Identification of Gas Channeling and Construction of a Gel-Enhanced Foam Plugging System for Oxygen-Reduced Air Flooding in the Changqing Oilfield

The accurate identification of gas channeling channels during foam-assisted oxygen-reduced air flooding (FAORAF) and the analysis of the main controlling factors are essential to propose reasonable and effective countermeasures to enhance oil recovery (EOR). However, there are few comprehensive studies on identifying gas channeling channels, the influencing factors, and the corresponding plugging EOR systems in FAORAF. The channeling channels of the injection and production wells of the Changqing Oilfield, China, under varying development schemes are identified utilizing fuzzy membership function theory in this work to obtain their primary distribution. The characteristics and influence factors of gas channeling channels are analyzed by numerical simulation using CMG. The recovery performance of each foam blocking system is evaluated by twin-tube sand pack models. As well, based on the features of reservoir fractures, a new gel-enhanced foam plugging system is developed. The results show that channeling channels chiefly develop along NE 60-70 degrees and that foam could reduce gas channeling. Natural and artificial fractures are the principal factors causing gas channeling, followed by the injection method and gas injection rate. Under the premise of the injection and migration efficiency, the optimal gel system is a 0.1% HPAM + 0.1% organic chromium crosslinking agent. The addition of gel increases the viscosity of the liquid phase and strengthens the mechanical strength of the foam liquid film. At a permeability ratio of 12, the recovery factors of the binary plugging systems composed of microspheres, PEG, and gel combined with foam are 40.89%, 45.85%, and 53.33%, respectively. The movable gel foam system has a short breaking time (only 18 days) and a recovery factor of about 40% at a permeability ratio of 20. To be suitable for oil reservoirs with microfractures, an improved ternary gel foam system-0.1% HPAM + 0.1% chromium crosslinking agent + 0.05-0.1% nano-SiO2-is developed. Compared with the binary gel foam system, the recovery rate of the new nano-SiO2 gel foam system after 15 days of ageing using the core splitting test is 25.24% during the FAORAF process, increasing by 12.38%.

Automated summary

Accurately identifying gas channeling channels and analyzing the main controlling factors are crucial for improving oil recovery during foam-assisted oxygen-reduced air flooding (FAORAF). This study utilizes fuzzy membership function theory to identify gas channeling channels in the Changqing Oilfield, China, and analyzes their characteristics and influencing factors through numerical simulation. The performance of different foam blocking systems is evaluated using sand pack models. Additionally, a new gel-enhanced foam plugging system is developed based on reservoir fracture features. The results show that gas channeling primarily occurs along the NE 60-70 degree direction and foam can reduce channeling. Natural and artificial fractures are the main factors causing channeling, followed by injection methods and gas injection rates.