Effects of interfacial reaction on oil displacement in a Hele-Shaw cell.

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to examine the behaviour of reactive and non-reactive systems by displacement experiments of light paraffin oil/decane mixtures by water in a range of mobility ratios. Displacement experiments were performed in a Hele-Shaw cell, simulated a quarter of a reversed five-spot pattern. Displacement patterns produced by reactive and non-reactive systems were compared. It showed that the displacement patterns in the case of the reactive system were completely different from the non-reactive system. The recovery in the reactive system was always higher than in the non-reactive system. The recovery at breakthrough for both the reactive and non-reactive systems increased with the decrease in viscosity of oil. In the non-reactive system, total recovery at one hour after breakthrough increases with the decrease in oil viscosity, while in reactive system total recovery after one hour is nearly constant and independent of oil phase viscosity. Displacement experiments were performed for both favourable and unfavourable mobility ratios. In another series of displacement experiments, a slug of alkaline solution was injected followed by viscous water-glycerine solution. It was found that for all oil solutions, the breakthrough recovery for both reactive and non-reactive systems was lower in the case with a viscous backup. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)