Fluid-Velocity and Reaction-Rate Effects During Carbonate Acidizing: Application of Network Model

Abstract

Summary Coreflood experiments were performed and a network model developed to study flow and matrix dissolution in carbonates during acidizing treatments. Wormholing in carbonates is controlled by the relative rates of flow and dissolution, which are characterized by a Damköhler number, NDa, for the process. Acid penetrates only as a result of wormholing, and well-defined channels will not form if NDa is either very high or very low. Effects of acidizing differ markedly between limestone and dolomite because of differences in the mineral dissolution rates.