Publications
Enhanced Oil Recovery by Inert Gas Injection
Kantzas, A., Chatzis, I., and Dullien, F.A.L.
DOI: 10.2118/17379-MS
SPE Paper No 17379, presented in the 1988 SPE/DOE Symposium of Enhanced Oil Recovery held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 17-20, 1988.
ABSTRACT
Downward displacement of oil by inert gas injected at the top of the formation using horizontal wells, has the potential of becoming an efficient method of oil recovery for reservoirs either at initial oil conditions or for reservoirs depleted by waterflooding. Advances in horizontal well drilling technology can make this method of oil recovery feasible for a wide variety of oil reservoirs. This paper presents experimental results of nitrogen or air injection into strongly water-wet unconsolidated and consolidated samples. Production characteristics are discussed, displacement mechanisms are formulated and the applicability of this method on the field scale is examined.
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