Y-Grade NGL Injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques face inefficiencies due to properties differences between injection materials and hydrocarbons in reservoirs, leading to reduced extraction efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Injecting a miscible unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture, Y-Grade NGL, alternated with mobility control fluids like water or nitrogen, to displace hydrocarbons and improve sweep efficiency in hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional EOR techniques use chemical compounds dissolved in water, steam, or miscible gases for injection, then oil recovery is enhanced, but extraction efficiency is reduced due to property differences between injection materials and reservoir hydrocarbons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using an unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture as the injection fluid that matches the compositional properties of the reservoir hydrocarbons. This eliminates property mismatches between injected materials and reservoir fluids, allowing for more efficient mass transfer and displacement without the need for fractionation or complex processing of the injection medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the injection fluid by using the full range of hydrocarbon components (C2-C8+) in their natural unfractionated state. This parameter change allows the injection fluid to better match the reservoir conditions and hydrocarbon properties, improving extraction efficiency while maintaining enhanced oil recovery productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If fractionation is applied to separate NGL components, then pure hydrocarbon components are obtained, but complexity of the process increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential functional requirement of using hydrocarbon-based injection fluids, while removing the unnecessary fractionation step. By taking out the separation process and using the unfractionated mixture directly, the patent achieves the same EOR objective with significantly reduced process complexity and lower costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the miscible injection fluid, provides the appropriate compositional match to reservoir hydrocarbons, and eliminates the need for separate fractionation equipment. This multi-functionality reduces overall process complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If fractionation equipment and infrastructure are installed, then NGL components can be separated, but capital costs increase and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture as a disposable-style injection fluid that does not require expensive recovery and re-processing infrastructure. The approach accepts that the injection fluid will be consumed or mixed with reservoir fluids, eliminating the need for costly fractionation equipment and infrastructure while still achieving effective oil recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by injecting the hydrocarbon mixture in its natural unfractionated state, thereby avoiding the capital and operational costs associated with fractionation equipment. This parameter change maintains the functional effectiveness of the EOR process while dramatically reducing implementation costs.
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
Enhances oil recovery by reducing interfacial tension and improving mobility ratios, leading to increased hydrocarbon extraction from reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
injecting a miscible injection fluid through an injection well into a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir to displace hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 2
Enhances oil recovery by reducing interfacial tension
Implementation Method 3
injecting a mobility control fluid through the injection well into the hydrocarbon bearing formation after injection of the miscible injection fluid; leading to increased hydrocarbon extraction
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enhanced or improved oil recovery includes injecting a Y-Grade NGL enhanced oil recovery fluid through an injection well into a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir to mobilize and displace hydrocarbons. The Y-Grade NGL enhanced oil recovery fluid comprises an unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture. Simultaneously and/or subsequently, a mobility control fluid is injected into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. Hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon bearing reservoir are produced through a production well or the same injection well.