Compositional Simulation on the Flow of Polymeric Solution Alternating CO2 through Heavy Oil Reservoir

Abstract

Water-alternating-gas (WAG) method provides superior mobility control of CO2 and improves sweep efficiency. However, WAG process has some problems in highly viscous oil reservoir such as gravity overriding and poor mobility ratio. To examine the applicability of carbon dioxide to recover viscous oil from highly heterogeneous reservoirs, this study suggests polymer-alternating-gas (PAG) process. The process involves a combination of polymer flooding and CO2 injection. In this numerical model, high viscosity of oil and high heterogeneity of reservoir are the main challenges. To confirm the effectiveness of PAG process in the model, four processes (waterflooding, continuous CO2 injection, WAG process, and PAG process) are implemented and recovery factor, WOR, and GOR are compared. Simulation results show that PAG method would increase oil recovery over 45% compared with WAG process. The WAG ratio of 2 is found to be the optimum value for maximum oil recovery. The additional oil recovery of 3% through the 2 WAG ratio is achieved over the base case of 1 : 1 PAG ratio and 180 days cycle period.