Analysis of the Effect of Residual Oil on Particle Trapping During Produced-Water Reinjection Using X-Ray Tomography

Abstract

Summary Recently, it has been shown that the presence of residual oil in a formation can have a considerable influence on the trapping mechanisms for particles present in reinjected produced water (Ali 2007; Ali et al. 2005, 2007, 2009). This article reports on a further set of extensive coreflow experiments that confirm and extend these results. The tests were conducted in a computerized-tomography (CT) scanner, allowing direct observation of the buildup of particle deposition along the core. These experiments are relevant to operational issues associated with produced-water reinjection (PWRI). In many cases, produced water is injected into formations containing oil, so reduced oil saturation is achieved rapidly in the area around the well. Even if the well is outside the oil zone, trapped oil droplets are always present in produced water, and a residual-oil zone will gradually build up around the well. Major differences are found between the deposition profiles for fully water-saturated cores and the cores having residual-oil saturation. In particular, particles penetrate deeper into the core with residual-oil saturation, and considerably more particles pass completely through the core without being trapped. The X-ray technique allows direct observation during the experiment of the deposition process inside the core, eliminating the complicating effect of any external filter cake. As a result, an analysis can be performed of the deposition parameters relevant inside the core using deep-bed-filtration theory, and the results of this analysis are presented. In particular, it is shown that the values of the filtration function determined from the CT-scan (X-ray) data are consistent with those obtained from analysis of the effluent concentration. Moreover, both methods of analysis find quite clearly that the filtration coefficient increases with decreasing flow rate. The results indicate that formation damage near a wellbore during water injection will be reduced by the presence of residual oil, and that particles will penetrate deeper into the formation. The result is also relevant to injection under fracturing conditions because particle deposition in the wall of the fracture (where residual oil may be present) is one of the mechanisms governing fracture growth.

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