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Experimental Investigation of the Performance of Low Salinity Carbonated (CO2-Saturated) Brine Injection as a Novel EOR
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018, Jun 2018, Volume 2018, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Low-salinity brine injection and carbonated (CO2-enriched) water injection (CWI) are two well-known water-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) scenarios. The oil recovery mechanisms and potential of each method have been discussed by many researchers. In this study, through the inclusion of CO2 in the low salinity brine or in other words by merging CWI with low salinity brine injection, we are introducing a novel EOR scenario in which we can simultaneously take advantage from the EOR mechanisms of low salinity brine injection and CWI. We called this novel EOR scenario as the low salinity carbonated brine (LSCW) injection.
In this study, through a series of integrated high-pressure and high-temperature flooding experiments, as well as contact angle measurements, the oil recovery potential and oil recovery mechanisms of this novel EOR scenario were scrutinized. According to the results, inclusion of CO2 in low-salinity brine enhances the oil recovery performances of CWI and in particular low salinity brine injection. Furthermore, based on our findings, for those types of oil reservoirs, where low salinity brine injection is not very effective for enhancing oil recovery, the inclusion of CO2 into low salinity brine (LSCW) can significantly improve the oil recovery.