Modeling of the movement of rich gas in a porous medium in immiscible, near miscible and miscible conditions

Gas injection is one of the most common enhanced oil recovery techniques in oil reservoirs. In this regard, pure gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N-2), and methane (CH4) was employed in EOR process. The performance of pure gases in EOR have been investigated numerically, but till now, numerical simulation of injection of rich gases has been scared. As rich gases are more economical and can result in acceptable oil recovery, numerical study of the performance of rich gases in EOR can be an interesting subject. Accordingly, in the present work the performance of rich gases in the gas injection process was investigated. Methane has been riched in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas liquid (NGL), and Naphtha. Afterwards, the process of gas injection was simulated and the effect of injection fluids on the relative permeability, saturation profile of gas, and fractional flow of gas was studied. Our results showed that as naphtha is a heavier gas than the two other ones, IFT of oil-rich gas with naphtha is lower than other two systems. Based our results, gas oil ratio (GOR) and injection pressure did not affect the final performance of injection gas that has been riched in NGL and LPG. However, when GOR was 1.25 MSCF/STB, rich gas with naphtha moved with a higher speed in the domain and the relative permeability of each fluid and fractional flow of gas were affected. The same result was achieved at higher injection pressure. When injection pressure was 2000 psi, movement of gas with higher speed in the domain, alteration of relative permeability and changes in the fractional flow of gas were obvious. Therefore, based on our result, injection of naphtha with low pressure and high GOR was suggested for considered oil.

Automated summary

This study investigated the performance of rich gases in the gas injection process. The effect of injection fluids on relative permeability, gas saturation profile, and fractional flow of gas was studied through simulation. The results showed that the IFT between rich gas and naphtha was lower, and the gas oil ratio and injection pressure did not affect the performance of rich gases in NGL and LPG. However, at a gas oil ratio of 1.25 MSCF/STB and higher injection pressure, the movement of rich gas with naphtha, as well as the relative permeability and fractional flow of gas, were affected. Therefore, it is suggested to inject naphtha at low pressure and high gas oil ratio.