Alkali-Polymer Flooding, from Core Flood Tests to Field Scale Simulation

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Abstract

OMV Exploration & Production GmbH is attempting a rejuvenation of the mature 16th TH reservoir in the Matzen Field in Austria. As one of the largest reservoirs in Middle Europe, the 16th TH still has a high potential regarding unrecovered hydrocarbons. To further exploit the potential of the 16th TH, it was decided to undertake an alkali-polymer flood. Preoperational tests include single-phase tracer and alkali core flood tests and two-phase polymer and alkali-polymer core flood tests. By means of the tracer experiments, the concept of numerical dispersivity replacing physical dispersivity, and its meaning concerning the determination of the optimum grid cell size were investigated. The results were applied on the polymer and alkali-polymer experiments to be validated. Within the scope of the simulation of the polymer and alkail-polymer core flood experiments, the capability of a black oil simulator to reproduce EOR treatments was examined. The perceptions of these simulations were applied on field scale. The simulation results prove, that black oil simulators are essentially applicable on EOR simulations and that dispersivity can be used to determine the optimum grid cell size, although it leaves space for upscaling without significant loss of accuracy.

Details

Translated title of the contributionAlkali-Polymer-Flutung, vom Kernflutversuch zur Feldsimulation
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date28 Jun 2019
Publication statusPublished - 2019