An Experimental Investigation of Foam Flow in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Porous Media
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Foam is used to reduce the high mobility of gas-drive fluids and improve the contact between oil and these injected fluids. We require a better understanding of the effect of surfactant concentration on foam flow in porous media. Besides this, the literature on foam flow and transport in heterogeneous systems is sparse although the field situation is primarily heterogeneous and multidimensional. In this study, foam flow experiments were conducted first in homogenous sand packs to investigate the effect of surfactant concentration on foam flow and then a heterogeneous experimental setup was prepared to observe heterogeneity and multidimensional flow effects on foam propagation.The homogeneous core experiments were conducted in a cylindrical aluminum core holder that was packed with a uniform Ottawa sand. Sand permeability is about 7.0 Darcy. The experiments were interpreted in terms of evolution of in-situ water saturation as a function of time by the usage of CT scanner, cumulative water recovery, and pressure drop across the core. At very low surfactant concentration, no significant benefit was observed. But when stable foam generation started sweep efficiency (water recovery), breakthrough time, and pressure drop increased as surfactant concentration increased.At the next stage, a Fontainebleau sandstone was centered inside an acrylic tube and the annular region was packed with clean Ottawa sand to construct a heterogeneous porous medium. The permeability contrast between sandstone and sand was 67 to 1. Experiments with and without crossflow between the two porous media were conducted. To prevent crossflow, a heat-shrink Teflon jacket was placed on the cylindrical face of sandstone. In-situ water saturation distribution was garnered using the CT scanner. The results from this study are striking. When the heterogeneous layers were in capillary communication and cross flow was allowed, foam fronts move at identical rates in each porous medium as quantified by the CT-scan images. Desaturation by foam was efficient and typically complete in about 1 PV of gas injection. When cross flow was prohibited, foam partially plugs the high permeability sand and diverted flow into the low permeability sandstone. The foam front moved through the low permeability region faster than in the high permeability region.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | June 1998 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Apaydin, Osman G. |
|---|---|
| Author | Bertin, Henry |
| Author | Castanier, Louis M. |
| Author | Kovscek, Anthony R. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Petroleum Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Apaydin, Osman G., Bertin, Henry, Castanier, Louis M. and Kovscek, Anthony R. (1998). An Experimental Investigation of Foam Flow in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Porous Media. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/nd432sq3899
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
View other items in this collection in SearchWorksContact information
- Contact
- brannerlibrary@stanford.edu
Also listed in
Loading usage metrics...