Multi-directional EOR via Alternating Water and CO2 Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods, such as gas and thermal injection, face inefficiencies in maximizing oil extraction due to the limitations of water and CO2 miscibility and path of least resistance principles, often leaving residual oil in unpenetrated lenses.
Innovation Solution
The multi-directional enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) method involves alternating injections of water and CO2 into oil reservoirs from multiple injection and producing wells, targeting primary, secondary, and tertiary sets of lenses in different directions to maximize oil extraction, utilizing existing infrastructure and existing well designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water and CO2 are injected alternately into the injection well following the path of least resistance, then oil can be recovered from accessible lenses, but residual oil remains in unpenetrated lenses that cannot be accessed from a single direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-directional injection by introducing injection wells at different spatial locations and orientations around the reservoir. This transforms the single-direction injection approach into a multi-dimensional strategy, allowing CO2 and water to access previously unreachable lenses from multiple angles, thereby reducing residual oil in unpenetrated lenses
2Productivity
If traditional single-direction EOR methods are used, then the process is simple to operate, but oil yields are limited due to inaccessible lenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reservoir into multiple lens groups based on their spatial distribution and accessibility. Different injection wells are assigned to target specific lens groups, dividing the complex multi-directional injection problem into manageable segments that can be controlled and optimized independently
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
This approach boosts oil yields by up to 10% compared to traditional methods, improving economic viability by effectively recovering oil from previously inaccessible lenses through strategic directional injection techniques.
Implementation Method 1
CO2 is miscible with oil and will interact with and energize oil in formation
Implementation Method 2
alternating injection one or more times of water and CO2 into the injection well so that the water and CO2 enter the primary set in a first direction and move the primary oil in the first direction
Implementation Method 3
depending on viscosity, all fluids seek the path of least resistance when traveling through an oil formation
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) are disclosed that involve removal of oil from a reservoir that has an injection well, a producing well, and a plurality of lenses that contain oil and that each span between the injection well and the producing well. One method, among others, involves recovering primary oil from a primary set of lenses via the producing well by alternating injection one or more times of water and carbon dioxide into the injection well so that the water and carbon dioxide enter the primary set in a first direction and move the primary oil in the first direction. The method further involves recovering secondary oil from a secondary set of lenses that is different than the primary set via the injection well by alternating injection one or more times of water and carbon dioxide into the producing well so that the water and carbon dioxide enter the secondary set in a second direction that is different than the first direction (e.g., opposite) and therefore move the secondary oil in the second direction.