Properties of N2- and CO2-foams as a function of pressure

Aarra, Morten Gunnar; Skauge, Arne; Solbakken, Jonas; Ormehaug, Per Arne

doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2014.02.017

Cited by 68 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 230 publications

(739 reference statements)

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“…De Vries and Wit15 predicted that the water relative permeability at high-quality regime does not monotonically increase with water saturation. In the experiments of Aarra et al 16,. the water relative permeability after foam injection for both N 2 and CO 2 foams experienced a significant reduction with an implication that foam can be used to divert liquid among layers.…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

Effect of Foam on Liquid Phase Mobility in Porous Media

Eftekhari

Farajzadeh

2017

Sci Rep

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We investigate the validity of the assumption that foam in porous media reduces the mobility of gas phase only and does not impact the liquid-phase mobility. The foam is generated by simultaneous injection of nitrogen gas and a surfactant solution into sandstone cores and its strength is varied by changing surfactant type and concentration. We find, indeed, that the effect of foam on liquid-phase mobility is not pronounced and can be ignored. Our new experimental results and analyses resolve apparent discrepancies in the literature. Previously, some researchers erroneously applied relative permeability relationships measured at small to moderate capillary numbers to foam floods at large capillary number. Our results indicate that the water relative permeability in the absence of surfactant should be measured with the capillary pressure ranging up to values reached during the foam floods. This requires conducting a steady-state gas/water core flood with capillary numbers similar to that of foam floods or measuring the water relative-permeability curve using a centrifuge.

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mentioning

confidence: 93%

Effect of Foam on Liquid Phase Mobility in Porous Media

Eftekhari

Farajzadeh

2017

Sci Rep

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“…In this study delay in foam strength build-up was observed with non-equilibrated fluids. In addition, visual observations of the foam texture indicated larger bubbles.Compared to N 2 -foams at similar conditions CO 2 -foams were weaker and showed coarser foam structure.Recently in Aarra et al, (2012), we focused on understanding CO 2 -foam properties below and above the critical point of CO 2 (P c ≈ 73.8 bar, T c ≈ 31.0°C). Strong CO 2 -foams were generated when CO 2 was in its gaseous state (30 bar, 50°C).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently in Aarra et al, (2012), we focused on understanding CO 2 -foam properties below and above the critical point of CO 2 (P c ≈ 73.8 bar, T c ≈ 31.0°C). Strong CO 2 -foams were generated when CO 2 was in its gaseous state (30 bar, 50°C).…”

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confidence: 99%

Supercritical CO2-Foam - The Importance of CO2 Density on Foams Performance

Solbakken¹,

Skauge²,

Aarra³

2013

All Days

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In CO 2 projects for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) a critical factor is possible early CO 2 breakthrough and consequently poor sweep efficiency. Injection of foam can block and divert CO 2 which may improve sweep efficiency.Large changes in physical properties of CO 2 with temperature and pressure might affect CO 2 -foam performance under various reservoir conditions. Recently, we have focused on understanding supercritical CO 2 -foam properties and this paper describes the importance of supercritical CO 2 density on CO 2 -foam performance in outcrop Berea sandstone core material.Foam flooding experiments were conducted in sandstone core material at different pressures from 30 to 280 bar and at temperatures of 50 and 90°C using an AOS C14/16 surfactant. Results showed high foam strengths at low CO 2 density. In fact, the strongest supercritical CO 2 -foam was generated at the lowest supercritical CO 2 density tested, quite comparable to foam strength obtained with gaseous CO 2 . Only reduced foam strengths were found with dense supercritical CO 2 (MRF 3-11).Foam generation was studied with both equilibrated and non-equilibrated fluids. Previously, we showed that CO 2 -foam stability and blocking ability were strongly reduced when mass transfer occured. In this study delay in foam strength build-up was observed with non-equilibrated fluids. In addition, visual observations of the foam texture indicated larger bubbles.Compared to N 2 -foams at similar conditions CO 2 -foams were weaker and showed coarser foam structure.Recently in Aarra et al., (2012), we focused on understanding CO 2 -foam properties below and above the critical point of CO 2 (P c ≈ 73.8 bar, T c ≈ 31.0°C). Strong CO 2 -foams were generated when CO 2 was in its gaseous state (30 bar, 50°C). Weaker foams were generated at supercritical conditions (120 and 280 bar, 50°C) using an alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS C14/16 ) surfactant. Lower density difference between CO 2 phase and water, and choice of surfactant were discussed in context to the

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“…Foam can affect k rw indirectly through higher trapped gas saturation and reduced water saturation (Aarra et al 2014). Foam can greatly reduce gas mobility in porous media in two ways: reduce gas relative permeability and increase apparent gas viscosity (Falls et al 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobility control ability and stability investigation of nitrogen foam under high temperature and high salinity condition

Wang

Sun

Shi

et al. 2017

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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The mobility disparity between oil and water accounted for the poor water swept efficiency. Previous research has testified that nitrogen foam can increase sweep area and control water and gas mobility. However, the former studies have largely covered the mobility control ability performance in some conventional reservoir rather than that under high temperature and high salinity. This paper presents the results of a laboratory study of nitrogen foam at the experimental condition (113°C and 21.28 9 10 4 mg/L) on its mobility control ability investigation, including different gas-to-liquid ratio, injection rate and core permeability; additionally, a novel method on studying the stability of mobility control ability of foam was utilized. Nitrogen foam injection was conducted in core holder to investigate the shape discrepancy of each resistance factor and residual resistance curve. The results showed that the most moderate gas-to-liquid ratio and injection rate were 2:1 and 1 mL/min, respectively; foam performed more significant mobility control ability with the increase in permeability. After 5 days' aging, nitrogen foam still got enough mobility control ability to block water channeling. The above results demonstrate that, under high temperature and high salinity condition, nitrogen foam still can act as a promising economical method for improving the mobility difference between water and oil by applying appropriate injection parameters.

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Properties of N2- and CO2-foams as a function of pressure

Cited by 68 publications

References 230 publications

Effect of Foam on Liquid Phase Mobility in Porous Media

Effect of Foam on Liquid Phase Mobility in Porous Media

Supercritical CO2-Foam - The Importance of CO2 Density on Foams Performance

Mobility control ability and stability investigation of nitrogen foam under high temperature and high salinity condition

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