Gas-Soluble Surfactant Evaluation Device for Supercritical CO2 Foam Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for improving oil recovery rates using carbon dioxide face challenges such as viscous fingering and gravitational differentiation, which reduce sweep efficiency, and lack effective methods for evaluating the foaming properties of gas-soluble surfactants necessary for controlling carbon dioxide fluidity in oil reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for evaluating the foaming properties of gas-soluble surfactants, comprising a gas source, evaluating kettle, and intermediate container, which measures solubility, foaming ability, and regenerating properties of surfactants in supercritical carbon dioxide, using pressure and temperature control to simulate reservoir conditions and observe foam formation and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional water-soluble surfactants are used for carbon dioxide foam flooding, then foam can be formed to control fluidity, but the foam stability is poor and injectability into low permeability reservoirs is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solubility parameter of the surfactant by developing gas-soluble surfactants that dissolve in supercritical carbon dioxide rather than water. This fundamental parameter change enables the surfactant to remain soluble in the carbon dioxide carrier under reservoir conditions, producing stable foam that can be effectively injected into low permeability reservoirs without the instability problems of conventional water-soluble surfactants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system where gas-soluble surfactants are combined with supercritical carbon dioxide to form a new type of foam flooding agent. This composite approach leverages the solubility characteristics of the surfactant in carbon dioxide to achieve both foam stability and good injectability, resolving the contradiction between these two properties
2Productivity
If carbon dioxide is injected to improve oil recovery, then sweep efficiency can be enhanced, but viscous fingering and gravitational differentiation occur due to low viscosity and density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gas-soluble surfactants as intermediaries between carbon dioxide and the oil reservoir formation. These surfactants form foam structures that act as a mediating fluid with adjusted rheological properties, reducing the viscosity and density differences that cause viscous fingering and gravitational differentiation, thereby improving sweep efficiency while maintaining oil recovery benefits
3Reliability
If gas-soluble surfactants are developed for supercritical carbon dioxide foam, then foaming ability can be improved, but evaluation methods are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex field testing and empirical evaluation methods with a controlled laboratory measurement system. The evaluation device uses standardized procedures to measure key parameters such as foam half-life, foam volume, and solubility under simulated reservoir conditions, substituting mechanical and chemical measurement techniques for uncertain field performance assessments
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device accurately assesses the performance of gas-soluble surfactants, enabling the development of high-efficiency, low-cost surfactants that enhance carbon dioxide foam stability and regenerating capabilities, thereby improving oil recovery rates by controlling fluidity and sweep efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
has good solubility in the supercritical carbon dioxide, i.e., being capable of taking carbon dioxide as a carrier
Implementation Method 2
has good foaming ability, i.e., being capable of producing foam when meeting water and having good foaming volume and foam half-life
Implementation Method 3
when carbon dioxide floats upwards under the action of gravitational differentiation, the gas-soluble surfactant can foam again under the carrying of the upward floating carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
A device for evaluating the foaming property of a gas-soluble surfactant, which comprises a gas source part, an evaluating kettle, a liquid part, and an intermediate container part. The rotation of the evaluating kettle, the gas-soluble surfactant and the supercritical carbon dioxide can be sufficiently and evenly mixed with each other when the solubility of the gas-soluble surfactant in the supercritical carbon dioxide is measured.