Customized Injectate Design for Waterflooding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waterflooding methods for secondary hydrocarbon recovery in subterranean reservoirs are limited by electrostatic interactions between hydrocarbons and reservoir rocks, leading to inefficient oil mobilization and recovery, especially in tight formations like shales and sandstones, where significant hydrocarbon reserves remain unrecoverable.
Innovation Solution
A customized injectate design system that analyzes physico-chemical data of the reservoir to disrupt electrostatic interactions by optimizing the pH, ionic strength, and divalent ion concentrations of the injectate, reducing adhesive attractions between hydrocarbons and rock surfaces, thereby enhancing oil mobility and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional waterflooding is used for secondary hydrocarbon recovery, then the process is simple and成本低, but electrostatic interactions between hydrocarbons and reservoir rocks prevent efficient oil mobilization and recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pH, ionic strength, and chemical composition of the injectate to disrupt electrostatic interactions between hydrocarbons and reservoir rocks. By adjusting these parameters, the system converts immobile oil to mobile, recoverable oil without requiring complex equipment modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The customized injectate acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the hydrocarbon and reservoir rock interfaces. It disrupts the electrostatic adhesion through optimized chemical composition, allowing efficient oil mobilization while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Productivity
If more injectate is used to overcome electrostatic adhesion, then oil recovery may improve, but the cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the chemical parameters of the injectate (pH, ionic strength, composition), the system achieves higher oil recovery efficiency per unit of injectate. This reduces the total quantity of injectate needed while maintaining or improving productivity.
3Productivity
If the injectate composition is optimized to disrupt electrostatic interactions, then oil mobility and recovery enhance, but the complexity of injectate design and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system focuses on optimizing key parameters (pH, ionic strength, divalent ion concentrations) rather than complexing the entire injectate composition. This targeted approach achieves improved oil recovery while limiting the increase in design complexity to essential chemical adjustments.
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 system significantly increases oil recovery by converting immobile oil to mobile, recoverable oil, optimizing net present value of hydrocarbon production, and reducing the amount of injectate required, while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A customized injectate design system that analyzes physico-chemical data of the reservoir to disrupt electrostatic interactions by optimizing the pH, ionic strength, and divalent ion concentrations of the injectate, reducing adhesive attractions between hydrocarbons and rock surfaces
Implementation Method 2
reducing adhesive attractions between hydrocarbons and rock surfaces, thereby enhancing oil mobility and recovery
Data Source
AI summary
A method of selecting an injectate for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes designing a plurality of injectates, calculating a net present value of each injectate, and selecting a candidate injectate based on the net present value. For example, the candidate injectate may be selected to maximize the net present value of a waterflooding operation.