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Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR)
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Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR)

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 10648

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhenhua Rui

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Interests: CCUS; CO2 EOR; unconventional reservoir development
Dr. Zongjie Mu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, China
Interests: petroleum engineering; well completion; mechanical design and processing
Dr. Yueliang Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Interests: CO2 storage and utilization; CO2 fracturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will mainly introduce new materials, new technologies and new methods in the field of enhancing oil recovery (EOR). Most of the old oil fields in the world are in the stage of tertiary oil recovery, and the production is in a downward trend. Although oil companies use chemical flooding, steam flooding and other methods to improve crude oil production, the results are still not optimistic. Therefore, enhancing oil recovery is still an important research direction in the future. With the continuous improvement of EOR mechanisms and the emergence of new materials, many new technologies have emerged. Using these technologies, the oil recovery can be improved by reducing the mobility ratio to improve the sweep coefficient or eliminating the interfacial effect between working agent and crude oil to improve the oil displacement efficiency. At the same time, unconventional oil and gas resources are an important development field of the petroleum industry. This special physical and chemical environment brings higher requirements for the oil displacement system. Improving the theoretical understanding of these complex situations and the research and development of new materials are the key to unconventional oil and gas EOR. Mine application is the most authoritative evidence to test whether a new system is truly successful. In practical application, there is a large gap between various complex environments and laboratory research. Therefore, only the successful application of new materials, new technologies and new methods can prove that they are really effective. The message that should leave your mark on, with respect to the future EOR experts, new technologies and methods are very useful.

Dr. Zhenhua Rui
Dr. Zongjie Mu
Dr. Yueliang Liu
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3337 KiB  
Article
Studies on the Synthesis and Application Properties of a Betaine Surfactant with a Benzene Ring Structure
by Qi Zuo, Zhihui Wang, Peng Li, Luyuan Yang and Zhaozheng Song
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4378; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074378 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2201
Abstract
Two novel betaine surfactants with distinct hydrophilic headgroups were synthesized, including carboxybetaine surfactant (DCB) and sulfobetaine surfactant (DSB). Their properties of reducing the interfacial tension (IFT) of Xinjiang crude oil/water were studied under alkaline-free conditions, as were their thermal stability, wettability, and emulsification [...] Read more.
Two novel betaine surfactants with distinct hydrophilic headgroups were synthesized, including carboxybetaine surfactant (DCB) and sulfobetaine surfactant (DSB). Their properties of reducing the interfacial tension (IFT) of Xinjiang crude oil/water were studied under alkaline-free conditions, as were their thermal stability, wettability, and emulsification properties. The chemical structures of the target products were characterized and analyzed by using 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The experimental results indicate that the introduction of a benzene ring to the hydrophobic group can improve the solubility and high-temperature resistance of the betaine surfactant. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation temperature of the synthesized betaine was above 190 °C. As the concentration of the betaine solution increased, DSB (0.0750 mmol/L) showed a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) than DCB (0.1852 mmol/L). The wetting ability of DCB was significantly higher than that of DSB, and their contact angles on paraffin film decreased to 28.36° and 35.26°. In addition, both DCB and DSB can reduce the IFT of Xinjiang crude oil/water to ultra-low levels (10−3 mN/m) in the absence of alkali. The appropriate ion concentration has a synergistic effect on the surfactant to reduce the interfacial tension of oil/water and the effect of the three ions on the interfacial tension was as follows: Na+ < Ca2+ < Mg2+. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR))
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13 pages, 7227 KiB  
Article
Molecular Dynamics Study of Interfacial Properties for Crude Oil with Pure and Impure CH4
by Zhenzhen Dong, Xinle Ma, Haobin Xu, Weirong Li, Shihao Qian, Zhengbo Wang, Zhaoxia Liu and Gang Lei
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12239; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312239 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2079
Abstract
Gas injection has received increasing attention as one of the key technologies to enhance oil recovery. When gas is dissolved in crude oil, it will accelerate the flow of crude oil by reducing the density, viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and other properties of [...] Read more.
Gas injection has received increasing attention as one of the key technologies to enhance oil recovery. When gas is dissolved in crude oil, it will accelerate the flow of crude oil by reducing the density, viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and other properties of crude oil, so IFT is one of the main factors affecting the recovery of the gas drive. The interfacial properties of CH4, one of the principal associated hydrocarbon gases, with crude oil remain unclear. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to determine the IFTs of pure and impure CH4 with n-decane as well as the IFTs of the ternary systems CH4 + n-hexane + n-decane and CH4 + n-decane + n-nonadecane. Additionally, investigating factors including pressure, temperature, gas composition, and crude oil composition reveals the mechanisms affecting the interfacial properties of CH4 and crude oil. The results demonstrate that CO2 significantly lowers the IFT of CH4 + n-decane; the effect of crude oil components on IFT varies with the properties of the crude oil and, generally speaking, IFT is greater for crude oils containing heavy components than for those containing light components; the effect of temperature on the IFT of the CH4 + n-decane system is more pronounced at low pressure and decreases with increasing pressure. This study contributes to understanding the behavior of CH4 and oil systems in the formation and could be used to enhance the oil recovery technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR))
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14 pages, 2404 KiB  
Article
A Novel Application of New High-Strength Plugging Agent in Baikouquan Oilfield
by Yuanxiu Sun, Weijie Zhang, Yong He, Shaoqi Kong, Yueliang Liu and Ruifang Han
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8150; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168150 - 15 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
The Baikouquan Oilfield is entering middle and later periods of development. Casing failure, caused by the quality of cementing and casing corrosion, affects the normal production of the well. The number of wells in this situation has been increasing in recent years. Some [...] Read more.
The Baikouquan Oilfield is entering middle and later periods of development. Casing failure, caused by the quality of cementing and casing corrosion, affects the normal production of the well. The number of wells in this situation has been increasing in recent years. Some wells with a high aquifer have no way to achieve effective plugging. The conventional measures have short validity periods and low plugging strengths. They cannot meet the requirements of subsequent fracturing operations and long-term production. Therefore, a new type of plugging agent with high strength, temperature resistance, salt resistance and micro-expansion features was designed and developed. The field test was carried out on four wells in the Baikouquan block, including three wells with a strong water-flooded layer and one well with an upper casing leakage point. A field test showed that the leakage formation was successfully plugged under the condition that the oilfield pressure test value was 30 MPa, with a 100% success rate. The average fluid volume decreases by 51.4%, and the average oil volume increases by 270.8%. The average daily oil volume per well increases by 3.2 t/d. The new plugging agent has the characteristics of no regurgitation, fast cementing speed with the new interface, high cementing strength and construction safety. The above advantages are of great significance in reducing the operation cost of oil and water well production and enhancing oil recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR))
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9 pages, 1406 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Characterization of Micro-Scale Pore-Throat Heterogeneity in Tight Sandstone Reservoir
by Fengjuan Dong, Zeyong Sun, Zhanwu Gao, Xuefei Lu, Yue Chen, Hai Huang and Dazhong Ren
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6758; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136758 - 4 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1659
Abstract
Nanoscale pore-throat systems are widely developed in the pore-throat of tight reservoirs. The pore-throat structures of different microscales are complex and diverse with obvious microscale effects. Taking the Chang 63 tight sandstone reservoir of the Huaqing area in Ordos basin as an [...] Read more.
Nanoscale pore-throat systems are widely developed in the pore-throat of tight reservoirs. The pore-throat structures of different microscales are complex and diverse with obvious microscale effects. Taking the Chang 63 tight sandstone reservoir of the Huaqing area in Ordos basin as an example, under the guidance of information entropy theory, the quantitative characterization model of pore-throat micro-scale heterogeneity in a tight oil reservoir is established based on casting thin sections, physical properties analysis, constant velocity mercury injection, and NMR technology. Moreover, the correlation between pore-throat heterogeneity and porosity, permeability and movable fluid saturation is analyzed. The results show that there are obvious differences in pore-throat heterogeneity between different reservoirs, and the throat uniformity of macro pore-fine-throat reservoir, macro pore–micro throat reservoir, and macro pore–micro throat reservoir becomes worse, successively. There is a negative correlation between porosity uniformity and porosity, permeability and movable fluid saturation. However, there is a positive correlation between throat uniformity and combined pore throat uniformity and porosity, permeability and movable fluid saturation. Therefore, the uniformity of the throat controls the seepage capacity and fluid mobility in the pore system of the Chang 63 tight sandstone reservoir in the study area. This has important theoretical and practical significance to enhance oil recovery and promote the efficient development of a tight oil and gas reservoir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR))
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18 pages, 3440 KiB  
Article
Element Geochemical Characteristics and Provenance Conditions of the 1st Member of Jurassic Zhongjiangou Formation in Wudun Sag, Dunhuang Basin
by Tao Xu, Ling Feng, Wen Yin, Jinpeng Wei, Yarong Wang and Xianli Zou
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4110; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094110 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
In order to clarify the provenance of the 1st member of the Zhongjiangou formation in Wudun sag, Dunhuang basin, the structural attributes, weathering and sedimentary characteristics of the provenance area were analyzed by means of element geochemistry, so as to determine the differences [...] Read more.
In order to clarify the provenance of the 1st member of the Zhongjiangou formation in Wudun sag, Dunhuang basin, the structural attributes, weathering and sedimentary characteristics of the provenance area were analyzed by means of element geochemistry, so as to determine the differences of sediment sources in different well areas. The results show that the higher the Al2O3 and K2O contents, the higher the enrichment of large ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements, while the iron and magnesium elements are relatively deficient, and there are characteristics of medium degree differentiation of light and heavy rare earth elements in Well XC1 and Well D2. The lower the Al2O3 content and the higher the SiO2 content, a loss of large ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements are observed, while the ferrophilic magnesium elements show serious loss, as shown in the characteristics of the high degree of differentiation of light and heavy rare earth elements in Well D1. In the UCC-normalized element spidergrams, the trend of Well XC1 and Well D2 is similar, which is different from that of well D1, indicating that the sediments of Well XC1 and Well D2 come from the same provenance area, while the sediment of Well D1 comes from a different provenance area. The provenance area of Well XC1 and Well D2 shows strong tectonic activity and strong weathering, while the provenance area of well D1 exhibits relatively weak tectonic activity and weathering. Combined with previous research results, Wudun sag is mainly characterized by a faulted lacustrine basin controlled by the southern boundary fault in the Jurassic layer. Therefore, the sediments of Well XC1 and Well D2 mainly come from the southern Sanweishan uplift provenance area, with strong tectonic activity; the sediments of Well D1 mainly come from the northern Beishan provenance area, with relatively weak tectonic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Approaches and Development in Enhancing Oil Recovery (EOR))
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