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1 – 10 of over 4000A. Chatterjee and K. Muralidhar
The analysis of enhanced oil recovery using surfactants is presentedhere. Surfactants lower the surface tension between oil and water and hencethe capillary resistance to flow…
Abstract
The analysis of enhanced oil recovery using surfactants is presented here. Surfactants lower the surface tension between oil and water and hence the capillary resistance to flow. The mathematical description of this problem requires modelling of multi‐phase flow in a porous medium. A pressure‐based formulation has been used in the present study. The governing partial differential equations have been solved by a finite difference method. Both Newtonian and non‐Newtonian (shear thinning) behaviour of oil are considered. Results clearly show an improvement in oil recovery in the presence of surfactants. A study of the ideal case where surface tension is reduced to zero shows that oil recovery can be very high.
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Mohammed Falalu Hamza, Hassan Soleimani, Chandra Mohan Sinnathambi, Zulkifli Merican Aljunid Merican and Karl Dunbar Stephen
Because of the increasing global oil demand, efforts have been made to further extract oil using chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) methods. However, unlike water flooding…
Abstract
Purpose
Because of the increasing global oil demand, efforts have been made to further extract oil using chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) methods. However, unlike water flooding, understanding the physicochemical properties of crude oil and its sandstone reservoir makeup is the first step before embarking to CEOR projects. These properties play major roles in the area of EOR technologies and are important for the development of reliable chemical flooding agents; also, they are key parameters used to evaluate the economic and technical feasibilities of production and refining processes in the oil industries. Consequently, this paper aims to investigate various important physicochemical properties of crude oil (specific gravity; American Petroleum Institute [API]; viscosity; pour point; basic sediment and water; wax; and saturate, aromatic, resins and asphaltenes components) and sandstone reservoir makeup (porosity, permeability, bulk volume and density, grain volume and density, morphology and mineral composition and distributions) obtained from Malaysian oil field (MOF) for oil recovery prediction and design of promising chemical flooding agents.
Design/methodology/approach
Three reservoir sandstones from different depths (CORE 1; 5601, CORE 2; 6173 and CORE 3; 6182 ft) as well as its crude oil were obtained from the MOF, and various characterization instruments, such as high temperature gas chromatography and column chromatography for crude’s fractions identification; GC-simulated distillation for boiling point distribution; POROPERM for porosity and permeability; CT-Scan and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray for morphology and mineral distribution; wax instrument (wax content); pour point analyser (pour point); and visco-rheometre (viscosity), were used for the characterizations.
Findings
Experimental data gathered from this study show that the field contains low viscous (0.0018-0.014 Pa.s) sweet and light-typed crude because of low sulfur content (0.03 per cent), API gravity (43.1o), high proportion of volatile components (51.78 per cent) and insignificant traces of heavy components (0.02 per cent). Similarly, the rock permeability trend with depth was found in the order of CORE 1 < CORE 2 < CORE 3, and other parameters such as pore volume (Vp), bulk volume (Vb) and grain volume (Vg) also decrease in general. For grain density, the variation is small and insignificant, but for bulk density, CORE 2 records lower than CORE 3 by more than 1 per cent. In the mineral composition analysis, the CORE 2 contains the highest identified mineral content, with the exception of quarts where it was higher in the CORE 3. Thus, a good flow crude characteristic, permeability trend and the net mineral concentrations identified in this reservoir would not affect the economic viability of the CEOR method and predicts the validation of the MOF as a potential field that could respond to CEOR method successfully.
Originality/value
This paper is the first of its kind to combine the two important oil field properties to scientifically predict the evaluation of an oil field (MOF) as a step forward toward development of novel chemical flooding agents for application in EOR. Hence, information obtained from this paper would help in the development of reliable chemical flooding agents and designing of EOR methods.
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Nurul Suhana Abd Rahim, Ismail Mohd Saaid and Abubakar Abubakar Umar
Application of foam in enhanced oil recovery requires a production of foam that is strong and stable enough to withstand a long period. There are numerous factors that may affect…
Abstract
Purpose
Application of foam in enhanced oil recovery requires a production of foam that is strong and stable enough to withstand a long period. There are numerous factors that may affect the performance of foam, among which is temperature. Therefore, this study aims to observe the foam performance at different temperature by evaluating the foamability and the stability of the foam.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, bulk foam test using FoamScan was conducted to examine the effect of temperature on foam in the presence of crude oil. Nitrogen gas was sparged through the mixture of crude oil, an in-house developed surfactant, and sodium chloride solution as the brine at different temperatures to produce foam at a certain height. The crude oil was extracted from an oilfield in East Malaysia and the in-house developed surfactant was a mixture of amphoteric and anionic surfactants. A camera continuously recorded the height of foam during the generation and the collapse of the foam. The foamability and foam stability properties of each sample were taken as the indicators for foam performance. Furthermore, the entering, spreading and bridging analysis was run to observe the effect of the presence of crude oil on foam performance.
Findings
In general, the higher the temperature, the less stable the foam is. As the stability of foam is associated with the rate of liquid drainage, it was observed that as temperature increases, the rate of liquid drainage also increases. On the other hand, the entering, spreading and bridging analysis shows that there is entering of oil droplet happening on the interface of foam film that may promote the rupture of the foam film even more.
Originality/value
It was found that the temperature has a small impact on foamability, whereas the foam stability was significantly affected by the temperature. Therefore, it can be concluded that foamability is not necessarily interrelated to foam stability, contradicting to the findings of few authors.
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This paper aims to discuss opportunities for pairing the carbon dioxide (CO2) points of supply from stationary sources such as power plants, steel and cement production, coal to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss opportunities for pairing the carbon dioxide (CO2) points of supply from stationary sources such as power plants, steel and cement production, coal to liquid plants and refineries, with potential oil reservoirs in China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study builds a linear optimization model to analyze the tradeoffs in developing CO2-enhance oil recovery (EOR) projects in China for a range of policy options to match points of supply with the points of demand (oil fields). The model works on optimizing CO2 application costs by meeting four principal components; CO2 storage, CO2 capture, transport costs and additional oil recovery.
Findings
This study reveals new opportunities and economic sources to feed CO2-EOR applications and offers reasonable options to supply CO2 for potential points of demand. Furthermore, power plants and coal to liquid industries had the most significant and economic contributions to potential CO2-EOR projects in China. Total annual emission reduction is expected to be 10% (based on 10 Gton annual emissions). The emission reductions and potential CO2 storage from the different industries as follow; 94% from power plants, 4% from biofuel and 2% from coal to liquid plants.
Social implications
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one practice aiming to reduce the amounts of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere and reduce the related social costs. However, given the relatively high cost associated with this practice, coupling it with EOR could offer a significant financial incentive to facilitate the development of CCS projects and meet climate change objectives.
Originality/value
The model used in this study can be straightforwardly adapted to any geographic location where industry and policymakers are looking to simultaneously reduce CO2 emissions while increasing hydrocarbon recovery. The model is highly adaptable to local values in the parameters considered and to include additional local considerations such as geographic variation in capture costs, taxes and premiums to be placed on CO2 capture in so-called “non-attainment zones” where pollution capture make could make a project politically and economically viable. Regardless of how and where this model is applied, it is apparent that CO2 from industrial sources has substantial potential value as a coproduct that offsets its sequestration costs using existing, commercially available CO2-EOR technology, once sources and sinks are optimally paired.
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Ku Esyra Hani Ku Ishak and Mohammed Abdalla Ayoub
The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of the fabricated liquid–liquid hydrocyclone (LLHC) with dimensions similar to those of one of the Malaysian oilfields…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of the fabricated liquid–liquid hydrocyclone (LLHC) with dimensions similar to those of one of the Malaysian oilfields with the presence of an anionic surfactant, S672. The effect of salinity and initial oil concentration were also investigated following the actual range concentration.
Design/methodology/approach
The current control system’s pressure drop ratio (PDR) does not necessarily lead to an efficient LLHC. Therefore, rather than using the PDR, the efficiency of the LLHC was analyzed by comparing the concentration of oil in the effluents with the concentration of oil at the feed of the LLHC. An LLHC test rig was developed at Centre of Enhanced Oil Recovery, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. Emulsions were prepared by mixing the brines, S672 and oil by using Ultra Turrax ultrasonic mixer. The emulsion was pumped into the LLHC at different feed flowrate and split ratio. The brines concentration, initial oil concentration and S672 concentration were also varied in this study. Samples were taken at the underflow of the LLHC and the oil in water concentration analysis was done for the samples using TD-500D equipment.
Findings
It was found that the efficiency of oil removal decreased with an increase in S672 concentration but increased with the increase in salinity and initial oil concentration.
Originality/value
The optimum feed flowrate for the LLHC of 45 mm diameter and length of 1,125 mm with the presence of S672 surfactant was found to be 40 L/min with a split ratio of 14%. This study can be used as a guidance for future optimization of the LLHC in the presence of the surfactant.
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Pernille Seljom and Eva Rosenberg
The aim of this paper is to provide a general overview of the global oil and natural gas resources, production, technology development, energy use, emissions and costs. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to provide a general overview of the global oil and natural gas resources, production, technology development, energy use, emissions and costs. The activity is based on the European project “Risk of Energy Availability: Common Corridors for Europe Supply Security” (REACCESS) and the data collected was used in this project as an input to evaluate the technical, economical and environmental characteristics of the energy corridors to European Union (EU).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on literature reviews and data collection from national authorities, oil companies, international associations and international organisations.
Findings
The work provides a general overview of oil and natural gas resources, production rates, recent technology developments, costs, losses, energy consumption and emissions on a world regional level. Main issues related to the role of conventional oil and natural gas in the energy import framework are summarised in this paper.
Research limitations/implications
The present study provides information on conventional oil and natural gas resources and it is limited to primary production technologies.
Originality/value
An outline of oil and natural gas on a regional level is presented. The paper provides general introduction to the subject and it is a valuable input for modelling and analyses of conventional oil and natural gas in the present and in the future energy system.
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Vijo Varkey Theeyattuparampil, Othman Adnan Zarzour, Nikolaos Koukouzas, Georgeta Vidican, Yasser Al‐Saleh and Ismini Katsimpardi
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have consistently ranked high in per capita carbon emissions, not to mention the fact that a lifestyle with a high ecological…
Abstract
Purpose
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have consistently ranked high in per capita carbon emissions, not to mention the fact that a lifestyle with a high ecological footprint in a fragile ecosystem can affect the regional environment, prosperity and social stability. The adoption of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the GCC countries has been consistently gaining attention, as it is widely seen as a suitable mitigation measure, particularly in a region where heavy industry and geological exploitation have led to wealth and prosperity. Additionally, making captured CO2 available for enhanced oil recovery is expected to create significant economic value. However, the lack of a coordinated environmental regulation regime to cap future carbon emissions is posing significant risks for further CCS development. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the state of play with regard to CCS in the GCC region and investigate the opportunities and challenges facing CCS development in the UAE by use of the interview technique.
Findings
This paper finds that the lack of CCS‐related regulations, absence of CCS policy at a national level and limited human capital resources are impeding the development of CCS in the UAE. Findings from this study can offer GCC policy‐makers relevant insights into how best to develop CCS projects for the GCC region.
Originality/value
This is an original research, that has not been conducted before. This is first of a kind assessment for the GCC region.
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Qian Li, Weihua Cai, Xiaojing Tang, Yicheng Chen, Bingxi Li and Ching-Yao Chen
The aim of this study is to numerically simulate the density-driven convection in heterogeneous porous media associated with anisotropic permeability field, which is important to…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to numerically simulate the density-driven convection in heterogeneous porous media associated with anisotropic permeability field, which is important to the safe and stable long term CO2 storage in laminar saline aquifers.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses compact finite difference and the pseudospectral method to solve Darcy’s law.
Findings
The presence of heterogeneous anisotropy may result in non-monotonic trend of the breakthrough time and quantity of CO2 dissolved in the porous medium, which are important to the CO2 underground storage.
Originality/value
The manuscript numerically study the convective phenomena of mixture contained CO2 and brine. The phenomena are important to the process of CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Interesting qualitative patterns and quantitative trends are revealed in the manuscript.
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With the threat of climate change increasing, carbon sequestration could be expected to play a significant role in alleviating this problem. Unfortunately, the technology is not…
Abstract
With the threat of climate change increasing, carbon sequestration could be expected to play a significant role in alleviating this problem. Unfortunately, the technology is not well understood and good literature overviews of the options in carbon sequestration are lacking. Hence, policy and research priorities are made without full understanding of the state of scientific knowledge, impacts, and policy trade‐offs. This paper contributes to the literature, providing a basic picture of the technological options for futurists and policy advisors to begin to address this need.
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