Secondary vs. Tertiary oil recovery from a two-dimensional porous media by microemulsion flooding

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the application of microemulsion flooding in a visual, two-dimensional sandpack for the purpose of investigating the efficiency of oil displacement during secondary and tertiary stage. The associated variations in relative permeabilities to oleic and aqueous phases were determined. The same ultimate oil recovery was obtained in the secondary process with one fourth of the pore volumes injected in the tertiary flooding process. Hence the injection of microemulsion solutions during the water flooding stage is much better then their injection after plain water flooding (i.e. tertiary process). The oil-water relative permeability ratio was found to be a function of the process used. The results of this work will help plan a field test of the process, that will be more economical. The two-dimensional studies will help in the selection of a suitable pattern.