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Abstract
Enhanced oil recovery using miscible and partially miscible gas injection processes have been utilized
extensively and have been successfully applied in a significant number of mainly onshore reservoirs.
Miscible and partially miscible gas injection is the most mature technology of all the EOR processes. The
fact that the incremental recoveries may be significant makes it very attractive to assess and potentially
deploy gas injection technology and overcome the challenges in offshore deep water settings.
In this paper, we present a technique which uses established methods that simulate gas flood
performance. The methods used in the study allow the use of a pseudo-miscible-black oil method in full
field reservoir simulation models for initial scoping purposes. This avoids computationally expensive
flash calculations resulting in a fast method to develop production profiles which allow the testing of the
economic robustness of the projects.
While simulations using the Todd and Longstaff (T-L) pseudo-black oil method are strictly for first
contact miscible (FCM) processes, in essence, most of the published field applications for this pseudomiscible technique have been for multi-contact miscible (MCM) processes. The T-L pseudo miscible
method utilizes a mixing parameter, o that ranges from zero to one, simulating completely immiscible
and first contact miscible floods respectively. A literature review indicated that models matched using
field production rates yield mixing parameters within a range of 0.6-0.8, while models matched against
only a corresponding compositional model yield mixing parameters closer to 1.0, a condition which
assumes no fingering in a sub-grid block level (Bronchalo, et al, 2004).
In order to evaluate the potential of a miscible gas flood, it was required to generate reliable production
forecasts. This study was embarked upon in order to establish that simulation generated forecasts could
be validated. This study utilized homogenous 2D models (box models), heterogeneous sector models with
fine gridding and coarsely gridded full scale models to evaluate the impact of the mixing parameter at
different scales. A fully compositional simulation was used to benchmark the results all of the pseudomiscible modelling exercise. For the simple box models, it was found that thermodynamic effects were
dominant in the determination of the mixing parameter. Below the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP),
a lower mixing parameter value was required to achieve a match with a corresponding compositional
model. As a result of testing the various pressure conditions which may exist in the reservoir a
pressure-dependent mixing parameter has been able to be defined.
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For the purposes of this study a specific geologic facie was simulated using small grid cells was in both
a fully compositional and a pseudo-black oil simulator. The mixing parameter as a function of pressure
that resulted from the 2D models was reduced by the theoretical limit derived from Fayers (1992) was
sufficient to produce a match in the fine scale model. This method also resulted in a sufficient match in
the coarse scale simulated grid that models the entire reservoir.
Introduction
Dynamic model simulations of gas injection processes, ranging from first-contact (FCM), multiplecontact (MCM) and, partially miscible or immiscible floods, have been modeled historically by representing the PVT behaviour through the use of compositional, pseudo-miscible and modified black oil
methods. Production forecasting methods using compositional and pseudo-black oil simulators are
compared in this study in order to understand difference in the output between them. We use Compositional and Todd-Longstaff methods in our work. Todd-Longstaff proposed an empirical method to model
miscible flow by modifying the black oil properties. The method employs a mixing parameter, , to
represent the degree of mixing of oil and solvent in a grid. Dispersion effects for coarse gridded models
are captured by . As T-L based production forecasts require less simulation run times this comparison
was necessary to validate the selected modelling technique. Production forecasts are required in an
integrated reservoir, production and facility design and optimization and, will affect key results ranging
from reserves to decisions regarding facility design and compressor sizing, well placement and pattern
selections to name a few. Industry has generally concluded that if fine scale heterogeneity is the
controlling mechanism for recovery, black oil simulators are more appropriate while if phase behavior is
more significant, then compositional methods are likely to be more accurate. The mixing parameter can
be used either as a history matching parameter or as a parameter that can be used to investigate the degree
of uncertainty in the production forecasts. In their original paper, Todd and Longstaff (1972) obtained a
history match using an omega value of 2/3. Generally, industry prefers to use a value between 0.5-0.8
(Brinkman et al, 1998, Hallam et al, 1995, Nishikiori et al, 2008, Whitten, 1989, Youngren and Charlson,
1980, Maclean, 1989 and Al Shammari et al, 2012) if there are no other available data.
Literature Review
Todd and Longstaff (1972) aimed to represent unstable frontal advance through the application of a
mixing parameter, , which accounts for the inherent viscous instability, geological heterogeneity and
other dispersive forces that are lost through the use of reservoir simulation scale grids. The mixing
parameter also adjusts the density and the viscosity of the solvent and resident oil mixture. Neglecting
these dispersive forces will lead to the dampening of flow instabilities and lead to an optimistic forecast.
The T-L models assume a system that will achieve FCM, through scaling of the reservoir rock and fluid
via the mixing parameter but this method does not account for any thermodynamic effects explicitly.
While Todd and Longstaff (1972) have stated that these assumptions may preclude the use of the
miscible simulator for forecasting displacement where multiple contacts are required before miscibility is
obtained, many authors have reported excellent matches even in MCM applications. In contrast, authors
(Bronchalo et al, 2004, Hui et al, 2006, and Stalkup, 1983) have expressed reservations on the use of
compositional simulators due to their tendency to overestimate production as it neglects viscous fingering
unless extremely fine grids are used in Figure 1.
The mixing parameter can be a physical manifestation of a variety of phenomena, which may include
but is not limited to, viscous fingering, gravity override and/or tonguing, numerical dispersion, immiscibility of solvent with resident oil or of chase gas to oil. A mixing parameter value of 0 will result
in a case of complete immiscibility and the solutions would be similar to an immiscible gas flood while
a mixing parameter of 1 will result in complete mixing. While there is no universally agreed upon
method for the prediction of the mixing parameter, a comparison of the Koval method (analogous to the
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Figure 1Illustration of Viscous Instability for Different Models (Bronchalo et al, 2004).
Buckley-Leverett method but adjusted for an unstable miscible flood) yields a theoretically bounding
maximum value that depends only on the mobility ratio between the solvent and the oil (Fayers, 1992,
Blunt et al, 1994, and Blunt and Christie, 1993) (Eq. 1). Some authors (Fayers, 1992, Warner, 1977 and
Bronchalo et al, 2004) have proposed several adjustments based on the overall heterogeneity of the
reservoir (Eq. 2 and 3) or based on the fluid properties. As the reservoir of interest is considered to be
highly heterogeneous in nature these were not used in this study as they do not give realistic values for
highly heterogeneous porous media.
(1)
(2)
(3)
Several studies involving the T-L scheme have been done previously and are summarized in Table
1(appendix).
Figure 2 is a cross plot of the mixing parameter used by various papers in Table 1 (History Match,
x-axis) versus the mixing parameter that would have been predicted by Equation 1 based on the provided
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Sub-Sector
19,500 psia
244 F
20 mD
20%
4.5 cP
30.4
181.2 scf/bbl
1054.57 psia
19,358 psi
245-258 F
20 mD
18-20%
3-5 cP
24.3 27.8 API
170 scf/bbl
950-1014 psia
fluid data. Stalkup (1983) suggests that a value of 0.5-0.7 should be used as a first estimate. As Figure 2
indicates, there is a narrow band between the history matched values of 0.6-0.8 that may lead credence
to this suggested range. Coarsely gridded compositional models will generally reduce viscous instability
and attempting to match a compositional model with its corresponding T-L model will lead to a mixing
parameter closer to one under stable FCM conditions (Bronchalo et al, 2004).
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Figure 3Oil Rate and Gas Rate Comparison between Compositional and Black-Oil Models
effects. These parameters impact miscibility, gravity override and dispersion which all affect oil recovery.
The miscibility effect was investigated by the use of isotropic 2D models and handled through the
appropriate choice of omega. The gravity number and the grid size effects (vertical layers) were
investigated through the use of isotropic 3D models.
Investigation of the Pressure and Miscibility Dependent Nature of the Mixing Parameter Using a
2-D Box Model
The 2D fine gridded isotropic model used an average porosity and permeability within a 100 x 100 x 1
grid blocks each of 1 m3 bulk volume and was initialized using the 7-pseudo component lumped PVT.
Both the production and the injection wells were controlled through a constant bottomhole fluid rate, the
aim being to equalise injection and withdrawal thus maintaining a relatively constant pressure until 1.0
HCPV was injected. The mixing parameter and Sorm were varied until the cumulative oil production of
the T-L model matched the compositional model.
Generally speaking, the T-L model forecast earlier gas breakthrough when compared to the compositional model as illustrated in Figure 3. It can be seen that there is an earlier increase in gas production
with a corresponding decline in oil production. Furthermore, the T-L model produces more oil late in life
as compared to the compositional model. The early breakthrough occurs due to the inability of the T-L
model to produce a sharp composition shock front illustrated in Figure 4.
The increased recovery in the T-L model post-breakthrough can be explained in the following manner.
A fundamental concept in the T-L formulation is that the gas injectant maintains a state of first contact
miscibility with the resident oil As such there is no consideration for any PVT changes that may have
occurred previously with the nitrogen vapourising the lighter components from the oil as occurs in the
EOS model. Near the injector, the compositional model left behind high viscosity oil, while the remaining
oil in the T-L formulation retains its original viscosity. As a result, later in life in the EOS model the oil
is not so favourable to being vapourised resulting in lower oil recovery during this period as compared to
the T-L formulation.
Further analysis of the thermodynamic properties of the system illustrates the shortcomings of the T-L
model from a fundamental perspective. Figures 5 and 6 compare the density and the viscosity of a
combined oil and solvent system above and below the FCM pressure. Figure 5 illustrates this behaviour
for a methane-oil system whilst Figure 6 compares this for a nitrogen-oil system. The principal difference
between the two systems is that the methane-oil system is FCM whilst the nitrogen-oil system is not. It
can be seen that the T-L method closely reproduces the FCM system, for the below FCM condition it does
not fully reproduce the divergence of the two-phase properties.
Notwithstanding the mis-match in thermodynamic properties a match on the cumulative oil as per the
compositional model was made by varying the and the Sorm values (Figure 7). While the thermodynamic properties cannot be rigorously matched, the mixing parameter can be decreased to promote earlier
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Figure 4 Oil Saturation as a Function of Distance from the Producer Injector to the Producer
Figure 5Comparison of Density and Viscosity Values for a FCM System (Methane and Field-A Oil)
breakthrough and the Sorm can be increased to enable the model to leave behind a greater proportion of
oil thus mimicking the compositional production profile. In the plots that follow, matches were achieved
between the compositional (heavy blue line) and the T-L match (thin red line) using an assisted history
matching program. All the other light blue lines are other possible outcomes for different combination of
parameters.
From these history matches, it was then possible to construct a plot of o and Sorm versus pressure.
From Figure 8, the mixing parameter became equal to 1.0 if the pressure was above the MMP. This
is reasonable since the level of dispersion modeled at the same grid block resolution should be the same
between the compositional and the black oil models if their thermodynamic displacement behaviors are
consistent which was demonstrated in Figure 5. Above this MMP, the Sorm was required to be decreased
in order to match the EOS model predicted cumulative oil. As the pressure was decreased, the mixing
parameter was also decreased to model the earlier gas breakthrough times, reflecting the viscous tongues
present in a partially miscible flood.
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Figure 6 Comparison of Density and Viscosity Values for a Partially Miscible System (Nitrogen and Field-A Oil)
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solely on pressure support. Similarly the technical limit is shown for a fully miscible case. It can be seen
that there was only a 3.3% difference in the final cumulative oil produced between the composite case and
the compositional model case.
The oil rate comparison plot is shown in Figure 13 while the gas rate comparison plot is shown in
Figure 14. Several observations can be made from these plots. Qualitatively, the profiles were matched
adequately. Consistent with the 2D runs, the gas rate increased more rapidly for the T-L case compared
to the compositional model. After the initial gas breakthrough, the T-L slightly over performs over the
compositional since there was very limited stripping that occurs in the latter.
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Figure 12Cumulative Oil Comparisons between T&L Models and the Compositional Model
dependent mixing parameter with the appropriate values of omega and Sorm above was then applied to
the full field model.
A potential field development and corresponding well layout is illustrated in Figure 15. Illustrated
below is a possible field development employing injectors and producers as denoted by I and P wells
respectively.
Figure 16 compares the cumulative oil profiles as forecast from a compositional and T-L formulation.
The compositional and the composite T-L model were within 1.1% of each other in terms of cumulative
oil recovery forecast. Similar oil rate profiles can be found, as illustrated in Figure 17. The average
reservoir pressure of the T-L model was within 500 psia of the compositional model, as illustrated in
Figure 18. Note that once again at late life, the compositional model has a lower production rate compared
to the T-L model due to the lack of late life stripping (Figures 17 and 18).
The impact of each of the elements of the composite mixing parameter can be identified. For example,
any increase in oil recovery over that of pure depletion realized when the mixing parameter was reduced
to zero thus mimicking an immiscible flood would be attributable mostly to pressure support while the
remaining incremental oil was attributed to a combination of interfacial tension reduction, viscosity
reduction and near-miscible displacement.
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Figure 13Oil Rate Comparisons Between the T&L and Compositional Models
Figure 14 Produced Gas/Solvent Rate Comparisons Between the T&L and Compositional Models
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Conclusion
The combination of methods used in this study allows the use of a pseudo-miscible-black oil method in
full field models for initial ultimate oil recovery scoping purposes. Use of such avoids computationally
expensive flash calculations associated with EOS models resulting in a fast method to develop production
profiles which permits the testing of the economic robustness of potential development projects. It was
found that the mixing parameters for different reservoir pressure conditions for the properties of Reservoir
A through matching the compositional and pseudo black oil models in a 2D model can be directly used
in a full field model provided that it is decreased by the Koval technical limit.
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Appendix
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