Improving CO2 Sweep Efficiency with a New Gel
Author Information
Author(s): Alotibi Adel, Song Tao, Al Brahim Ali, Bai Baojun, Schuman Thomas, Lapitsky Yakov
Primary Institution: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Hypothesis
Can a recrosslinkable CO2-resistant micro-sized gel improve CO2 sweep efficiency in reservoirs with super-permeable channels?
Conclusion
The micro-sized CO2-BRPPG effectively improves CO2 sweep efficiency and manages CO2 sequestration in high-permeability reservoirs.
Supporting Evidence
- The gel can swell up to 76 times its original volume under ambient conditions.
- At higher salinity, the gel's strength increases, improving its ability to block CO2 flow.
- The gel exhibits shear-thinning behavior, making it easier to inject under high shear conditions.
- Injectivity can be controlled by adjusting gel concentration and particle size.
Takeaway
Scientists created a special gel that can help push oil out of the ground by making it easier for CO2 to flow through rocks. This gel works even in salty water and can change its shape to fit better.
Methodology
The study used a sandpack model to evaluate the gel's performance under varying conditions of salinity, gel concentration, and pH.
Limitations
The gel's performance may vary under different reservoir conditions and its long-term stability needs further investigation.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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