Centre for Energy Resources Engineering (CERE) 

– IOR Research at DTU 

Ida L. Fabricius – DTU, Denmark

Denmark’s oil production

The CERE core – 2014• Faculty Members 

• Erling H. Stenby, director DTU Chemistry• Georgios M. Kontogeorgis DTU Chemical Engineering• Alexander A. Shapiro DTU Chemical Engineering• Nicolas von Solms DTU Chemical Engineering • Kaj Thomsen DTU Chemical Engineering• Philip Fosbøl DTU Chemical Engineering• Ida L. Fabricius DTU Civil Engineering• Katrine Alling Andreassen DTU Civil Engineering• Klaus Mosegaard DTU Space• John Bagterp Jørgensen DTU Compute

• Associated Members• Rasmus Fehrman DTU Chemistry• Anders Riisager DTU Chemistry• Steen Krenk DTU Mechanical Engineering• Anne Ladegaard Skov DTU Chemical Engineering

The CERE team – 2014 cont’d

> 10 Post Docs and Senior researchers

> 20 PhD students (DTU, co‐funded, industry funded...)

8 Technical/Administrative Staff

3 Visitors

25 MSc and BSc Thesis Projects

Key research ingredients:1. Modelling:

– Theory and Simulation2. Fluids

– Phase behavior and Reactions3. Rocks

– Petrophysics and Geophysics4. Flow

– Porous Media and Pipes5. Experiments

Scope: Fundamental engineering science

Research at CERE

Fluids

RocksFlow

Modelling

Experiments

ComplexMixtures

EORCCS

Main Research Topics

ComplexMixtures

EORCCS

CO2

Gas Hydrates

Ionic Liquids

Surfactants

AlkanolaminesIn-Situ CombustionHistory Matching

BiorecHP/HT

Heavy Oil

CompSim

iCap

CLEO

Amino Acids

CO2 EOR ADORE

Advanced Waterflooding

CHiGP

Glycols

Cap rocks

Acid gases

Electrolytes

Rock mechanics

NH3

MethanolMercaptans

Polymers

Greensand

Chalk

Sandstone

ComplexMixtures

EORCCS

Main Research Topics

AlexanderIda

NicolasKaj

Georgios

Philip

Katrine

Industrial need

Scientific challenge

Collaboration Knowledge transfer

Products & Knowledge transfer

• MSc and PhD graduates• Experimental data• Theoretical models• Simulations results• Publications• Software• Patents

FLOW ASSURANCE

PROCESSING

RESERVOIR PROCESSES

Multiphase flows in PorousMedia

For ADORE project

Alexander Shapiro

Upscaling in Porous Media• Multilayer reservoir• Averaging/upscaling• With and without gravity effects

Ph.D. Thesis Xuan Zhang

Combination with the streamlinemethod

• Averaging in vertical direction• Streamlines in two horizontal directions

Streamline simulation 3D finite difference

Fluid diversion under fines mobilization

• Fines migration under law‐salinity waterflood• Larger formation damage in high‐permeable layers• Evenning of the displacement front

Hao Yuan, Xuan Zhang

Water diversion

Normal waterflooding

Low salinity waterflooding

Micro‐streamline approach to waterflooding

• Displacement happens along micro‐streamlines (oil, water or water‐oil).• The numbers of different streamlines are counted according to generalized

Darcy and Washburn equations’• Displacement requries a different fractional flow function than steady‐

state flow

Red: steadyBlue: unsteadyGreen: non‐constant flowrate

Biorec

Alexander Shapiro

17

Organization of Biorec project

Modeling: Virtual reactor

Modeling: Virtual tube

Laboratory studiesLaboratory displacement

1.

2. 3.

4.

18

EnzEOR ‐ status

19

Full screening of enzyme effect on calcite and quartz surfacesSetup constructedFlooding experiments started (1‐phase)

Goals:‐ To optimize enzyme selection‐ To optimize the amount of enzyme

MEOR experimental

20

Enrichment/fermentation Flooding/penetration

‐ New ”interesting” bacteria‐ Specific surface behavior

‐ Specific ways to penetrate‐ Needs reflection in modelling

Numerical simulations

21

”Amount of food injected””Tim

e until additional recovery”

Current:‐ ”Adsorption” vs ”Filtration”‐ Different growth models‐ Detailed parametric study for 1D

Challenges:‐ New penetration mechanisms 

(spores)‐ Acceleration of the program and 

preparation for 2D/3D

Smart water

Ida Fabricius

22

Sponsored by Danish Energy Agency, Mærsk Oil and DONG Energy

Designed water flooding of chalk and Greensand

• Rock‐fluid interaction, NMR, Rock deformation– (DTU Civil Engineering)

• Modelling chemical interaction– (DTU Chemical Engineering)

• Flow modelling– (DTU Chemical Engineering)

Experimental setup

Flow diagram

Cleaning

CT scan

Photo

Saturation Sw (100%)

Porosity/ permeability

Sound velocity (dry)

CT scan

Sound velocity/electrical resistivity

CT scan

Saturation Swir

Sound velocity/electrical resistivity

CT scan

Injection with 3 to 6 fluids

Aging (2 weeks)

Sound velocity/electrical resistivity

CT scan

Photo

Thin section for Electron microscopy

Collection of expelled fluid

Surface tension

Ion concentration

Video capture

Chalk NMR

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

10 100 1000

Amplitu

de  

T2 [ms] 

Deionized waterCalcite equilibrated water [24ppm]NaCl [100000ppm]MgCl2 [58000ppm]CaCl2 [67650ppm]Na2SO4 [86585ppm]

Due to precipitationreactions → creation of crystals →increase of Sp

Due to precipitationreactions→ growth of crystals →decrease of Sp

(Katika et al., 2013: EAGE annual conference)

Next Oil

Wei Yan

27

Sponsored by Højteknologifonden, Mærsk Oil and DONG Energy

HTHP fields in Danish North Sea

• In situ stress field– (DTU Civil Engineering)

• Brine stability at HTHP pressure change– (DTU Chemical Engineering)

• Petroleum composition– (DTU Chemistry)

Estimating Biot’s coeffcient in 3 D stress field and anisotropic rock

30

Oedometer test for Biot’s coefficient

Load frame

Pore pressure pump

Radial stress pump

Oil/watercylinder

Sample insidetemp. insulatedoedometer cell

Rock‐mechanics data acquisition system

Acoustic data acquisition system

31

HPHT Triaxial cell

Built for 200 °C and 70 MPaNew design of the piston head will make it easier to replace o‐rings and acoustic crystals.

CERE Consortium 2013