The Application of Fractional Flow Theory to Enhanced Oil Recovery

TLDR

Classical fractional flow theory is generalized to model diverse enhanced oil recovery processes, drawing analogies to multicomponent chromatography and covering polymer, carbonated, hot water, miscible, low‑tension, micellar/polymer, and three‑phase flow cases. The authors employ the method of characteristics to derive the generalized equations and apply them to the listed EOR scenarios, including polymer flooding, carbonated waterflooding, hot waterflooding, hydrocarbon miscible flooding, low‑tension flooding, micellar/polymer flooding, and three‑phase flow problems.

Abstract

Abstract Classical fractional flow theory is generalized, starting with the Buckley-Leverett theory for waterflooding. The mathematics are based on the method of characteristics. The physics and how the problems are treated are analogous to the multicomponent adsorption problem of chromatography; thus, the methods of Helfferich apply. Enhanced oil-recovery (EOR) cases considered are polymer flooding, carbonated waterflooding, hot waterflooding, hydrocarbon miscible flooding, low-tension flooding, and micellar/polymer flooding. The alcohol flooding, enriched gas, and carbon dioxide cases are analogous in many respects to the micellar/polymer case. Finally, three-phase flow problems are treated. Three-phase flow occurs in a variety of EOR processes.