N2 injection to improve oil recovery in oil reservoirs

by:
Ali Jaafar lateef

July-2020
 Content

Abstract…………………………………………………………………......3

Introduction………………………………………………………………....3

Theory……………………………………………………………………....4

N2 injection………………………………………………………...4

Nitrogen injection system…………………………………………..5

Different between Flooding nitrogen and cyclic nitrogen Injection..6

Mechanisms That Improve Recovery ……………………………....6

Limitations …………………………………………………….........7

Challenges…………………………………………………………....7

Screening parameters……………………………………………..…..7

Advantages and disadvantages of Nitrogen Injection……..………....7

Conclusion………………………………………………………………...…8

References………………………………………………………………..…..8

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 Abstract

All of the Enhanced oil recovery methods are important but they are different in
selecting the best method according to limitations and challenges as well as
screening parameters and also the economic sector .

N2 considered one of the best method to enhance oil recovery because it available
and low cost as well as easy to injected but there are some of challenges that
prevent us sometimes to use this method such it Minimum Miscible Pressure is so
high and it didn't acceptable with all reservoirs .

In this report we mentioned to most important topics and points that effect this
method and also mentioned to the advantages and disadvantages of this method as
well as Nitrogen injection system and mechanism of this method.

Introduction

Primary Hydrocarbon recovery methods unlock only about 10% of the oil initially
in place (OIIP), while secondary recovery efforts obtain an additional 20 – 40%.
Therefore, a substantial quantity of oil remains in the formation until more
advanced recovery methods are employed. These methods are collectively known
as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. Enhanced oil recovery techniques
attempt to artificially modify the reservoir characteristics in order to restore
formation pressure and improve oil displacement. When done correctly, EOR
efforts can recover up to 75% of OIIP and boost existing production volume by as
much as 200-300% [1] . One of a new process of miscible gases to enhanced oil
recovery, is nitrogen (N2) injection to increase Hydrocarbon Recovery, has been
receiving special attention because of the high cost and limited supply of other
natural gases. The main goal of injection of N2 is to achieve miscibility with the
High viscosity reservoir fluids and to reduce mobility of Hydrocarbon to make it
easily move to production well. The miscibility obtained by nitrogen injection in a
light crude oil reservoir is a conditional miscibility; where the fluids are not
miscibles on the first contact, but form two phases, with one of the fluids
absorbing components from the other. After sufficient contacts and exchange of
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components, the system becomes miscible. N2 light crude oil miscibility
phenomenon is complex and depends on the composition of the reservoir fluid,
temperature, pressure, as well as other factors such as interphase mass transfer,
effect of relative permeability, capillary pressure and gravity [2].

Theory

one of the enhanced oil recovery methods is gas injection. In miscible gas
injection, the gas is injected at or above the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP)
which causes the gas to be miscible in oil. When flooding by the gas is conducted
below MMP it is known as immiscible gas injection. Primary conditions affecting
miscibility are: composition, fluid characteristics, pressure, and temperature. Gas
injection is typically utilized in older reservoirs, where the current production rate
is no longer economically viable. Nitrogen is injected into multiple wells
distributed throughout a formation to force the oil into the production well for
recovery. Nitrogen injection can improve existing production by as much as 200-
300%. Gas injection with nitrogen has significant benefits over the common
alternatives, such as carbon dioxide or natural gas, because it is inert, noncorrosive,
and oxygen-free [3].

Nitrogen can be obtained through an on-site nitrogen gas generator. Relying on a

purchased supply of nitrogen has several drawbacks including:

1. The possibility of running out of gas. Some enhanced oil recovery

applications can require a significant amount of nitrogen (250 scfm at >
1,000 lbs of pressure) depending on the size and depth of the well.
2. The inconvenience associated with contract negotiations, scheduling
deliveries, and delivery fees.

There are few known correlations to determine the MMP of nitrogen since the
available literature data on the MMP of nitrogen with crude oils and synthetic oil
are scarce. Nitrogen MMP of different oils is a function of the temperature,
reservoir fluid composition, and pressure on miscibility. Determination of the
MMP of nitrogen with the particular oil is necessary to ensure the successful
operation of the miscible flood.

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Nitrogen Injection System

A nitrogen injection system is the full array of equipment needed to carry out
nitrogen injection. An essential component of an N2 generation system is the
Nitrogen generator – used for producing on-demand N2 by cryogenic fractional
distillation from atmospheric air[1].

Figure 1 : Nitrogen injection system

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Different between Flooding nitrogen injection and cyclic nitrogen Injection.

The different between flooding nitrogen injection and cyclic nitrogen injection is in
the flooding nitrogen injection the production process are done in the production
well and injection process are done in the injection well in enhance oil recovery
process. But in the another process cyclic nitrogen injection ( also called huff and
puff) the both production process and injection process are done in same well in
different time periods. Since the first step is to injected nitrogen in the well and the
second step is close it for time period and the third step is to open it to produce oil
from it after Enhance recovery process .

Mechanisms That Improve Recovery

Vaporizes the lighter components of the crude oil and generates miscibility if the
pressure is high enough. Provides a gas drive where a significant portion of the
reservoir volume is filled with low cost gases [4] .

Figure 2: N2 injection mechanism

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Limitations

 Miscibility can only be achieved with light oils at high pressures therefore,
deep reservoirs are needed.
 A steeply dipping reservoir is desired to permit gravity stabilization of the
displacement, which has a very unfavorable mobility ratio [4].

Challenges

 Viscous fingering results in poor vertical and horizontal sweep efficiency.

 gas injection can cause corrosion.
 Nonhydrocarbon gases must be separated from saleable gas [4].

Screening Parameters [4]

 Gravity <24 API(35 for N2)

 Composition :C1 –C7
 Formation type :sandstone/carbonate
 Average permeability: not critical
 Depth >4500ft
 Viscosity >10cP
 oil saturation <30 %
 Net thickness :relatively thin
 Transmissibility: not critical
 Temperature :not critical

Advantages of Nitrogen Injection

Nitrogen gas injection is one of the more favored EOR techniques because it is
cost-effective and sustainable. A single rail car (N2 storage and transport unit) can
hold as much 1.2 million standard cubic feet (SCF) of liquid N2.

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Another advantage of using Nitrogen gas injection for enhanced oil recovery is its
inert chemical characteristics. N2 can prevent down-hole combustion of flammable
gases and has no corrosive effect on pipelines, unlike CO2 [1] .

Conclusion

Relative to the gathering information above about enhance oil recovery with
nitrogen injection we conclude :

 This method is a cheap and available method and easy to injected but also it
so limited by many factors such as MMP and screening parameters.
 It gives a percent reach to 75 % of Initial oil in place in reservoir.
 This method consider safety and friendly to the environment because it
systems a close systems didn't need any source except air and didn't eateries
any pollution to the air .
 Sometimes we need more and best method else it depend on limitations and
reservoir conditions.

References

[1] Albert W.,2018 Nitrogen Gas Injection Enhanced Oil Recovery

Techniques & Systems",Nigen.
[2] C.F. Alcocer, Montana C.,1984 "Enhanced Oil Recovery by Nitrogen
Injection: The Effect of Increased Temperature and the Amount of Gas in
Solution ",SPE.
[3] Judy silva , 2014, "Nitrogen gas injection for enhance oil recovery", Blog
parker.
[4] Mohamed A.,2019, "Enhanced oil recovery" , Handbook.