Experimental Study on Improving the Recovery Rate of Low-Pressure Tight Oil Reservoirs Using Molecular Deposition Film Technology

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 14; no. 20; p. 9197
• Main Authors: Shao, Chun, Chen, Xiaoyang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Adsorption; Crude oil; Economic aspects; Efficiency; Enhanced oil recovery; Fractured reservoirs; injection; molecular deposition film; Natural gas; oil displacement; Permeability; Petroleum industry; Petroleum mining; Polymerization; Polymers; Porosity; Raw materials; residual oil saturation; Surfactants; tight oil reservoir; Water flooding
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app14209197

The intricate geological characteristics of tight oil reservoirs, characterized by extremely low porosity and permeability as well as pronounced heterogeneity, have led to a decline in reservoir pressure, substantial gas expulsion, an accelerated decrease in oil production rates, and the inadequacy of traditional water injection methods for enhancing oil recovery. As a result, operators encounter heightened operational costs and prolonged timelines necessary to achieve optimal production levels. This situation underscores the increasing demand for advanced techniques specifically designed for tight oil reservoirs. An internal evaluation is presented, focusing on the application of molecular deposition film techniques for enhanced oil recovery from tight oil reservoirs, with the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanisms of this approach. The research addresses fluid flow resistance by employing aqueous solutions as transmission media and leverages electrostatic interactions to generate nanometer-thin films that enhance the surface properties of the reservoir while modifying the interaction dynamics between oil and rock. This facilitates the more efficient displacement of injected fluids to replace oil during pore flushing processes, thereby achieving enhanced oil recovery objectives. The experimental results indicate that an improvement in oil displacement efficiency is attained by increasing the concentration of the molecular deposition film agent, with 400 mg/L identified as the optimal concentration from an economic perspective. It is advisable to commence with a concentration of 500 mg/L before transitioning to 400 mg/L, considering the adsorption effects near the well zone and dilution phenomena within the reservoir. Molecular deposition films can effectively reduce injection pressure, enhance injection capacity, and lower initiation pressure. These improvements significantly optimize flow conditions within the reservoir and increase core permeability, resulting in a 7.82% enhancement in oil recovery. This molecular deposition film oil recovery technology presents a promising innovative approach for enhanced oil recovery, serving as a viable alternative to conventional water flooding methods.