Experimental and Simulation Study of High-Temperature Foam Displacement in Porous Media

Abstract

Summary High-temperature surfactant foams are simulated by modifying gas-phase mobility in a conventional thermal simulator. Both surfactant-alternating-gas (SAG) and gas/liquid-coinjection processes are modeled. Foam generation by leave-behind and snap-off as well as foam coalescence and trapping mechanisms are incorporated in the model by an equation for the number density of foam bubbles; gas-phase relative permeability and apparent viscosity are modified according to the bubble density. Pressure and saturation data of laboratory corefloods are successfully history matched with simulation results. Field-scale sensitivity studies of the steam-foam-drive process demonstrate how the coalescence rate affects the extent of steam diversion.