colloidal dispersion gels (cdg) and their … dispersion gels (cdg) and their application in wyoming...
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T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
The Science of Enhanced Oi l Recovery
E. Manrique & M. Lantz
Colloidal Dispersion Gels
(CDG) and Their Application
in Wyoming and Elsewhere
Jackson Hole, WY, September 12-13, 2011
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• Introduction:
• What are CDGs (Colloidal Dispersion Gels)?
• CDG Development Review
• Summary of EOR & CDG projects in Wyoming
• Wyoming Tertiary Projects
• CDG Experience in Wyoming
• Recent Advances of Lab. & Simulation Studies
• CDG Experiences Elsewhere
• Field Experiences in Argentina and Colombia
• Closing Remarks
Outline
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Introduction:
What are CDGs?
• CDGs can be considered similar to polymer flooding
• CDGs (weak gels) generate higher viscosities & RRF than
polymer solutions at lower concentrations
• HPAM are co-injected with Al-Citrate (crosslinker)
- Viscosity/inj. pressure build-up (gelation/retention)
• Very controversial topic!
- However, some lab results do not support field performances
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Introduction:
CDG Development Review
• Phillips Petroleum first developed the “layered process”
which was first injected in 1980 in the North Burbank field
- Found sequential injection of HPAM / aluminum citrate (AlCit)
created higher RRF than straight polymer
• In an effort to quickly test the layered process in the lab,
TIORCO performed screen pack tests with mixed solutions
of low concentrations of HPAM and AlCit
• Found that the solution had no visible bulk gel characteristic;
however, flow was notably retarded through the screen pack
- Despite discrepancies of lab studies reported by different
organizations over the years the CDG technology has shown a
renewed interest at lab and field scale
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Introduction:
CDG Development Review (Cont’d)
• The first CDG flood was implemented in 1985 in the Edsel
Minnelusa Unit, Crook County, WY
- The flood switched from the layered to the CDG process
- Results showed an incremental recovery of 11.5 % OOIP
• To date, over 70 CDG floods have been implemented in the
U.S. and abroad
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y T h e Sc ie n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Summary of EOR &
CDG Projects in
Wyoming
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Wyoming Tertiary Projects: 2008 Wyoming O&G Stats, The WOGCC
• To date, 39 CDG floods have been completed in Wyoming
~42% of polymer floods
are CDG floods
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Evaluation of Chemical Flooding in the
Minnelusa Formation, PRB, WY*
• EORI publication evaluated the EUR of 32 chemical (mostly
polymer) and waterfloods
• The primary conclusions were:
- Chemical flooding improves recovery by an average of
9% OOIP compared to waterflooding
- Chemical flooding produces more oil sooner
- The sooner you start EOR the more oil you recover
*Thyne, G., Alvarado, V., Murrell, G., Evaluation of Chemical Flooding in the
Minnelusa Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Search and Discovery,
Article # 50239, February 26, 2010.
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Minnelusa Production Analysis
Courtesy of EORI
CDG or CDG + polymer floods (PF’s) reported as PF only
ASP
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming
• Not all CDG projects in Wyoming (Mainly Minnelusa Fm.) were
reported as successful (SPE-27780):
• There are successful and highly profitable projects too (>20)
• In summary, CDG technology can fail as much as other EOR
methods. However, not all unsuccessful projects are published
or recognized
Unsuccessful Projects Marginal Economics
Swartz Draw, Campbell Co., 1987 Stewart Ranch, Campbell Co., 1985
Long Tree, Campbell Co., 1988 Pfieler Lease, Campbell Co., 1987
Bishop Ranch, Campbell Co., 1990 Spirit Field, Crook Co., 1993
Ottie Draw, Campbell Co., 1990
Wolf Draw, Crook Co., 1991
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming: N. Rainbow Ranch Unit (SPE-27773 Updates)
• Summary of reservoir and fluid properties (R71W – T49N)
Formation Minnelusa
Depth 9,500 ft
Porosity 19.7%
Water Saturation 20%
Temperature 202°F
Permeability Range 1 - 1,000 mD
Perm. Variation (DP) 0.9
Oil Gravity 26°API
Oil Viscosity 3.94 cP
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming (Cont’d): N. Rainbow Ranch Unit (SPE-27773 Updates)
Stage Injection
bbls Product* Pounds
Concentration
mg / l
1 81,000 Cationic
Polymer 22,000 775
2 46,000 Anionic
Polymer 22,500 1,400
3 198,000 Anionic Polymer
Al-Citrate
83,100
71,000
1,200
1,000
4 654,000 Anionic Polymer
Al-Citrate
68,700
76,000
300
330
• Summary of CDG treatment design:
* Polyacrylamide polymers
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming (Cont’d): N. Rainbow Ranch Unit (SPE-27773 Updates)
CDG Performance (Oil rate vs. time)
#6 Casing Collapse
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming (Cont’d): N. Rainbow Ranch Unit (SPE-27773 Updates)
900 MBO Incremental
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experience in Wyoming (Cont’d): N. Rainbow Ranch Unit Summary Conclusions
• Approximately 12% PV was injected over the life of chemical
flood
• CDGs using high molecular weight polymer were
successfully injected into a non-fractured, high permeability
sandstone formation
• Total recovery to date of 49.4% OOIP
• Preliminary incremental recovery estimates were estimated
in 8.0% of OOIP (SPE-27773). Current analysis suggests an
incremental recovery of 15.7% OOIP
• Updated results estimate a development cost of $1 per
incremental barrel
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y T h e Sc ie n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Recent Advances in
CDG Lab &
Simulation Studies
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• CDG lab studies shows large discrepancies and different
laboratory protocols
• Recent studies in Canada, Norway and Colombia reported:
− “CDG systems promote in-situ permeability reduction in
unconsolidated high-permeability porous media as opposed to only
the mobility control effect of polymer flooding” (CIPC 2009-045)
− “CDG propagates through water-wet Berea sandstone cores with
no chromatographic separation “ (SPE-129927)
− CDG injection in slim tubes showed PV reduction supported by
tracer injection before and after treatment (Castro, R. MSc.
Dissertation, UIS, Bucaramanga, Colombia, August 2011)
• Since 2009 Tiorco started comprehensive lab and simulation
studies as an effort to improve the understanding of CDG
CDG Technology:
Laboratory Study Updates
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Technology:
Laboratory Study Updates (Cont’d)
Castro R., August 2011
Before CDG After CDG
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG (20:1) vs. Polymer Flooding:
1ft Slim Tube Tests (~ 3 Darcy)
3,0
206,8
70,9
110,0
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG (20:1) vs. Polymer Flooding:
1ft Slim Tube Tests (~ 7 Darcy)
2,4
177,8
46
117,8
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• CDG pilot project (4 injectors) was presented showing a
reasonably good history match using gel option
• CDG predictions are in agreement with current oil production in
the field
• CDGs and polymer flooding generated similar incremental oil.
However, CDGs required 40% less mass of polymer
• Injection well pressures and/or oil recoveries can’t be properly
match using skin factors
• Tracer breakthrough (BT) times before and after CDG injection
support changes in porous media (CDG delay tracer BT)
• CDG injection of 0.2 PV was possible in a thin (25 ft) and low
permeable (1-600 md) formation (8 cp crude oil)
CDG Technology: Simulation Updates (U.S. Pilot 2010-2011)
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y T h e Sc ie n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
CDG Experiences
Elsewhere
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• An important number of CDG field tests have been
documented in the literature
− CDG field (29) projects review (SPE 20234 & 27780)
− Adon Road (SPE-35352) and Lone Cedar (SPE-17539)
− Daqing Field, China (SPE-62610)
− Loma Alta Sur (SPE-113320) and El Tordillo (SPE-113334) Fields,
Argentina
− Dina Cretáceos, Colombia (SPE-139200)
• Despite the number of field projects, not much effort has been
dedicated to interpret/correlate lab. & field performance.
However, there are ongoing efforts to evaluate past and
current experiences
CDG Experiences Elsewhere:
Summary Review
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• As of today, there are several ongoing projects in Argentina
(Confidential Client, 5 patterns), Colombia (Dina Field, 1
pattern) and the U.S. (4 projects, 1 to 4 patterns)
− Based on advanced screening studies (Alvarado & Manrique,
2010; SPE-139200) have identified Minnelusa reservoirs as
possible analogs of multiple Colombian reservoirs
− Bracken, Candy Draw Unit and Rule Fields are few of the
closer analogs to Dina Field in Colombia
− Screening study contributed to justify CDG evaluation and
field implementation based on field properties and project
economics
− Tiorco is also performing designs for projects scheduled 1Q and
2Q of 2012 in Canada, China and the U.S. including Wyoming
CDG Experiences Elsewhere:
Summary Review (Cont’d)
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• Highly heterogeneous
reservoir (28 cp, T = 85°C)
• Tracer breakthrough times
(< 3 days 40 Acres)
• RF 25% (1ary + 2ary)
• Marcit gel treatments of
12,000 - 15,000 bbl
(Nov/05)
• 0.12 PV of CDG
(Jul/06 – May/07)
El Tordillo Field, Argentina: Polymer Gels + CDG (SPE-113334)
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
El Tordillo Field, Argentina:
Pilot Results and Current Plans
• Incremental oil of 50,000 m3 as of Dec. 2007
• As of April 2010 pilot still showed incremental oil
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Loma Alta Sur, Argentina:
Inj. Profile Before & After CDG (SPE-113320)
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Loma Alta Sur, Argentina:
Pilot Results
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y T h e Sc ie n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
Closing Remarks
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• CDG process is a variation of polymer flooding (PF)
• CDGs can generate similar incremental recovery factors as
PF using less mass of polymer (Economics!)
• Additional benefits of CDGs include:
• Generate higher RF and RRF than PF at the same (or
lower) polymer concentration
• Injectivity can be controlled without impacting water
viscosity, especially in viscous and low permeable
reservoirs
• CDGs has been successfully implemented in the Argentina,
China and the U.S (> 70 projects)
CDG Technology:
Closing Remarks
T h e Sc i e n c e o f En h a n c e d O i l R e c o v e r y
• YES, CDG technology is not well understood. However, are
all EOR technologies fully understood?
− If yes, why does there still exist risk aversion to implement EOR
projects even at oil prices > $80/bbl?
• Are CDG lab studies representative enough to explain field
performance? There is still lot work to be done
• Final messages:
− If project economics shows enough merits to evaluate an EOR
technology, do not wait to fully understand the technology and/or
wait to have a perfect model to start field implementation (99.9%
of the cases our interpretation will change with field data!)
− Manage Risk and Uncertainties are key for EOR
CDG Technology:
Closing Remarks (Cont’d)