Simulation case study of caustic-polymer flooding process for fractured carbonate reservoirs in laboratory scale: effects of fractures

Alkaline and alkaline-polymer flooding are twoeconomical and versatile techniques that have been proposed forthe application in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Recently, the useof high-pH alkaline chemicals was emphasized to obtain lowinterfacial tensions (IFT’s) with the crude oil and to counteractalkali loss by both reservoir rock and interstitial water reactions.Several experimental and Simulation studies have been publishedfor the application of caustic-polymer process in the conventionalsandstone models. Although no cased studies in fracturedcarbonate reservoirs and also no studies about fracture effects oncaustic-polymer process have been reported. So in this work, thisbasic and fundamental study is considered. In this simulation casestudy, a new Alkaline-Polymer flooding has been investigated andtestified in fractured carbonate models with respect to the presenceof fracture in porous media. Computer simulation of the models byCMG-STARSTM revealed that the caustic-polymer process mightbe feasible for the fractured reservoirs. According to the results ofcurrent study, fracture in reservoirs leads to the reduction ofresidual oil recovery in porous media and also improve the effectof chemical solution over residual oil. Fractured heterogeneousregion in the direction of solution movement causes the O/Wemulsion bank to disperse and reduces the bank velocity.

Simulation case study of caustic-polymer flooding process for fractured carbonate reservoirs in laboratory scale: effects of fractures Keywords:

Simulation Case Study , Caustic-Polymer Flooding , Fractured Carbonate Reservoir , IFT Reduction , O/WEmulsion Bank