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heavy-oil
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Macroscopic and microscopic investigation of alkaline-surfactant-polymer flooding in heavy oil recovery using five-spot micromodels: The effect of shale geometry and connatewater saturation
, Article Journal of Porous Media ; Volume 18, Issue 8 , 2015 , Pages 745-762 ; 1091028X (ISSN) ; Ghazanfari, M. H ; Masihi, M ; Rashtchian, D ; Sharif University of Technology
Begell House Inc
2015
Abstract
Plenty of oil reservoirs contain discontinuous shale layers that act as flow barriers. Therefore, understanding their influences on reservoir performance, especially during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, is of great importance. For this purpose, several experiments of water and alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding have been performed on a number of one-quarter five-spot micromodels that contain various configurations of shale layers to simulate shaly porous media. Several features, such as various shale geometrical characteristics and the presence of connate water saturation, were investigated at both macro- and micro-scales. The presence of shales resulted in earlier...
Solar generated steam injection in HAMCA, Venezuelan extra heavy oil reservoir; Simulation study for oil recovery performance, economical and environmental feasibilities
, Article EUROPEC 2015, 1 June 2015 through 4 June 2015 ; 2015 , Pages 1176-1202 ; 9781510811621 (ISBN) ; Ayatollahi, S ; Bashtani, F ; Romero, C ; Sharif University of Technology
Society of Petroleum Engineers
2015
Abstract
Application of solar energy compared to conventional gas-burning boilers for steam generation in thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery processes is a newly attended technology, which brings significant benefits to the petroleum industry through environmental and economical aspects. This technique is especially designed for the regions in which gas-burning steam generation is not viable in large scale. The objective of this study is to investigate about viability of using solar energy to generate steam instead of using conventional steam generators in a Venezuelan extra heavy oil reservoir. Limited gas production policy of the Venezuelan government is the major challenge for utilizing gas steam...
Pore-level experimental investigation of ASP flooding to recover heavy oil in fractured five-spot micromodels
, Article EUROPEC 2015, 1 June 2015 through 4 June 2015 ; June , 2015 , Pages 1033-1058 ; 9781510811621 (ISBN) ; Mohammadzadeh, O ; Kord, S ; Chatzis, I ; Sharif University of Technology
Society of Petroleum Engineers
2015
Abstract
Although Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding is proved to be efficient for heavy oil recovery, the displacement mechanisms/efficiency of this process should be discussed further in fractured porous media especially in typical waterflood geometrical configurations such as five-spot injection-production pattern. In this study, several ASP flooding tests were conducted in fractured glass-etched micromodels which were initially saturated with heavy oil. The ASP flooding tests were conducted at constant injection flow rates and different fracture geometrical characteristics were used. The ASP solutions constituted of five polymers, two surfactants and three alkaline types. The results...
The applicability of expanding solvent steam-assisted gravity drainage (ES-SAGD) in fractured systems
, Article Petroleum Science and Technology ; Volume 28, Issue 18 , Oct , 2010 , Pages 1906-1918 ; 10916466 (ISSN) ; Sharif University of Technology
2010
Abstract
The aim of this contribution is to evaluate the performance of an expanding solvent steam assisted gravity drainage (ES-SAGD) process in naturally fractured systems. Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and ES-SAGD processes have been investigated in both conventional and fractured reservoir models and the effect of networked fractures on the recovery mechanism and performance of ES-SAGD has been investigated. Operational parameters such as steam quality, vertical distances between wells, and steam injection temperature have been also evaluated. Finally, to study the effect of a well's horizontal offset, a staggered ES-SAGD well configuration has been compared to a stacked ES-SAGD
Experimental study of solvent flooding to heavy oil in fractured five-spot micro-models: The role of fracture geometrical characteristics
, Article Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology ; Volume 49, Issue 3 , 2010 , Pages 36-43 ; 00219487 (ISSN) ; Kharrat, R ; Ghazanfari, M. H ; Sharif University of Technology
2010
Abstract
The solvent-based process appears to be an increasingly feasible technology for the extraction of heavy oil reserves. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of how fracture geometrical characteristics control the oil recovery efficiency in this type of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique. In this work, a series of experiments were performed whereby the pure and mixed hydrocarbon solvents (HCS) displaced heavy oil in fractured five-spot glass micro-models. Successive images of the solvent injection process were recorded. The oil recovery factor, as a function of injected pore volume of solvents, was measured using image analysis of the provided pictures. It has been observed...
Visualization and quantification of asphaltinic-heavy oil displacement by co-solvents at different wettability conditions
, Article Petroleum Science and Technology ; Volume 28, Issue 2 , 2010 , Pages 176-189 ; 10916466 (ISSN) ; Kharrat, R ; Ghazanfari, M.H ; Sharif University of Technology
2010
Abstract
Despite numerous experimental studies, there is a lack of fundamental understanding on how the chemical composition of a co-solvent at different wettability conditions might affect the pore-scale events and oil recovery efficiency in 5-spot models. In this study visualization of solvent injection experiments performed on a one-quarter five spot glass micromodel, which was initially saturated with the crude oil. One hydrocarbon solvent was considered as base, and four other groups of commercial chemicals, as well as their mixtures, were used as co-solvents. Microscopic and macroscopic displacement efficiency of solvent mixtures in both strongly water-wet and oil-wet media has been studied. It...
Kinetics of asphaltene aggregation phenomena in live oils
, Article Journal of Molecular Liquids ; Volume 222 , 2016 , Pages 359-369 ; 01677322 (ISSN) ; Rashidi, F ; Ghazanfari, M. H ; Mousavi Dehghani, S. A ; Sharif University of Technology
Elsevier
Abstract
The thorough knowledge of the asphaltene aggregation phenomena and pressure/temperature related kinetics is helpful for accurate prediction/control of the asphaltene issues in all facets of petroleum production/processing. However, characterizing the asphaltene aggregation phenomena in live oils at high pressure-high temperature conditions is not well discussed in the available literature. In this work, the asphaltene aggregation phenomena as well as the kinetics of aggregation at different levels of pressure and temperature are investigated in light and heavy live oils using high pressure microscope. The results are presented and discussed in terms of asphaltene onset pressure, aggregates...
Heavy oil recovery using ASP flooding: A pore-level experimental study in fractured five-spot micromodels
, Article Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering ; Volume 94, Issue 4 , 2016 , Pages 779-791 ; 00084034 (ISSN) ; Mohammadzadeh, O ; Kord, S ; Chatzis, I ; Sharif University of Technology
Wiley-Liss Inc
2016
Abstract
Although alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding has proven efficient for heavy oil recovery, the displacement mechanisms and efficiency of this process should be discussed further in fractured porous media. In this study, several ASP flooding tests were conducted in fractured glass-etched micromodels with a typical waterflood geometrical configuration, i.e. five-spot injection-production pattern. The ASP flooding tests were conducted at constant injection flow rates but different fracture geometrical characteristics. The ASP solutions consisted of five polymers, two surfactants, and three alkaline types. It was found that using synthetic polymers, especially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide...
Investigating the effect of co-solvents on heavy oil recovery in different pore geometries using five-spot micromodels
, Article 15th European Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery 2009, 27 April 2009 through 29 April 2009, Paris ; 2009 , Pages 669-682 ; 9781622768912 (ISBN) ; Kharrat, R ; Ghazanfari, M. H ; Vossoughi, S ; Sharif University of Technology
Abstract
The main issue in heavy oils enhanced recovery methods is to reduce their viscosity in order to get a better mobility. This is commonly obtained by blending the oil with light hydrocarbons. Co-solvents are good candidates to improve the hydrocarbon recovery efficiency especially in miscible processes. However, the effect of co-solvents on miscible flooding of heavy oil reservoirs at different pore geometries is not well understood. In this work different one-quarter five-spot network patterns along with those generated from reservoir rocks' thin sections were etches on glass surfaces. The models that had been initially saturated with the heavy crude oil were used to perform a series of...
The effect of brine salinity on water-in-oil emulsion stability through droplet size distribution analysis: A case study
, Article Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology ; 2017 , Pages 1-13 ; 01932691 (ISSN) ; Ayatollahi, S ; Sharif University of Technology
Abstract
Water-in-oil emulsion usually forms during waterflooding in some heavy oil reservoirs. The composition and salinity of the injected water critically affect the w/o emulsion droplet size distribution, which control the emulsion stability and emulsion flow in porous media. The aim of the present work is to assess the effect of different sea water salinities on w/o emulsion stability through microscopic imaging. Therefore, w/o emulsions were prepared with different sea water samples, which were synthesized to resemble Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, Red Sea, and North Sea water samples. The results showed that log-normal distribution function predicts very well the experimental data to track the...
Acidic heavy oil recovery using a new formulated surfactant accompanying alkali–polymer in high salinity brines
, Article Journal of Surfactants and Detergents ; Volume 20, Issue 3 , 2017 , Pages 725-733 ; 10973958 (ISSN) ; Jadaly, A ; Ayatollahi, S ; Masihi, M ; Sharif University of Technology
Abstract
The strength of a newly formulated surfactant with an alkali and polymer (AS/ASP) to improve an acidic heavy oil recovery was laboratory evaluated by various flooding experiments. The comparative role of the parameters like chemical nature, surface wettability, salinity, temperature and injection scheme were explored at high temperature and pressure on Berea sandstone rocks. According to the results the anionic surfactant is capable of providing proper oil displacement under high salinity conditions around 15 wt%. Continuous monitoring of differential pressure response and effluents’ state clearly represented the formation of an emulsified oil in high saline solutions with both alkali and...
The effect of brine salinity on water-in-oil emulsion stability through droplet size distribution analysis: a case study
, Article Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology ; Volume 39, Issue 5 , 2018 , Pages 721-733 ; 01932691 (ISSN) ; Ayatollahi, S ; Sharif University of Technology
Taylor and Francis Inc
2018
Abstract
Water-in-oil emulsion usually forms during waterflooding in some heavy oil reservoirs. The composition and salinity of the injected water critically affect the w/o emulsion droplet size distribution, which control the emulsion stability and emulsion flow in porous media. The aim of the present work is to assess the effect of different sea water salinities on w/o emulsion stability through microscopic imaging. Therefore, w/o emulsions were prepared with different sea water samples, which were synthesized to resemble Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, Red Sea, and North Sea water samples. The results showed that log-normal distribution function predicts very well the experimental data to track the...
A mechanistic understanding of the water-in-heavy oil emulsion viscosity variation: effect of asphaltene and wax migration
, Article Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects ; Volume 608 , 2021 ; 09277757 (ISSN) ; Hemmati, M ; Safari, M ; Rahimi, A ; Rahmani, O ; Aminpour, S. M ; Beiranvand Pour, A ; Sharif University of Technology
Elsevier B.V
2021
Abstract
The role of emulsions as a prevalent phenomenon is broadly investigated in the petroleum industry since forming the emulsion has many severe harmful implications. Heavy components of crude oil such as wax and asphaltene make the water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion more stable, while the role of these components on the emulsion viscosity has not been fully understood. In this regard, to find a proper demulsifier to break these emulsions, it is necessary to know the mechanisms of emulsion formation by heavy oil components. In this study, the effects of waxy-oil and asphaltenic-oil on w/o emulsion were investigated by measuring volume and viscosity of the formed emulsion after an elapsed time, followed...
Characterizing the Role of Shale Geometry and Connate Water Saturation on Performance of Polymer Flooding in Heavy Oil Reservoirs: Experimental Observations and Numerical Simulations
, Article Transport in Porous Media ; Volume 91, Issue 3 , 2012 , Pages 973-998 ; 01693913 (ISSN) ; Masihi, M ; Ghazanfari, M. H ; Sharif University of Technology
Abstract
Many heavy oil reservoirs contain discontinuous shales which act as barriers or baffles to flow. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding about how the shale geometrical characteristics affect the reservoir performance, especially during polymer flooding of heavy oils. In this study, a series of polymer injection processes have been performed on five-spot glass micromodels with different shale geometrical characteristics that are initially saturated with the heavy oil. The available geological characteristics from one of the Iranian oilfields were considered for the construction of the flow patterns by using a controlled-laser technology. Oil recoveries as a function of pore...
Characterization and Modeling of Heavy Oil Fields Using Artificial Neural Networks to Optimize Horizontal Wells Selection
, Ph.D. Dissertation Sharif University of Technology ; Pishvaie, Mahmoud Reza (Supervisor) ; Taghi Khani, Vahid (Supervisor) ; Buzorgmehri, Ramin (Co-Advisor)
Abstract
Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is one of the best and the most effective methods of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) which is used in the production from Heavy Oil Reservoirs which constitute large amount of oil throughout the globe. In a typical process of SAGD, steam is injected into a horizontal well and the oil is produced several meters deeper in the ground. In order to increase the Recovery of this process, it is better to review on the Pre-heating methods around the injecting and producing wells. Pre-heating is important when the viscosity of the oil is large enough to prevent oil from any motion at the beginning of the SADG operation, and makes it necessary to to use a Pre-heating...
Experimental Investigation of Carbonated Water Alternating Nitrogen Gas Injection to Enhance Heavy Oil Recovery From Carbonated Rock Reservoir
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Ghazanfari, Mohammad Hossein (Supervisor) ; Taghikhani, Vahid (Co-Advisor) ; Badakhshan, Amir (Co-Advisor)
Abstract
By continuous decreasing the fossil fuel energy resources and increasing demand of such energies on the other hand with decreasing exploration of the new ones, production from these limited resources are in grate consideration. As a few percentages of the oil recovers by primary oil production and also remaining a lot of oil after water and gas injection in the secondary oil recovery process, causes that new methods to increase the oil recovery has been proposed. Water injection is a simple and common method in enhanced oil recovery process. Also water alternating gas injection and simultaneous water and gas injection causes considerable increase in oil recovery. Recently utilization of...
Screening of the EOR Scenarios for Shaly Heavy Oil Reservoirs Using Five-Spot Glass Micromodel: an Experimental Study
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Masihi, Mohsen (Supervisor) ; Ghazanfari, Mohammad Hossein (Supervisor) ; Kharrat, Riyaz (Supervisor)
Abstract
Most of the heavy oil reservoirs contain discontinuous shaly structures which affect fluid flow through porous media as well as oil recovery efficiency during EOR processes. However, selecting the best EOR technique which maximizes the oil recovery remains a topic of debate in the literature. In addition the effect of shale geometrical characteristics including: spacing from wells, discontinuity, orientation, number of shale streaks, shale's spacing and length on oil recovery factor are not well understood. In this work experiments have been performed on one-quarter five-spot glass micromodels. These models have been developed by a new method using laser technology. Generally, this research...
Experimental Investigation of the Role of Fracture Geometrical Characteristics and Injection Scenarios on Heavy Oil Recovery during Hydrocarbon Solvent Flooding
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Masihi, Mohsen (Supervisor) ; Ghazanfari, Mohammad Hossein (Supervisor) ; Kharrat, Riyaz ($item.subfieldsMap.e)
Abstract
Due to the importance of enhanced oil recovery of heavy oil fractured reservoirs, in this work micromodel setup has been used to study the miscible solvent injection in five-spot fractured reservoirs with different fracture geometrical characteristics. Due to the visual nature and flexibility of the micromodel patterns it is a subject of interest to be used in different studies. Different patterns has been constructed by chemical etching and controlled laser etching and saturated with displaced fluid and flooded by constant rate injection of hydrocarbon solvent in abient temperature and pressure. At first, effect of fracture’s length, numbering, orientation, discontinuity and scattering on...
Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Heavy Oil Recovery Using Chemical Flooding; Mechanistically Study
, Ph.D. Dissertation Sharif University of Technology ; Masihi, Mohsan (Supervisor) ; Ayatollahi, Shahaboddin (Supervisor)
Abstract
Chemical flooding has great potential to recover significant fractions of remaining oil for medium to heavy oil reservoirs not applicable for thermal recovery techniques. Nowadays, with gradual crude oil price increase the chemical process is receiving renewed attention, however, illustration of the possibility of various chemical injection scenarios for medium to heavy oil reservoirs has not been clearly reported and these kinds of reservoirs require more investigation for the applicability of these techniques in the fields. The interfacial active molecules are responsible for providing low IFT range and water/oil emulsions which in many cases could improve the oil displacement efficiency....
Experimental Investigation of Polymer Flooding for more Heavy Oil Recovery; Comparing to the Thermal EOR Method
, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology ; Ayatollahi, Sahab (Supervisor) ; Masihi, Mohsen (Supervisor)
Abstract
Heavy oil reservoirs are becoming more important as the oil price increase and more light oil reservoirs are being depleted. Thermal oil recovery, especially steam flooding is considered as the most efficient EOR technique for heavy oil reservoirs that stays on the top of the recent EOR field experiences. However this method is not applicable in some reservoir conditions like deep reservoirs or reservoirs with thin pay zones.
Due to sever viscous fingering during water flooding heavy oil reservoirs, a large amount of oil would remain untouched in the reservoir. Polymer flooding could be a potential method for enhanced oil recovery by improving sweep efficiency. However there haven’t been...
Due to sever viscous fingering during water flooding heavy oil reservoirs, a large amount of oil would remain untouched in the reservoir. Polymer flooding could be a potential method for enhanced oil recovery by improving sweep efficiency. However there haven’t been...