology.

IMMISCIBLE DISPLACEMENT
„ Most oil & gas production (primary & secondary
recovery) relies on the process of immiscible
displacement of fluids in the reservoir.
„ Primary recovery used the natural energy of the
reservoir displace oil & or gas the mechanism
include:
- gas cap drive (expansion of the gas phase)
- Solution gas drive
- bottom water drive (aquifer displacement)
„ Secondary Recovery (Waterflooding) used injected
water to displace hydrocarbon

2
 CAPILLARY PRESSURE CONCEPT IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE
2σ ow cos θ Pore Body Pore Throat
ΔPc = Poi − Pwi =
r

Contact Angle

Po>Pw; System in Static Condition

θ < 90ο (Water Wet)

WATERFLOODING
„ In a Waterflooding, water is injected in a well or
pattern of wells to displace oil towards a producer
„ Initially, oil alone is produced as the part of the
reservoir at the irreducible water solution is swept
(So=1-Swi) when the leading edge of the capillary
transition zone reach the producing well then the
break through occurs (the first appearance of
water in the produced fluids)
„ After Water Breakthrough, both oil & water are
produced and the water cut increase
progressively. Eventually the trailing edge of
capillary zone reaches the producer and only
water is produced

3
 DISPLACEMENT PROCESS IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE

(Pa>Pb);Typical Waterflooding

VISCOUS FINGERING
„ The mechanics of displacing one fluid with another
are relatively simple if the displaced fluid (oil) has
tendency to flow faster than the displacing fluid
(water)
„ Under these circumstances, there is no tendency
for the displaced fluid to be overtaken by
displacing and the fluid fluid (oil water) interface is
stable
„ If the displacing fluid has tendency to move faster
than the displaced fluid, the fluid –fluid interface is
unstable. Tongue of displacing fluid propagate at
the interface that called as VISCOUS
FINGERING

4
 DISPLACEMENT PROCESS IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE

SNAP OFF MECHANISM

(Pa>Pb);Typical Waterflooding

PRESSURE REQUIRED TO FORCE AN OIL

DROP THROUGH A PORE THROAT BY
Oil Drop Length = 0,1 cm WATERFLOOD ⎛1 1⎞
P − P = 2σ cosθ ⎜ − ⎟ ⎜r
rb = 0,00124 cm rB ⎟⎠
B A ow
⎝ A
ra = 0,0046 cm
σow = 30 dyne/cm ⎛ dyne ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 ⎞ 1
PB − PA = 2 × ⎜ 30 ⎟ × (cos 25 ) × ⎜
O
− ⎟
θow = 25 o ⎝ cm ⎠ ⎝ 0,0046 0,00124 ⎠ cm

ra
rb

⎡ psi ⎤
PB − PA = − 32162,69 dynes / cm 2 × ⎢1,438 × 10 −5 2 ⎥
= − 0.4625 psi
⎣ ( dynes / cm ) ⎦
ΔP − 0.4625 psi 30,48 cm psi Compare to the average
= × = − 140,97
L 0,1 cm 1 ft ft Reservoir Fracture Pressure
Gradient = 0.7 psi/ft–1 psi/ft

5
 Viscous Vingering Illustration as
result from Waterflooding

water

oil

MOBILITY RATIO
„ The mechanics of displacement of one fluid with
another are controlled by differences in the ratio
of effective permeability and viscosity (k/µ)
„ The specific discharge (flow per unit cross
sectional area) for each fluid phase depend on
k/µ. This called mobility (λ): λw= kw/ µw;
„ Mobility controls are relative each of with which
fluids can flow through a porous medium
„ Because the relative permeabilities to oil (kro),
and water (krw) depend on the fluid saturation
(So=1-Sw and Sw=1-So), mobility also is a strong
function of saturation
„ The Mobility Ratio M= λw/ λo

6
 IDEAL DISPLACEMENT
„ In Ideal Displacement, there is a sharp transition
from residual oil saturation (Soi) to maximum oil
saturation (1-Swi) at the oil-water interface.
„ If the mobility ratio is less than or equal to one, oil
can flow at rate greater than or equal to that of
water and is push ahead by the water bank in a
PISTON LIKE fashion.
„ The Moveable Oil Volume (MOV) is given by:
MOV=(1-Soi-Swi) x PV, where PV is the pore volume.
In Ideal Displacement, for Waterflood the volume of oil
recovered is equal to the volum of water injected.

Ideal Displacement Illustration

1 – Soi

water oil

Swi

7
 NON-IDEAL DISPLACEMENT
„ In the most situation,
situation, water is found to be more mobile
than oil. As a result, tongues of water by pass the oil leading
to much less favourable saturation profile (Fingering)
„ At some point nearer the waterfront, there is a sharp change
in water saturation called the Shock Front. When Shock
Front reach the production well there is a sharp increase in
WaterCut,
WaterCut, this event called Water Breaktrough.
Breaktrough.
„ In contrast with Ideal Displacement case, at Breaktrough,
Breaktrough,
only a small fraction of the MOV has been recovered. It
required several (5 until 6) MOV’
MOV’s of Water is needed to
displace single MOV of Oil.
Oil.
„ Then more water injected, Viscouse Fingering will be bigger,
faster and longer distance.
distance. At this situation Water Shut Off
application become not Effective.

Non-Ideal Displacement Illustration

1 – Soi

oil
mix oil & water
water

Swi

8
 Fingering as Result of IMMISCIBLE
Surfactant Flooding
„ Immiscible Surfactant Flooding make Fingering in
the Reservoir, this shown in Phase Behavior
Analysis Lab. with lower phase characteristic
when Surfactant mix with water and oil.
„ At this situation Increasing of the Recovery with
Surfactant Flooding is not significant & become
very expensive.

water surfactant

oil

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

The objective of EOR is to economically increase
displacement efficiency. The important factor is:
„ Mobility Ratio, how to maximizing sweeping of the oil
bank by the EOR media (water, gas, steam etc).
„ Reducing the Interfacial Tension :
– To Pull the oil from the surface of reservoir rock.
– To Reduce significantly Capillarity Tension to increase
ability of flowing in relative low permeability reservoir (for
example high viscosity at medium permeability will
cause porosity blocked as a result of high Capillarity
Tension, it can happen in Polymer Flooding).
Flooding).
„ Porosity blocking by Polymer,especially in heterogen
(anisotropic) reservoir (limestone, sandy clay reservoir)
make Polymer Flooding not appropriate for this
situation.

9
 The Remain of Oil After Waterflood
After Water Breaktrough, the Recovery effectivity is not to
significant, it will found the REMAIN of oil in this
condition :
„ Unswept Oil in the not sweptable oil bank.
„ Residual Oil is some oil that :
– Not able to Pull Out from surface of reservoir rock,
because the IFT of oil/water/rock much bigger than
required IFT to pull out of oil from the rock surface.
– Not able to moving out because the permeability is too
low comparing with capillarity tension, then the oil will
block, even the water push/swept the oil bank.
„ Partially Remove Oil, because the water injection rate is
too fast to swept the oil also because Porosity Blocking
by Polymer especially in heterogen (anisotropic) reservoir
(limestone, sandy clay reservoir) that make Polymer
Flooding not appropriate for this situation.

WHAT DOES WETTING MEAN?

„ The term wetting usually means that the liquid spreads over
the solid and non-
non-wetting means that the liquid tends to ball up
and run off the surface.
„ When two immiscible fluids are in contact in the interstices of a
porous medium, a discontinuity in pressure exists across the
interface separating them.
„ The difference in pressure Pc is called capillary pressure, which
is pressure in the non-
non-wetting phase minus the pressure in the
wetting phase:
or,
2σ ow cos θ
Δ Pc = Poi − Pwi =
r
Thus; Pc = Negative (-(-) attained only if 90o>θ>180o (Oil Wet).
„ Surfactant could alter the rock wettability from water wet into
oil wet, or vice versa.

10
Repair Fingering with Miscible Surfactant EOR
„ Repair FINGERING profile with mixing of surfactant in Water
with Oil at Miscible condition called as MICELLAR SURFACTANT.
SURFACTANT.
„ Miscible situation shown from this shown in Phase Behavior
Analysis Lab. Test with Middle Phase characteristic when
Surfactant mix with water & oil.
„ Miscible Surfactant Flooding will increase recovery significantly
by improve mobility ratio,
ratio, stripping the oil from reservoir rock
surface & reduce capillarity tension.
tension.
Early mscible surfactant Result of Repair the
at Fingering Reservoir Fingering profile after
miscible displacement
water
oil
Stage of mixing of the surfactant
surfactant in water with
oil at miscible condition

DISPLACEMENT PROCESS IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE
Since surfac tan t reduces IFT :σ ow ≈ 0, Thus
2σ ow cos θ
ΔPc = Poi − Pwi = = 0 or , Poi = Pwi
r

(Ps= Pw= Po);Typical Surfactant Injection

θ = 90ο

11
DISPLACEMENT PROCESS IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE

Displacement is in Piston Like

(Good Displacement Efficiency)

DISPLACEMENT PROCESS IN
MICROSCOPIC PORE SPACE

12
 Alternative EOR in Fingering Water
Breakthrough Reservoir
„ Utilize the Fingering Water Breaktrough as “TOLL ROAD”
to reach the longest distance of influence from production
well injection (Huff & Puff).
„ Steam Flood can improve mobility ratio and the thermal
expansion of oil helps to free it from reservoir matrix, but
need high energy input, not applicable in > 300m and risk
of steam eruption.
„ Surfactant Flood improve mobility ratio & recovery by:
– miscibility of water with oil (viscosity of oil will reduce),
– release oil from surface of the reservoir rock with reducing of IFT
– also reducing capillarity with lowering of the IFT.
„ Combining Huff & Puff Surfactant through of Fingering
way and improve Waterflood with modified Surfactant is
the most economic way to increase recovery &
production at the short time (not waiting to long like
conventional EOR).

MAXIMAZING OIL RECOVERY = MINIMIZING

RESIDUAL OIL SATURATION (Sor)

The minimum Residual Oil

Saturation is attained when
Pc is negative.

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 PRESSURE REQUIRED TO FORCE AN OIL DROP
THROUGH A PORE THROAT BY SURFACTANT
Oil Drop Length = 0,1 cm INJECTION ⎛1 1⎞
PB − PA = 2σ ow cosθ ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟
rb = 0,00124 cm ⎝ rA rB ⎠
ra = 0,0046 cm
σow = 0.00015 dyne/cm ⎛ dyne ⎞ ⎛ 1 1 ⎞ 1
PB − PA = 2 × ⎜ 0.00015 ⎟ × (cos 25 ) × ⎜
O
− ⎟
θow = 25 o ⎝ cm ⎠ ⎝ 0,0046 0,00124 ⎠ cm

ra
rb

⎡ psi ⎤
PB − PA = - 0.1608 dynes / cm 2 × ⎢1,438 ×10 −5 = - 2E - 06 psi
⎣ (dynes / cm 2 ) ⎥⎦
ΔP - 2E - 06 psi 30,48 cm psi Compare to the average
= × = - 0.0007
L 0,1 cm 1 ft ft Reservoir Fracture Pressure
Gradient = 0.7 psi/ft–1 psi/ft

THE EFFECT OF SURFACTANT ON

DISPLACEMENT PROCESS
Csurfactant IFT P B -P A ∆P/L P Injection
No
(wt%) (dynes/cm) (psi)
psi) (psi/ft)
psi/ft) (psi)
psi)

1 0 (Waterflood
(Waterflood)) 30 -0.462499523 -140.9698547 1409698.55

2 0.2 0.01 -0.000154167 -0.046989952 469.90

3 0.4 0.00015 -2.3125E-

2.3125E-06 -0.000704849 7.05

4 1.6 0.00003 -4.625E-

4.625E-07 -0.00014097 1.41

5 2 0.00002 -3.08333E-
3.08333E-07 -9.39799E-
9.39799E-05 0.94

Note: Reservoir depth assuming to be 10000 ft below the surface.

P injection = Pressure of displacing fluid at surface required to displace
the trapped oil blob in microscopic pore space.

14
 Formulated Surfactant in Petroleum
Engineering ITB (TM ITB)
„ TM ITB formulated special design of surfactant that
appropriate to use in certain field (each field have
different design formula of Surfactant).
„ The formula base on Local Material, because it
much easier to control of quality and supply capability
to meet the amount of quantity & specification.
„ Real Surfactant Test Result for application in
Indonesian fields has characteristic as follow :
– MiddlePhase(miscible)
MiddlePhase(miscible) at 0.05% Surfactant & 0.5% Alkaline.
– Good in > 20000 ppm of Salt (Monovalent & Divalen ion).
– Good in > 120oC at 45 days continously.
continously.
– Low rock absorbtion,
absorbtion, less than 20mg per gr (static test 1%)
of reservoir rock (crush to mesh 40 sieve).
– High Oil Recovery performance (80% until 90%).

Relationship Capillary Number with

Residual Recovery

15
Formulated Surfactant for Huff & Puff through
Fingering Way and Improve Waterflood
„ Surfactant for Huff & Puff have characteristic :
¾ Middle Phase performance at low concentration
ƒ Get the miscible oil & water performance.
ƒ Mix with high rate (large amount) of water to maximize
changing of reservoir fluids in void at the lowest IFT.
¾ Able to Dilute Oil (Light or Heavy oil), to reduce oil
viscosity(reduce capillarity tension) & miscible with water.
¾ Capable to stripping of oil from reservoir rock surface.
„ Surfactant for Improved Waterflood :
¾ Miscible displacement to minimize Fingering shown at
Middle Phase condition in Phase Behavior Analysis.
¾ Low concentration with low IFT result has good oil
stripping performance from reservoir rock surface.

Huff & Puff Calculation

„ First Step Calculation :
R = (q/6,2 – 0,09 π h)
0,6 π h

„ Second Step Calculation :

V = 6,2 π R2 h Ø

V= Surfactant injection volume

q= Liquid Production flow rate
R= Injection radius
h= Payzone thickness
Ø= Porosity

16
 Facilities in Petroleum Engineering
Department ITB

„ Reservoir Fluid Analysis Lab.

„ Long Core Flooding Apparatus.
„ Slim Tube Apparatus
„ Chemical Analysis Lab.
„ Petrophysic Lab./Reservoir Mechanics Lab.
„ Reservoir Simulation.

STEP OF WORK
„ Collect Oil, Water and Core sample from the
field.
„ Phase Behaviour Analysis Testing with
Custom Made Alkaline, Surfactant, Polymer
or part of it.
„ Short Core Injection.
„ Long Core Injection.
„ Reservoir Simulation
„ Pilot Project Huff & Puff

17
 CONCLUSION
„ Most of Displacement is Non-Ideal that need 5 to 6 time
MOV’s water to displace single MOV oil, but high amount
of MOV water cause early Water Breaktrough with result
a severe Viscouse Fingering Phenomena that increase
WaterCut and reduce oil production significantly.
„ Remain of oil after WaterFlood as Unswept Oil, Partially
Remove Oil and Residual Oil.
„ TM ITB Formulated unique surfactant for certain field to
assure effective Performance, with Local surfactant to
control quantity & quality of supply performance.
„ The Fingering can be utilized as “FREEWAY” by special
formulated Surfactant to reach the longest distance from
production well by application of Huff&Puff.
„ Huff & Puff will get better result if combined with
Modified Surfactant Flooding as Improved Waterflood.

Long Core Displacement Apparatus

18
 Fluid Analysis Lab

Phase Behaviour Analysis Lab.

19
 Phase Behaviour Result

Middle Phase,
Show Miscibility
of Surfactant&
Water in Oil

Lower Phase,
show
Immiscibility of
Surfactant &
Water in Oil

20