Smart Water Flooding via Spectroscopic Interface Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, particularly water flooding and smart flooding, lack a comprehensive understanding of physicochemical interactions at rock-fluid and fluid-fluid interfaces, limiting the effectiveness of hydrocarbon recovery from subterranean formations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves isolating subterranean rock samples, combining them with liquid hydrocarbon fractions to create interfacial samples, and using spectroscopic techniques such as atomic force microscopy and tensiometry to analyze interfacial properties, followed by measurements with spectrometers to optimize 'smart water' flooding practices, potentially incorporating deflocculants and proppants to enhance recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water flooding or smart flooding is used to increase hydrocarbon recovery, then productivity is improved, but the understanding of physicochemical interactions at interfaces remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using spectroscopic measurements to continuously monitor and analyze interfacial properties during water flooding and smart flooding processes. The data obtained from these measurements feeds back into optimizing the flooding parameters, thereby improving hydrocarbon recovery while enhancing understanding of rock-fluid and fluid-fluid interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical observation of interfacial interactions with spectroscopic measurement techniques. Instead of relying on mechanical or physical observation methods, the invention uses optical spectroscopy to detect and analyze physicochemical changes at interfaces, providing deeper insight into the interaction mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If spectroscopic measurements are performed to analyze interfacial properties, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using spectroscopic measurement systems that can analyze multiple interfacial properties (rock-fluid and fluid-fluid interfaces) simultaneously with a single integrated apparatus. This multi-functional approach achieves high measurement precision while avoiding the need for multiple separate complex devices.
3Ease of operation
If smart flooding with ion-based modification is used, then ease of operation is improved compared to chemical modifiers, but hydrocarbon recovery efficiency is limited without optimized interfacial understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the ionic composition and concentration of the injected water to optimize smart flooding performance. By changing these parameters and monitoring their effect on interfacial properties through spectroscopy, the invention achieves both ease of operation and improved hydrocarbon recovery efficiency.
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 increases hydrocarbon recovery rates by up to 75% by improving the understanding and manipulation of interfacial properties, leading to more efficient 'smart water' flooding techniques.
Implementation Method 1
performing at least one spectroscopic measurement proximate the interfacial liquid hydrocarbon fraction and subterranean rock sample using one or more spectrometers
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, compositions, and techniques for enhancing the production of hydrocarbons such as crude oil from subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formations are disclosed. In some embodiments, the invention relates to processes for evaluating enhanced oil recovery mechanisms in carbonate based reservoirs at both the rock-fluid and oil-water interfaces using spectroscopic and interfacial techniques. In further embodiments, the spectroscopic and interfacial techniques include microscopic, rheometric and tensiometric measurements. In preferred embodiments, the disclosed methods and techniques provide reservoir based details at that allow for optimized “smart water” flooding practices and correspondingly higher oil recovery rates.